My goal was a moderately priced binocular as a first time birder. After reviewing three top competitors from several sources, I selected the Hawke product. They are easy to handle, focus and feel good in the hands. The case and presentation of product is superb. The binocular harness was an added bonus. Thank you B&H for continuing to provide excellent product and service.

I've tried several 8x42s of late and the Hawke is superb, competing with and beating the Zeiss Terra, with a wider 65° field of view (FOV), wider than most competitive 8x42s which have only 55° to 60° apparent FOV eyepieces. The Hawke Frontiers give a wider, more panoramic view. Color correction and eye relief are excellent, as is edge of field sharpness. The Frontiers are a great value for anyone looking for a high quality binocular without paying the hundreds more that a premium brand unit will cost. You could do that and still not get the optical performance (primarily the wide FOV) of the Frontier 8x42.

I purchased these binoculars to use for birding while getting my Leica 8x32 binos repaired, and also to have a backup pair. I bought them based on their specs and other reviews without trying them first, which can be risky. So I knew before I got them that a big negative was likely to be that the focus knob turned in the opposite direction as my Leica's. I can say that this is the only negative, and not as big of one as I had feared, mainly because of the incredibly smooth focusing. The optical quality seems as good as my Leica's to my older eyes, the 8x42 allows more light to come in compared to my Leica's, they are about the same weight, and have a great field of view. I am very happy with my purchase and I might stick with them even after I get my Leica's back, mainly because of the amazingly smooth and fast focusing without a weight penalty.

I wear glasses and these binoculars were recommended to me by B&H staff. I used them on a trip to New Zealand to view wildlife and they are wonderfully clear. Thank you, B&H, for the recommendation. You never steer me wrong.

I am an avid bird watcher, but I am still quite new to the hobby. A few months ago I purchased a pair of well known binoculars that I thought were good, but something about them just seemed off. I decided to sell them, and then I stumbled upon the Hawke Frontier ED X 8x42. These binoculars blow my last pair out of the water, and the best part is that these sell at a lower price than my last pair!

The overall ergonomics feel great, the whole binocular feels solid and the rubber armor is nice and grippy. I noticed that this binocular is rather compact, which is great. The weight is perfect.

The eyecups adjust to just the right length for my eyeglasses. The diopter adjustment is well made. Although it does not lock, it has the right amount of resistance needed to keep in place. The focus knob is excellent, very smooth and easy to grip with just the right focusing speed. All of the adjustments are smooth and feel quality.

The accessories are well thought out and practical. The covers for the objective lenses are simple yet effective, they do not fall off easily. The case looks great and it holds the binoculars snuggly. I love the magnetic closing feature, not having to zip and unzip the zipper in the field will help to avoid startling birds. The neck strap feels nice, but I personally opt to use the binocular harness that comes included when you purchase from B&H.

The optics in these binoculars are superb. I have had no problem using them in full sunlight or on cloudy days. The field of view is nice and wide, the image is sharp, and the colors are well defined. My last pair of binoculars seemed to darken the image a bit, these have no noticeable problem with brightness.

Overall I am very impressed with these binos. For the price you will not be disappointed.