Meade Wilderness (10x25) Binocular

MEADE  WILDERNESS  10x25  WATERPROOF  BINOCULARS  B130002

            Meade has long been a leader in the field of optical technology.  Meade optical products range the gamut from inexpensive binoculars and telescopes for entry level viewers, all the way up to some seriously sophisticated viewing devices for semiprofessional and even professional celestial viewing.  Today I am going to be reviewing an inexpensive pair of Meade binoculars that have a number of very sophisticated specifications.  The binoculars that I am referring to are the Meade Wilderness 10x25 Waterproof Binoculars model number B130002.  Read on and see if these binoculars have some of the qualities that you might be interested in looking into the next time you are in the market for a set of inexpensive binoculars.

            A good place to start in any review is to discuss pricing.  The Meade Wilderness 10x25 Waterproof Binoculars have a list price of $79.00 and can usually be found selling at a discount for about $50.00 from some of the better larger optical and electronics stores and Internet dealers.  I have seen these same binoculars selling for a bit less during special sales, and as you can see, it pays to do a bit of comparison shopping.

            I shall now spend of bit of time discussing some of the features of the Meade Wilderness 10x25 Waterproof Binoculars.  Since many of you who may be reading this review may be new to the topic of binoculars, I shall spend a bit of time explaining what some of the terms and features mean as I discuss them, although some of these may without a doubt be terms that more sophisticated users of binoculars may already know.  The Meade Wilderness 10x25 Waterproof Binoculars have a magnification of 10 times.  That is what the number "10" stands for in the 10x25 descriptor.  Simply put, this means that an object that is 1000 feet away will appear as if it is only 100 feet away when it is viewed through these binoculars.  A magnification of 10 is about the limit for use in hand held situations with just about any pair of conventional binoculars.  At magnifications above 10, the slight an almost imperceptible hand shaking of the viewer, will cause the image that is being viewed to appear to be jumping and shaking all over the place.  At magnifications above 10, it is always advisable to have the set of binoculars stabilized on a device such as a tripod or something similar to this.

            The number "25" in the descriptor 10x25 stands for diameter of the Objective lens in millimeters.  The Objective lens is the larger lens that is at the opposite end of the binoculars.  Depending on the situation and the viewing conditions, the relative size of the Objective lens can be either unimportant, or extremely important.  For instance, in bright sunlight, a small set of binoculars with a relatively small Objective lens like the Meade Wilderness 10x25 Waterproof Binoculars will be capable of delivering an image that is almost as bright and clear as a pair of binoculars with an objective lens of 50 millimeters.  However, at dusk, or in shady viewing conditions, a larger objective lens is clearly better.  With all other things being equal, a set of binoculars with larger Objective lenses has the capability of delivering a brighter image in lower light conditions because it has increased light gathering capabilities by virtue of its larger size lenses.  In bright sunny conditions a set of binoculars with an Objective lens of 32 millimeters will be deliver an image as bright as a pair of binoculars with 50 millimeter Objective lenses.  Thus, one can see that the Meade Wilderness 10x25 Waterproof binoculars have a clear disadvantage in low light viewing conditions.

            Bearing the above in mind, it is not the size of the objective lens alone which determines the brightness of the image that a viewer will see through their binoculars.  The most important critical factor regarding image brightness and clarity is actually related to the type of optical coating on the lenses of the binoculars in question.  I think that everyone probably knows that when light hits a piece of glass, some of that light is reflected, and some goes through.  The percentage of the light that is reflected as compared to the light that gets through the glass lenses has a great impact on the clarity and brightness of the image of the object that is being viewed.  The Meade Wilderness 10x25 Waterproof Binoculars have Multi-Coated lenses, which means that the lenses on these binoculars have multiple coatings of anti-reflective materials which permits less light to be reflected away, and more light to reach the eye of the viewer. The importance of this point can not be emphasized enough.  For example, a pair of inexpensive uncoated lenses, on a pair of binoculars with 50 millimeter objective lenses, might actually deliver an image that is less bright than a pair of very good binoculars with 25 millimeter Objective lenses that are equipped with fully multi-coated anti-reflective coatings on all air to glass surfaces.  This is an important point to keep in mind when making comparisons between and among different binoculars.  Meade is an industry leader in optical coating technology.

            The Meade Wilderness 10x25 Binoculars are Waterproof.  Many a person who is new to the field of optics, and in particular binoculars, might venture to say that this is not a very important feature for a set of binoculars, as they do not intend to be using these binoculars in the rain.  However, there is a lot more to consider regarding a set of Waterproof binoculars than being able to use them in the rain.  I can not emphasize enough the importance of being sure that the binoculars that you are considering purchasing are fully waterproof.  Allow me to explain why this is so important. Have you ever noticed the water droplets that condense on the side of a glass of cold ice tea on a hot summer day?  I am sure that you have.  If you are using a pair of binoculars that is not waterproof, there is a great potential for "fog" or water vapor condensation to begin to collect on the inside of the lenses and optical mechanisms inside of your binoculars.  The Meade Wilderness 10x25 Waterproof Binoculars are designed to be used in all weather conditions, from hot steamy swamps, to cold frosty days.  These binoculars are also "nitrogen purged," which means that they are sealed tight and have no gases within them which contain water vapor, and thus there is no chance that they will fog up on you in any weather conditions.  Another r ally great feature of waterproof binoculars is that they can actually be rinsed off under water in the sink in they become dirty, and there is no danger that water will get into the binoculars and cause problems later on.  Waterproof and fogproof binoculars, like the Meade Wilderness 10x25 Waterproof Binoculars, are ideal for all outdoor uses such as sailing, boating, camping, hunting, bird watching, and nature viewing.

            The Meade Wilderness 10x25 Waterproof Binoculars are designed with BAK-4 Roof Prisms.  The Objective lenses in a pair of binoculars will produce an image that is both upside down as well as reversed from right to left.  Prisms are used inside of a pair of binoculars to properly orient the image for the viewer, as well as to allow the length of the body of the binoculars to be reduced in size, as compared to the body of a telescope.

            So who would the Meade Wilderness 10x25 Waterproof Binoculars be best suited for?  These binoculars would be suited for someone who is looking for an entry level pair of binoculars for all terrain outdoor use.  They are strong, simple to operate, relatively small in size, and give a fairly bright image.  Because they are fully waterproof, one can use them under almost any conditions and still expect a good viewing result.  This makes them suitable for hunting, birding, sailing, camping, as well as for casual viewing.

            Well, I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my review, but now if you will excuse me I must get back to practicing my guitar.  I wish you good luck and good viewing.