Opticron Discovery WA ED 8x42 specs and field of view
A 4.9 ft close focus on the Discovery WA ED 8x42 sits well inside the 6.6 ft median for its size, and the 393 ft field matches the median.
- Field of view
- 393 ftat 1,000 yd
- Eye relief
- 19 mm
- Close focus
- 4.9 ft
- Weight
- 23.9 oz
- Exit pupil
- 5.3 mmcalculated
Why pick it
- 23.9 oz, lighter than the typical 24.2 oz
- 19 mm eye relief, enough for glasses
- Focuses as close as 4.9 ft
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Who the Discovery WA ED 8x42 suits
Near subjects suit the short close focus, and 19 mm of eye relief, above the 18 mm median, helps eyeglass wearers. Dusk use gets a 5.3 mm exit pupil, calculated from the size.
At 23.9 oz the body is close to the 24.2 oz median, so it saves no weight over a typical 8x42.
Discovery WA ED 8x42 is one choice among many, and the top binoculars compared covers the most popular ones. Discovery WA ED 8x42 is one of 75 models in the 8x42 binoculars comparison. Opticron lists it in the $200 to $500 price band, alongside the models in best binoculars under $500.
Discovery WA ED 8x42 specifications
Discovery WA ED 8x42 figures as Opticron prints them; rows marked * are calculated from the 8x42 size.
| Magnification | 8x |
|---|---|
| Objective lens | 42 mm |
| Field of view | 393 ft at 1,000 yd (131 m at 1,000 m) |
| Angular field of view | 7.5° |
| Apparent field of view | 60° * |
| Eye relief | 19 mm |
| Close focus | 4.9 ft (1.5 m) |
| Eye spacing range | 59 to 76 mm |
| Weight | 23.9 oz (678 g) |
| Extra-low dispersion glass | Yes |
| Waterproofing | Waterproof |
| Maker list price | $200 to $500 |
| Exit pupil | 5.3 mm * |
| Twilight factor | 18.3 * |
| Relative brightness | 27.6 * |
* Calculated from the size, not printed by the maker.
Discovery WA ED 8x42 against other 8x42 binoculars
Discovery WA ED 8x42 shows 393 ft at 1,000 yd, at or above the 393 ft median of the 75 8x42 models in the chart. At 23.9 oz it is at or under the 24.2 oz median weight for the size.
Discovery WA ED 8x42 and its nearest rivals
Discovery WA ED 8x42 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 | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opticron Discovery WA ED 8x42 | 393 ft | 19 mm | 4.9 ft | 23.9 oz | 5.3 mm | $200 to $500 | Check price on Amazon |
| Celestron TrailSeeker 8x42 | 426 ft | 17 mm | 6.5 ft | 23.1 oz | 5.3 mm | $200 to $500 | Check price on Amazon |
| Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42 | 393 ft | 17 mm | 5 ft | 21.8 oz | 5.3 mm | $200 to $500 | Check price on Amazon |
| Hawke Endurance ED 8x42 | 399 ft | 17 mm | 6.6 ft | 24.9 oz | 5.3 mm | $200 to $500 |
Other sizes of the Discovery WA ED
Opticron makes the Discovery WA ED in 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opticron Discovery WA ED 8x42 | 8x42 | 393 ft | 19 mm | 4.9 ft | 23.9 oz | 5.3 mm | Check price on Amazon |
| Opticron Discovery WA ED 8x32 | 8x32 | 420 ft | 18 mm | 3.9 ft | 13.8 oz | 4 mm | Check price on Amazon |
| Opticron Discovery WA ED 10x32 | 10x32 | 318 ft | 15.5 mm | 4.3 ft | 13.8 oz | 3.2 mm | |
| Opticron Discovery WA ED 10x42 | 10x42 | 330 ft | 16 mm | 4.9 ft | 23.6 oz | 4.2 mm | Check price on Amazon |
Opticron binoculars
Discovery WA ED 8x42 questions
Discovery WA ED 8x42: does it work with glasses?
Discovery WA ED 8x42 has 19 mm of eye relief, which meets the 16 mm the RSPB advises for people who wear glasses.
Discovery WA ED 8x42: what does 8x42 mean?
Discovery WA ED 8x42 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.
Discovery WA ED 8x42: how wide is the view?
Discovery WA ED 8x42 shows a view 393 ft wide at 1,000 yd, at or above the 393 ft median of the 75 8x42 models in the chart.