OM System 8x42 PRO specs and field of view
A 395 ft field at 1,000 yd puts the 8x42 PRO 30th of 75 in its size, just above the 393 ft median. Eye relief of 18 mm matches that median exactly.
- Field of view
- 395 ftat 1,000 yd
- Eye relief
- 18 mm
- Close focus
- 4.9 ft
- Exit pupil
- 5.3 mmcalculated
Why pick it
- 395 ft view, wider than the typical 393 ft
- 18 mm eye relief, enough for glasses
- Focuses as close as 4.9 ft
Who the 8x42 PRO suits
Eye relief of 18 mm suits glasses wearers. A calculated exit pupil of 5.3 mm and relative brightness of 27.6 point to dusk viewing, and 4.9 ft of close focus suits nearby subjects.
It gives 8x against the 10x of the 10x42 PRO, and the maker's page lists no depth or time for its waterproof claim.
8x42 PRO is one choice among many, and the top binoculars compared covers the most popular ones. 8x42 PRO is one of 75 models in the 8x42 binoculars comparison. OM SYSTEM lists it in the $500 to $1,000 price band, alongside the models in best binoculars under $1,000.
8x42 PRO specifications
8x42 PRO figures as OM SYSTEM prints them; rows marked * are calculated from the 8x42 size.
| Magnification | 8x |
|---|---|
| Objective lens | 42 mm |
| Prism type | Roof |
| Field of view | 395 ft at 1,000 yd (132 m at 1,000 m) |
| Angular field of view | 7.5° |
| Apparent field of view | 55.3° |
| Eye relief | 18 mm |
| Close focus | 4.9 ft (1.5 m) |
| Eye spacing range | 56 to 70 mm |
| Width | 5.2 in (131 mm) |
| Extra-low dispersion glass | Yes |
| Waterproofing | Waterproof (footnote not shown on page) |
| Fog-proofing gas | Nitrogen |
| Maker list price | $500 to $1,000 |
| Exit pupil | 5.3 mm * |
| Twilight factor | 18.3 * |
| Relative brightness | 27.6 * |
* Calculated from the size, not printed by the maker.
8x42 PRO against other 8x42 binoculars
8x42 PRO shows 395 ft at 1,000 yd, at or above the 393 ft median of the 75 8x42 models in the chart.
8x42 PRO and its nearest rivals
8x42 PRO next to the 8x42 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OM System 8x42 PRO | 395 ft | 18 mm | 4.9 ft | 5.3 mm | $500 to $1,000 | |
| Leupold BX-4 Pro Guide HD Gen 2 8x42 | 376 ft | 18 mm | 8.7 ft | 24.5 oz | 5.3 mm | $500 to $1,000 |
| Hawke Frontier ED X 8x42 | 426 ft | 18 mm | 6.6 ft | 25.6 oz | 5.3 mm | $500 to $1,000 |
| Hawke Frontier ED X Gen 2 8x42 | 426 ft | 22 mm | 4.9 ft | 27.9 oz | 5.3 mm | $500 to $1,000 |
Other sizes of the PRO
OM SYSTEM makes the PRO in 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OM System 8x42 PRO | 8x42 | 395 ft | 18 mm | 4.9 ft | 5.3 mm | |
| OM System 10x42 PRO | 10x42 | 326 ft | 16 mm | 4.9 ft | 4.2 mm |
8x42 PRO questions
8x42 PRO: does it work with glasses?
8x42 PRO has 18 mm of eye relief, which meets the 16 mm the RSPB advises for people who wear glasses.
8x42 PRO: what does 8x42 mean?
8x42 PRO magnifies 8 times through 42 mm front lenses, which works out to an exit pupil of 5.3 mm, the width of the beam of light that reaches each eye.
8x42 PRO: how wide is the view?
8x42 PRO shows a view 395 ft wide at 1,000 yd, at or above the 393 ft median of the 75 8x42 models in the chart.