Olympus - binoclulars 8 x 21 RC II WP

I bought the Olympus 8x21 'RCII WP' binoculars because I wanted an extra pair for watching the activity around a nest of blue tits in my back garden.I chose Olympus because I already own a pair of compact Olympus 'DPC I' binoculars which I've been very happy with. I needed the extra pair because I frequently find myself looking out of the kitchen window, reaching for my binoculars, only to realise that they were left in the bedroom! Having more than one pair seems a sensible solution.Since buying my existing pair, Olympus have introduced this new variety of compact binoculars with roof prisms, as opposed to porro prisms. I was eager to compare and see how much improvement the new system makes.The first thing I noticed as I unboxed them is that the RCII WP feel much more solid in my hand compared with the earlier model. They are also marginally heavier but it's hardly noticeable. The older, porro prism design, requires a plastic shell to enclose the internal mechanism, which makes them feel slightly more flimsy.The second thing I noticed after removing the lens caps, is that the rubber cups that traditionally shroud the eye pieces have been replaced with a new adjustable design. This new 'extendable twist tube' provides a better viewing experience for people who wear glasses when using binoculars. My wife approves of this feature.Holding the 'RCII WP' binoculars to my eyes there is an immediately noticeable improvement of contrast and colour. As I said, I have been very happy with my older Olympus 'DPC I' but now, by comparison, I see that although they're crisp and clear, sunlight flooding the lenses does leave a slight amount of haze. The new RCII WP with Roof Prisms doesn't suffer from this haze and does provide a clearer more pronounced image, where colours are much more vivid. This is a great improvement and should be a big factor when making the choice of which binoculars to buy.I chose to buy very compact binoculars simply because I resent having to lug around anything larger than necessary. The smaller the better as far as I'm concerned. When I was much younger this optical technology didn't exist and the only choice was holding up the equivalent of a pair of beer bottles to your eyes. I bought my first compact 10x25 Bausch & Lomb porro prisms over twenty years ago. They were a revelation. A couple of years later I bought my little Olympus 8x21 DPCI, that were even more compact - they blew me away. My B&L binos recently became misaligned and are no longer trusted.By the way, I hope nobody reading this review gets the idea that the older Olympus 'DPC I' are bad binoculars. In the past day comparing the two, the DPC have accounted for themselves very well. I think they are very well made, despite what I said about them being relatively flimsy. In over ten years they've withstood quite a bit of bashing and remain pin sharp. In my opinion the 'DPC I' are more comfortable to hold and are quicker to focus with one hand than the RCII. There's a lot to be said for that!Finally, these Olympus binoculars are great value for money. You can afford to have more than one pair.

Small, neat, good quality.

I wanted a pair of lightweight, pocketable, waterproof binoculars, and as these were at a good price and I've had a good experience with Olympus products, I thought these were worth a try. They are very compact when folded and easily fit into a normal jacket pocket (in the supplied protective bag). Although I haven't put it to the test, they are stated as waterproof and nitrogen filled to keep out the elements, and the rubber coating feels good and should protect them from minor knocks.I'm not an expert nor do I have any experience of using "top class" binoculars to compare these to. However I can say they clearly outperform two older cheap compact binoculars I've got (Natural Trust and Vivitar branded). The image is brighter and clearer by comparison (and unlike the Vivitars, no obvious colour distortions on the edges of objects), and I can really see fine details through them. I found them easy to adjust to my eyes with the adjustable diopter and twist out eyecups. The focus mechanism is nicely weighted and allows for precise and quick adjustment, and feels smooth, although oddly enough I hear a slight noise when adjusting the focus, but no big deal.If there's one minor annoyance it would be that the supplied lens caps are not attached in any way, so care must be taken not to lose them. I'd prefer it if they could be attached to the binoculars. Overall happy with these though.

Compact, light-weight and well made, I'm very happy with these binoculars. In my experience, binoculars of this size tend not to be as easy to use as larger, more conventional ones. Looking through these small binoculars can be tricky at first, but once you've got the knack it's not really a problem. Adjustment for eye-width and focus is easy, though I find I have to focus just past the subject and then back to get it spot-on. That said, once it is in focus the image is very sharp and clear. There is only one lanyard hook on the side which means if you wear it round your neck it hangs on its side which is rather odd, but at least it keeps the eyepieces dry if it's raining. I ordered the green version - the green is a lot more vivid than in the photos, more of a grass green or apple green. With hindsight, I would probably have chosen the black if I'd known.In summary, as tiny binoculars go, these are excellent and I'm very pleased I bought them. I have a pair of Carl Zeiss Jena 8x30s from the 1970s which are quicker and easier to focus and give a slightly better image, but I rarely take them out due to the size and weight. These Olympus 8x21s are always with me now, in my pocket or bag and are getting daily use - something the Carl Zeiss cannot compete with.

Light and compact to carry. Focusing wheel a bit stiff - hoping this will improve with use. Image is a bit brighter than similar spec, older compacts I have used from other manufacturers. I understand the next model up has a larger diameter objective and although significantly more expensive, I now believe it would have been a better choice - image brightness is more important than magnification especially when bird watching.

Ideal for travelling as they are compact and easy to use.Quality is very good considering the size.I recommend these binoculars for those people who have luggage restrictions

I like to have a small pair of binoculars in the pocket of my walking coat in case I see an interesting bird or animal while I'm out. These fit the bill and are good at the price. Solidly made and claim to be waterproof. I particularly like the fact that I can screw in the eye cups and use them with my specs / sunglasses. The optics are clear and quite bright, which I'd expect from Olympus.

Unusable. The image was so blurry. Maybe i expecting too much. I bought some Carson Binoculars after this and it was like night and day.