Simmons Optics 802218 Binocular

SIMMONS  OUTDOOR  WILDERNESS  8x25  WATERPROOF  BINOCULARS  802218

            If you are in the market for a pair of entry level binoculars, you owe it to yourself to look into the Simmons Wilderness 8x25 Waterproof Binoculars.  The Simmons Wilderness 8x25 Waterproof Binoculars have a list price of $49.99, but they can readily be found selling at a discount for as low as $29.95 from some of the better larger Internet dealers.  Shop carefully however, as I have seen these very same binoculars selling for list price, or very close to it, from some other retailers.

            Simmons is a very good brand name with a long history.  If you are not familiar with the Simmons brand name, you are probably familiar with the name Meade.  Meade acquired Simmons back in 2002.  Simmons is a company that was a leader in outdoor optical devices, such as rifle scopes, as well as binoculars.  Now that Meade and Simmons have joined forces, they are able to share their technology and keep costs down, while still being able to produce very high quality optical devices for the consumer market, and they do so at very reasonable prices.

            The Simmons Wilderness 8x25 Waterproof Binoculars are entry level binoculars.  Thus, if you are considering the Simmons Wilderness 8x25 Waterproof Binoculars, it would be safe to assume that you may not be as knowledgeable about what features to look for in a pair of binoculars.  I shall therefore endeavor in this review to keep the jargon to a minimum, while still making an effort to explain some of the features, as well as the pros and cons of the Simmons Wilderness 8x25 Binoculars.

            Firstly, the "8" in the descriptor 8x25 refers to the magnification factor of the Simmons Wilderness 8x25 Waterproof Binoculars.  This means that the image of an object that you are looking at will be magnified 8 times when you are looking at the object through the Simmons Wilder 8x25 Binoculars.  Or to put it another way, the image of an object that is 800 feet away will appear as if it is only 100 feet away when viewed through these binoculars.  Actually that is quite a reasonable degree of magnification for a handheld set of binoculars.  The higher that one starts to go up in magnification, the more that the natural shaking of the hand of the viewer comes into play, and a magnification of 10 is considered to be about the highest magnification that one can usually handle without having to resort to some type of stabilization device, such as a tripod to hold the binoculars steady.

            The number "25" in the descriptor 8x25 refers to the size of the "objective lenses" of the binoculars in millimeters.  Thus, in this case the objective lenses are 25 millimeters.  By the way, the objective lenses are the larger lenses at the other end of the binoculars, and they are not the ones that you would be looking through.  They are the larger lenses that face the object that is being viewed.  Does the size of the objective lens have a bearing on the quality of the image that is being viewed?  Well, actually everything about how a pair of binoculars is made has a bearing on the quality of the image that is being viewed.  Allow me to elaborate. 

            The size of an objective lens has some bearing on the light gathering capabilities of a pair of binoculars.  Remember, I said some bearing.  The larger the size of the objective lens, the more light that is potentially able to be gathered by the binoculars.  However, in bright sunny conditions, an objective lens of about 32 millimeters is capable of yielding a very bright image. If you are planning to be viewing objects or creatures, such as birds, and you are planning to do so at dusk, or in poorly lit or very shady conditions, then all other things being equal, a pair of binoculars with a set of  larger objective lenses, such as 42 mm or larger, will yield a sharper and brighter image. This is important to keep in mind, as the Simmons Wilderness 8x25 may not suit all your needs in that case.

            Remember earlier I said that the size of the objective lenses has only some bearing on the quality and brightness of the image you are viewing?  Well perhaps the most important thing to impact the brightness of an image that is being viewed in a pair of binoculars is the type of optical coating on the viewing surfaces of the binoculars.  The Simmons Wilderness 8x25 Waterproof Binoculars have "multi-coated lenses."  O.K., so what does that mean?  Keep in mind that when light hits a surface, such as glass, some of the light is reflected, and some passes through.  The brightness of the image that is viewed in a pair of binoculars is primarily determined by the amount of light that gets through to your eye.  In order to increase the light that is absorbed by the binoculars, the optics of a good set of binoculars are coated with antireflective materials.  There are various levels and degrees of coatings that are used in the industry.  Simmons Wilderness 8x25 Binoculars are have multi-coated lenses, and that means that one or more of the lens surfaces have multiple coats of antireflective materials.  This means that more light reaches the eye of the viewer, and the result is a brighter image.  A pair of binoculars that has well coated optics and 25mm objective lenses is potentially capable of delivering an image that is as bright as or brighter than a set of binoculars with a 42mm or even in some cases as 50mm objective lens that does not have optical coating.

            The Simmons Wilderness 8x25 Binoculars are fully waterproof and fogproof, and they are fully sealed and Nitrogen purged.  O.K., you may be thinking to yourself that this is not very important to you, as you do not plan to use these binoculars underwater or in the rain.  Well, think for a moment.  Have you ever driven in your car on a cold humid day and noticed the condensation on your windows?  It was not raining, and you were certainly not driving your car under water, and yet the window fogged up.  Moisture or water vapor condenses on surfaces that are cooler than the surrounding air.  If the inside glass surfaces of your binoculars are cooler than the outside air, water vapor or moisture could potentially begin to form on the internal glass surfaces of your binoculars.  That would be a big problem.  However if your binoculars are fully waterproof and airtight, this phenomenon can't happen. Binoculars that are "Nitrogen purged" like the Simmons Wilderness 8x25 Binoculars are sealed and filled with Nitrogen, and no water vapor is present in the sealed chambers, and no water vapor can get in to cloud up the surfaces of the lenses or the internal roof prisms.. 

            Binoculars that are fully waterproof, like the Simmons Wilderness 8x25 Binoculars, are also easy to clean and maintain.  Should the binoculars get dirty or dusty from use out of doors, you can actually run them under the water tap to clean them, and wipe them dry.  Believe me, this is a wonderful and very important feature to look for in any pair of binoculars that you might be considering purchasing.

            There are a few more points I would like to bring up.  One is that the Simmons Wilderness 8x25 Binoculars are fully rubber coated.  That makes them easy to handle, and it also affords a bit of extra protection for the Binoculars when they are used out of doors. These binoculars weigh a mere 14.3 ounces, which makes them light enough for even a child to wear on a long hike or bird watching excursion.  Another plus, is that binoculars that are light in weight are easy to quickly move about and easy to sight an object with, because one can be more agile with them.  The Simmons Wilderness 8x25 Binoculars have an easy to use center focus wheel.  The nonslip rubber coating and the center focus wheel, make it relatively easy to quickly focus in on objects that one wishes to see. 

            O.K., so who would the Simmons Wilderness 8x25 Binoculars be best suited for.  Clearly, these are entry level binoculars, and the are good choice for the average beginner to consider.  Their light weight, rugged construction, and waterproof design would make them a good choice for a child, as they are hard to break, very easy to use, and built to last.  They might also be a good pair of binoculars to consider taking along on a family camping trip, because their waterproof design would enable them to be used for boating, camping, and recreational outdoor use.  Because of their relatively small objective lenses, the Simmons Wilderness 8x25 Binoculars would not be a good choice for star gazing at night, or for use in low light conditions.

            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.