{"id":62258,"date":"2024-03-06T11:58:20","date_gmt":"2024-03-06T16:58:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/?p=62258"},"modified":"2024-10-23T12:51:30","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T16:51:30","slug":"oberwerk-sport-ed-8x42-binoculars-our-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/oberwerk-sport-ed-8x42-binoculars-our-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Oberwerk Sport ED 8x42 Binoculars: Our Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group well-gray is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">At A Glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full multiply\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/oberwerk-1.0.jpg\" alt=\"oblique view of a pair of roof prism binoculars with red highlights and &quot;Oberwerk&quot; brand name.\" class=\"wp-image-62336\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/oberwerk-1.0.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/oberwerk-1.0-720x720.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/oberwerk-1.0-1280x1280.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/oberwerk-1.0-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/oberwerk-1.0-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Oberwerk Sport ED 8&#215;42 binoculars. <em>Image courtesy Oberwerk.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">PROS: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Very good image<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Good focus wheel movement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Generous field of view <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Good close focus<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">CONS: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Metal focus wheel can be slippery<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Loose eyecups and lens covers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eye relief on the low side<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">STATS:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Price: <\/strong>$349.95 MSRP at press time. Prices often fluctuate, so check with retailers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Close focus:<\/strong>  6.6 feet (200 cm)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Field of view: <\/strong>Reported as 8.1\u00b0 (425 feet at 1,000 yards). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/choosing-binoculars-field-of-view-and-close-focus\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"54833\">More about field of view<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Weight:<\/strong> 26.9 oz (763 g)\u2014that&#8217;s about 2.0 oz (57 g) heavier than the average for 8&#215;42 binoculars in our review<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Eye relief:<\/strong> 15.0 mm <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"article-list alignright right list-style card-four \"><h2 class=\"article-list-header\">More on Binoculars<\/h2><ul><li class=\"article-item\"><div class=\"article-item-container\"><div class=\"article-item-media content-article\" data-link-to=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/how-to-choose-binoculars-full-size-compact-pocket\/\"><figure class=\"article-item-media-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/binocular-types-1.33-1280x960.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/binocular-types-1.33-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/binocular-types-1.33-1280x960.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/binocular-types-1.33-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/binocular-types-1.33-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/binocular-types-1.33-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/binocular-types-1.33.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" alt=\"three binoculars of three different sizes arranged against a white background\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"article-item-body\"><a class=\"article-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/how-to-choose-binoculars-full-size-compact-pocket\/\"><span class=\"article-item-header\">Which Binocular Design Is Right for You\u2014Full-Size, Compact, or Pocket?<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/li><li class=\"article-item\"><div class=\"article-item-container\"><div class=\"article-item-media  content-article\" data-link-to=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/the-cornell-lab-review-affordable-full-size-8x42-binoculars\/\"><figure class=\"article-item-media-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/bino-group-front-on-1.33.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/bino-group-front-on-1.33-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/bino-group-front-on-1.33-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/bino-group-front-on-1.33-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/bino-group-front-on-1.33-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/bino-group-front-on-1.33.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"\" alt=\"a group of binoculars arranged on a table\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"article-item-body\"><a class=\"article-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/the-cornell-lab-review-affordable-full-size-8x42-binoculars\/\"><span class=\"article-item-header\">The Cornell Lab Review: Affordable Full-Size 8&#215;42 Binoculars\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/li><li class=\"article-item\"><div class=\"article-item-container\"><div class=\"article-item-media  content-article\" data-link-to=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/best-affordable-compact-binoculars-review\/\"><figure class=\"article-item-media-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"\" alt=\"a group of small binoculars arranged against a white background\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"article-item-body\"><a class=\"article-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/best-affordable-compact-binoculars-review\/\"><span class=\"article-item-header\">The Best Affordable Compact Binoculars (8&#215;32): Our Review<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/li><li class=\"article-item\"><div class=\"article-item-container\"><div class=\"article-item-media  content-article\" data-link-to=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/pocket-binocular-review-our-search-for-the-best-tiny-binoculars\/\"><figure class=\"article-item-media-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"\" alt=\"a group of small binoculars arranged against a white background\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"article-item-body\"><a class=\"article-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/pocket-binocular-review-our-search-for-the-best-tiny-binoculars\/\"><span class=\"article-item-header\">Pocket Binocular Review: Our Search for the Best Tiny Binoculars<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Viewing Experience:<\/strong> For birders looking for excellent image quality at a relatively low price, the Oberwerk Sport ED is an impressive option. These compact, slightly heavy binoculars got our reviewers&#8217; attention with bright and very crisp images. The colors are true without seeming overly saturated. Even against the glare of a gray sky, we were impressed with the gradation of grays and tans in the fur of an eastern gray squirrel as it nibbled the vivid buds of a red maple. Similarly, American Robins gathering in a backlit tulip poplar showed warm orange bellies against a wintry glare, and the Oberwerks even brought out the matching warm brown tones of the tree&#8217;s conelike seed clusters. Image sharpness holds well at long distances\u2014watching ducks on the far side of a large river, more than 1,200 feet (400 m) away, the white bars on the flanks of several Ring-necked Ducks were easy to make out. Looking high in the sky at a speck of an immature Bald Eagle circling with gulls, the brown-and-white mottling of the body and wings came through clearly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Feel and Build:<\/strong> The binoculars themselves have a solid, sturdy feel, and this small company ships them out with a thank-you\/inspection card hand-initialed, apparently, by the company owner. The basic olive-green armoring is enlivened by a crimson metal focus wheel and diopter ring. These have wide, rugged ridges for grip, though one reviewer found that the width of the ridges made the wheel slippery and a bit hard to adjust quickly. Once the fingers gain purchase, the focus wheel itself moves smoothly and precisely. Given Oberwerk&#8217;s impressive optics, the accessories didn&#8217;t quite measure up. The objective lens covers attach to the barrels very loosely, easily slipping up and down and even slipping off during normal use. The eyecups have a loose feel as they dial up and down, though they did not shift position once they were set. The binoculars come with two fairly narrow straps, one embroidered with the Oberwerk name and one made of a cushioned neoprene-like material. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This article is one in a series of mini-reviews. To see how these binoculars compare to others we&#8217;ve tested, see our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/the-cornell-lab-review-affordable-full-size-8x42-binoculars\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"54833\">full review of affordable 8&#215;42 binoculars<\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>These binoculars offer excellent brightness, sharpness, and color, though the ergonomics are not quite perfect. We rate them a Solid Choice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":62338,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_birdpress_living_bird_toc":0,"_birdpress_living_bird_toc_title":"","_birdpress_featured_image":false,"_birdpress_hero_toggle":false,"_birdpress_hero_type":"image","_birdpress_hero_image_type":"image","_birdpress_hero_style":"default","_birdpress_hero_ratio":"","_birdpress_hero_h1":"","_birdpress_hero_media_id":0,"_birdpress_hero_media_array_id":[],"_birdpress_hero_media_array":[],"_birdpress_hero_media":0,"_birdpress_hero_video_id":0,"_birdpress_hero_video":0,"_birdpress_hero_youtube":"","_birdpress_hero_content":true,"_birdpress_hero_byline":"","_birdpress_hero_byline_bottom":"","_birdpress_hero_button_link":"","_birdpress_hero_button_text":"","_birdpress_hero_button_color":"","_birdpress_hero_date":false,"original_guid":"","_birdpress_hide_search":false,"_birdpress_page_width":"","_birdpress_global_cta":false,"_birdpress_widget_sidebar":"","_birdpress_next_article":0,"_birdpress_next_article_title":"","_birdpress_prev_article":0,"_birdpress_prev_article_title":"","_birdpress_sub_navigation_id":0,"_birdpress_sub_navigation":"","_birdpress_sub_navigation_title":false,"_birdpress_anchor_navigation_id":0,"_birdpress_anchor_navigation":"","_birdpress_postType":"both","_birdpress_categoryID":0,"_birdpress_tagID":0,"_birdpress_parentPostID":0,"_birdpress_parentPostTitle":"","_birdpress_menuID":0,"_birdpress_menuName":"","_birdpress_listHeader":"","_birdpress_listLayout":"card-display","_birdpress_listColumns":"","_birdpress_maxItems":12,"_birdpress_listPaginate":true,"_birdpress_displaySort":true,"_birdpress_sortOrder":"DESC","_birdpress_sortBy":"date","_birdpress_listID":"","_birdpress_listClass":"","_birdpress_displayImages":true,"_birdpress_displayCaptions":false,"_birdpress_displayExcerpts":false,"_birdpress_attTop":"","_birdpress_attBottom":"","_birdpress_showLogos":false,"_birdpress_post_logo":0,"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_topic":0,"wds_primary_content-format":0,"wds_primary_cornell-lab-project":0,"wds_primary_host-project":0,"wds_primary_read-more-tag":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"topic":[1170,1168],"content-format":[1055],"cornell-lab-project":[],"host-project":[],"read-more-tag":[],"class_list":["post-62258","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","topic-binoculars","topic-binoculars-and-gear","content-format-article"],"metadata":{"_webdados_fb_open_graph_specific_image":["https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/oberwerk-1.77.jpg"],"_webdados_fb_open_graph_specific_description":[""],"_wds_trimmed_excerpt":["These binoculars offer excellent brightness, sharpness, and color, though the ergonomics are not quite perfect. We rate them a Solid Choice."],"banner-image":[""],"custom-byline":[""],"_birdpress_hero_transcript":[""],"_wp_old_date":["2023-01-27"],"_wp_page_template":["default"],"_wds_focus-keywords":[""],"_dp_original":["55834"],"_edit_lock":["1729702290:4"],"_edit_last":["4"],"_thumbnail_id":["62338"]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62258"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62258\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/62338"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62258"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=62258"},{"taxonomy":"content-format","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-format?post=62258"},{"taxonomy":"cornell-lab-project","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cornell-lab-project?post=62258"},{"taxonomy":"host-project","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/host-project?post=62258"},{"taxonomy":"read-more-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/read-more-tag?post=62258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}