Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics BUSHNELL 10x42 DISCOVERER BINOCULARS WITH XTR COATINGS

i hinted around to my wife that i needed an inexpensive pair of binoculars to keep in my work truck for christmas.
she went to sportsmans warehouse and the salesman talked her into a pair of discontinued bushnell 10x42 discoverers.
i have never been a fan of bushnell binoculars till now.
i have been comparing these to some of my more expensive binoculars since i recieved them.
i dont know if its the xtr lens coatings, but these seem to me to be as bright and clear as some of the binos that i have that cost over double what she paid for these, (i went to sportsmans to see what she paid. $219 plus tax)
the guy i talked to said the dicoverer was discontinued when the elite2 was introduced.
i had at one time an older pair of the bausch @ lomb discoverers.
the body of the bushnell remained the same with some updates. pc3 phase coating, the xtr lens coatings and nice twist up eye cups verses the pop ups on the b&l.
needless to say these will see a lot more use other than just my truck binos.
she did a great job with my gift.
any body else have these?
sportsmans also has some 7x42 and 8x42s left.

I had a pair of those in 10x42 and they are very nice, especially for the money. I don't remember who makes them for Bushnell, but I do remember they were made in Japan which is a good thing.

roy, i dont think these are quite as good as the steiners i got from you. but like you said "for the price"
i totally agree on the made in japan thing.
i cant make myself like the chinese made stuff.

I think your comments are spot-on. I owned a pair of the 7x42 Discoverers and I do believe they perform well above the price they are now being discounted at. The XTR coating is actually Bushnell's version of dielectric prism coating. This drastically improves light transmission numbers which increase not only brightness but contrast as well.

Definitely a good buy for what your wife paid for them.

I used a pair of the 10x42's for two seasons and still own them. Great glass-close to the Elite at a much reduced price. A friend bought the E-2's and they've been replaced once by Bushnell and are heading back again (no problem with the glass it's self-just a shoddy housing) If the E-2's were put out to replace the Discoverer's they are as clear but not nearly as durable. I have had excellent results with all of Bushnell's (and Bausch and Lomb) products in the higher end line. Sportsman's Warehouse runs some great deals, especially on the discontinued items.

i went to sportsmans again today and looked at the e2, its a more modern looking binocular than the discoverer, but the body and housing dont seem as durable or heavily armored. the discoverer weighs more, due to its heavy armoring.
the discoverer to me resembles and handles like the meopta meostar.

i wouldnt say that the optic quality of the bushnell matches that of the meopta. (though i think they are close) just the resemblence and handling characterisics.

I have the 7x42 B&L Discoverer (same as the Bushnell Discoverer) and see no reason to change at this time. Great glass at a good price.

dave the newer bushnells have a few improvements over the baush&lombs. twist up eye cups pc3 phase coating and xtr lens coatings. the b&ls are great binos but the newer bushnells are awesome imho.