Are you looking for a pair of light weight binoculars for casual birdwatching, sporting events, concerts, and arena events? You may find Tasco Essentials 8×21 Binoculars just perfect for such tasks. I have been very pleased by these value and performance offered by my Tasco binoculars.
My Tasco binoculars are dedicated to everyday use. Due to their very compact size, these tiny binoculars can easily ride in the glove compartment of my vehicle or fit in a front pants pocket. Tasco Essentials 8×21 binoculars measure only 3 and 5/8-inches long by about 2 and 1/2-inches wide with the binocular tubes folded for carrying. These Tasco 8×21 Binoculars also come with an equally compact carrying case that features a very convenient belt-loop. When carried, they take up little more space than a cell phone. This makes them the perfect binoculars to carry everywhere. Since Tasco sells value-priced optics, Tasco Essentials binoculars are generally priced low enough to be used anywhere without worry. They can always be replaced.
While Tasco strives to offer quality at low prices, Tasco Essentials 8×21 Binoculars have very nice features like fully-coated optics, 8x magnification, 21-millimeter objectives, and a rubber armored body. Since the binoculars are fully-coated, all air-to-glass surfaces are coated with anti-reflection coatings to help reduce glare and the amount of light reflected by the lenses. The combination of relatively low 8x magnification and lightweight makes these Tasco roof-prism binoculars easy to aim and hold steadily. The rubber molded body is easy to grip and comfortable to hold for long periods of time. A thin retention strap is built in to help users retain their binoculars in the event they are accidently dropped.
Birdwatchers will be glad to note that these binoculars can focus on objects that are quite close (perhaps as close as ten feet away). However, at 1000 yards, Tasco Essentials 8×21 Binoculars offer a generous 383-foot field of view. Unlike some inexpensive binoculars, Tasco Essentials 8×21 Binoculars also provide both a center-focusing wheel and individual focus for the right eyepiece. I found that this allows me to focus my binoculars perfectly every time. Eye relief seems generous. Users who wear eyeglasses will find that the rubber eyecups can be folded back around the eyepieces to allow the binoculars to be used with their spectacles. I have also been pleased by the collimation of my Tasco Essentials. The binocular tubes seem perfectly aligned and provide a wonderfully sharp image.
When compared to Steiner Safari binoculars which usually retail for 10 times as much, the Tasco Essentials acquit themselves well. At 6.5 ounces, they weigh two ounces less than the similar Steiner 8×22 Safari binoculars. To me, the image quality seemed roughly equivalent. However, the lighter Tasco binoculars were just a little more jittery when hand-held. The Steiners have ergonomic features like flat thumbpads that are designed to make them easy to hold steadily. They Safaris also have eyecups that are designed to shield users from light coming from the sides and coatings that help shield users from ultra-violet light. While these features make Germany’s Steiner binoculars truly wonderful, the Tasco binoculars offer a strong, value-based, counter argument. Tasco Essentials can be left in a car, banged around by kids, and carried for weeks in a purse. If damaged, the 8x21mm binoculars can be replaced for a pittance. These compact binoculars offer quality that is clearly a cut above cheap dime-store or drug store binoculars.
