Bushnell H2O 12x42 specs and field of view
The Bushnell H2O 12x42 is a porro that weighs 31 oz and offers a 267 ft field of view. Its 3.5 mm calculated exit pupil and 22.4 calculated twilight factor suit steady looks at far subjects.
- Field of view
- 267 ftat 1,000 yd
- Eye relief
- 14 mm
- Close focus
- 18 ft
- Weight
- 31 oz
- Exit pupil
- 3.5 mmcalculated
Why pick it
- Waterproof
- Takes a tripod adapter
Who the H2O 12x42 suits
It suits users who want 12x with a 14 mm eye relief and a 4.6 degree field. Its 18 ft close focus fits distant subjects.
At 31 oz it is heavy, and the 3.5 mm calculated exit pupil is smaller than that of 10x42 models.
H2O 12x42 aside, the most popular models of all sizes are in our best binoculars comparison.
H2O 12x42 specifications
H2O 12x42 figures as Bushnell prints them; rows marked * are calculated from the 12x42 size.
| Magnification | 12x |
|---|---|
| Objective lens | 42 mm |
| Prism type | Porro |
| Field of view | 267 ft at 1,000 yd (81 m at 1,000 m) |
| Angular field of view | 4.6° |
| Apparent field of view | 56° * |
| Eye relief | 14 mm |
| Close focus | 18 ft (5.4 m) |
| Weight | 31 oz (881 g) |
| Length | 8.5 in (216 mm) |
| Waterproofing | IPX7 |
| Fog-proofing gas | Argon |
| Tripod adaptable | Yes |
| Exit pupil | 3.5 mm * |
| Twilight factor | 22.4 * |
| Relative brightness | 12.3 * |
* Calculated from the size, not printed by the maker.
H2O 12x42 against other 12x42 binoculars
H2O 12x42 shows 267 ft at 1,000 yd, at or above the 267 ft median of the 4 12x42 models in the chart. At 31 oz it is heavier than the 27 oz median for the size.
H2O 12x42 and its nearest rivals
H2O 12x42 next to the 12x42 models closest to it in maker list price, with the best figure in each column in bold.
| Model | Field of view | Eye relief | Close focus | Weight | Exit pupil | Maker list price | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bushnell H2O 12x42 | 267 ft | 14 mm | 18 ft | 31 oz | 3.5 mm | ||
| Nikon Monarch M5 12x42 | 267 ft | 15.1 mm | 8.2 ft | 22.6 oz | 3.5 mm | $200 to $500 | |
| Maven C.1 12x42 | 262 ft | 15 mm | 5.9 ft | 24.5 oz | 3.5 mm | $500 to $1,000 | |
| Swarovski NL Pure 12x42 | 339 ft | 18 mm | 8.5 ft | 29.5 oz | 3.5 mm | over $2,000 | Check price on Amazon |
Binocular Chart earns a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases made through these buttons.
Other sizes of the H2O
Bushnell makes the H2O in 8 sizes; a larger front lens adds brightness and weight, and more magnification narrows the view.
| Model | Size | Field of view | Eye relief | Close focus | Weight | Exit pupil | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bushnell H2O 12x42 | 12x42 | 267 ft | 14 mm | 18 ft | 31 oz | 3.5 mm | |
| Bushnell H2O 8x25 Compact | 8x25 | 361 ft | 11 mm | 19 ft | 10.3 oz | 3.1 mm | |
| Bushnell H2O 10x25 Compact | 10x25 | 320 ft | 10 mm | 17 ft | 10.7 oz | 2.5 mm | |
| Bushnell H2O 12x25 | 12x25 | 262 ft | 8 mm | 19 ft | 10.6 oz | 2.1 mm | |
| Bushnell H2O 12x25 Compact | 12x25 | 262 ft | 8 mm | 19 ft | 10.6 oz | 2.1 mm | |
| Bushnell H2O 8x42 (roof) | 8x42 | 360 ft | 17 mm | 15 ft | 22.7 oz | 5.3 mm | Check price on Amazon |
| Bushnell H2O 10x42 | 10x42 | 305 ft | 15.6 mm | 12 ft | 22.2 oz | 4.2 mm | Check price on Amazon |
| Bushnell H2O 7x50 | 7x50 | 340 ft | 27 mm | 24 ft | 37.5 oz | 7.1 mm |
Bushnell binoculars
H2O 12x42 questions
H2O 12x42: does it work with glasses?
H2O 12x42 has 14 mm of eye relief, under the 16 mm the RSPB advises for people who wear glasses, so the edge of the view may be cut off with glasses on.
H2O 12x42: what does 12x42 mean?
H2O 12x42 magnifies 12 times through 42 mm front lenses, which works out to an exit pupil of 3.5 mm, the width of the beam of light that reaches each eye.
H2O 12x42: can it go on a tripod?
H2O 12x42 is tripod adaptable according to Bushnell, so it accepts a binocular tripod adapter.