[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.][You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]BINOCULARS & HUNTING - Binoculars are a tool I simply cannot do without as a ground hunter. Over the years I’ve collected numerous pairs of hand-held optics for every occasion ranging from recreational events to sight-seeing to hunting. As hunters sooner or later we watch our quarry bounce away without getting a shot because we didn’t see them in their camouflage world. Hand-held optics increase my odds of seeing game first, and help me to minimize movement by not having to pull-up an 8 pound scoped rifle. I usually set my variable on low power while still hunting, and binoculars allow me to utilize higher magnification quickly without having to crank-up (then crank- down) my scope. Binoculars also permit me to size-up my game early-on in the hunt and plan my strategy accordingly. After hunting whitetails as long as I have the experience of the hunt itself carries a lot of weight. So for me the art of “glassing-for-game” with quality binoculars perpetuates and enhances the hunting experience… whether I’m seeing game or not.
You would think that after collecting over ½ dozen pairs of binoculars I would have no desire to acquire another pair. Unfortunately, at 54 my “need” for better hunting optics now outweighs the “want”. Although I still have fairly-good eyesight it’s not the responsive acuity I once took for granted when I was a younger hunter. With that reality I began looking into today’s binocular technology to see if there is a reasonable and practical upgrade from what I now use which not only provides a noticeable improvement in optical clarity, but also better visibility in low light conditions. If you hunt in wide-open country or enjoy taking-on the challenges of spot-n-stalk glassing like I do, then here’s a pair of binoculars you might want to check into.
WHAT I FOUND - Not having been on the binos market for awhile I had to educate myself on current technology and features found on new binoculars. I first researched the most prestigious $,$$$.$$ binoculars I could find where price would not be a factor for a select few, and worked my way downward noting which generic features disappeared the farther down the product lines I went. While I did find many standard features and commonalities among the vast selection of binoculars out there, certain features placed a given binocular in a particular tier class. Like everything else in today’s competitive world of retail I found that you generally get what you pay for …and binoculars were no exception.
After making several inquiries to product specialist from various optics company as to what binocular they would recommend for an upgrade, I settled on the VANGUARD Endeavor ED Binocular based on the specific features found on these optics. Turns out the Endeavor ED was literally an eye-opener for me… offering clarity beyond what I’ve seen before.
Before I even removed the Endeavor from its box I gathered-up all my binoculars and then some, and looked through each of them to get a general sense for what they all had in common and what they didn’t. As I looked through one pair after another, it was no surprise I found they all basically viewed the same in terms of clarity… with either the size of the objective lens diameter or the magnification setting the comparability standard. I did however find noticeable differences among binoculars in their ability to bring an object into focus. For my binocular needs as a senior hunter I was primarily interested in three things:
- Better acuity under low light conditions[this is my most challenging hunting condition];
- Their ability to focus quickly on game; and
- Complete weatherproofing.
I also wanted them to be the last pair I would ever need.
Next I pulled out the Endeavor ED.
PHYSICAL & MECHANICAL ATTRIBUTES: The Endeavor ED feels comfortable in the hands. The underside of the housing is shaped to fit your thumb anatomy which provides a symmetrically balanced two-hand grip,
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]with contoured platforms on the top side
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]to rest your middle fingers on while adjusting the center focusing knob. The center knob is large enough to easily adjust with hunting gloves on, and rotates smoothly to accurately bring images into sharp focus with precision.
The Endeavor ED came with a functional
dual-purpose neck strap with quick-snaps[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]which allow you to easily detach the binos and connect the strap to the carrying case. The carrying case comes with a
belt loop[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]which keeps the case from swinging all over the place if you choose to take it hunting with you.
Paired soft rubber lens covers
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]are also included which helps to keep them from getting lost. [
I can’t tell you how many single lens caps of mine I’ve lost.]
The Endeavor ED has
adjustable, 3-position eyecups [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.][You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]that twist-out allowing you to personalize them for optimal eye relief. For those of you that wear eyeglasses, you will appreciate the
generous 17mm eye relief making it easier to quickly find that full field of view.
Another feature I really like on these optics is the
locking diopter adjustment ring.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.][You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]The diopter adjustment corrects differences (stronger or weaker) in your right eye from your left eye. Once you set the diopter to your own vision you can lock it without having to worry about it moving from simple handling of the binoculars…and it’s one less thing you need (or want) to do while glassing for big game.
While the Endeavor ED is a little heavier that your standard bino, it’s an acceptable trade-off for what you are getting in terms of premium grade optics. [
Although not an absolute necessity, offering a camo version in this model for hunters like myself would certainly be a nice finishing touch.]
OPTICAL QUALITY: A few glances through the Endeavor ED and I knew right away these image defining optics were in a higher tier class than the 9 other pairs of standard optics I just peeked through. After looking at the features listed on the Endeavor ED it didn’t take long to discover that these binoculars had one particular feature none of the others I viewed had. That feature is embedded in the name of this Endeavor model with the descriptor “ED” attached. What does “ED” stand for? It’s an acronym for “
Extra-low
Dispersion glass”. The foundation upon building great optics using ED glass lies in it’s ability to fully correct Chromatic Aberration” . ED glass accomplishes this by not only focusing the red and blue wavelengths typical of standard binocular glass, but the green wavelengths as well. Interesting enough, I took the picture below in the dark while shining a multiple LED light through the Endeavor ED tube. There were three very distinct color ( red, blue & green) reflections visible. I did not observe these colors in any of the other binoculars.
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Although a gross over-simplification, it’s probably worth mentioning a few words about basic lens concepts in general, and how Chromatic Aberration can affect image viewing.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Chromatic Aberration or “color fringing” is caused when the lens does not focus the red, blue and green wavelengths of light onto the same focal point. The amount of Chromatic Aberration depends on the dispersion of the glass where image distortion is caused by air bubbles, imperfections, and/or glass deformities. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Single lens
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Achromatic lens reduce Chromatic Aberration by focusing the red and blue wavelengths onto the same point.
Step it up a notch into an “apochromatic” lens,[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]and you now have a lens which takes care of focusing the green wavelengths as well. The result is a lens design that now directs the red, blue and green wavelengths to the same point of focus… which, for all practical purposes, makes Chromatic Aberration nonexistent and produces a much sharper image.]
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To provide you with at least a general sense of what differences I’m actually perceiving through ED glass versus non-ED glass, I carefully adjusted the digital pictures below which were taken under different daylight conditions. The simulations compare the Vanguard ED to my best 10x 42mm. [
Although subjective they’re the best I can do for the readers to make a visual point.]
Pictures on the RIGHT are what I perceived looking through the Endeavor ED[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.][You must be registered and logged in to see this image.][You must be registered and logged in to see this image.][You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]SUMMARY CONCLUSION:
This was my first hands-on experience with a VANGUARD product. While VANGUARD may not be as well-known as other makers of optics that I’m familiar with, based on my findings the Endeavor ED was no doubt designed to compete with the very best in its class. Prior to doing this Review binoculars were essentially in only one of two descriptive categories… either good or bad. Compared to other binoculars I’ve used I can best describe the Endeavor ED’s optical qualities as simply excellent.
I consider the Extra-low Dispersion glass at the core of the high quality images I see through VANGUARD’s Endeavor ED. Add waterproofing, FOGPROOFING, premium BAK-4 roof prisms, Phase coating and FULLY Multi-coated lens, and the Endeavor ED becomes the perfect hand-held hunting optics for the serious glassing-hunter. Worthy of recognition too is that while most 10x binoculars have a 42mm objective, the Endeavor ED’s magnification is
10.5x with a
larger 45mm objective lens…
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]giving it an unique edge over its competitors. The
additional 0.5x and 3mm’s may not seem like much, but they maximize the Endeavor’s ED features while giving you a bigger bino in a smaller package. As dawn and dusk are prime times to hunt whitetails, the impressive light gathering properties of these binoculars are just what I needed (and now want). Because of their clarity and brightness these binos should also provide me with a full days’ worth of glassing without contributing to eye strain and fatigue... especially in low light conditions. What I do know is that I’m definitely looking forward to hunting with the Endeavor ED this coming deer season. What I don’t know is what I’m going to do with all the other pairs of binos I have.
For more information on the Endeavor ED and other hunting accessories by VANGUARD, you can visit their website at:
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VANGUARD® is a global manufacturer of tripods, camera bags and cases, gunpods, gun/bow cases, binoculars and spotting scopes with first-of-its-kind features and capabilities. With 23 years of expertise, these innovative products are hailed around the world.Manufacturer’s SPECIFICATIONS for the ENDEAVOR ED:• Power:10.5
• Diameter of objectives:45mm
• Prism Type:Bak4 Roof
• Waterproof: Watertight to a depth of 1m /3.3ft
• View Angle:6.0°
• Field of Viewm@1000m:105m/1000m
• Eye Relief:17.0mm
• Near focus(m):3.0m;9.8 feet
• Focus System: Inter focusing via central focusing knob
• Lens coating:Fully multi-coated
• Phase coating:Yes
• Dimensions (L x W):130x156mm
• Weight (g):760
