REVIEW: VIKING OPTICAL Osprey 8X42 BINOCULARS

20 August 2022
By Alex James

Viking Optical have announced a new flagship binocular range called The Osprey ED.

​Building on the success of the Peregrine range Viking hopes this Osprey ED flat field binocular, with extra low dispersion (ED) glass objective elements and dielectric coatings on the prisms will welcome a new standard not seen in instruments at this price point.

Available in both 8x and 10x magnification range, the Osprey ED has been cleverly designed to take on the premium optics market but at a fraction of the cost. Does this work? I took a closer look this week to find out...

What's in the box?
  • Osprey 8x42 Binoculars
  • Padded Carry Case
  • Rubber Rain Guard
  • Carrying Strap
  • Cleaning Kit (Soft bristle brush, Cloth, Cleaning spray)
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​Images and coatings...
​
Having already equipped the 2021 Kestrel ED binoculars and their top-end Swallow ED spotting scope with ED 'Extra-low Dispersion' glass objective lenses, the Osprey's now fit snuggly into this trend. This is a good thing as ED glass is a truly fantastic thing. This high-quality glass really helps with stray light and fringing and is a massive tick-in-the-box for birdwatchers when choosing new optical equipment these days. 

As a production material, ED glass is more expensive than the standard glass used in most optics under the £500 mark, but by buying binoculars with ED means you are getting a superior viewing experience. The Osprey's were tested in woodland conditions on a low-light day and this made for impressive visuals.  

The light gathering power from the Osprey's was very good indeed and the images were on another level to those without ED glass. I had clearly defined images that were magnificently bright and sharp - so impressive. Even if this would have been a truly bleak morning, the nitrogen in the lenses would have prevented any fogging and unpleasantness, providing another benefit to the birder.

With a field of view of 8.12°, there is plenty of radius here to work with when looking at birdlife. From looking through the lenses for a sustained period of time, I could see no obvious colour fringing and everything was as clear as a bell (so to speak).

​Performance and handling...

The armouring around the Osprey's provides a secure, comfortable grip and at 695g, they are fairly lightweight binoculars although slightly heavier than other binoculars in Viking's stable. The new copper brand badges etc may be contributing to this ever so slight weight increase.

The Osprey's feel really well put together and made of long-lasting materials. The focusing wheel is responsive and once set up for your eyes, is quick to capture fleeting birdlife so you can zone in with the minimum of fuss..

The twist-down eyecups also provided convenience and comfort throughout use and the carrying strap is very comfortable around the neck.

​Protection and value...

The Osprey ED's are waterproof up to 1 metre and come with a 10 year guarantee from Viking Optical. I really (REALLY) liked the cleaning kit that came with these binoculars. It is a constant bugbear of mine when premium brands do not include these in the boxes - given the money you pay. But thankfully Viking seem to have seen this as an opportunity to buck the trend. It's not anything special - but a cloth, lens spray and soft brush alongside a nice case to keep them in, is a vital tool for optics owners and having one included in your optics pack would possibly sway my buying decision.
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Verdict
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The new Osprey's have moved the bar upwards once again, and are a class above what is currently available at the sub £500 binocular price range. Viking wanted to go premium without the added cost this brings to the customer, and I think they might have done it.
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★★★★★★★★★ 8/10

Testing scores
  • Design: ★★★★★★★★ 8/10
  • Performance: ★★★★★★★★ 8/10
  • Durability: ★★★★★★★★ 8/10
  • Weight: ★★★★★★★★ 8/10
  • Value: ★★★★★★★★★ 9/10

📦 Buy now: vikingoptical.com/viking-osprey
🏷 Price: £499.00
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