Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 9.72 x 6.46 x 3.23 inches |
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Package Weight | 1.01 Kilograms |
Item Dimensions LxWxH | 6 x 5.1 x 2 inches |
Item Weight | 1.6 Pounds |
Brand Name | VANGUARD |
Warranty Description | Limited Lifetime Warranty |
Model Name | ENDEAVOR ED 8420 |
Color | Black |
Material | Aluminum |
Suggested Users | unisex-adult |
Number of Items | 1 |
Manufacturer | Vanguard |
Part Number | ENDEAVOR ED 8420 |
Model Year | 2013 |
Included Components | Soft-side storage case, Binocular, Lens covers, Lens cleaning cloth, Neck strap |
Size | 8x42 |
Sport Type | Hunting |
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VANGUARD Endeavor ED 8x42 Binocular, ED Glass, Waterproof/Fogproof, Black (ENDEAVOR ED 8420)
Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
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Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select the return method
- Ship it!
Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select the return method
- Ship it!
Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | VANGUARD |
Age Range (Description) | Adult |
Special Feature | Waterproof |
Objective Lens Diameter | 42 |
Magnification Maximum | 8 |
About this item
- Extra low dispersion (ED) glass provides exceptional detail and brilliant colors. Advanced Multiguard coatings for higher light transmittance even in low light
- Three stage twist out eyecups with long eye relief, locking diopter ring and lightweight, open bridge body design with large, precise focus wheel
- Phase-coated BAK4 roof prisms enhance image resolution and edge-to-edge clarity
- 100% waterproof and fogproof
- Magnification: 8x, Objective Lens Diameter: 42mm, Field of view: 367 ft/1000 yards, View angle: 7.0 degrees, Near focus: 6.6 feet, Eye relief: 19 mm, Weight: 25.8 ounces
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From the brand
Vanguard: What's Your Story?
Vanguard's customer-focused commitment has allowed us to design and produce feature-packed, premium sporting optics, tripods & bags.
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Founded in 1986, Vanguard is a global company that designs and manufactures sporting optics, tripods, bags, and accessories. Every step from R&D to production is implemented in-house by our Vanguard-owned and operated robust global team.
Our drive to disrupt mediocrity and commitment to innovation has allowed us to create high-quality, innovative, and feature-packed products for outdoor enthusiasts and photographers all over the world.
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Built for the Outdoors
Vanguard’s award-winning optics help outdoor enthusiasts get closer to nature with advanced technology and superior materials.
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Binoculars
Vanguard has earned numerous international awards for optical design & technology, and we continue to develop quality binoculars that satisfy birders, sports fans, nature lovers & more.
Spotting Scopes
Vanguard creates spotting scopes of exceptional craftsmanship & design, making sure you’re covered in every viewing experience.
Tripods & Monopods
Vanguard tripods combine solid engineering & innovative features to support outdoor enthusiasts & photographers in their endeavors. Vanguard tripods offer maximum support for spotting scopes, binoculars, smartphones and cameras.
From the manufacturer
Endeavor ED Binoculars
High-performance features at an incredible value. Featuring Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass with MultiGuard coatings that allow for sharp, bright images even in low-light conditions.
Endeavor ED has won multiple awards, including best mid-priced bird watching binocular
About VANGUARD
Vanguard is a global company that designs and manufactures tripods, bags, sporting optics, and accessories. For over 30 years, our drive to disrupt mediocrity and commitment to innovation has allowed us to create the highest quality products for photographers and outdoor enthusiasts at an affordable cost.
VANGUARD Endeavor ED Binoculars
Featuring Premium ED Glass
The Endeavor ED series features an ergonomic, open-bridge design that's comfortable to use, along with a wide viewing angle and ultra-reliable BaK-4 roof prisms. Nitrogen-charged and o-ring sealed, the Endeavor ED is water/fog proof to take on challenging weather conditions.
- Premium ED Glass Reduces Color Dispersion to Provide High Resolution Colors and Clarity
- Bak4 Phase-coated Prisms and Fully Multi-coated Lenses
- Three Stage Twist Out Eyecups with Long Eye Relief and Locking Diopter Ring
- 100% Waterproof and Fogproof
- Includes: Carrying bag, Neck strap, Lens & eyepiece caps, and Lens cloth
Endeavor ED Features
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Premium ED GlassVanguard’s Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass significantly reduces chromatic aberrations, allowing clear, sharp viewing with high contrast. |
MultiGuard CoatingsVanguard’s MultiGuard coatings provide multiple layers of anti-reflective compounds resulting in optimal light transmission and producing a remarkably clear field of view. |
Waterproof and FogproofVanguard’s O-ring seals completely to prevent moisture, dust and debris from entering the optics. Nitrogen purging prevents fogging in extreme weather conditions. |
Locking DiopterThe diopter lets users adjust the focus to accommodate differences between each of their eyes. The diopter rings lock so that adjustments don’t need to be made before each use. |
Endeavor ED 10x42 | Endeavor ED 8x42 | |
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Customer Reviews |
4.3 out of 5 stars
310
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4.5 out of 5 stars
372
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Power | 10x | 8x |
Objective (mm) | 42 | 42 |
Exit Pupil (mm) | ✓ | 5.2 |
Twilight Factor | 20.4 | 19.5 |
View Angle | 6.5 | 7.0 |
Field of View (ft/1000yds) | 340 | 367 |
Eye Relief (mm) | 16.5 | 19 |
Near Focus (ft) | 8.2 | 6.6 |
Weight (oz) | 25.8 | 25.75 |
Dimensions (inch) | 6 1/8 x 5 1/8 | 6 1/8 x 5 1/8 |
Vanguard Optics: Built to Last
VANGUARD is committed to developing products of superior design, performance, and value. We pride ourselves on creating an ongoing, lifelong relationship with you, our consumer. We're proud of our products and our insatiable desire to deliver he highest level of service.
Vanguard has built its strong reputation for optic design and technology by listening to the people who use our products, and we continue to develop quality binoculars that satisfy birders, sports fans, outdoors enthusiasts, and more.
Product Description
Vanguard's Endeavor ED binoculars provide nature and outdoor enthusiasts high performance features at an incredible value. Premium ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass with MultiGuard coatings allow for sharp, bright images and high contrast even in low-light conditions. The ED glass aligns the colors to meet at the same focal plane to reduce the chromatic aberration and obtain the highest resolution and image contrast. As a result, the image is sharper.
Endeavor ED features an ergonomic, open-bridge design that's comfortable to use, along with a lightweight magnesium alloy body, large center focus wheel, and 3 stage twist out eyecups, . Nitrogen-charged and O-ring sealed, the Endeavor ED is water and fog proof to take on challenging weather conditions. Emerald Coating is specifically designed to provide the full spectrum of color within the band of green tones. This coating is essential for nature enthusiasts, because it ensures the most vivid and natural shades of green.
P2 Phase Coating was developed for enhanced image clarity and true color reproduction. Vanguard's P2 phase-coated BaK4 prisms creates crystal clear images and high resolution observation. V-Max Silver Coating provides crisper, more vivid images and sharper contrast due to impressive light reflection. Anti-Reflection Coating on all air-to-surface lenses dramatically minimizes light reflection on the lens. Coupled with fully multi-coated treatment, it ensures near perfect light transmission and image recognition, enabling the brightest images possible, even on the sunniest days.
Product information
Technical Details
Additional Information
ASIN | B005DQG5SC |
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Customer Reviews |
4.5 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #598 in Camera & Photo Products (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo Products) #269 in Binoculars |
Date First Available | May 6, 2011 |
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Legal Disclaimer
This item is 100% Brand New and never used, however the UPC code has been carefully removed from box, but is still 100% covered under warranty. Please contact me if you have any questions.
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the quality, clarity, value, and brightness of the binoculars. For example, they mention that they're well built, have a bright field of view, and are excellent for the price. Some are happy with the focus wheel, comfort, and adjustability. That said, opinions are mixed on portability.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers are satisfied with the quality of the binoculars. They mention that they are very high quality, well built, and have excellent glass. They also appreciate the semi-rigid clamshell design and the clear images. Overall, customers find them to be an excellent choice and great value.
"...I would definitely recommend these to anyone looking for a solid all around performer in a moderate price range." Read more
"...These binoculars are well-built, come in a fine (but tight) carrying case with an excellent neck strap and microfiber cleaning cloth...." Read more
"...The Bushnell case is a very nice semi-rigid clamshell design...." Read more
"...Nice shape and grippy materialGreat locking diopter and easy to useReasonably lightweight (but I wouldn't mind a few ounces less)..." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the clarity of the binoculars. They mention that the images are crystal clear, crisp, and allow them to have a crisp view. They also appreciate the clear optics without any obvious aberrations. Overall, the clarity and brightness of the images is excellent, making them good for seeing details in objects.
"...The close focus is about 6' and really good for seeing details in objects (like the cacti at the Botanical gardens)...." Read more
"...Now regarding the optics, the focused images are quite clear. The sweet spot is large, covering maybe 75% of the field of view...." Read more
"...In both brands, overall image sharpness, image-edge sharpness, and brightness are excellent. These are the most important features in any binoculars...." Read more
"...8x42's, I have nothing but positive things to say about the stunning clarity and wonderful color and contrast of these optics...." Read more
Customers appreciate the value of the software. They say it's the best for the price, a steal at that price point, and has excellent quality for the money. Customers also mention that it'll last a long time and is not a cheap afterthought.
"...these to anyone looking for a solid all around performer in a moderate price range." Read more
"...These are quite remarkable binoculars for the price and are a pleasure to use. They come with a no-fault lifetime warranty...." Read more
"...nature watching or birding will find these a excellent choice and great value. I highly recommend them." Read more
"These are excellent binoculars, well worth the money. Images are clear." Read more
Customers like the focus wheel of the telescope. They mention that it's easy to use, and the close focusing is exceptional. The center focusing speed is very quick, and focus adjustment changing is fast. The focus and diopter adjustments work great, and with the stereo eyepieces focused just right, you can see through trees and brush. The locking focus fine tune is also very nice, and there is no slack in the focus wheels.
"...Let me say that they are easy to handle (medium size hands), easy to focus (glasses wearer), very bright with great clarity and color rendition...." Read more
"...The center focusing is very quick, about 3/4 (270 degrees) for close-up to infinity...." Read more
"...By contrast, the Vanguards have no slack in the focus wheel, with immediate reaction of the focus when the wheel is turned...." Read more
"...Things I really like:Easy and quick to focus; knob and finger placement is quite naturalNice shape and grippy material..." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the brightness of the binoculars. They mention that the ED glass makes the field of view much brighter and sharper than the older pair. They also say that the bins are great in low light and the color is great. Customers also appreciate the great light gathering capability and the ability to see clearly in low lighting.
"...easy to handle (medium size hands), easy to focus (glasses wearer), very bright with great clarity and color rendition...." Read more
"...Actually, this is quite an achievement, leading to truly excellent viewing at dusk and on really overcast days...." Read more
"...brands, overall image sharpness, image-edge sharpness, and brightness are excellent. These are the most important features in any binoculars...." Read more
"...The optics are quite good; clear and bright, much better than you would ever expect for this price...." Read more
Customers find the binoculars very comfortable to hold for long periods of time. They say the strap is comfortable and the nylon case seems sturdy enough. The design has a comfortable grip, making them easy to hold without feeling cramped. Overall, top-quality kit.
"...The rear cover attaches to the strap and is soft and easy to use. Lastly, the bright green stripes are a nice touch!..." Read more
"...The eyepieces are comfortable and have multiple stops for varying levels of eye relief, that is, they work fine with or without glasses...." Read more
"...Another reason that the Vanguards are more comfortable to hold is that they feature slightly flattened areas on the backs of each of the cylinders..." Read more
"...Nice shape and grippy materialGreat locking diopter and easy to useReasonably lightweight (but I wouldn't mind a few ounces less)..." Read more
Customers find the adjustability of the glasses brilliant, easy, and smooth. They appreciate the right-eye adjustment that locks in place, and the quick adjustments to the eye piece and the neck strap. They also like the viewer knobs and the locking eye adjustment. With a little practice, the quick adjustment turns into a benefit, not a deficit. The eye relief cups are also easily adjustable and smooth, making them a boon to glasses-wearers.
"...However, with just a little practice, the quick adjustment turns into a benefit, not a deficit...." Read more
"...Nice shape and grippy materialGreat locking diopter and easy to useReasonably lightweight (but I wouldn't mind a few ounces less)..." Read more
"...The focus wheel is very smooth and quick to adjust. I found it really easy to use...." Read more
"...Also have a locking eye diopter ring, and nice focus range for quickly focus on that bird before it flights away...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the portability of the binoculars. Some find them lightweight to carry along on walks, while others say they seem a little heavy due to the lens weight and other materials. The carry bag is plenty large enough to hold the bins and neck strap.
"...And not too heavy (2-3 hour hikes with moderate climbing) especially with the added harness...." Read more
"...Great locking diopter and easy to useReasonably lightweight (but I wouldn't mind a few ounces less)..." Read more
"...The problem for me was they are quite heavy, kind of like your grandfather's old German binocs from the '50s...." Read more
"...The carry bag is plenty large enough to hold the binos and neck strap. It's secure but not tight...." Read more
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Top reviews from the United States
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I did get the optional harness (Steiner) that keeps them close to the chest yet easy to use. Well worth the extra money and a must have if hiking. The optics covers work well and so far I haven't lost a front cover but only a matter of time there I'm afraid. The rear cover attaches to the strap and is soft and easy to use. Lastly, the bright green stripes are a nice touch!
I would definitely recommend these to anyone looking for a solid all around performer in a moderate price range.
These binoculars are well-built, come in a fine (but tight) carrying case with an excellent neck strap and microfiber cleaning cloth. The neck strap can be easily attached to either the binoculars or the carrying case, which provides some usage versatility. The eyepieces are comfortable and have multiple stops for varying levels of eye relief, that is, they work fine with or without glasses. The center focusing is very quick, about 3/4 (270 degrees) for close-up to infinity. This takes a little getting used to, since initially there is a tendency to overcompensate the adjustment. However, with just a little practice, the quick adjustment turns into a benefit, not a deficit. The close-up focus distance was about 6.5 feet, well under the advertised distance. The diopter adjustment is easy to use and locks in place. All of the above characteristics are as good as may be found in the very best binoculars.
Now regarding the optics, the focused images are quite clear. The sweet spot is large, covering maybe 75% of the field of view. As you move to the edge there is only a very slight softening of the image on the 8x42's (significant at maybe the outer 5%), but a little more on the 10x42's (significant at maybe about the outer 15%), neither of which is of much consequence. This softening would not be found in alpha level binoculars. The depth of field is about average as is the field of view. The color rendition is excellent.
There are many characteristics of binoculars which are important. Arguably, light transmission is at the top of the list, since brightness, more than any other characteristic, defines the quality level of the binocular. Now I have an old pair of Nikon Porros which are quite bright. I have compared them to Bushnell H2Os as well as the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD, but the Nikon is noticeably brighter than either. When I received the Vanguards, I was delighted to see that both pairs are brighter than the Nikon binoculars. Actually, this is quite an achievement, leading to truly excellent viewing at dusk and on really overcast days. I have viewed alpha level binoculars and the brightness on these Vanguards would give them a run for their (much more expensive) money.
The major problem with these binoculars is with chromatic aberration (fringing). This occurs only in exceptionally bright light against a very dark surface (such as a dark tree branch against a very bright sky). Even under those circumstances, it is not present (or maybe occasionally barely present) in the center of the field of vision, but appears as one looks toward the periphery. Since the effect is mild, I do not deem this problem to be a deal breaker. It is a shame though, because these binoculars are otherwise performing at almost an alpha level. Additionally, there is, on rare occasions, some flaring at the very bottom of the field of vision. This is due, I believe, to light reflecting from my face; if I bring the binoculars closer to my eyes, the flaring goes away and I therefore consider this to be a non-issue.
These are quite remarkable binoculars for the price and are a pleasure to use. They come with a no-fault lifetime warranty. I believe that they are comparable to binoculars in at least the $500 to $800 range, so they were quite a bargain. In view of the above, and notwithstanding the minor flaws, I give these binoculars five stars.
In both brands, overall image sharpness, image-edge sharpness, and brightness are excellent. These are the most important features in any binoculars. I studied a frost-laced spider web at 100 feet, and the clarity was amazing in both binoculars. Advantage - Draw.
Mechanical operation (main focus, interpupillary distance) -- The interpupillary distance adjustment (width), and the main focus are somewhat stiffer in the Bushnells. The main focus in the Bushnells is also a bit awkward to adjust because it has some slack that must be taken up when changing the direction of rotation of the focus wheel. By contrast, the Vanguards have no slack in the focus wheel, with immediate reaction of the focus when the wheel is turned. One reviewer noticed a faint clicking in the Bushnells when operating the main focus wheel. This is not a mechanical flaw in the adjustment mechanism, but merely a "creaking" of the rubber covering of the wheel against the plastic substrate of the wheel. Advantage - Vanguard.
Diopter adjustment (right eye focus) -- The diopter ring on the Vanguards is much easier to operate than that on the Bushnells. The locking mechanism to prevent the diopter setting from being inadvertently changed is easily engaged or disengaged on the Vanguards, but difficult on the Bushnells. Due to some (very few) reviewers complaining of broken diopter rings on the Bushnells, I am very careful when adjusting the diopter. When focusing the Bushnell diopter I use thumb and forefinger; when locking or unlocking the ring, I use two fingers and a thumb. On the Vanguards I can easily do both tasks with thumb and forefinger. The Bushnell diopter ring is sufficiently stiff that once adjusted it is unlikely to be accidentally re-adjusted, so I simply don't lock the ring after setting the diopter. Update: Although the Bushnell diopter adjustment is becoming less stiff with use, it is still stiffer than the Vanguards. The problem with this stiffness, beyond the possibility of breaking the diopter ring, is that you are essentially holding the binoculars with one hand while your right hand is operating the diopter adjustment, and the significant torque required makes it difficult to hold the binoculars still enough to focus the right eye. Advantage - Vanguard.
The twist-up eyecups on the Vanguards adjust incrementally with detents, and rise higher than those on the Bushnells. Those on the Bushnells have a more limited range, no detents, and the right eyecup rose noticeably higher than the left, so attention has to be paid to their respective levels. Advantage - Vanguard.
Color accuracy -- Looking at a white snow bank in the flat light of a foggy day, the Vanguards had a slightly "warm" look, as compared to the stark white of the Bushnells. I stress that this difference was very slight, and noticeable at all only because I had both pairs of binoculars in hand at the same time. Advantage - Bushnell.
Chromatic Aberration (CA) -- the various colors of the visible light spectrum are transmitted differently through a medium such as glass, water or air. In binoculars this can lead to a fringe of color around the edges of an object silhouetted against the background, typically a dark foreground object against a light background. Both the Vanguards and the Bushnells use ED glass, which stands for Extra-low Dispersion. ED glass reduces or eliminates CA by more narrowly focusing the different wave lengths of light onto the same point so that no color fringes appear. Because a small number of Amazon reviewers said they experienced chromatic aberration with one or the other of these binoculars, I tried to force my Vanguards and Bushnells to display CA by viewing dark tree branches and dark standing rocks silhouetted against the blue sky, sunlit white clouds, or snow. I did this with the foregrounds back-lighted, and then front-lighted, and in no case could I get either pair of binoculars to show chromatic aberration. As a check, I got out some of my cheap binoculars, and had no difficulty forcing them to display CA, especially toward the edges of the image. Update: today (29 May 2014) I was able to notice chromatic aberration in both the Vanguards and the Bushnells. Viewing a distant green, grassy hilltop, obliquely backlit and silhouetted against the blue sky, I could see a narrow color fringe on the hilltop only at the extreme upper limb of the field of view. In the Vanguards the color was purple, in the Bushnells it was orange. This is no hindrance to viewing, as it is in a non-critical portion of the field of view, occurs only under rare circumstances, and is barely noticeable even if you look for it. Advantage - Draw.
The carrying cases both have zippered closures. The Bushnell case is a very nice semi-rigid clamshell design. Velcro tabs are provided to prevent the clamshell from falling completely open when the binoculars are taken out. The Vanguard case is a padded soft case with ballistic nylon outer cover, and about half as bulky as the Bushnell case. Unless bulkiness is a problem, the Bushnell case is better. Advantage - Bushnell.
The Bushnells come with a binocular harness, which stores in the binocular case. Advantage - Bushnell.
Both brands have nicely padded carrying straps that can be easily switched between the carry case and the binoculars. Advantage - Draw.
Weight -- The Vanguards weigh 25.8 ounces, a little over 3 ounces more than the Bushnells. Advantage - Draw.
Handling comfort -- I find the Vanguards to be slightly more comfortable, due to the "open bridge" two-hinge design where my index fingers are on the upper hinge and focus wheel, the middle and ring fingers curve over the binoculars between the hinges, and the little fingers rest on the lower hinge. The Bushnells have a single larger hinge, and the fingers are on the hinge, except for the little fingers, which rest below the hinge. Another reason that the Vanguards are more comfortable to hold is that they feature slightly flattened areas on the backs of each of the cylinders that form the body of the binoculars, located precisely where your thumbs are positioned when holding the binoculars. Most of the weight of binoculars is borne by your thumbs, and to see what difference this feature makes, slide your hands down toward the objective end, and note the additional pressure caused by the relatively narrow cross-section of the cylinder as compared to the broad area of contact afforded by the flattened areas. As comfort is a highly subjective feature, I would call it a Draw, and suggest that each user would have to assess the binoculars for personal comfort.
The rubber covering on the Bushnells is ribbed for secure grip in wet conditions, or with gloves. It is thicker than that on the Vanguards, with slight "give" when pushed with a fingertip. The rubber covering on the Vanguards is pebbled grain, non-ribbed, and fits absolutely snugly. I find the Vanguard covering to be slightly more comfortable, but again this is subjective, and each user needs to evaluate it personally.
Lens covers -- The lens covers for the eyepiece lenses are virtually identical. Those for the objective lenses are different in that the Bushnells have a relatively loose retainer ring, while the Vanguards have a tight retainer ring. Several reviewers mentioned the looseness of the Bushnell objective lens covers (particularly when open, hanging from their retainer rings), and one went so far as to hot-glue the retainers in place. A much simpler and very effective solution is to slide the side of the retainer ring which is opposite the hinge of the lens cover upward on the binoculars. This tightens the ring, and gives a long distance that the ring must move before it could fall off. What I like best about the Bushnell objective lens covers is the tab that makes finding and opening the cover very easy, even with gloves on. Update: (15 December 2014) my new pair of Vanguard 10x42 binoculars has tabs on the objective lens covers, so presumably the 8x42 models will now also have tabs. Advantage - Draw.
As you can see from this listing of features, the Vanguard Endeavor ED, (both 8x42 and 10x42) and the Bushnell 10x42 Legend Ultra HD are close to equal. Each is available in both 10 and 8 power versions. I paid the same price for the two 10x42 models, and am pleased with both purchases. If the Vanguard Endeavor and the Bushnell Legend Ultra are on your list for consideration, I would recommend that you take the one that feels best in your hands, and/or that you can obtain at the most reasonable price.
Top reviews from other countries
One thing that happened with mine was a screw came loose under the focus adjustment...re-tightened and alls well
neck strap.
The Nikons have a significantly larger field of view. The images are brighter with the Nikons, and the colours are more natural. I found that the colours with the Vanguards were a little washed out by comparison. For example, I viewed a distant cabin across Howe Sound. With the Nikons, the red metal roof of the cabin was clearly red, even from a great distance. With the Vanguards, the roof looked brown. Also, views with the Nikons seemed more vivid, 3 dimensional and lifelike when compared to the Vanguards. As far detail is concerned, both binoculars were very close. But with the superior colour rendition, wider field of view, brighter and more vivid image, I chose the Nikons and returned the Vanguards.
I should point out that the Vanguards look and feel slightly better made, have a magnesium body instead of polycarbonate, a much nicer carry case, better quality and more functional lens protectors and a better warranty (lifetime vs 25 years). But, to me, it's all about the optics, and the Nikons' optics are clearly superior.
Having said all this, the Nikons were $150.00 more expensive. Are they worth it? To me, yes. But that's for you to decide as both these binoculars offer very good value for money.