A Work Commenced September 21 2024
Product: Kowa YF II 8 x 30
Country of Manufacture: The Phillippines
Chassis: Polycarbonate overlaid by protective rubber
Exit Pupil: 3.75mm
Eye Relief: 16mm
Field of View: 132m@1000m(7.5 degrees)
Dioptre Compensation: +\-4
Coatings: Fully broadband multicoated, KR Hydrophobic coatings on ocular and objective lenses
ED glass: No
Field Flatteners: No
Waterproof: Yes
Nitrogen Purged: Yes
Close Focus: 5m advertised, 2.9m measured
Tripod Mountable: Yes
Dimensions:16.5 x 17cm
Weight: 475g advertised, 476g measured
Accessories: Soft padded carry case, objective covers, ocular rain guard, padded neck strap, instruction manual
Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
Price: £159.95(UK)
Arguably the most charming binoculars are embodied in the small and versatile 8 x 30 Porro instruments. Small enough to take everywhere, they’re easy to make well and deliver excellent views even in compromised lighting conditions. That together with their modest pricing compared to roof prism models, render them a compelling choice for the budget savvy consumer. I was once again reminded of these facts when I tested Kowa’s YF II 8 x 30 over a few weeks. What follows is a summary of my findings.
Ergonomics:
The unit I ordered up proved to be a perfect sample. Assembled in the Philippines, its twist up eyecups locked firmly into place and has generous eye relief for eye glass wearers. The focus wheel has small depressions to assist in its rotation. It proved to be very smooth with zero free play. It’s neither too fast or too slow: just perfect in fact! I love the thick, textured rubber armouring of the chassis which is easy to grip. It feels great in my medium sized hands.
Tipping the scales at just 476g , it’s featherlight but completely waterproof and dry nitrogen purged for complete reliability in adverse weather conditions. Kowa applied their proprietary KR hydrophobic coatings to the outer lenses to help keep the lenses clear of condensation on the wettest days.
The Kowa YF II features fully multicoated optics, which were perfectly applied to the lenses and prisms for bright, crisp images. Though you’ll probably not need to mount the instrument owing to its low weight, it can be mated to an adapter for use on a tripod or monopod.
Just like the very similar Opticron Savanna 8 x 30 previously reviewed, its lower minimum IPD of 50mm makes it ideal for those of us who have small faces.
All in all, I was very impressed with its well thought through ergonomics: something I’ve come to expect from a well established spirts optics firm like Kowa.
Optics:
The Kowa YF II responded well to my bright light test, revealing some very minor internal reflections and no diffraction spikes. Examining the exit pupils gave decent results with perfectly round pupils. I did note some minor light leaks around the exit pupil however which would introduce some glare in low light conditions. However, considering its modest retail price, and since this would not be of much use in such situations, it’s quite an acceptable compromise.
The view is quite excellent, sporting a decent 7.5 degree field. It’s tack sharp inside its generously wide sweet spot. Objects take on a vivid three dimensionality in the middle distance thanks to its traditional Porro design. Contrast and colour rendering are also top notch. Despite not having field flatteners, edge of field performance is very good with only very mild field curvature creeping in in the outer 15 per cent of the field, as affirmed by monitoring the quality of star images after dark. Close focus was much better than advertised too: I measured 2.9m as opposed to 5m in the specifications.
In summary, the Kowa YF II offers exceptional value for money, delivering very high quality views in a brilliant, light weight package. It will serve as a fine birding and travel binocular and is an excellent choice for children.
Highly Recommended !
Read much more about budget-friendly binoculars in my latest book, Choosing and Using Binoculars: a Guide for Stargazers, Birders and Outdoor Enthusiasts.