Bushnell Legend Binocular 198105 L-Series 10x42mm

After reading many reviews about binoculars, I finally broke down and ordered these 10x42 Bushnell L Series. I compared numerous brands and models, most of which under the $200 price point (my threshold for what would seem reasonable) and went with these. I liked the price, 10x power, magnesium chassis (perhaps the deciding factor among my last three or four options), and well-known brand name. All I can say I that I was very skeptical, and even fearful, after reading the reviews, which seemed to be generally good for binocs in this price class, but there were many complaints, too. I will clear the air by saying that I have found no such issues with these binoculars. They are not AT ALL heavy (how could they be at under two pounds?), they are not hard to keep steady (again, under two pounds), the caps do not fall off, the case and strap are not junky (not made of armor, but not junky), and they are as clear and easy to focus as I could ever need them to be. I was also fearful about them being “heavy” and “long” (under six inches), as they are 10-power (oh no!) and would present focusing or clarity issues, but all of that talk is just nonsense. I really do not know what these people are talking about and frankly anyone who would complain about these binoculars is nuts. The only thing I could possibly say in criticism is that I wish manufacturers would not put those dopey stickers on their products. These were easy to remove (some are not), but one left behind a mark on one of the barrels. Tried to clean it off (even with that smelly Goo Gone stuff), but the mark is still there, though it is not blatantly obvious.So, my conclusion is...there is NOTHING wrong with the 10x category (might even go with 12x if I buy another pair), the 22-25 ounces of weight (which all quality binocs in this price range are) is NOT heavy, and the parts quality and construction of these “cheap” binoculars does not look at all cheap to me. Sorry, but $178 plus tax for binocs is not cheap or “low-cost”...at least not to me...especially when there are ones available for $25 and $50.My advice to prospective buyers is...just buy these. There is absolutely nothing wrong with them. I am sure there are better ones (there always are), but these are very nice indeed. Easily a five-star product. Glad I went with my gut and did not listen to those suggesting that only 7x or 8x are safe and steady...glad I said no to those featherweight options, too.Nice product, Bushnell...just leave off the stickers...

I was looking for binoculars specifically for a concert. To be specific, I needed them for the BTS concert in SoFi Stadium in LA back in November/December 2021.I did quite a bit of research before finally deciding on these. The price was within my budget and based on the description/features/reviews, it fit my needs perfectly.I was seated in the 100s and 200s section for the concerts and though it isn’t exactly too far, it wasn’t close enough for me either. I wanted to see the members’ faces with my own eyes rather than rely on the big screens on stage. So I bought this. I have no regrets!! They worked as it should and I couldn’t have been happier! The clarity was really good even if I wasn’t completely stable throughout (there was a lot of screaming and jumping around involved, plus I had to hold this with one hand since my other hand was holding a light stick lol). The weight is also pretty good. It didn’t get too heavy too fast and I was able to hold it for prolonged periods whenever I wanted without it bothering me. When I wanted to take a break, I just dropped it and let it hang around my neck. I also like that it isn’t bulky. It folds in which is great since the bag I brought to the concert was rather small so this didn’t take too much space at all!The only thing that made me hesitate from buying this was the price but in the end, it’s worth it. Now I plan on bringing this to every concert I go to.

I've had a legacy wp 8x42 for a few years and I loved the image quality (minus softness at the edges) and the focus knob didn't work well. I was in the fence between L and M series, but the M series isn't offered in camo, so L is was.In general, higher magnification is darker and image quality on roof prisms cost. I was surprised to find the 10x42 L series image quality wonderful. I can't see perceive optical distortion of any type. I've used this for the gun range (100 yards, easy to see), about 20 hours of hunting, and today.. Watching bees on flowers in a garden. I've literally used it all day, every day, since I got it. Even in darkness of dusk, they work well. Last night, I used them for astronomy. I could clearly see 4 M objects in the constellation Auriga, Jupiter's moons, Saturn's rings, craters on the moon, m31 was bright are visible, and many open clusters.The roof prisms don't give you as much of a stereoscopic effect as porro prism based systems. But, if you're on the fence about L vs M like I was, the L is wonderfully beautiful.Looking at dark cliffs with a bright sky above it produces no flare effect on the cliff due to the coatings. The picture is consistently sharp, edge to edge. The focusing knob is spot on : tight yet not too tight, reproducible, and no drift. The quality feels solid, and the camo finish looks beautiful.The multiple settings for the eye relief is nice, as is the locking adjustment on the right side. Even the padded neck strap is comfortable.They're much lighter than the legacy I have, but not quite as light as I had hoped. Regards, hiked 15 miles with them so far and forgot I even had them.The realtree camp pattern is nice, matching my hunting gear, bow, and pack.The only criticism I have is the lens covers. While a good thought in theory, they are so loose they are essentially worthless. Not sure what the solution on that is, yet.