| On the third day of our river-bottom hunting trip for whitetail in
North Dakota my hunting partner, Dane, and I decided to go for a scouting
walk after an unsuccessful morning. We were walking along the edge of a
field that had a slight rise in the middle. Just over the rise there was
a small patch of thick grass where we had seen a few deer the day before.
We stopped to glass the area and Dane spotted a small buck bedded in
the grass. All that was visible were his antlers. Dane showed me the location
of the buck but I just couldn't find it with my binoculars. They were simply
not up to the challenge and could not distinguish the buck's tines from
the blades of tan colored grass. Finally he handed me his high-end optics
and there was the buck! I had left my good binoculars behind and was using
a low-end backup pair. The events of that day made me appreciate the value
of quality optics in the field.
When a pair of Alpen's 8x42 wide-angle Pro model binoculars showed up
at my door for evaluation I was anxious to see if they had what it takes
to be a worthwhile companion afield.
Before going into the testing I would first like to share the basics:
The Pro 317 has a magnification factor of 8x and a 42mm objective lens
diameter. They are of the porro-prism design and boast wide-angle lenses
that produce a 430-foot field of view at 1,000 yards. Focussing is achieved
through two adjustments - the center focussing wheel and the right eyepiece.
The Pro 317 also sport a long 19mm eye relief, multi coated lenses, a unique
grip design and are tripod adaptable. The eyecups fold down for the eyeglass
wearer. All of this is wrapped in Alpen's green rubber coating and comes
with an extra wide neck strap and durable carrying case.
For your reference, I have included an Alpen inset to help explain
some of the optic jargon you see in this article. To
Alpen Inset
Now to my favorite part of any review - the testing! First, I
performed a general quality inspection of the glass, rubber coating, mechanics
and accessories. Other than two minor blemishes, one inside the right eyepiece
glass and the other inside the right barrel, everything was in good order.
In light of my experience mentioned at the beginning of this review
I was anxious to test the resolution of my new Alpen Pros. I did not have
the equipment necessary to scientifically test resolution so I went with
the next best thing - a set of antlers in thick grass! The two sets of
optics mentioned at the beginning of this review along with the Alpen Pro
317 model were used to perform this test. Again, the low-end backup pair
could not distinguish the tines from the blades of grass however the affordable
(approximately $135.00 street price) Alpens were up to the challenge. No,
they weren't as good as Dane's $1,100.00 pair but they were not that far
off either! I was impressed with the brightness and clarity provided by
the 317s.
The next test was a tough one - glassing whitetails at a distance of
200 yards on a cold, foggy morning after a hard rain. Quite frankly this
is where I expected the Alpens to score low because they are not water
or fog proof. I stayed on stand for nearly three hours and experienced
only minor glass fogging problems.
My low light test was a simple one. I placed my McKenzie buck target
30 yards from my tree and then climbed into my stand with my bow. I could
see the individual tines on the buck target for nine minutes after my fiber
optic sight pins were no longer useable or visible. In my opinion that
is good low light performance.
The Alpen Pro 317 wide-angle binoculars were comfortable to hold, although
a little bulky, and the focussing adjustments were ergonomically friendly.
Flaring, otherwise known as unwanted internally scattered light, was experienced
during one evening scouting trip. The sun was low in the sky and was situated
approximately 40 degrees from my line of sight. This was the only significant
flaring noted during all of my testing.
In conclusion I would state that the Alpen Pro 317 binocular model is
an excellent choice for someone looking for high performance for under
$150.00. The clarity is next to amazing and everyone that I asked to look
through them were impressed - especially after I told them the price! The
only drawback I noticed was the size/weight however if you purchase one
of the new binocular slings that hold optics tight against your body that
won't be a problem either.
Workmanship: 3.75 of 5
A few blemishes visible inside the binoculars give the Alpen Pro this
average score.
Low Light Visibility: 4.25 of 5
For a pair of binoculars under $150.00 this is a great score! I was
able to see distinct shapes well after shooting light.
Value: 4.75 of 5
Again, for under $150.00 you not only can't go wrong but you are also
getting a set of optics that perform way above its class.
Resolution/Clarity: 4 of 5
These optics are super clear and passed my simple resolution test with
flying colors. They may not quite measure up to high-end binoculars in
this category however they perform excellently in their class.
For more information on this or any other Alpen product (they have a
good selection) contact:
Alpen Outdoor Corporation
10722 Arrow Route, Suite 404
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
Phone - 909.987.8370
Fax - 909.987.8661
Contact
Alpen by Email
http://www.alpenoutdoor.com |
