Snypex Knight ED Binoculars: A Review

Before I get too far into this, let’s make one thing perfectly clear (no pun intended): I am not working in an optical laboratory.  I have no way of evaluating clarity of lens, light transmission, etc.  All I can do when it comes to testing binoculars is report on what’s published about the pair in question and whether or not they performed acceptably in the field.  For me that means assessing whether or not they perform as they’re advertised to and whether or not they’ll take the typical abuse of being in the field.  In this case, the binoculars in question performed admirably and took all the abuse I threw at them.

In this case, the binoculars in question are the Knight ED 10x50 from Snypex (www.snypex.com).  On the Snypex web page for this particular product, the following features and specifications are listed:

• Extra-low dispersion (ED) glass produces outstanding color fidelity and high quality image
• Bak-4, Phase Coated roof Prisms
• 100% Fully Multi-Coated optics, Green-coated on four sides of the prisms and large aperture apochromatic lens, higher image quality in all lighting conditions, even water-repellent coatings for the lenses
• Armoured rubber Binocular
• Long eye relief and twist up eye-cups great for eyeglass wearers
• Minimum focus distance of 3.92 ft
• Magnesium alloy body provides light weight
• Fully Waterproof and Fog proof, nitrogen filled, Submerge to1 meter for 15 minutes
• Wide Field of view at 1000 yards: 309.20 ft.
• Ergonomic open hinge design

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• Focus System:          Central
• Lens:                          ED (Extra-Low Dispersion Glass)
• Prism System:           DASH (Bak-4)
• Coating:                     FMC (Fully-Multi Coated)
• Resolution:               5
• Size:                           Full Size Binoculars
• Eye Relief:                20.00 mm
• Waterproof:               Yes
• Fog-proof:                  Yes
• Magnification:           10x
• Objective Lens Diameter:               50 mm
• Field of View @ 1000 Yards:         309.20 ft
• Field of View Degree:                     5.9
• Exit Pupil:                                          4.88 mm
• Barrel:                                    Mg-AL
• Weight:                      30.68 oz. (just under two pounds)
• Dimensions:             6.10” x 5.31” x 2.32 “

For me, no matter what all those features and specifications are, my questions for evaluation are pretty simple:

• Can I see through them clearly?
• Do they align and focus easily and quickly?
• Are they actually waterproof as claimed?
• The weight seems low, but how does it seem after carrying them for a day?
• How is that weight when hung around your neck?
• Are they worth the cost?

Can I see through them clearly?  YES.  Given that I wear corrective lenses, either glasses or contacts, when I use binoculars I’m not actually focusing just the binoculars.  I’m having to find the right eye relief distance and then focus the binos.  Once that focus is done; once the two sides are at the correct distance apart and I’ve dialed in the focus, these binoculars offered a crisp view even on humid and/or hazy days.

Do they align and focus easily and quickly?  YES.  Unpacked them, walked out back to my deck and zoomed in on some deer in the trees about 100 yards away.  Aligned nad focused in a second or two; counting the points on the buck in the next second (six on that particular deer).

Are they actually waterproof as claimed?  YES… with he qualification of “as tested.”  The published material says that these binoculars are waterproof to one meter for up to fifteen minutes.  I don’t have anything one meter deep so I put them in a five gallon construction bucket full of water and let them sit for fifteen minutes.  Afterward I could find no sign of any leakage or damage at all.  Certainly, for most of us, “waterproof” usually means “water resistant” and concerns more whether or not the tool in question can withstand heavy rains, a drop in a puddle or other similar circumstance.  Given the fifteen minute soak time, completely submerged, I’m confident these binoculars could handle common outdoor water exposure with no issues.

The weight seems low, but how does it seem after carrying them for a day? How is that weight when hung around your neck?  Not bad at all.  The weight is under two pounds and, unless you’re used to it, you do notice that hanging around your neck.  That said, I don’t walk around with binoculars hanging around my neck all the time just waiting for the circumstances to use them.  Who does? (maybe bird watchers?)  I took mine hiking and had them in the carrying case until I needed them.  Once I pulled them out, hanging them around my neck for a few minutes was no big deal.  The end result was that, at the end of the day, I didn’t feel like I’d been carrying around any appreciable extra weight.

Are they worth the cost? YES.  I’ve “enjoyed” (serious sarcasm) using binoculars that were priced low.  I’ve enjoyed using binoculars that seem to carry a premium price.  The Knight ED 10x50s have an MSRP of $595.00 which is on par for a pair of binoculars of similar value and function.  Unless you abuse them, you’ll be leaving them to your grandchildren and they’ll get decades of use.

All in all, after researching them and field testing them, I give the Snypex Knight ED 10x50 binoculars two thumbs up.  They are not overly large OR overly heavy but they certainly bring what’s far away within visual touching range.  They perform as advertised and are rugged enough to take the common abuse we’d expose them to.  So if you need to add a pair of binos to your kit – whether it’s in your trunk, carry bag, backpack, etc., check them out.