Optics4Birding.com: Docter Reviews

The following comments are the opinions of the writers. We're publishing them here with the permission of their authors, with minor edits for clarity or brevity. If you would like to submit a comment, send me an email.

I recently purchased a pair of Docter 10X50 B/GA, porro prisms. They are super. They are the clearest and brightest binoculars I have ever birded with. Even at dusk, they provide premium viewing. Their clarity is incredible --although, they are quite bulky. Even at long distances, I can see the smallest details. The minimum focus of 19' is occassionally frustrating. But 19' is comparable to others. After calling Las Vegas, Bogen, and other companies; and even pricing through an email acquaintance in Spain, I was amazed to find them for considerably less expensive at Focus in Brooklyn, NY --via the web. Although I was surprised to see the Bogen sticker on the box when they arrived. I have no regrets, and would suggest Docter Optics to anyone seriously interested in getting optimal binocs for under $1000. I am just amazed that Focus was not mentioned on any birding site. Here is their address for anyone interested in comparing their prices... The only qualm I had with Focus was that they took 2 weeks to arrive.

Tyler Gerritsen, 20 July 1997

I went to the shot show in Las Vegas about 3 years ago looking to buy a pair of premium binoculars. I spent 2 days wandering between Zeiss, Bushnell, Docter, Swarovski, etc. looking through all of their binocs. Zeiss were excellent but the people were really snooty and the units overpriced. Swarovski were the biggest surprise. To my eye they were noticeably worse than zeiss or docter and I eliminated them from consideration. I eventually settled on the docter 10 x 40 aspherical and they are fantastic every bit as good as the leitz that I have access to, and rubber coated too. The only problem that I have had is the rubber pops out of its retaining channel around the lower part of the objective lens. (Next time I am in Vegas I'll drop by and get em fixed). Anyway I went through the guys in Vegas and they were much cheaper and friendlier and more committed to service than the place in Connecticut that I had previously checked out. I am a professional ornithologist working in the western U.S. as well as Brazil and these Binocs get daily use and I love em.

Carl Johansson, 28 Sep 1996.