Author Archives: Neil English

Product Review: Sky Rover Banner Cloud 7.5 x 32.

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A Work Commenced December 9 2025

Product: Sky Rover Banner Cloud 7.5 x 32 with 2-ich astronomical filters

Country of Manufacture: China

Chassis: Magnesium alloy overlaid by protective rubber

Exit Pupil: 4.3mm

Eye Relief: 18mm

Field of View: 184m@1000m(10.4 angular degrees)

Dioptre Compensation: +\-4

Coatings: Fully broadband multicoated, Phase corrected Schmidt Pechan prisms, hydrophobic coatings on ocular and objective lenses

Prism Type:H-Bak7GT

ED glass: Yes

Field Flatteners: Yes

Waterproof: Yes, 1m/30 mins

Nitrogen Purged: Yes

Close Focus: 2m advertised, 1.95m measured

Light Transmission: 90-92%

Tripod Mountable: Yes

Dimensions:13.9 x 12cm

Weight: 822g

Accessories: Soft padded carry case, objective covers, ocular rain guard, 2-inch astronomical filters, filter adaptors, padded neck strap, microfibre cloth, instruction manual

Warranty: 3 Years

Price: $409 without filters, $505 with 2” filter set

In previous reviews, I showcased two amazing new high-performance binoculars from SkyRover: the 8 x 42 and the larger 10 x 50. These featured class-leading optical designs with ED glass, flat fields and ultra-wide angle eyepieces( 9.1 & 7.5 degrees, respectively) that left their European competitors in the starting blocks. Since their launch in 2023, the Banner Cloud series has gone from strength to strength, delivering world-class performance at prices hitherto unheard of. Customers voted with their wallets, and despite desperate attempts from ignorant trolls who condemned Sky Rover having never looked through one of their instruments, they are currently enjoying great success, bolstered by many dozens of happy user testimonies. 

But SkyRover did not rest on their laurels, reaching out and listening to their client base, when they committed to bringing to market two new models in the 32mm aperture class: the 6 x 32 sporting a true field exceeding 12 degrees, and just recently,  a 7.5 x 32 model boasting a field of view of 10.4 angular degrees! Of course, there have been designs like these before but never offering the same level of image quality at the edges of the field and at bargain prices. The new SkyRovers are changing all that. In this review, I’ll be showcasing the long-awaited 7.5 x 32 SkyRover Banner Cloud(SRBC), which I believe could be their best binocular yet, for daytime viewing at least! To see why, read on.

A Beautifully Presented Binocular

The SRBC 7.5 x 32 arrived in a beautiful presentation box. Many of the key features of the binocular are  printed on the side, as is the new 3-year warranty. 

The padded case is very well made with an eye catching red SR logo on the front. The padded neoprene neck strap is an ideal match for the weight of this binocular too. The rain guard fits over the eyecups firmly as do the objective lens covers. 

The 7.5 x 32 has shorter barrels than the 42mm series making it a bit more compact. It’s still a hefty glass though, tipping the scales at 822g without the rain guard and objective lens covers attached. This makes it significantly heavier than most other 32mm binoculars – a necessity to get that class-leading field of view.

The large central focus wheel is buttery smooth to turn with absolutely no free play. I reported that the focus wheel on the 8 x 42 SRBC stiffened significantly at the end of its travel but this is not the case on the new 7.5 x 32. 1.4 turns clockwise brings you from closest focus to a little bit beyond infinity. Intriguingly, the earlier models from the series focused counter clockwise!

The dioptre compensation under the right eyepiece turns with just enough inertia to stay in place once adjusted. Indeed, I have never had any issues with this on any SRBC binocular I have had the pleasure of using. 

The eye cups offer five positions in total. They click into place firmly and hold their position well. They can also be unscrewed from the binocular to get at dust and other debris picked up during extensive field use. Eye relief is very generous for the bespectacled among us. I was able to see the field stops when the cups were fully retracted while wearing my progressive glasses.

The objective lenses have multilayer antireflection coatings that ensure very high light transmission. They are well baffled against stray light and protected from whatever the weather throws at you. 

The 7.5 x 32 feels great in the hands. My fingers can wrap around the large barrels to comfortably access the focus wheel. Indeed, it balances that little bit better than the 8 x 42, guaranteeing a more secure hold in field use. 

Another neat feature of both the 6x and 7.5 x 32mm SRBCs is their ability to accept 2 inch filters for deep sky sweeping, which are affixed via two supplied screw-on adaptors. We’ll take a closer look at this provision later in the review.

Optics

My first test was to see how the binocular behaved when pointed at an intensely bright light source. Just like all the others in the Banner Cloud series, the 7.5 x 32 yield excellent results, with no significant internal reflections with a rather subdued diffraction spike. Checking for light leaks round the eye pupils yielded excellent results with round entrance pupils surrounded by lots of darkness: a good omen indeed in predicting how well the instrument would behave against the light. 

The view can summed up in a few words: wonderfully sharp from edge to edge, exceptionally immersive, with hard, round field stops, lovely contrast, accurate colours and almost no chromatic aberration save for the merest trace in the last 10-15 percent of the field. Depth of field is also very good indeed. Pincushion distortion is extremely mild especially given the exceptional size of the field. Resistance to general and veiling glare is also well above average. In short, a world-class image with a huge wow factor owing to that enormous field of view.

Notes from the Field


In order to get the most immersive field of view with the least amount of glare, I never extend the eyecups out to their fullest extent but rather bring them down two clicks as you can see in the photo below. The left eyecup is positioned correctly for my eyes compared with the fully extened cup seen on the right:

This 7.5 x SRBC is by far the most comfortable and immersive  32mm binocular I have personally experienced. The larger exit pupil over a regular 8 x 32 certainly helps here but there is also the improved depth of focus moving from 8x to 7.5x,  as well as that enormous, ultra-flat field of view. The sheer size of the field is hard to relate in numbers, but compared with say the Zeiss Victory SF 8 x 32, which hitherto presented the widest field of view in a 32mm roof prism format, the 7.5 x 32 SRBC presents a portal nearly 40 per cent larger by way of comparison!

Like the other SRBC models I’ve field tested, there is a generous amount of post infinity focusing in the 7.5 x 32, which is good news for those of us who have severe myopia. Close focus was measured to be slightly less than 2m: great for watching close up objects like insects, flowers and rocks in ‘macro’ mode. 

A Comparison with a Known ‘Alpha Class’ 32mm Format Binocular

The lust of the eyes and the pride of life…..


To give the reader some idea of the quality of the view through the 7.5 x 32, I compared it with a Leica Ultravid HD Plus 8 x 32. The latter needs no introduction of course: it is widely regarded as one of the very best compact binoculars ever made. It is also the smallest of the current genre of 32mm binoculars. With a field of view of 7.7 degrees though, the view is noticeably restricted compared with the SRBC which brings a field nearly twice the size to your eyes. Central sharpness is excellent in both but that sharpness extends all the way to the edge of the SRBC field. In contrast, the little Leica glass shows a touch of peripheral softness in the outermost 10 per cent of the field. Colour tone is a little different too, with the Leica glass serving up ‘warmer,’ more saturated colours than the more neutral tones of the SRBC. What really surprised me however, was the level of lateral chromatic aberration in both binoculars. I fully expected the SRBC to show more pronounced fringing owing to its much larger field but that was not the case. Examining a variety of high contrast targets under harsh lighting conditions, it was the Leica that showed more pronounced fringing near the field stops! Pincushion distortion was much more evident in the Leica too!

The importance of a wider field of view was brought home to me one early afternoon in December while carrying both instruments with me on a two mile trek around my local estate. On one heavily overcast occasion, I was glassing some denuded tree branches with the 7.5 x 32 SRBC, when I noticed a Great Spotted Woodpecker perched on a branch in the upper left-hand corner of my field of view. I made a mental note on where the binocular was centred and then reached for the Leica glass, centring the field of view on that same spot. The Woodpecker was no where to be seen, as it was outside the field of view of the Leica glass!

Lessoned learned: with smaller fields of view you’ll be missing stuff.

Impression has a power all of its own.

The hydrophobic coatings on both the Leica and the SRBC outer lenses worked equally well in my field tests. Both instruments quickly dispersed condensation breathed on the eyepieces on cold, damp winter days. Performance against the light was very comparable in both binoculars, that is, excellent!

Now a word on the ergonomics of both binoculars. While the Ultravid HD Plus has a very nice focuser, the focus wheel on the SRBC is even smoother and easier to move. The Leica also has a locking dioptre built into the focus wheel, which is excellent, but hardly a necessity. The traditional dioptre compensation ring located under the right eyepiece is perfectly adequate to the task. It holds its position very well indeed.

A final note on the weight difference of the binoculars: the Leica weighs in at a mere 536g compared with the significantly bulkier 822g SRBC. As I’ve noted before, the extra weight allows me to hold the SRBC a little bit more stably owing to its greater inertia. This becomes important while glassing under windy conditions, when the majority of users would notice the difference. The greater weight of the SRBC generates a more stably held image.  In summation, only if portability is the primary concern, would I choose the Leica over the Sky Rover.

Sweeping the Heavens

While a 32mm aperture binocular would not be my ideal choice for deep sky viewing, having an ultra-flat 10.4 degree field is not to be sniffed at. I chose the 7.5 x 32 over the 6x model since it goes that little bit deeper and has a larger image scale. My experiences of the 7.5 x 32 on the night sky were very favourable. The Moon is razor sharp against a dark sky hinterland. Placing the full Moon in the centre of the field gives the impression that the magnification is lower – an illusion caused by the magnanimity of its field of view. After all, the 7.5 x 32 can get 20 full Moons into its field! Again I could only detect some minor fringing when the Moon was placed quite a bit off axis but to speak of such fringing is academic at best. 

I did do one check to estimate the field size of the 7.5 x 32. Albireo in Cygnus and the Coathanger asterism in Vulpecula are separated by about 10 degrees of sky and I was indeed able to see both in the same field of view. This was not achieved using the 8 x 42 SRBC with its 9.1 degree field. 

Showpieces of the winter night sky were beautifully presented: the Hyades & Pleiades in Taurus, the Sword Handle and Belt stars in Orion could be seen in the same field of view with plenty of room to spare. Kemble’s Cascade, the Alpha Persei Cluster and the famous Double Cluster were also nice to observe. I did notice a modest drop in illumination of stars as they approached the field stops though. I didn’t do much observing with the UHC filters however. I observe from fairly dark rural skies so there would be little need to use them. Under my conditions they did show a modest enhancement of nebular objects such as M42 in Orion but at the expense of attenuating star brightness a bit. 

Conclusions

Test driving the new 7.5 x 32 has been a real thrill. For a modest price of just a few hundred dollars you’re getting super nice optics that is sure to wow you from the first time you bring it up to your eyes. I consider the Sky Rover Banner Cloud series to be quite revolutionary, pushing the envelope on optical quality and setting new records in wide field viewing. Christmas has certainly come early!!

Dr Neil English runs the full gamut of binocular genres in his book, Choosing & Using Binoculars, A Guide for Stargazers, Birders and Outdoor Enthusiasts

De Fideli.

What I’m Reading: Muhammad: A Critical Biography by Robert Spencer.

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But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should announce any “good news” to you other than what we have proclaimed to you, let that person be cursed.

Galatians 1:8

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

2 Corinthians 11:14

Islam is rapidly gaining influence in the West, yet its origins cannot be firmly rooted in history. In this brand new biography, the distinguished Islamic scholar, Dr Robert Spencer, outlines the mythology behind its founder, Muhammad, casting a critical eye on the alleged prophet’s ‘morality,’ as well as asking the question about whether he actually existed.

De Fideli.

Product Review: Opticron Oregon 20 x 80.

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A work Commenced November 27 2025


Product: Opticron Oregon 20 x 80

Country of Manufacture: Chins

Field of View: 57m @ 1000m (3.2 angular degrees)

Exit Pupil: 3.75mm measured

Close Focus: ~20m

Eye Relief: 17mm

Interpupillary Distance (IPD) Range: 56-73mm (2.2-2.9 inches

Prism Type: Porro I

Coatings Fully multi-coated

Waterproof: No

Weight: 2185g

Accessories: Hard case, neck strap, instruction manial and lens cleaning cloth

Price(UK:£150

Over the last year, I’ve been testing out various large aperture binoculars with a goal to selecting the most powerful instrument I could profitably use either with or without a monopod.  That led me to investigate various formats: 15 and 18 x 50 Canon IS binoculars, an Oberwerk ED Ultra 15 x 56, various 15 x 70 models from Celestron and Helios, as well as a quick brush with the Opticron Oregon 20 x 80. These experiences were both enjoyable and rewarding, as I was able to compare and contrast their performance under a dark night sky.

After conducting this study, I reached a startling conclusion: the instrument that ticked all the boxes was the budget priced Opticron Oregon 20 x  80, producing the best deep sky views of all the models tested. So, I ordered up another 20 x 80 unit to conduct more tests and concluded that I had made the right choice. What follows is a more detailed review of my ‘second light’ experiences with this binocular.

A Tried & Trusted Design

The second, new Opticron Oregon 20 x 80 arrived in great shape. Collimation was excellent and the focus wheel worked smoothly and precisely. Ditto for the right eye dioptre compensation ring: which moved with just the right amount of traction as well as holding its position well. 

Like I reported with an earlier unit, I noted a small restriction in aperture owing to the small Porro I prisms utilised in the design which reduced its aperture to 75mm. To my mind, this was a perfectly acceptable compromise given its modest price tag. And losing 5mm proved to be no big deal in the scheme of things.

Testing the binocular out on some bright street lights after dark, I was delighted to see little in the way of  internal reflections. The same was true when I turned it on a bright October full Moon. 


Mounting it on a heavy-duty Oberwerk 2000 monopod, day time views were very impressive: very sharp, nice contrast, vivid colours, with very modest amounts of chromatic aberration. But in truth, what I really looked forward to is giving this beast a good test drive under a dark country sky where it delivered in spades!

Testing on a variety of my favourite deep sky objects including M31, the Pleiades, the Belt Stars and Sword Handle of Orion, M35, M33, Kemble’s Cascade, The Alpha Persei Cluster and nearby Double Cluster, Albireo, the circumpolar galaxies M81 & M82, and the Coathanger asterism, I was immediately struck by the brightness boost of the large 80mm objectives. The central bulge and spiral arms of M31 stood out much better than any of the smaller instruments. The young, blue and white hot stars of the Pleiades sparkled much more prominently compared with the view delivered by both a 15 x 70 or a Canon IS 18 x 50, which appeared much more lacklustre in contrast. M35 was much better resolved in the 20 x 80 than any of the other binoculars I turned on it. Albireo was much more impressively resolved in the large, Opticron Oregon owing to its greater resolution and magnification. The three prominent Belt Stars of Orion could just fit inside the 3.2 degree field of the 20 x 80, with several dozen fainter stars(Collinder 70) peppering their hinterland. M42 in the Sword Handle presented prominently with a greenish hue: a colouring the smaller instruments failed to show. 

The Double Cluster was stunning in the 20 x 80 showing fainter stars and more vivivid colours than any of the other instruments I had used.

Sure, the Opticron Oregon 20 x 80 doesn’t have a flat field like the Oberwerk ED Ultra 15 x 56 or the Canon 18 x 50, but its small field delivers acceptable results even at the field stops- much better, for example, than the Celestron Astromaster binoculars. Do you really need ED glass for such deep sky work? I would say no! It makes very little difference in my opinion. Even a bright first quarter Moon shows an acceptable level of fringing at the limbs, is quickly forgotten when the level of crater detail immediately stuns the eye.

In a nutshell then, aperture wins!

Neil English is author of Choosing & Using Binoculars

De Fideli.

What I’m Reading: Unsettled: What Climate Science Tells Us, What it Doesn’t, and Why it Matters by Steven Koonin.

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Shining light on the Green New Scam.

“While all the days of the earth remain,

Seedtime and harvest, 

Cold and heat, 

Summer and winter, 

And day and night

Shall not cease.”

Genesis 8:22

In this updated and expanded edition of climate scientist Steven Koonin’s groundbreaking book, go behind the headlines to discover the latest eye-opening data about climate change―with unbiased facts and realistic steps for the future. “Greenland’s ice loss is accelerating.” “Extreme temperatures are causing more fatalities.” “Rapid ‘climate action’ is essential to avoid a future climate disaster.” You’ve heard all this presented as fact. But according to science, all of these statements are profoundly misleading. With the new edition of Unsettled, Steven Koonin draws on decades of experience―including as a top science advisor to the Obama administration―to clear away the fog and explain what science really says (and doesn’t say). With a new introduction, this edition now features reflections on an additional three years of eye-opening data, alternatives to unrealistic “net zero” solutions, global energy inequalities, and the energy crisis arising from the war in Ukraine. When it comes to climate change, the media, politicians, and other prominent voices have declared that “the science is settled.” In reality, the climate is changing, but the why and how aren’t as clear as you’ve probably been led to believe. Koonin takes readers behind the headlines, dispels popular myths, and unveils little-known truths: Despite rising greenhouse gas emissions, global temperatures decreased from 1940 to 1970 Models currently used to predict the future do not accurately describe the climate of the past, and modelers themselves strongly doubt their regional predictions There is no compelling evidence that hurricanes are becoming more frequent―or that predictions of rapid sea level rise have any validity Unsettled is a reality check buoyed by hope, offering the truth about climate science―what we know, what we don’t, and what it all means for our future.

About the Author

Dr. Steven E. Koonin is a leader in science policy in the United States. He served as Undersecretary for Science in the US Department of Energy under President Obama, where he was the lead author of the Department’s Strategic Plan and the inaugural Quadrennial Technology Review (2011). With more than 200 peer-reviewed papers in the fields of physics and astrophysics, scientific computation, energy technology and policy, and climate science, Dr. Koonin was a professor of theoretical physics at Caltech, also serving as Caltech’s Vice President and Provost for almost a decade. He is currently a University Professor at New York University, with appointments in the Stern School of Business, the Tandon School of Engineering, and the Department of Physics. Dr. Koonin’s memberships include US National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the JASON group of scientists who solve technical problems for the US government. Since 2014, he has been a trustee of the Institute for Defense Analyses and chaired the National Academies’ Divisional Committee for Engineering and Physical Sciences from 2014-2019.

He is currently an independent governor of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and has served in similar roles for the Los Alamos, Sandia, Brookhaven, and Argonne National Laboratories.

De Fideli.

Product Review: The Svbony SA208 8 x 42 ED Imaging Binocular.

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A Work Commenced October 26 2025

Product: Svbony SA208 8 x 42 ED Imaging Binocular

Country of Manufacture: China

Exit Pupil: 5.25mm

Eye Relief: 17mm

Close Focus: 4m advertised, 3.65m measured

ED glass: Yes

Coatings: Fully Multicoated

Dioptre Compensation: +\-4

Field of View: 126m@1000m(7.2 angular degrees)

Sensor: 6 Megapixel CMOS

Wifi Range: 10m

Video Capability: 1080P

Battery Life: 4 Hours(4000mAh)

Image Stabilisation: No

Weight: 912g measured, 940g advertised

Accessories: Padded zip-closed case, charging cable, padded neck strap, rain guard and objective covers, tripod mounting bracket, 32GB SD card(pre-inserted)lens cleaning cloth, instruction manual

Price: £347.63

Over the last several years, I’ve been delighted to showcase some very impressive binoculars marketed by Svbony. Their SV 202ED and SA205 ED series offer great bang for buck to the modern consumer, empowering more people than ever before to enjoy the great outdoors. Likewise, Svbony’s extensive range of spotting scopes has delighted thousands of individuals with their high quality optics at prices that won’t break the bank.

But Svbony has not rested on its laurels, continuing to develop new, cutting-edge technologies that enrich the outdoor experience. In this review, I’ll be showcasing a new imaging binocular: the 8 x 42 SA208 ED boasting a 6 Megapixel imaging sensor capable of capturing photographs and video footage. 

Ergonomics


As usual, the SA208 arrived very well packed with a tastefully designed presentation box. The binocular was housed inside an excellent padded case with a zip lock that provides great protection of the optics and delicate electronics of the SA208 binocular. 

The instrument is quite bulky, tipping the scales at a shade over 900g. That’s good news as it’s light enough for the majority of users to transport over extended distances. 

The magnesium alloy chassis is encased in a textured, grey coloured rubber substrate offering exceptional grip. 

The central focuser is excellent: it rotates smoothly with a nice amount of inertia and no free play that I could detect. Just over one full turn anticlockwise takes you from closest focus to beyond infinity. 

The metal eyecups are covered in soft rubber and are of the twist-up variety. Four positions are available from fully extended to fully retracted. They are very firm, holding their position very well in field use.

The underside of the binocular houses the delicate electronics necessitating the extra bulk. Thankfully this does not unduly affect the handling of the SA208 as you can rest your thumbs on the underside while accessing the focus wheel with your index and ring fingers

The binocular has a LCD screen on the top of the instrument displaying important information including battery power status as well as Wifi connectivity.

The imaging sensor is mounted inside the ocular train of the right barrel. You can see it in the photo below, where it appears as a dark central spot. This reduces contrast in the right barrel owing to the central obstruction but you quickly become accustomed to it. 

Because the SA208 imaging binocular does not have in-built stabilisation, capturing sharp hand-held shots is somewhat of a challenge, necessitating a steady hand. Placing it on a tripod alleviates this problem though. Svbony supply a good quality mounting bracket that screws into the front of the binocular bridge but I resorted to mounting it using velcro, as shown below:

Optics: 

I shone a bright light from across my living room into the binocular to see how it would handle it. The image from the left barrel was clean and tidy with little or no internal reflections, with only a moderate diffraction spike. The view through right barrel produced a weird rainbow of colours, no doubt due to CMOS sensor placed in the optical train at the eyepiece end. This was an acceptable artefact given the nature of this binocular. 

Optically the SA208 is very good; sharp, high-contrast images, excellent colour correction and accurate colours. There is very mild pincushion distortion in the outer field of view and edge sharpness is quite good. All in all, using the SA208 as a regular binocular presents no problems whatsoever. 

Imaging Capabilities:
To engage with the imaging system the user must download the free Viipulse App to use on your smartphone. The SA208 is turned on using the large button on the far end of the bridge. Two beeps inform the user that the binocular is ready to connect to your smartphone. Once your phone is connected, the Vjipulse App is opened which enables you to connect to the camera. Using the central focus wheel, you focus on a target in the middle distance (about 100m is ideal). You can fine focus the image by increasing the magnification from 1x all the way to 10x. The images captured however are at 1x i.e. the binocular magnification of 8x.  Once the sharpest image is obtained on your smartphone, you individually adjust both the left and right eyepieces individually by rotating a metal ring under each eyepiece while leaving the central focus wheel fixed. Now you’re ready to image using the main focus wheel to adjust sharpness.

To avoid image shake, the SA208 can be set up as far as 10m away from your smartphone where you can use the latter to activate the imaging camera on the binocular. It’s easy and quick to use, maintaining a good connection over many minutes. Indeed the Viipulse App allows up to 3 smartphones to simultaneously view the images captured by the SA208 binocular!

Here’s a screenshot of the Viipulse App opened on my smartphone:

Here’s my first light image of a tree located about 40m in the distance:

The actual file size for this image was 2.5MB. Only a low resolution(150kB) image is posted here.

To get some images of birds at my garden birdfeeder. I set up the SA208 a few metres from the feeder and activated the Viipulse App from the comfort of my living room. It worked brilliantly!






Should you so wish, and in order to reduce vibrations, one can also choose to take images while at the binocular too, by enabling a 3-second delay before the shutter is opened.

The SA208 can also capture video footage in 1440p format. Battery life is good. I was able to shoot photos and capture video footage over several hours of field use before it required a recharging.

Here are a few more images zoomed in a little more:



In summary, the Svbony SA208 8 x 42 imaging binocular combines very good optics with novel imaging capabilities. Placed on a tripod, it delivers crisp photos and video footage that will appeal to many nature enthusiasts. For the money I think it offers excellent value for money.

Dr Neil English reviews hundreds of binocular models in every price category in his book, Choosing & Using Binocars

De Fideli.

Product Review: Canon IS 18 x 50 UD.

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A Work Commenced September 25 2025

Over the last several years I’ve gained valuable experience with several Canon Image Stabilised(IS) binoculars, including the 8 x 20, 10 x 30 IS II and 12 x 36 IS III. In this review I’ll be test driving Canon’s largest and most powerful IS binocular: the 18 x 50 UD. 

Purchased second-hand from a reputable Japanese retailer, my unit was manufactured in Japan, whereas the newer models are now being produced in Taiwan. 

The Canon IS 18 x 50 is one hefty piece of kit, tipping the scales at 1180g. Lacking any central hinge, the inter pupillary distance is adjusted simply by rotating the eyepieces. The armouring is in good condition but is not as grippy as I would have liked. Indeed holding it properly is probably the biggest downside to using it and is definitely an acquired skill. 

The large 50mm objectives( 4 element)include an ultra-low dispersion(UD) element to minimise colour fringing. The objective lenses are mounting behind an optically flat window so are well protected from the elements. Indeed the binocular is classed as weather resistant(JIS level 4) so can be used even in rainy conditions. 

Focus is achieved by moving the objectives back and forth along the optical train.

The focus wheel on my unit still works flawlessly with no free play that I could detect. It operates smoothly and precisely even after all these years: a necessity at 18x since depth of field is very shallow at these high powers. 

The dioptre compensation(+\-3) is located under the right ocular lens and rotates smoothly with a decent amount of friction. Though I don’t wear eye glasses, I elected to observe through the eyepieces with the rubber eyecups folded down. Eye relief for the bespectacled is a little disappointing though. I was only able to access a little over half the field using my eyeglasses, for example, with the cups folded down. 

The eyepieces on the Canon IS 18 x 50 UD are a complex, 7-element design which includes a doublet field flattening system. Such a complex optical design requires excellent coatings to maximise light transmission. Thankfully this is guaranteed by Canon adopting their excellent Super Spectra antireflection coatings, as well as incorporating Porro II prisms into the optical design.

The Canon IS 18 x 50 UD can be affixed to a photographic tripod if need be. I found this to be useful when adjusting the dioptre compensation on the right eyepiece. 

Like the smaller Canon IS binoculars, these are powered by 2 AA batteries. I elected to use rechargeable lithium ions as I have found that they work better in colder  environments than their alkaline counterparts and are far less likely to leak even when left in the binocular for prolonged periods. It must be pointed out however, that the lid on the battery compartment must be securely fastened for the IS electronics to work. Indeed I got a bit of a fright during a night walk with the instrument, when the IS suddenly failed. When I got back home I realised that the lid was only loosely fastened, resulting in the batteries not connecting properly to the electrodes. Once tightened down, all was well with the IS system

Optical Evaluation

Whatever misgivings I might have had on the ergonomics of the Canon IS 18 x 50 UD, it more than makes up for them in terms of optical performance. The view is very good indeed; sharp, nice contrast, saturated colours, and a perfectly flat field, rendering excellent edge-to-edge clarity. Resistance to stray light is also well above average. Turning the instrument on a bright street light after dark showed very subdued internal reflections and no annoying diffraction artefacts owing to the high quality Porro II prisms inside. Off axis aberrations like pincushion distortion are very mild too. Looking at high-contrast targets showed excellent control of colour fringing in the centre of the field, but begins to show modest levels of lateral colour fringing outside the central 50 per cent of the field. Though it sports a small field of view of just 3.7 degrees, I never cultivated the impression that it was as narrow as it appears on paper. This was especially the case while keeping the rubber eyecups folded down, when the view felt quite immersive.

Notes from the field

Such a large and hefty binocular endowed with armouring that is not very grippy, requires a sturdy neck strap to avoid accidents. The dioptre compensation ring was adjusted while keeping the Canon IS 18 x 50 steady on a tripod. Close focus was estimated at just over 4 metres. The image stabilisation works very well, although it tends to overcorrect while looking through it, standing upright, leading to a slight blurring. I found re-engaging the stabilisation button helps to settle the image down. Stabilisation is much more consistent while leaning against a wall or a tree and, better still, while sitting down.  These minor quirks are much less apparent under a dark night sky though, where the instrument was predominantly used.  

That said, the Canon IS 18 x 50 UD proved to be an excellent long-range birding instrument, its powerful stabilisation coupled to its high magnification creating a lethal combination for teasing out small, timorous Warbler species from hedgerows in the distance. On one afternoon, I noticed a Buzzard being harassed by several Rooks, causing it to fly right over the house. Reaching for the big Canon glass, I managed to lock onto the bird, its anxious eyes staring right back at me and all the while seeing some incredible details of its plumage, quite beyond anything I had seen before. Though the apparition lasted but a few seconds- it was incredibly impressive, and left a lasting impression on me. 

Made for Stargazing

With large objectives and a whopping 18x magnification, this big Canon glass is made for stargazing. As I explained before, I have cultivated a strong preference for smaller exit pupils since this ensures that the sharpest part of your eye lens accesses the image. That said, the small field of view(3.7 degrees), makes this instrument more suited to experienced observers. Those less familiar with the night sky might better consider the 15 x 50, with its wider field of view. 

Starting with the Moon, the Canon IS 18 x 50 UD produces amazing levels of detail from slender crescent all the way to full phase. Crater fields are discerned in high resolution much more reminiscent of a low power telescopic view more than anything else. Placing the Moon in the centre of the field produces images that are essentially colour free. Moving a little off-axis does reveals some fringing but I didn’t find it distracting. Moving onto the deep sky, I enjoyed stunning views of the Double Cluster now positioned high in the autumn evening sky, flanked on either side by the lesser known clusters, Trumpler 2 and Stock 2 on the borders of Cassiopeia. Moving the binocular to a patch roughly midway between Algol and Gamma Andromedae, the open cluster M34 was very impressively resolved into a few dozen faint stars of the 8th magnitude of glory and fainter. 

The Canon IS 18 x 50 produced arguably the most magnificent view of the enormous Alpha Persei Cluster I have personally witnessed, with its constituent stars filling the field from edge to edge.

Kemble’s Cascade in Camelopardalis filled the field from top to bottom. The great globular cluster in Hercules, M13, presented as distinctly granular. Moving into Lyra, I was able to clearly make out the Ring Nebula as a slightly defocused star.  
The perennial favourite of stargazers – the Pleiades – was a sight for sore eyes in the Canon IS 18 x 50 UD, presenting as a maelstrom of young white and blue-white suns. This instrument afforded me the best view of the double star, Albireo I’ve enjoyed in a handheld binocular. Star colours are saturated and pristine. Turning the binocular to Herschel’s Garnet Star in Cepheus yielded a magnificent image, its intense red colour standing out like a beacon against the stellar hinterland. Observing the Andromeda Galaxy near the zenith produced a fantastic view, filling most of the field,  its bright core and sprawling spiral arms extending nearly 3 angular degrees across. Its fainter companion galaxies – M32 and M110 – were also easy to pick off. The much more challenging M33 in Triangulum was also easy to see in the 18 x 50, presenting as an enormous, luminous Zeppelin in the sky! Finally, in the wee small hours of a late October night, I got my first opportunity to view Orion with the Canon IS 18 x 50 UD. The three brilliant white belt stars, pure as the driven snow, filled the field of view. Pressing the stabilisation button caused innumerable faint stars to come into view giving spectacular views of this lesser known star cluster: Collinder 70. Later on, I was able to observe the Sword Handle in all its glory, with the Orion Nebula showing the young Trapezium stars at its centre.

This provides the merest flavour of  what you can enjoy with this big image stabilised glass under a dark night sky and I hope to use it regularly over the long nights of winter.

Conclusions

The Canon IS 18 x 50 UD is an excellent high-power binocular for both terrestrial  and astronomical use, though it’s definitely a bit of a challenge to get the very most out of it. Only the coveted Zeiss 20 x 60 IS binocular goes deeper on the night sky. 

Though I strongly suspect Canon’s  15 x 50 IS is more popular than the 18 x 50, owing to its larger field of view, the latter will resolve targets better during the day and in the night sky, where I personally use it most. 

Highly recommended!

Dr Neil English discusses many more binoculars for recreational use in his latest book, Choosing & Using Binoculars.

De Fideli.

Product Review: The Svbony SV202 ED 10 x 42 Mark II

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A Work Commenced August 1 2025

Product: Svbony SV 202 ED 10 x 42 Mark II

Country of Manufacture: China

Chassis: Magnesium alloy housing overlaid with textured black rubber

Exit Pupil: 4.2mm

Field of View: 114m@ 1000m( 6.5 angular degrees)

Close Focus: 2.5m advertised, 2.02m measured

Light Transmission: 90% advertised

Coatings: Fully Multicoated, phase corrected prisms

ED Glass: Yes

Dioptre Compensation: +\-3

Waterproof: Yes, IPX7 rating

Nitrogen Filled: Yes

Tripod Mountable: Yes

Accessories: Padded case, Neoprene padded neck-strap, Rain guard, tethered objective lens caps, lens cleaning cloth, instruction manual

Weight: 694g advertised, 659g measured

Price(UK): £139.99

Preamble

About four years back, I alerted the community to an inexpensive series of binoculars – Svbony’s SV 202s – offering optical performance well above what I expected from their price class. Since then, thousands of units are now in the hands of an army of outdoor enthusiasts in Europe, the Far East, the Antipodean, and the United States . So when Svbony decided to give their SV 202 series a makeover, I was naturally curious to see what changes had occurred. I ordered up the 10 x 42 to put it through its paces, and the following is a summary of my findings.

A Great New Look

Although the neat package containing the instrument was the same as before, a cursory examination of the binocular showed some notable changes. For one thing, the rather tough armouring of the original SV202 had been replaced by a softer but thicker rubber substrate that offers a finer grip than the first generation models. In addition, the company’s name is now proudly displayed on the side of the binocular giving it a more classy look. 

The next thing I noticed was its very light weight for a binocular in this aperture class. While the original 10 x 42 tipped the scales at just under 700g, the new SV202 weighed in at just 659g, making it arguably one of the lightest 10 x42s I’ve personally encountered!

Another surprise hit me when I started moving the focus wheel; gone is the old metal focuser. Its replacement is covered with soft, indented rubber which is very smooth and responsive. My unit has zero free play or backlash: indeed it’s one of the best focusers I’ve seen in quite a while, certainly better than the original model. A little over two rotations anticlockwise takes you from closest focus to a little beyond infinity – good news for those who suffer from moderate myopia. 

The right eye dioptre compensation ring moves smoothly but holds its position rigidly. Nothing fancy here: but it certainly does the job!

The twist-up eyecups have three positions and lock in place firmly with a moderately loud ‘click.’ They are, in fact, just as solid as the original models though, and actually a bit better built than on their flagship binocular – the SA205. Eye relief is fairly generous: I was comfortably able to view the entire field wearing my eye glasses.

The next surprise came when I examined the coatings applied to both the objective and ocular lenses. Gone is the deep magenta bloom used on the earlier model SV202, replaced by more conventional tobacco coloured coatings that are noticeably less reflective than the original. 


Like the first-generation models, the objectives are deeply recessed to protect the lenses from the elements as well as stray light. 

In the hands the new SV202 ED binocular feels great: easy to grip and easy to wrap your hands round the barrels. And it’s very light weight- more like some heavier 32mm binos I’ve encountered – making it especially comfortable on long walks.

All in all, the ergonomic changes to the new SV202 ED were a very pleasant surprise and most certainly render the instrument more fun to use.

Optics

Examining the image of a bright beam of light from across my living room showed no significant diffraction spikes but did show a few annoying internal reflections. The same was true when I examined a bright street lamp after dark  in the distance. This is definitely an inferior result to my findings with the original SV202, which showed far less in the way of internal reflections.

 A clue to what was going on ‘underneath the bonnet’ as it were was revealed when I examined the exit pupils seen against a bright indoor lamp. As the images below show, there are significant light leaks immediately in the vicinity of the pupils which were responsible for the only negative finding I picked up in my daylight glassing tests. 

The view through the SV202 10 x 42 ED is very good; bright, sharp, high contrast, with neutral but saturated colours. Suppression of chromatic aberration is also excellent. Indeed I was expecting significantly more given that this is a 10x instrument. Glassing through layers of leaves against a bright overcast sky showed up just a trace of lateral colour in the outer 15 per cent of the field. There is some moderate pincushion distortion though, which does help somewhat with comfortable panning. Glassing against the light or placing the sun at an oblique angle to my line of sight did throw up a bit of lens flare but that is probably the only personal issue I had with this unit. Edge of field sharpness was also very good: only a small amount of field curvature softens the image just inside the field stops. 

Overall , the  Mark II SV202  10 x 42 ED is very impressive when you consider the very reasonable price tag this instrument comes with.

Notes from the Field

I afforded the most comfortable and immersive views by extending the eyecups into the first locking position, as seen in the photographs. Close focus was found to be just over 2m, a significant improvement over the 2.5m advertised. The excellent focus wheel makes finding the sharpest possible view quick and  easy. Conducting most of my daytime glassing using 8 x binoculars, shifting back to 10x shows a noticeably shallower depth of field, as you’d expect. 

10 x 42 binos are very popular with hunters who need that extra bit of reach or those general observers who enjoy seeing fine details. I did find the instrument a little tricky to hold steady on the afternoon of August 4, when Storm Floris swept its way northeastward across the country, bringing with it inland gusts up to 60mph. A weightier instrument would definitely fare better under these conditions. 

Turning the instrument on the August night sky generated impressive views of the starry heavens. The first quarter Moon was tack sharp and without colour fringing inside its generous sweet spot but a very modest amount of lateral colour creeps in: blue on one side of the field and yellowish-green on the other. I did pick up a few internal reflections though as reported earlier.

Star clusters look great in the Mark II 10 x 42ED and goes considerably deeper than any 8 x glass. Collimation is good. I enjoyed observing the Alpha Persei Cluster, the Double Cluster, the Andromeda Galaxy and its fainter satellites, M33 in Triangulum, and the Coathanger asterism in Vulpecula. Lying back in my zero gravity chair I enjoyed tracking down other smaller clusters, panning the Milky Way through Cygnus and Cassiopeia. Because field curvature is so mild, even stars at the edges of the field remain quite well focused – an impressive result for a binocular without field flatteners. 

Conclusions & Recommendations

In many ways, the Mark II Svbony SV202 10 x 42 ED is an improvement over the original model, with better ergonomics, a wider field of view, less colour fringing, and lower weight. At its current retail price you’d be very hard pushed to get an instrument this good at twice the price. It remains a solid performer and one of the best bangs for buck on the market today.

Be sure to check it out!

Dr Neil English explores the fascinating world of binoculars in his detailed book, Choosing & Using Binoculars: A Guide for Stargazers, Birders and Outdoor Enthusiasts

De Fideli.

Test Driving Svbony’s SC002 Imaging Camera.

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A Work Commenced July 10 2025

For the last few years, I’ve been busy using Svbony’s SC001 imager which I’ve used on a few of their spotting scopes, and most recently with their flagship 100mm aperture SA401 26x-75x APO. As good as it is, it has its limitations. For one thing, the SC001 imager offers a fixed high-power magnification similar to a 6mm eyepiece. For some imagers, this represented too high a power to frame targets easily, especially if your intended target is mobile. Now Svbony has introduced a significantly more versatile camera: enter the SC002.

About the size of a smart speaker, the SC002, is very light so won’t cause any balancing issues with your optics. It consists of a 2 Megapixel webcam built into a larger ABS plastic structure that can be fitted securely to large zoom eyepieces found on spotting scopes and to regular eyepieces (37-56mm diameter). The SC002 can also be attached to binoculars!

Its ability to mate to a wide variety of eyepieces is achieved by rotating the top half of the SC002 which causes three claws to grip the top of the eyepiece. It’s quick and simple, with no other adaptors required. After you download the SC002 App, the camera is switched on by pressing the button on the top of the device. The device has a built in WiFi connection that connects to your phone. As long as you’re within 10m of the imager, the signal is strong enough to operate the scope from your smart phone. 

Unlike the SC001 imager, the SC002 offers a full screen but also 1x, 2x or 3x digital zoom. This allows the user to tweak the focus until it is as sharp as it can possibly be. The imager automatically captures the best images but only presents them at full-screen 1x mode. Another excellent feature of the SC002 imager is its ability to connect live to two smartphones simultaneously; one to take images and the other phone to preview the image. The SC002 can also capture live video for up to 2 hrs in 1080P and the data stored on the supplied 32GB memory card. Three shooting modes are available to the user: 1:1, 4:3 or 16:9.

Here are some sample images taken through the SA401100




Next, some photos taken in the field with Svbony’s flagship flat-field ED binoculars: the very capable SA205 8 x 42:


And finally, some astronomical shots taken through a telescope:

All in all, the new SC002 imager represents a significant advance on the SC001. The user can choose how much magnification they wish to employ to frame their photographic subjects, and the digital zoom options greatly assist in finding that perfect focus. Retailing for well under $100 and weighing only 140g, this simple yet ingeniously portable device will greatly enhance your imaging capabilities, not only with spotting scopes, but also monoculars, binoculars and astronomical telescopes alike. 


Recommended!

Dr Neil English is the author of Choosing & Using Binoculars: a Guide for Stargazers, Birders and Outdoor Enthusiasts.

De Fideli.

Product Review: Leica Ultravid HD Plus 8 x 32.

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A Work Commenced July 2 2025

Product: Leica Ultravid HD Plus 8 x 32

Country of Manufacture: Portugal

Chassis: Magnesium Alloy and Titanium covered in black Vulcanised Rubber.

Exit Pupil: 4mm

Eye Relief: 13.3mm

Field of View: 135mm @1000m(7.74 angular degrees).

ED Glass: Yes-Schott Fluorite

Other Notable Glass: Schott HT

Dioptre Compensation: +\- 4

Close Focus: 2.1m advertised, 1.91m measured

Hydrophobic Coatings on Outer Lenses: Yes, AquaDura

Fogproof: Yes

Waterproof: Yes/5m

Accessories: Objective lens covers, rain guard, neoprene neck strap, lens cleaning cloth, padded soft case, test certificate, warranty card and user manual

Warranty: 10 Years

Weight: 535g advertised, 534g measured

Price(UK): £1499

The Leica Ultravid series is one of the longest continuously manufactured binoculars by the prestigious German company, Leica. Introduced in the Black Rubber (BR)form back in 2003, the series was upgraded to the HD series in 2007, which featured Schott Fluorite glass for improved colour fidelity and Leica’s innovative AquaDura hydrophobic and anti-scratch coatings. Finally in 2015, the company introduced the latest version: the Ultravid HD+ series which incorporated Schott HT glass in the prisms which increased light transmission to an impressive 92-3 per cent. In all Leica offer the HD+ series in 8 and 10 x 32, 7, 8 and 10 x 42 and two larger models – the 10 and 12 x 50. This review will discuss the smallest HD + model; the 8 x 32.

My first experience with this series came a couple of years back when I had the pleasure of looking through the 10 x32 Ultravid (UV)HD+ observing birds out on the water of Loch Carron, just a few miles from my home. The owner was so impressed with the binocular that he bought a second 10 x 32 for his daughter. It was here that my concerns about the small size were put to rest, since I was able to hold them very comfortably in my medium-size hands. 

The 8 x 32 is an amazingly small and compact model, only 11cm from the end to end with the eyecups kept down. Tipping the scales at 534g, it’s super light weight.

The focus wheel is disproportionately large, making it very easy to manoeuvre using one or two fingers. While there is some inertia getting it moving , focusing is very precise with no free play. This is an improvement over their entry-level model, the Trinovid HD 8 x 32, the focus wheel of which had a small amount of free play. Just over one full revolution clockwise brings you from closest focus to a little bit beyond infinity. The dioptre compensation is accessed by pulling up the top part of the focus wheel, turning the wheel and pushing it back in. 


The eyecups can be used in three positions: fully retracted or pulled up through two click stops. Like I said many times before, Leica’s eyecups are amongst the best in the industry. They are supremely comfortable and click rigidly into place.

Eye relief is quite tight on the 8 x 32 though, especially for eye glass wearers. I did test them using my spectacles and I could just see the entire field but it’s certainly not a comfortable experience especially during prolonged field use. Luckily, I don’t wear glasses using my binoculars so it was really a non-issue for me. 

Unlike the larger UVHD+ models, the underside of the barrels on the 32mm models have no thumb indents. Over the years, I’ve cultivated a strong disliking for these anyway, so not having them is a bonus in my books!

The objective lenses are nicely recessed with excellent knife-edge baffles to minimise glare  when glassing against the light. The coatings are immaculate: giving a faint purple bloom when examined face on but present more of a tobacco hue when seen at more oblique angles.



In the hands, the little Leica UVHD+ 8 x 32 is very firmly held thanks to the textured black rubber armouring, though it’s a magnet for dust, pollen and other airborne matter.
I can wrap my little fingers round the front of the barrels while using my ring- and middle-finger to do most of the focusing. It’s also a supremely handsome binocular with a strong retro accent I very much like.

Optics:

Looking at an intensely bright light source from across the room through the Leica UVHD+ showed no internal reflections but I did pick up a moderate diffraction spike. The same was true when I turned the binocular on a distant street lamp after dark. 

Next I examined the exit pupils while the instrument was aimed towards an indoor room light. As you can see below the result was excellent: exemplary in fact! Just nice round pupils surrounded by complete darkness!


Credit where it’s due: the view has real ‘gestalt:’ beautiful, arresting: razor sharp, wonderfully contrasted, with vibrant colours. Chromatic aberration is absent in the centre but does show up as lateral colour in the outer part of the field. Being used to larger, flatter fields, I was half anticipating that the 7.74 degree field would be rather restrictive or ‘tunnelled,’ but I did not get that impression. The view is extremely relaxed, especially for a compact model like this.

The Leica UVHD+ 8 x 32 does have more pincushion distortion than I would have liked and the edge sharpness could be better. Finally, when glassing with bright sunshine directly behind me, I noted some annoying reflections off the ocular lens. Thankfully this can be remedied simply by placing a finger over the side of the eyecup. 

Notes from the Field:

Make no mistake about it; the Leica UVHD+ 8 x 32 is a study in miniaturisation. A true marvel in both mechanical and optical engineering!

But it ain’t perfect.

Close focus was measured to be 1.91m, closer than the advertised 2.1m, but not nearly as impressive as the super close 0.95m I measured on the Trinovid HD 8 x 32. There are two aspects to the image of the UVHD+ that are noteworthy compared with my main binocular, the superb SRBC 8 x 42: colour saturation and resistance to glare of all kinds.

In the centre of the image, sharpness in both is quite comparable but the colours generated by the SRBC optical system are a little more neutral than in the UVHD+, the latter of which has a noticeably higher transmission to wavelengths in the 600-700nm range, which renders a warmer image. Where the UVHD+ betters the SRBC is in suppression of glare, both veiling and general glare when glassing against the light. And while an 8 x 32 is no match for a larger 8 x 42 of equal quality, I found the performance of the UVHD+ to be excellent in summer twilight, where the Schott HT glass boosts light transmission in the 400-500nm range, which allows the darker adapted eye to perceive objects in the blue part of the visual spectrum that little bit better.  I refer the reader to Holger Merlitz’s The Binocular Handbook page 10 for details.

Conducting some observations of the bright summer star, Vega, the little Leica glass showed perfect collimation and quite a flat field. Only in the outer 20 per cent of the field or so could I detect a bit of field curvature which could be focused out, but there remained a small amount of astigmatism right at the field stops.

Though I did not do a side by side comparison, I would rate the optical quality of the Leica UVHD+ to be higher than the Zeiss SFL I tested some time ago. It just has a more relaxed view compared with the Zeiss, with the warmer colours and superb glare suppression, pulling it ahead. But this is bound to be rather a subjective impression.

One thing’s for certain though, the Leica UVHD + is much more in keeping with a pocket glass philosophy than either of the current Alpha glasses offered by Swarovski or Zeiss, as exemplified by the design of the NL Pure and SF 8 x 32 models, respectively. These are considerably larger in comparison, and so can’t really be considered to be in the same portability class, at least size-wise. In contrast, the little UVHD+ certainly can fit in an average coat pocket. 



Value for Money?

The Leica UVHD+ 8 x 32 is an expensive piece of kit that’s for sure. But when I compare it to the optically excellent  SRBC  8 x 42,  which retails for one third of the price of the Leica, it gives me serious grounds for pause in recommending it, especially as an auxiliary travel glass. In addition, with the soon introduction of smaller 32 mm class of SRBCs offering the same excellent quality optics in ultra-flat fields fully twice the size of the Leica UVHD+ and at a fraction of its cost, it may render these smaller glasses by Zeiss, Swarovski and Leica all but obsolete. In the end, you vote with your wallet.

Dr Neil English is author of Choosing & Using Binoculars: A Guide for Stargazers, Birders and Outdoor Enthusiasts.

De Fideli.

Book Review: The Privileged Planet: 20th Anniversary Edition.

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Title: The Privileged Planet (20th Anniversary Edition)

Published: 2004 & 2024

Authors: Guillermo Gonzalez & Jay W. Richards

Publisher: Regnery

434 pages

ISBN: 978-1-68451-702-2

Price: $35US

Is the Earth a unique abode of life or is life commonplace across the cosmos, with its myriad galaxies, stars and planets? Is the Earth a typical habitable planet or is it endowed with innumerable ‘just so’ features that has allowed life to flourish here for close on 4 billion years? Are we alone in the Universe? 

These are big, blue sky questions for sure but the body of evidence hinting at the answers has stretched the ingenuity of our species to ever greater heights of technical sophistication, probing the cosmos at every conceivable scale in order to begin to glean the answers, and then only dimly.

Speculation regarding these questions has taken many twists and turns over the decades.

At the dawn of the 20th Century, most scientists would have argued that there is nothing special about the Earth and that the appearance of life was a scientific inevitability on many suitable worlds and across many epochs. The Universe they surmised, was infinitely old and large, so if life took hold here on Earth, why not on countless other worlds strewn across the heavens?

Some scientists even entertained the idea that our neighbouring planet Mars had vegetation as recently as the early 1950s, shored up by pseudosciences like Darwinian Evolution. In the 1980s, the popularised writings of planetary scientists like Carl Sagan prepped the general public for the expectation that we would one day discover other alien intelligences in our Milky Way galaxy or even beyond. 


But In the last thirty years, we have made the most astonishing discoveries about the requirements for life that a new consensus is emerging; not only is the Universe fine tuned for life but the Earth appears to stand out like a proverbial sore thumb, even as we uncover tens of thousands of extrasolar planetary systems around nearby stars. In the pages of The Privileged Planet, astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez and philosopher Jay Richards, posit something even more profound: that the Earth is exquisitely designed for scientific discovery!

Drawing on an impressive range of scientific disciplines – cosmology, particle physics, planetary science, geology, astronomy and biology- the authors weave together a compelling argument that we live in an extraordinary place at an extraordinary time.

The Copernican Principle has been one of the unifying themes of modern science, which argues that there is nothing special about our place in the cosmos and our significance within it. Yet after presenting a wealth of new evidence from many scientific disciplines, the authors compellingly make the case that nearly everything about our planet, its unique composition, geology and hydrological cycle, our location within a very atypical solar system with a unique star at its centre, the presentation of perfect solar eclipses, and our place within the wider Milky Way Galaxy, puts humanity at an ideal place and time to discover the deep mysteries of the Universe. None of the great scientific achievements of our species,  such as our discovery of the origin and expansion of the Universe, it’s great but finite age etc could have been achieved if we emerged earlier or later on the cosmic scene. 

This enormous body of evidence is used to bolster a much more robust analysis of the so called Drake Equation, where estimates of the number of planets harbouring advanced technological civilisations in our galaxy is revised downwards to practically one; that is, our own world. 

The book includes an extensive bibliography of scientific papers, and informed commentaries written by scholars in their respective fields. This deeply engaging and well-thought-out 2nd edition ought to appeal to a large cross-section of society from the religious, philosophic and scientific to the plane curious. Although the authors cover complex scientific concepts they are very well explained in ways a novice can understand. We may not be at the centre of the physical Universe but we are at the centre of its meaning and its purpose!

Highly Recommended!

Dr Neil English has a broad academic background in biochemistry, physics and astronomy. His highly acclaimed work, Chronicling the Golden Age of Astronomy, charts the four century history of visual astronomy, from Thomas Harriot to Sir Patrick Moore. 

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