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Lightweight Binoculars

Once upon a time a binocular was a heavy thing—a millstone around your neck. As good optical glass, fancy coatings, and durability became must-have characteristics in binoculars for the discerning birder, the weight of the optics began to creep upward. Rubber armoring added to the weight.

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In 1999, when Swarovski introduced the 10x EL binocular, which weighed only 27.5 ounces, they started a trend that other companies soon followed. Because of its light weight, the EL has been a best seller in spite of a premium price tag. Other companies wisely took note and began reducing the weight of their premium binoculars.

"We put the LX on the optical equivalent of the Atkins diet," says Jim D'Lia, North American manager for Nikon. Nikon reduced the weight of its flagship binocular by 19 percent. Nikon's new LX L (the L stands for "lighter") is aimed directly at the premium end of the market. Zeiss (Victory FL*) and Leica (Ultravid) are also making high-end binoculars that are lighter-weight and offer superior performance. (Subscribers, please refer to our "Mid-sized Binocular Roundup")

Another innovation in high-end binoculars—glass that's lead and arsenic free—lets them weigh less and also helps the environment. The traditional method of creating glass prisms and lenses involved lead (as an element in the glass) and arsenic as a chemical wash. Some companies have eliminated these heavy (lead) and harmful (lead and arsenic) pollutants from their production processes.

When you upgrade your optics, consider going light on the weight and on the harmful chemicals. You may find that your wallet is also lighter, but, as is often said: With binoculars the more you spend the more you get. It's always best to try before you buy and to do some research to narrow your choices.

Start with the helpful optics information in the Optics area of our website. Next, contact an optics retailer and ask for their advice—many are willing to share customer reactions to new makes and models. They can also make recommendations to you based upon your preferences and budget.

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