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The Bushnell Powerview 10 × 50 Wide Angle Binocular with its 10x magnification is a powerful instrument ideally suited for detailed observation of distant objects. This model series’s large field of view is particularly suitable for scanning the terrain for flocks of birds, wild animals, or other moving objects. Thanks to the large objective lens with a diameter of 50 mm and the resulting high light-collecting power, the viewer can enjoy bright images even in poor lighting conditions.
Among the myriad of binoculars available, Bushnell’s PowerView binoculars are a constant favorite for outdoor enthusiasts looking for a powerful yet affordable instrument. We’ll see what makes these binoculars tick.
Features of Bushnell’s Powerview 10×50 binoculars
| Optical Glass | Standard Crown Glas |
| Lens Coating | Multi-coated optics |
| Prism systems | Porro, BK7 |
| Magnification | 10x |
| Objective diameter | 50 mm |
| Exit pupil | 5 mm |
| Eye relief | 14 mm |
| Field of view | 7.5 ° 131m/1000m 341feet/1000yrd |
| Close focus | 9m 30 feet |
| Twilight factor | 22.3 |
| Water resistance | Water-resistant |
Advantages of Bushnell Powerview Binoculars
Bushnell’s PowerView line is available in 3 models with different magnifications but the same aperture. It starts off with 10 x 50 mm and the highest magnification comes in a 20 x 50 model. The magnification power of 20x is a lot in handheld binoculars.
A 10-fold magnification enables detailed observation and is a good choice for all-round binoculars. The 10×50 model has a field of view fairly wide field of view of about 341feet/1000yrd.
The higher the power the lower the field of view, in the case of the 20×50 model it’s down to about 170 feet/1000yards (50meter/1000m). However, the 20x magnification rewards you with detailed observation of very distant objects. The disadvantage of such a high magnification is the difficulty of keeping the binoculars steady, a tripod is definitely recommended
The PowerView’s lenses are multi-coated which, together with the BK-7 Porro prisms, benefit light transmission for a high level of image brightness. The 50 mm lens collects a lot of light and thus contributes to the performance of the instrument in poor lighting conditions at dusk or at dawn. This gives the user what they need. Images that are well defined, clear, bright, with minimal or no unevenness in terms of color.
The model’s barrel and housing come with a slip-resistant rubber covering which promises better handling and it acts as a shock absorber in case the device gets dropped by accident.
For more viewing comfort, the unit has foldable eyecups. The 10×50 weighs 29.6 oz. which makes it trouble-free to carry and portable.
The device’s InstaFocus feature is a patented single-touch system that assists in maintaining the viewed object in crisp focus. I personally prefer a central focus wheel, but this InstaFocus feature works easy enough and one will get used to it quickly.
Tripod adaptability is certainly an advantage in binoculars with high magnification.
Apart from those features, one of the great benefits of buying this particular model is the fact that you are purchasing something from a known, trusted brand in optics. It has a lifetime warranty which shows customers that the company has the utmost trust in its products.
Disadvantages
One of the setbacks of the unit is the way it handles weather conditions. While it is obviously made from quality materials, the Bushnell Powerview 10×50 wide-angle binocular is not O-ring sealed, so it is not really waterproof. Because it lacks that crucial aspect, it will not be able to withstand harsh weather and in extreme temperature fluctuations, the instrument could be prone to internal fogging.
So if you are out a lot in tough conditions, frequent rains, or expose the binoculars to rapid temperature changes you would not want to miss the advantages of water and fog-proof binoculars.
The eye relief of the 10×50 model is 14 mm, which should serve most users fine. In the 20×50 model, the eye relief is only 9mm in combination with the small exit (2.5mm) pupil makes this model unsuitable if you depend on wearing strong eyeglasses.
The high magnification makes it difficult to hold the binoculars steadily after a while. A tripod is helpful.
Verdict of Bushnell PowerView Binoculars
This is a popular model from the company and a real bargain. Bushnell is a sound, trusted brand and users will get to see the reason why plenty of customers rely on and trust their products.
The build quality is fine as Bushnell is known for. When it was new it smelled of rubber for quite a while. The image quality that the PowerView provides, is acceptable for standard glass and BK7 prisms.
Viewing with the Bushnell Powerview presents clear and bright images as one can expect from binoculars with such large objective lenses. Even if the lenses are only multi-coated, the transmission is sufficiently good even in a dark forest.
The collimation of the binoculars I was using was good – no double images. There were slight pincushion distortions near the edge. The central field of view is sharp, edge blur starts at around 60%, but that is to be expected in such low-priced binoculars.
Bushnell’s lifetime warranty and good customer service are there for you, should you have any warranty claims in case of manufacturing or material-related defects.
The Bushnell Powerview 10×50 wide-angle binocular is a real bargain, one could complain about the lack of waterproof/fog-proof elements, but shouldn’t considering the price. Recommended for the hobby or leisure binoculars user.
There are 3 models available in this model line, they all share the same large aperture but vary in magnification.
