8x34 LR ED Binoculars review by Djop Tabaranza

As a full-time bird guide at Bird Finder Philippines, quickly locating birds and ensuring guests can observe and photograph them are part of our daily routine. Binoculars play a vital role in our work.

While I also carry a camera during tours, binoculars allow for comfortable, two-eyed viewing with a wider field of vision compared to a camera. I’ve been using the LR ED 8X34 since early 2024, and my first impressions were fantastic. The binoculars feel comfortable in hand, the focus dial is easily accessible, and the weight is just right. Smaller binoculars can sometimes be difficult to align with your eyes, while larger ones can feel too heavy. The LR ED strikes an excellent balance.

Beyond our usual birdwatching tours, the Bird Finder Philippines team also participated in the 1st Vietnam Bird Race in May where we placed 4th, the Fraser Hill Bird Race in Malaysia in June and the 7th Palawan Bird Race in November where the Bird Finder team was grand champion for 2 consecutive years. The LR ED proved to be incredibly lightweight and provided excellent brightness, even in rainforest conditions, allowing us to locate and identify birds with ease.

Of course, there were some minor issues during this year’s use. The twist-up eyecup came loose at one point, but after consulting Optisan, I discovered that this design allows for easy cleaning of the grooves. Simply aligning the threads and twisting counterclockwise reattached it without any hassle.

Optisan’s 8x34 LR ED binoculars hits all the marks image quality, brightness, weight, comfortable eye-relief, ease of care and maintenance. Overall, excellent quality and superior performance in an affordable package.