Introduction

Most mid-size binoculars with objective lens diameters of around 32mm like the Barr & Stroud Sierra 8x32 are very versatile: Ideal if you are looking for a bit more light gathering performance than true compacts can offer, but still want a light, fairly small binocular that is ideal for traveling with and easier to carry in the field than full size versions.

"A blend of superb optical quality and rugged refinement that has produced an elegant range of binoculars that take the Barr & Stroud brand to new level of performance and sophistication." With this bold statement from the makers, I really looked forward to testing the 8x32 version that Barr and Stroud kindly sent me to review.

Barr & Stroud

For those of you who are new to the Barr and Stroud brand, the company started making optics for the Royal Navy over 100 years ago and since then they have played a leading role in the development of modern optics and today apart from Binoculars they manufacture Microscopes, Monoculars and Spotting Scopes.

The Safari Guide Opinion

Most mid-size binoculars feel great to hold, this is especially true for those who have slightly smaller hands. I especially like the way the these feel, both when carrying them and holding them up to your eyes. The rubber armor that covers the Sierra's have a number of benefits that you may not have thought of:

• It provides a comfortable gripping surface for making them easier to hold on to
• It helps protect the binocular from the bumps and scratches that come with day-to-day use
• It's easy to wipe clean after a tough day in the field
• It dampens down any noise from bumping them that could frighten away skittish birds and other wildlife as I often do with my wedding ring!

The dimensions (128x121x47mm /5.0x4.8x1.9in) of the Barr and Stroud 8x32 Sierra binocular compares pretty well with most other mid-size roof prism binoculars that I have reviewed.

Their weight of 21.0oz (596g) is fairly lightweight: For comparison one of my favorite 32mm binoculars, the Nikon 8x32 EDG Binoculars weigh 23.1ozs (655g) and the top of the range Swarovski 10x32 EL Binoculars weigh 21.5ozs (610g).

Waterproof & Fogproof

They are O-ring Sealed meaning that these Barr & Stroud Sierra's are fully waterproof and have been immersion tested at a depth of 1.5 meters for three minutes.

They have also been "nitrogen purged", which means that the air inside the binocular has been replaced with nitrogen gas, this prevents the interior optical surfaces from fogging up due to rapid temperature changes or in areas that have high humidity.

Focusing

To focus the binoculars, you use the central wheel on the binocular that takes 2 full turns to go from near focus which is an excellent 2m (6.6ft) to infinity.

I generally prefer it to take less turning of the wheel to achieve this, but the less aggressive focusing mechanism does have the advantage of making fine tuning your focusing more accurate.

On the pair of optics that I tested, the mechanism was smooth and obtaining a sharp focus was really simple. There was however a very slight "squeaking" sound as the wheel rubbed against the rubber armour, but this could easily be fixed with a little lubrication.

The Eye Cups

These have good quality metal with a rubber coating twist-up eyecups. They have 3 click stops - flush against the eyepiece, half-way out and fully extended. Non-eyeglass wearers will just use the eyecups in the fully extended position. There is an excellent 17.8mm of eye relief, which puts them in the category of long eye relief binoculars and are therefore ideal for anyone who wears glasses.

Optical Performance

Overall I thought that the image produced by the Barr & Stroud Sierra 8x32 was really good. As well as bright the image was sharp and I could not see any colour fringing and there was only the slightest hint of softening of the image on the periphery of the view.

Lens & Prism Coatings
The 10x25 Sahara comes equipped with quality BaK-4 roof prisms which means that they are made of superior optical glass that will help in ensuring you get a high-contrast and sharp picture over the full field of view. These binoculars also have a set of phase correction coatings on the prism glass, an expensive process that keeps light in correct color phases, yielding brighter images and higher edge-to-edge sharpness. According to the manufacturers the "high-tech phase coatings alone increase prism reflectivity by 8% and it give you on average an extra hour of visibility at dawn and dusk compared to standard binoculars."

The lenses on them are also fully multi-coated, so all air to glass surfaces have received multiple layers of antireflection coatings which again will ensure that more light gets to your eyes by reducing the light loss and glare due to reflection for a brighter, higher-contrast image.

Stats

The biggest compromise in choosing a compact binocular over one that has larger objective lenses is the brightness of the image produced and whilst the difference is not huge, it is more noticeable in poor light conditions where you can notice it if you compare a compact and full size binocular side by side.

8x32 binoculars like these Barr & Stroud's have an Exit Pupil of 4mm and a Twilight Factor of 16, both of which point to the fact that they may not be the best, but will hold their own in poor light conditions.

Whilst there in no denying that an 8x42 in theory will perform better, these have the advantage of being more compact. It is important to remember that whilst these figures do not take into account the quality of the prisms, lenses and their coatings, they do make it possible to compare the performance of different configurations of binoculars in low light conditions. Features like their phase coated Bak-4 prisms and fully multi-coated lenses will mean that they outperform cheaper optics of the same configuration and probably beat cheap binoculars, with lower quality prisms and lens coatings with 42mm objective lenses.

The close focusing distance is an excellent 2m (6.6ft) beating even the most expensive mid-size binoculars on the market.

The apparent field of view for the Barr & Stroud Sierra 8x32 is a good 129m at 1000m but does fall a little short of the very best like the Nikon 8x32 EDG Binoculars (136m at 1000m) and the Swarovski EL 8x32 (140m at 1000m).

Also Included

These binocular also come supplied with reasonable quality soft carrying case, straps and lens cleaning cloth. It is a pity that the straps are not more padded, like the ones that you find on more expensive optics, but they will do the job.

The lens caps fit well onto the binoculars and should not fall off accidentally. I especially like the tethered objective lens caps, that make misplacing them much harder and don't get in the way when using your optics. If you don't like them attached to your binocular, they can also be removed.

Main Features

• Magnification: 8x
• Objective Lens Diameter: 32mm
• Exit Pupil: 4
• Twilight Factor: 16
• Weight: 21.0ozs (595g)
• Length: 5.0in (12.7cm) Height: 1.9in (4.8cm) Width: 4.8in (12.2cm)
• Field of View: 129m at 1000m
• Close Focus Distance: 6.6ft (2m)
• Waterproof: Yes
  
  

Cost & Where to Buy

UK Shoppers Buy in the UK:	US Shoppers Buy in the USA:
Barr & Stroud Sierra 8x32 Binoculars on Amazon.co.uk	Not available in the US

 

Conclusion

I would say that taking into account their quality optics and considering that these Barr & Stroud 8x32 binoculars can be bought for around £100, they make excellent value for money.

I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a mid to entry level mid-size binocular that far outperforms their price tag. They will make great traveling companions, good for camping if space is a factor and therefore also make ideal safari binoculars. The 8x magnification, with a fairly wide field of view is ideally suited to those that enjoy birdwatching as well a looking a the larger stuff. Highlights include the close minimum focusing distance and the use of quality phase coated Bak-4 prisms.

Similar Binoculars

Other Mid-Size Binoculars:

 

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