Olympus 8-16x40 S Binoculars

Condition & contents

At a glance: Olympus 8-16x40 S - variable-magnification zoom binocular, porro-prism, 40mm objectives.

About this lens

The Olympus 8-16x40 S is a variable-magnification zoom binocular - 8x to 16x magnification in a single binocular. A less common 'do-it-all' design suited to nature watching where you want the flexibility to zoom in for detail and out for a wider view. Porro-prism construction.

Build & handling

Works with

• Check individual unit for tripod thread

Best for

A zoom binocular - gives you 8x to 16x magnification range without swapping devices, at the cost of slightly lower optical quality than a fixed-magnification binocular. The '8-16x40' designation means both 8x and 16x magnifications use the same 40mm objectives. Image quality is usually best at the 8x end; the 16x end is notably dimmer and narrower. A curiosity in the binocular market.

Frequently asked questions

Is a zoom binocular worth having?

For specific uses where you want to switch between wide scanning and detailed observation, yes. For most serious birding and nature use, a fixed-magnification 8x42 or 10x42 gives noticeably better image quality per pound spent.