The 4.2mm exit pupil on these Vixen indicates that whilst they may not quite match the low light performance of the 8x42 or 8.5x45 Vixen Artes binoculars, their 10x42 configuration is often the preferred choice of outdoor and nature lovers and in particular hunters who are looking for an easy to carry instrument that will provide you with a detailed image at longer ranges.
Rather than dimly lit woodlands, these 10x42 Artes J 10x42 DCF ED binoculars perform at their best in more wide open areas where the available light is usually reasonably good and where you will more often find yourself observing wildlife, people or objects at slightly further distances.
In these situations, the higher magnification brings you closer to the action, but at the same time, it is not so powerful so as to reduce the field of view by too much or make it difficult to keep the image steady without the need of a tripod.
Ideal uses include wildlife observation, hunting and even birding at along the coast or lakeside where light is good and the distances are a little greater.
For a binocular with a 10x magnification, the 17mm of eye relief is good and makes them a great choice should you need to want to wear glasses whilst observing.
Whilst not terrible, the minimum close focus distance of 3 meters falls a little short of the best, which is something to keep in mind should you often like to observe insects, flowers or even birds from very close range.
The Japanese made Vixen Artes series of binoculars with the open bridge design are available with or without ED glass lenses and in four different configurations. The standard sized 42mm models offer a great balance between size and light gathering ability, whilst the larger 45mm Vixen Artes binoculars are will suit those looking for an improved low light performance.
All Vixen Artes binoculars feature a modern open bridge body design that frees up more of the barrels to allow for a more comfortable and better grip, but without compromising on the strength and structural integrity of the chassis.
On the exterior is a tough rubber armour producing an excellent slip-resistant surface and at the same time protecting the optics. These Vixen binoculars are fully water and fog proof for use in all weather conditions and are all tripod adaptable.
Twist-up eyecups and a long eye-relief allows for comfortable use and a full field of view, with or without eyeglasses. These binoculars all have a large centrally located focus wheel and a right eye diopter adjuster for easy and accurate focussing and which enables you to set up your optics to compensate for any differences in vision between your left and right eyes.
All models within this series feature fully multi-coated optical pathways for improved light transmission. The Schmidt Pechan designed roof prisms are fashioned from top quality BaK-4 optical glass and are dielectrically coated to further boost light transmission across all wavelengths to provided the brightest views possible with improved resolution and contrast.
The 42mm models also utilise elements within the lenses that have extra low dispersion properties.This ED glass further improves the quality of the image by reducing chromatic aberrations, which is the main cause of color fringing.
Vixen Artes binoculars come supplied with a good quality protective carry case, objective lens covers, rain guard, lens cleaning cloth and a padded neck strap.
For peace of mind, these Artes binoculars from Vixen Optics are offered with a 30 year no fault warranty.