The Tasco Essentials 7X35 binoculars will remind many old time deer hunters of the standard binoculars popular in the 1970s and 80s. Retailing at about the $30 mark these binoculars will not be featured on the cover of the national hunting magazines any time soon. However, for those just getting started in deer hunting or on a tight budget, those $500 to $1000 binoculars that do grace the cover of these magazines are simply not a viable option. This review is for those hunters wondering whether or not bargain priced binoculars have any place in the fields and woods where deer are hunted.
The Tasco Essentials 7X35 binoculars are built on the porro prism design. In overly simplified terms, this means that the front and rear lens do not line up. This also means that the binocular is somewhat more bulky than a binocular built using the roof prism design. The 7X35 designation means that the binoculars magnify the image seven times (making things appear seven times closer) and the front objective lens measures 35mm.
The Tasco binoculars have a field of view of 500 feet at 1000 yards. The field of view is larger from these binoculars than with most roof prism designs. This is the advantage of inexpensive porro prism binoculars over inexpensive compact roof prism binoculars (which Tasco and others also make). In general, cheap porro prism binoculars also have better image quality than cheap roof prism binoculars. The Tasco Essentials 7X35 has the standard features of most other binoculars: a quick focus adjust knob, fold down rubber eye caps (which allow the user to wear glasses while using the binoculars) and a neck strap. Tasco does provide a limited lifetime warranty on these binoculars.
The Tasco Essentials 7X35 has surprisingly good image quality. The image quality is not on par with binoculars that cost more than an average person’s mortgage payment, but better than similar models from a couple decades ago. My pair appears to show little edge distortion, a common complaint about cheap scopes and binoculars. The binoculars are also not water or fog proof which is a serious disadvantage for deer hunters on rainy days.
The Tasco Essentials 7X35 is not the ideal binocular for those who still hunt or otherwise travel long distances while hunting deer. This is due to the weight and the bulk of the binoculars. For those who do want to carry these binoculars on long trips, you should buy a better neck strap with a wide padded band to make carrying the binoculars more comfortable. However, for the hunter that wants a pair of binoculars to use for glassing for deer from a tree stand, ground blind or other stationary position, the Tasco Essentials 7X35 do represent a great deal.
While Tasco’s products are not in the class of Leupold, Nikon or other higher end optics, the Tasco Essentials 7X35 can be successfully used for deer hunting. Though a hunter may not get the clearest or brightest image possible, these inexpensive binoculars can help a hunter to find deer and to spot antlers without breaking the bank. And there is nothing wrong with that.
