Hawke Frontier HD X 8x32 Binocular - Green

Product Information

As the use the same prisms and optical coatings, that I have already covered this in the other review, I won't go over each of these highlights in detail again here, you can read all about it in detail in the Optics section of my Hawke Frontier 8x42 ED X Binoculars Review. Optics Comparisons So try them. Hawke have already made an excellent name for themselves. Now they’re ready to take it to the next level. Of course there may be some variation but I didn't find them as optically good as you did. I thought they were sharp in the centre but the sweet spot was small on the sample I had - I'd guess 50%. Chromatic aberration was high, even in the centre, on my model. I thought there was a "washed out" look to the image and I thought there was a hint of a yellow cast. I did notice the same field curvature as you, but I quite liked that. I thought there was a hint of pincushion too. Did you notice this?

Released in 2019, the Hawke Frontier HD X range fill the gap between the Endurance ED and Frontier ED X, and priced accordingly. Although not ED glass, what you do get is a premium set at an affordable price, and retains the same build quality and weather proofing as the ED X range.

Conclusion

As you see there are a lot of complaints but their number doesn't mean the binoculars don't have any assets, quite the contrary. Let's look at the transmission graph, presented below. Similar to those found on most Swarovski binoculars, the design and indeed function of the eyecups used on these Hawke Frontier ED binoculars is nothing short of excellent. The Frontier EDX is an outstanding binocular that delivers optical performance and ergonomics that come close to the very best binoculars on the market, yet at a fraction of their price. Hawke has crammed so much value into this binocular with its smart contemporary design, high-quality materials and superb optics. Offering tremendous value has become something of a hallmark for the Hawke brand, so that’s not entirely unexpected, but where Hawke has taken a big step forward with the EDX is in the refinement of the finished product. The EDX feels much more a premium product than any of the previous Hawke lines… including the more expensive (but now discontinued) Hawke Sapphire I reviewed previously. Side by side comparison of the Hawke Frontier HDX 8×32 (left — this review) and the Hawke Frontier EDX (right)

This also means that there is the potential for it to be less robust than a beefier, more substantial bridge and thus a greater chance of the barrels becoming misaligned should you drop your binoculars. I could not test it to destruction, but to me, it looks and feels easily strong enough and is not something that I would be concerned with.The hinge on my sample opened and closed with what I would describe as the ideal level of resistance, meaning that it was easy to adjust, but at the same time would remain at your desired setting. The Frontier ED 8x32 wouldn't replace my bigger, heavier and more expensive pairs for my more dedicated birding outings but I found it very likeable, and for a bit of rambling, hiking or travel I would be very happy with the performance. I'd certainly recommend them as a starter binocular, particularly if low weight is a priority. Looking to upgrade your equipment? Get competitive prices on major brands with our part-exchange service. The sleek almost minimalist design blends in nicely with the rest of the instrument making them look far more than just an afterthought, glued onto the eyepiece which is the case on many others. The view through the Hawke Frontier EDX 8×42 is excellent. Bright and clear, the image delivered has plenty of fine detail across most of the wide field of view (142m/1000m / c. 8.1°). There is a little softening out near the field edge but it’s minimal, and I never found it distracting. In some lighting conditions, I did perceive a reflective “halo” type effect around the edge of the field — that did occasionally prove distracting, but it didn’t happen consistently and I soon learnt to ignore it. Overall the Frontier EDX offers a superb viewing experience and is certainly on a par with some binoculars at significantly higher price points. Colour Fidelity, contrast and chromatic aberration

Next is the fact that the housings can be completely unscrewed and thus easier to replace should they get damaged. This is a feature you only sometimes find on more expensive binoculars and certainly not the case on the majority instruments I test. This combined with the silky smooth action makes focusing both accurate and a pleasure with or without gloves. Colours through the Frontier EDX look pleasingly neutral, and I couldn’t detect any colour bias at all in the field. Contrast is very good, and the image pops just enough to make it vibrant and detailed, allowing you to see subtle differences in tone and hue, without seeming over-contrasty and artificial. The EDX used Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass in the objective lens elements to help control colour fringing (chromatic aberration) — a phenomenon that can show fuzzy purple or green edges around high contrast subjects, affecting the perceived sharpness of the resulting image. Objective lens caps are drop down and stay on. But not all users like this, so they can be removed. For the eyepieces, there is a flexible rain guard, which is tapered to snugly fit onto the twist eye cups. The Frontier series, produced by the UK Hawke company, is divided into two lines: the cheaper Frontier HD X and the more expensive Frontier ED X. Both of them feature 8x32, 10x32, 8x42 and 10x42 models which come in two rubber armour versions, either gray or green.

Warranty

As well as making it easier to line your eyes with the lenses, having a large ocular lens offers up several potential advantages including improved image resolution. See more on this here: Ocular lens size in Binoculars. I have had a closer look at the recess difference on both and indeed the recess on the endurance is indeed a good deal greater, perhaps 2mm. This would explain the actual eye relief difference in using both with glasses. The lens on the Sapphire is almost level with the eyecup"