Hey guys, I was given the opportunity to test a new set of binos for a company called Hi-Lux. I wanted to provide honest feedback for Hi-Lux and to the end users.
I first heard about this company when I saw their scopes on a prize table back in April. I did some research and got in touch with their marketing director. We discussed the optics at length and I offered to give them some feedback.
The product in question here are the Hi-Lux Optics Phenom ED Field Flattened Binoculars. Here is what the their website says about them: “Not only do the Phenom ED binoculars showcase superb image quality, they are ergonomically designed to be compact and comfortable to use. With RubberGuard armoring encasing the magnesium-aluminum alloy chassis, the Phenom ED offers outstanding durability at a fraction of the weight. The two thumb indents in the RubberGuard armor on the bottom of each barrel improve grip and user accessibility.
No corners have been cut in the production of these binoculars. All glass lenses are meticulously polished to photographic quality for exceptional clarity and light gathering capability, which is especially critical during the low light hunting conditions of daybreak and dusk. The Phenom ED Field Flattened Binoculars come in either 8X42 or 10X42 configurations.”
I tested the 10x42 binos and overall really enjoyed them. Here are some specs: FOV at 1000 yards is 342’ and the closes range they’ll focus (which I did test) was right around 5 yards. They weight 29 oz and the glass is well protected.
Lets jump right into the thick of things. I will start with what I did not necessary like, but it is definitely personal preference – The twist up eyepieces is only used to adjust eye relief. The focus for each individual eye is on the locking diopter that is incorporated into the center focus wheel. I am so used to using the focus wheel to focus both eyes at once after setting the diopter on at the eyepiece like we do with most rifle scopes out there. To adjust the diopter settings-
1) Adjust the Center Focus Wheel for your LEFT eye
- Close your right eye or cover the right objective lens with your hand.
- Focus your left eye on the object and adjust the center focus wheel until the image is in sharp focus.
2) Adjust the Diopter for your RIGHT Eye
- Pull up on the center focus wheel to unlock the Right Eye Diopter
- Close your left eye and turn the right eye diopter until the image is in sharp focus.
- Press down on the center focus wheel after you have adjusted the right
However when adjusting the center wheel the image would sometimes become out of focus for both eyes. This is my one and only complaint other than one of the eyepieces coming off when it “fell.”
When I said the eyepiece came off it came off after dropping these things on multiple surfaces (gravel, dirt, mud, concrete, etc.) from ~7ft.They stood up very well other than that, I honestly can’t say there is much more than a small scratch on the rubber housing from abusing them. I wanted to know that regardless of what these were put through they would hold up and they certainly did.
Onto the good stuff – Glass!
Now the best part- the glass! I compared these binos with binos from pretty much every price point – $250 Nikons, $450 Pentax, $1500 10x Razor HD, $1500 15x Vortex Kaibab HD and even 10x and 15x Swaro SLC’s. These Hi-Lux Phenom binos retail around for a little less than 600$. At the last handful of matches I shot I would have people look through them they were all pretty amazed by the quality of the glass especially at the price. I believe the glass is very close to on par with the 15x Kaibab’s and very close to the 10x Razors. Seeing trace and impacts/misses is absolutely no problem out to about 1000 yards. Obviously the Swaro’s were much better, but their price is give or takes 4 times higher. I tried to get pictures through the glass to make comparisons but as we all know iPhone pictures through bino’s or rifles scopes typically don’t show the true image quality well.
They are currently working on the following:
higher magnification offerings – 12x and 15x.
Adding a mil-type reticle
I believe with these changes it would make the binos very hard to beat at price point and quality.
Here’s a link to their website for the product- https://hi-luxoptics.com/products/hi...ned-binoculars
I first heard about this company when I saw their scopes on a prize table back in April. I did some research and got in touch with their marketing director. We discussed the optics at length and I offered to give them some feedback.
The product in question here are the Hi-Lux Optics Phenom ED Field Flattened Binoculars. Here is what the their website says about them: “Not only do the Phenom ED binoculars showcase superb image quality, they are ergonomically designed to be compact and comfortable to use. With RubberGuard armoring encasing the magnesium-aluminum alloy chassis, the Phenom ED offers outstanding durability at a fraction of the weight. The two thumb indents in the RubberGuard armor on the bottom of each barrel improve grip and user accessibility.
No corners have been cut in the production of these binoculars. All glass lenses are meticulously polished to photographic quality for exceptional clarity and light gathering capability, which is especially critical during the low light hunting conditions of daybreak and dusk. The Phenom ED Field Flattened Binoculars come in either 8X42 or 10X42 configurations.”
I tested the 10x42 binos and overall really enjoyed them. Here are some specs: FOV at 1000 yards is 342’ and the closes range they’ll focus (which I did test) was right around 5 yards. They weight 29 oz and the glass is well protected.
Lets jump right into the thick of things. I will start with what I did not necessary like, but it is definitely personal preference – The twist up eyepieces is only used to adjust eye relief. The focus for each individual eye is on the locking diopter that is incorporated into the center focus wheel. I am so used to using the focus wheel to focus both eyes at once after setting the diopter on at the eyepiece like we do with most rifle scopes out there. To adjust the diopter settings-
1) Adjust the Center Focus Wheel for your LEFT eye
- Close your right eye or cover the right objective lens with your hand.
- Focus your left eye on the object and adjust the center focus wheel until the image is in sharp focus.
2) Adjust the Diopter for your RIGHT Eye
- Pull up on the center focus wheel to unlock the Right Eye Diopter
- Close your left eye and turn the right eye diopter until the image is in sharp focus.
- Press down on the center focus wheel after you have adjusted the right
However when adjusting the center wheel the image would sometimes become out of focus for both eyes. This is my one and only complaint other than one of the eyepieces coming off when it “fell.”
When I said the eyepiece came off it came off after dropping these things on multiple surfaces (gravel, dirt, mud, concrete, etc.) from ~7ft.They stood up very well other than that, I honestly can’t say there is much more than a small scratch on the rubber housing from abusing them. I wanted to know that regardless of what these were put through they would hold up and they certainly did.
Onto the good stuff – Glass!
Now the best part- the glass! I compared these binos with binos from pretty much every price point – $250 Nikons, $450 Pentax, $1500 10x Razor HD, $1500 15x Vortex Kaibab HD and even 10x and 15x Swaro SLC’s. These Hi-Lux Phenom binos retail around for a little less than 600$. At the last handful of matches I shot I would have people look through them they were all pretty amazed by the quality of the glass especially at the price. I believe the glass is very close to on par with the 15x Kaibab’s and very close to the 10x Razors. Seeing trace and impacts/misses is absolutely no problem out to about 1000 yards. Obviously the Swaro’s were much better, but their price is give or takes 4 times higher. I tried to get pictures through the glass to make comparisons but as we all know iPhone pictures through bino’s or rifles scopes typically don’t show the true image quality well.
They are currently working on the following:
higher magnification offerings – 12x and 15x.
Adding a mil-type reticle
I believe with these changes it would make the binos very hard to beat at price point and quality.
Here’s a link to their website for the product- https://hi-luxoptics.com/products/hi...ned-binoculars
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