Hawke Vantage 8x32 binocular

Small, neat and weighing a mere 418 g, the latest version of the Vantage 8x32 from Hawke sits at the bottom of their price range for 32-mm binoculars. While it's easy to make the assumption that low cost is equivalent to low quality, I found this clearly not to be the case with this particular model which, as well as being light in weight, is also very robust and sturdy and appears set to take anything that prolonged field use is likely to throw at it.

Weight is minimised principally by the use of light polycarbonate in manufacturing the body and a sheer, though tough, rubber armour covering. The latter is generously thickened and securely turned in around the objectives to provide a good level of protection in this potentially vulnerable area, otherwise it's plain and lightly textured to afford adequate grip.

Without being overly stiff, the central hinge provides enough resistance to effectively hold its position once the interpupillary distance has been set, while the central focusing wheel turns freely and smoothly across the 1.7 rotations it takes from the 2-m close-focusing position to infinity. At little more than a finger's width, the wheel has a non-slip, milled rubber covering and is set in a position which enables it to be operated while keeping your finger comfortably straight.

I found some 'lengthy' anticlockwise turning was required – approximately one complete rotation, in fact – to move the focusing distance from the aforementioned 2 m to 15 m. Beyond the latter distance, however, a simple quarter turn moved the focusing distance rapidly on to approximately 500 m.

The single eye focus, located on the right ocular, provides enough turning resistance to maintain its position, once set, and this can be achieved without the need to raise the twist-out eyecup above it. Covered with smooth rubber, with comfortably rounded rims, both eyecups can be set in three locking positions above the fully retracted setting and the full field of view is visible at all settings.

Building on this and drilling down into the optics, then, the field of view is a healthy and respectable 131 m at 1,000 m and, despite losing sharpness close to the edges, the latter is not really noticeable in the field. 

To improve light gathering and image sharpness, there is a 'fully coated optical system' which, under normal terms, means all air-to-glass surfaces have coatings to reduce light reflection. I certainly found the image delivered by the Vantage to be acceptably bright and I had no quarrel over the natural colours it delivered. I was easily able to appreciate the differences in detail and plumage colour tones between individuals in a mixed flock of Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits on one of my regularly visited Midlands wetlands, be they rich chestnut or burnt orange.

There was also a nice level of contrast and, to my eyes, no overall hue across the image, the latter coming across as neutral, being neither warm nor cold. 

Chromatic aberration is evident across the full field but it never reaches the level of distraction which renders it a game-changer in the negative sense of the term.  

The Vantage 8x32 is supplied with a comfortable, padded neck strap and soft carry case, as well as a supple, easy-fitting articulated rainguard and standard slip-on objective covers. For anyone contemplating a lightweight, low cost, first – or spare – binocular purchase, this model has much to commend it.

Further info

• Price: £135
  Length: 123 x 118 mm
  Weight: 418 g
  Field of view: 131 m at 1,000 m
  Light transmission: not available
  Close focus: 2 m
  Gas-filled: yes
  Waterproof: yes
  Guarantee: Lifetime

Verdict

+ Lightweight and well-designed
+ Good image with natural colours
- Focusing wheel needs a lot of turning