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Reviewbucket.co.uk scanned the internet for Barr and Stroud Series 4 8x42 reviews.
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For Barr and Stroud Series 4 8x42, 24 customer reviews collected from 2 e-commerce sites, and the average score is 4.7.

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Amazon has 23 customer reviews and the average score is 4.7. Go to this seller.
Ebay has 1 customer reviews and the average score is 5. Go to this seller.

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26.8.2014

It’s been a long time since I’ve owned a pair of binoculars – some Swift 10x50s that were dropped so many times that I could no longer see through them. For a long time I had little use for a pair and when I needed some I borrowed my daughter’s very nice 8x40s. I had a birthday coming up and I’d started birdwatching again so I thought I’d treat myself to a pair.That’s when I discovered that the world of binoculars had changed dramatically since I last owned a pair. I was planning on paying around £50 and quickly realised this was not going to buy me anything that I would be happy with. It’s a tough job narrowing down the various models and reading user reviews.Common sense says go to a binocular shop and try them out before buying. But binocular shops are few and far between and prices there are significantly higher than the internet.I eventually came across Barr & Stroud and the name seemed familiar from my youth. They had a good range of reasonably priced optics. It seemed that what I really wanted would set me back £400 - £500 and I didn’t want to spend anything like that amount. B&S had sensible prices. They were also a good old English company and reviews were pretty good too. A little more research and I found out that Barr & Stroud went out of business and the name was bought up and these optical instrument are now manufactured somewhere in Eastern Europe.One of the things that led me to this particular pair, and several other B&S optics was something called eye-relief. I’m a spectacle wearer and in my youth I was quite happy to shove my spectacles up out of the way to use my binoculars. But that was mostly because, when I looked through them with spectacles on, all I saw was a tiny circle. That, it seems, was because of short eye-relief.If you want to look through binoculars with spectacles on then you need binoculars with long eye-relief. These Series 4 binoculars have eye-relief of almost 19mm. Normal binocular eye-relief is 9-13mm. With long-eye-relief you get to see the whole field of view without having to remove your spectacles.So, sight unseen, based purely on reviews, I sent off for a pair. I didn’t buy them through Amazon, but I bought them directly from the supplier that was selling them through Amazon.First use I was impressed. The adjustment ring for the right eyepiece (so that you can correct for differences in vision between both eyes) is really stiff and does not move in use. On my daughter’s binoculars I am forever having to reset this because it moves. This alone was a huge plus point. The field of view is good and the image is nice and bright. In good light the clarity is excellent. In poor light it is good enough for birdwatching.For the price this is an excellent pair of binoculars and I am happy to recommend them. I would certainly buy Barr & Stroud again.But I do have one or two niggles. The case is stupid. It opens clamshell style and the binoculars are just loose inside. To me this is a recipe for dropping them out of the case. The binoculars, with strap wrapped around are a really tight fit. The good old-fashioned case with an opening top and room for the strap would have suited me nicely.The other niggle is to do with the eye-cups. The rubber eye-cups rotate and as they rotate they move further away from the eye-piece. This lets you change the distance of your eyes from the glass. There are three positions, fully closed, a click stop half way, and fully open. I find that without glasses fully open works fine. With glasses the half-way click stop position works best, but on the right hand side there is very little resistance to movement and the rubber eyepiece is constantly slipping back to the fully closed position. If I’m birdwatching and I walk a short distance from one viewing spot to another the eyepiece has shifted and needs readjusting. The other eyepiece is fine, so it seems to me as if quality control is a little less than it could be.Other than that I couldn’t want more. Everyone that’s borrowed them likes them. They are waterproof, don’t steam up in the rain (due to the nitrogen filling) come with attached lens caps and a strap with a comfy neck bit. They are clear, have a good field of view, and the focus wheel has just the right amount of resistance and is easy to move.If your budget is under £100 then I would put these on your short list.
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26.7.2014

Although I only received these bins a short time ago I thought I would write a brief review.The construction of these bins is pretty good with no sharp or unfinished edges and the rubber casing the chassis and tubes being tactile and confidence inspiring not feeling like they could slip out of your hands.The objective lens covers slip nicely inside the lens recesses but I wish that there was an indent or detent to hold the cover loops on the bins as they are just held in place by friction alone, I don't think they would slip off but they sit a little skewed on the end of the tubes. The rain guards for the eye cups are a great idea and the cups rise and fall nicely to adjust the eye relief andas a spectacle wearer I find the eye relief fine.The binocular strap feels great around the padding for your neck but the nylon feels a little low rent but does the job. The case is pretty rigid and well made and offers a great fit and great protection, again the strap on this is low rent and very short but to be fair you are unlikely to be carrying your bins around your neck in the case much but it is ideal for packing and transit.Images through the optics seem bright and clear and the focusing mechanism is very smooth and geared just right for fast focusing without whizzing past the optimum focusing point.The instructions for the use of these binoculars is very basic and looks like it was printed in the 1960's showing old style porro prism binoculars (and looks like they have been stored in an old box since the 1960's) they ought to reprint some more up to date instructions that don't look so cheap, image is everything (forgive the pun).Overall I'm very pleased with these Binoculars, there are lots of reviews of Barr & Stroud equipment on specialist sites that state that these hold their own with the high end manufacturers out there and are excellent value for money.
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24.9.2013

I needed a new pair of binoculars to replace my old disintegrating Pentax ones. What I required was a good quality pair of general use binoculars that would allow me to do a spot of astronomy too. Barr and Stroud used to supply binoculars to the Royal Navy and for years were made in Scotland, they are now, like seemingly everything else, made in China. But that doesn't distract from the fact that these are superb binoculars.I did a certain amount of research beforehand and my choice was between the Series 4 and the Sierra 8x42 until I came across a website dedicated to binoculars in all forms. Based on their review, the Series 4 won the day.In use, the binoculars are light, and easy to use.They are the ONLY ones that can use wearing glasses due to their clever eye piece covers. But, the most amazing this about them is their brightness, the sharp, crystal clear image appears brighter than using you own eyes. It's almost like having night vision goggles.Having used than now for several months that effect has not diminished at all, and I can only find two negative points.1. The objective lens cover can be a bit fiddly to use.2. The carry case, this is not the best. The rivet holding one side of the handle fell out within a few weeks. But as I don't use it that's not a problem, and I would strongly advise anyone looking for binoculars to give the Barr and Stroud Series 4's serious consideration.
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16.10.2015

"Delivery was in less than 24 hours, not bad of a free delivery item, Barr & Stroud Series 4 8x42 Binoculars] were packaged very well boxed inside two padded bags and plastic bag. more than pleased with my new Bin's. I did a lot of research prior to purchasing and glad i did not take any notice of the two bad reviews, The quality and finish is a steal at the price even cheaper than same thing on Ebay! for clarity they out perform my wife's Bushnell 8 X 42 waterproof,s ( that cost a lot more 10 years ago) and and my old Bresser 10 x 50. more compact if slightly heavier than the Bushnell 8 X 42, adjustment is firm but smooth and i don't need to remove my glasses to use them.just what i need to go with my camera and 400mm lens when birding. Hard Clam box is good quality, this box will provide good protection when traveling. neck strap is wide and soft padded for comfort all in all well pleased with my replacements for my travel damaged Bresser's ( prisms have moved) Chose 8x42 as they are better for birding than my old 10 x 50' would have liked to try the 10 x 45 but believed they may have the same shake problems (focusing) as 10 x 50 when birding.
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19.3.2015

I did a lot of research before deciding on these particular binoculars and I do not regret that time spent.These binos are simply the best I have owned.A good practical carrying case. Flip off and fold away lens hoods that are easy to use.Excellent build quality.Ergonomically well designed to fit into the hands easily and securely. A good quality broad strap fits snugly around the neckExcellent eye relief, the best I have come across.Excellent light gathering power and above all a crisp, bright and clear image that you would expect of binos costing a lot more than this.Waterproof too ! Amazing buy.

4.4.2011

Using these binoculars for the first time was a revelation. The optics are first rate, they're very easy to focus and the image is crisp and bright - PERFECT! The ruggedised design - waterproof and with a rubber armoured body to protect it from bumps - is just what you need for birdwatching in all weather conditions. They're not the lightest to carry around but the broad strap around the neck takes the strain. Not the cheapest binoculars out there either (nor by any means the most expensive) but with these you definitely get what you pay for - quality binoculars from a company with a good reputation.

27.12.2012

I have used various types of binoculars over a period of fifty years for bird watching-these bins from Barr & Stroud are the best pair I have used. They are light to carry, easy and compact to use, give a crisp clear image in even low light conditions. Such is the image that it is better than binoculars that are 10x50 for everything up to medium distance work.The eye cups roll down perfectly to use if you are a spectacle wearer (I am) with little loss of field of view. With the current rainy conditions they are ideal as they are water proof too!

23.6.2012

The reviews I read before purchasing the 8x 42 series4 were helpful in making up my mind. They arrived with a good field hard case and straps all included. As a bird and nature watcher I need very good optics. These are excellent from 3m to infinity so the odd aeroplane can be spotted. There is no distortion the colours are very good they gather light well so looking at evening shots are first rate. I have borrowed friends bins costing much more and seen nothing to change my mind that these are very good value and I can recommend them.

9.8.2015

We have 2 pairs of Barr and Stroud now. This is the bigger better one which I love. Little heavier so I tend to have this while the wife uses the lighter one. I have carried these around the world into Jungles (water resistant and sealed), the African bush (dust resistant) and up mountains (not too heavy). Solid case that could use a little more work as the rivet on mine broke up a mountain in Peru. I managed to keep it together with a plastic tie - my only slight negative. Spotted giant otters in the Amazon with these!

22.4.2014

I bought these as a gift for my partner and he is totally delighted with them. The clarity is first class, they are lightweight and come with a sturdy case.I would definitely recommend Barr and Stroud. I did contact them prior to purchase to check a couple of things with them and found them knowledgeable and friendl. Very happy with 1, the service and 2, the product.

24.12.2018

Top quality bins. No need for the ED expensive glass ... these are fabSadly such quality is let down by the end caps . I’ve lost the 42mm already they simply ‘rub’ off when hanging from neck. The eye piece caps are so tight they tend to pull the eye piece rubbers off if not removed carefully. However the overall quality outweighs so happy with my purchase

11.3.2015

Bright and clear view. Feel comfortable and robust.As a spectacle wearer these work well with the soft rubber eye cups rolled back, no need to remove specs and no damage to the lenses of my specs. Nice broad neck strap and being waterproof I'm happy to leave them 'out' hanging around my neck when out and about in the soggy west of Scotland

14.10.2014

Bought for my father's 70th birthday. He lives in Africa and is frequently visiting various game safaris and loves these for game and bird watching. He is very happy to have them exposed to dust on safari and the occasional thunderstorm and loves the fact that they have such good weather seals. A winner for me!

5.2.2017

replacement pair of bins for my hubby as his last pair which he'd had for 2 years misted up mysteriously (not bought from here) but he's always been impressed with this model for its clarity, and the price from this seller is very good

13.7.2010

If you are looking for great value at a reasonable price I would recommend these binoculars from Barr and Stroud. Modern design, compact and well made by a company with a great reputation for optical instruments. They look good too!
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