Pentax DCF HR II Binoculars

Birders familiar with the optics market may remember the entry of Pentax into this arena some years ago. The early Pentax products had decent optics but were not really optimized for birding. That is emphatically no longer the case. Pentax has been refining their sport and birding optics lines and the result is several binocular lines with good to excellent optics for very reasonable prices. The DCF HR II line falls somewhere in the middle: they are well-designed, optically sound, roof prism binoculars, with a number of great features, but not all the bells and whistles.

We received both 8x42 and 10x42 DCF HR II binoculars to review. Here are a few general characteristics of the line. DCF HR II binoculars are fully sealed, nitrogen-purged and completely waterproof. The prisms are fully phase-coated to limit chromatic aberration and the lenses are multi-coated for increased light transmission. They are built of reinforced polycarbonate material and covered in textured black rubber armor for a secure and comfortable grip. The two models differ little in size, with the 8x42s being slightly larger at 6.9 inches tall by 5.1 inches wide, while the 10x42s are 6.8 by 5.1 inches. Each weighs a moderate 27.5 ounces. The molded chassis are nicely designed with just a hint of a flange up by the oculars and a ridge running longitudinally down the inner curve of the barrels. The flange acts as a thumb groove, and the ridge catches the other thumb, increasing the comfort and security of the grip. This least bit of ergonomic optimization really works: these binoculars are very comfortable in the hands.

The 8x42 model has a relatively modest 330-foot field of view at 1000 yards; the 10x42 comes in at 315 feet. Both have a minimum focal distance of 13.1 feet, which is on the long side for birding binoculars. Eye relief on the 8x42 model is 22 mm, while that of the 10x42 version is 17 mm. Both models perform quite well in fading evening light, retaining sharpness and brightness even under rather dim conditions. The color fidelity was excellent overall: bright, vibrant and true. Both models show a slight color aberration in really bright light conditions when looking at objects of high contrast, and this aberration is also present at the very edge of the field. There was also a minor edge effect: straight lines tend to bow inward at the very edge of the field. Neither of these effects is particularly disturbing since they do not affect the center of the field.

The focus knob is large, centrally located, and coated in grooved soft rubber for a good grip. The knob requires slightly more than 1.5 turns to go from close focus to infinity. Both pairs we tested were rather stiff focusing, but this probably reflects their newness. Overall, focusing was relatively easy, albeit a bit slow. The image achieved was notably sharp, pretty much to the edge of the field of view.

Eyecup position is adjusted with a helical twist, with detents to stabilize the fully open or closed positions. This is an all-or-nothing mechanism: intermediate positions are possible, but not very stable. The diopter adjustment is a common one: a rubber ring on the right ocular twists in either direction to adjust focal length on that side. The mechanism does not lock, but it has fairly stiff action and retains its setting. The setting for equal eyes is marked by a raised ridge on the ring that lines up with a central dot raised in the armor of the barrel next to the ring. The mechanism is easy to adjust and line up.

The rain guard is a hard plastic piece of two cups joined by a flexible ridge that fits quite loosely over the oculars. The strap threads through a bracket on the left side; the right side bracket is notched so that it may be slipped easily on or off the strap on that side. The fit is quite loose so it is easily dislodged; thus, it is recommended that the rain guard be threaded to both straps when it needs to be kept in place. The lens caps are made of the same hard plastic, and fit snugly inside the lens barrels, the friction against the rubber armor holds them in place. Each lens cap has a notched bracket to permit attachment to the straps. This seems like a precarious arrangement for carrying the lens caps.

The DCF HR II binoculars come with a padded black nylon/cloth case with a supple leather bottom. The case closes with a Velcro-fastening flap and is designed with a gap that allows the binocular strap to slip out so the whole assembly can be worn over the shoulder. The case is large enough to accommodate the strap folded inside as well. The nylon strap is simple and thin, widening to barely an inch where it goes around the neck, with no additional padding. It’s minor, but the strap could be a bit better.

Some of this may sound fairly critical or even a bit harsh. It isn’t meant to be. The Pentax DCF HR II binoculars offer surprisingly good optical quality, comfort and practical design in a neat package. Significantly, they do so at a very low price. The 8x42 have an MSRP of just $332 and the 10x42 are priced at $348. Both may regularly be found discounted by an additional $50 to $60. This kind of performance at these prices makes the DCF HR II line an excellent value for the budget-conscious birder.

Pentax DCF HR II Binoculars - current price and availability