In my youth I prided myself on the acuity of my vision, but indelibly etched in my mind is the memory of the first time that I ever looked through a pair of binoculars. It was in the Kamberg area and my father and an old man called Bob Rawlinson had been glassing the upper reaches of the Little Mooi River one late summer's afternoon when old Bob handed me the binoculars which he told me had been taken from a German U-boat during the last war. Looking through those binoculars made a deep impression on me, and engendered a life-long interest in optics.

In retrospect, I can't recall, during the four decades or so that have passed since then, any binoculars impressing me as much, irrespective of price, superior optics or more modern design. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, I was a kid and the experience was absolutely novel. Secondly, the air was crystal clear and the viewing conditions ideal as the beautiful greens of the weeping willows contrasted perfectly with the dark blue river and the deep shades of brown on its banks.

Further, the binoculars were most probably marine 7x50s which categorizes them as 'night glasses', and as I was very young my pupils had more than likely dilated in the fading light to a diameter in excess of 5mm, so I was able to make full use of the large exit pupil diameter and high twilight performance of the old Zeiss glasses. To borrow some advertising blurb from one of the major manufacturers, it was literally as if somebody had 'turned on the lights'.

The exit pupil is the little circle of light that you will see in the ocular lens if you hold the binoculars at arm's length, and its diameter is determined by dividing the diameter of the objective lens in millimetres by the magnification of the binocular. When young, your pupil is capable of dilating to 7 or 8mm, but once you have reached the age of about fifty it is incapable of dilating to a diameter larger than about 5mm. However, when optics cannot be held steady, such as after exertion, it is beneficial to have optics with a larger exit pupil diameter than the dilated pupil of your eye, as the image is then not momentarily lost through shaking as would happen if both diameters were equal. A good rule of thumb for those with unsteady hands is to use optics with exit pupil diameters at least 2mm greater than the maximum diameter of the dilated pupil.

Until about five years ago I invariably recommended that one should purchase the most expensive binoculars that one can afford as it is likely to be a lifetime investment and the higher the price the better the quality. Well, in the past there were some terrible examples of 'cheapies' guaranteed only to give you headaches, but the situation has since changed somewhat and binoculars are now available that are not only reasonably priced but have really good optics. This is a result of computerized lens grinding techniques and far more stringent standards stipulated by the lens industries and governments alike. Minimum standards are now on par with those of the medium price binoculars of yesteryear.

With today's Rand value, I categorize low cost binoculars as those priced from say, R600 to around R1000, medium priced from R1000 to around the R3000 mark and expensive upwards of about R4000. Don't get me wrong however - you still most definitely get what you pay for, but the difference in lens sharpness is not as noticeable as it was in the past, and the price disparity lies in features such as quality of construction, waterproofing, gas filling, internal focussing, superior lens coatings, etc.

I have just spent two months evaluating a selection of Lynx binoculars. I found them so good that I decided to alter my normal method of assessment when I realized that the optical systems of today have largely overcome the problems of vignetting (shadowy corners or periphery), chromatic aberration (colour distortion) and coma (optical distortion, where rounds or circles appear oval). I thus evaluated the binoculars according to my perception of a user's requirements in a particular price category.

For example, I am of the opinion that the least expensive Lynx of those tested, namely the aspheric lensed Series Eleven binocular, is at least optically on a par with Bob Rawlinson's old Zeiss, particularly with regard to resolving power and brightness, and let's face it , those old Zeiss binos were very, very good. In other words, does the occasional hunter, birder or sport watcher require a more sophisticated glass?

The test binoculars range in power from a modest 7x for the bushveld hunter to a 10x for the open plains hunter, stargazer or birder. Two 8x were included as I still firmly believe that this is the best all-purpose magnification for someone wanting one pair only. I began with the least expensive, a 10x50 Lynx Series Eleven 'aspheric' lensed porro prism binocular with a recommended retail price of R1188 inclusive of VAT.  It is usually in the lower-priced binoculars that optical imperfections are more prevalent, and I chose a 10-power because the higher the magnification the easier it is to detect these. I don't know very much about the technical aspects of aspheric lenses other than that they are half elliptical in shape and are used in the secondary mirrors of catadioptic (mirror)telescopes. Zeiss use two such surfaces in their 30-power mirror telescope, the idea being that edge-to-edge sharpness is improved while production costs are contained.

During the test period Mars was particularly bright so I used these Series Elevens to do a bit of stargazing. Colour integrity, lens sharpness and image brightness - enhanced by little mirrors covering certain surfaces of the BaK 4 (very high grade) prisms - proved excellent, with edge to edge sharpness beyond reproach. Only stars visible at the very outer edge of the lens displayed any sign of coma. Field of view is given as 6.5 degrees. A binocular with a narrow field of view gives you the impression that you are looking through a tunnel and this can prove difficult to use in bushveld conditions or even for watching a game of rugby. Zoom lenses generally have this problem, which is one of the reasons why I am not very partial to them. Excessively wide fields of view, on the other hand, are more prone to image distortion and prolonged viewing can cause headaches.

Binoculars should be user friendly, and through the years I've found that, irrespective of power; the field of view should be just wide enough to encompass the four main stars forming the Southern Cross. This makes it about right for locating game in bushveld conditions.

I am pleased to report that all the Lynx binoculars selected for this test, including the high powered 10x50s, passed the 'Southern Cross comfort test' so I won't mention this aspect again. Covered in attractive grey rubber the Series Elevens sport multicoated objective and ocular lenses, a tripod socket and are water-resistant or splash proof. They have a very wide range of focus adjustment for those with poor vision and who prefer to use binoculars without their spectacles, but as they are only of semi-long eye relief, only about 80% of the field of view is visible through spectacles. On the downside, I found them to be bulky with a height of 182mm, a width of 183mm and weighing 910g. Also, when glassing towards bright lights, internal reflections are noticeable and, possibly due to their superior edge-to-edge performance, they tend to distort images while panning. These are also available in 8x40 and 7x35 versions which are more compact. I consider these aspheric lensed Series Eleven binoculars to be an ideal entry-level glass for the occasional viewer who nevertheless demands a very high standard of optical excellence. In the powerful but hefty 10x50 version they are highly recommended for the 'armchair' birdwatcher, game viewer or stargazer. Without a doubt an exceptionally good buy.

Next up on the price list is Lynx's top-of-the-range porro prism binocular, which proved to be my favourite. Known as the Series Nineteen this glass has all the features of the Series Eleven but in a strong, compact, brushed aluminium body which is waterproof to a depth of a metre, implying that to prevent scratch damage, dust can be rinsed off the lenses under a gentle stream of tap water. The test glass was an 8x42 with an overall height of only 140mm, a mass of 690g and a suggested retail price of R2,052 incl. All internal lens-to-air surfaces are fully coated, and the objective and ocular lenses have no less than five layers of hardened, scratch- resistant fluoride coatings. To enhance brightness, mirrors are once again positioned over certain surfaces of the BaK 4 prisms and, in combination with the lens coatings, result in what I unreservedly rate as one of the brightest pairs of binoculars available, irrespective of price.

Bad experiences can live with you for life, and I well remember losing the opportunity to bag the biggest bushbuck ram ever afforded me. It was high up in the mountainous regions near Bulwer when the sun was low and to the front of the ram. He was clearly visible to the naked eye, but as I peered through the scope all I could see were internal reflections of the setting sun. The scope was medium-priced with fairly sharp optics but this incident certainly taught me a lesson about the importance of good lens coatings. Well, these fine Series Nineteen binoculars certainly have excellent lens coatings and in this regard I must reiterate that they are as good as any that I've ever tested. They also feature a tripod socket and with folded eyecups, spectacle wearers enjoy a full field of view. They are also available in 10-power in the same compact dimensions for those who prefer higher magnification.

Binoculars, like rifle cartridges, are designed to meet specific performance needs and the next test is of a compact roof-prismed model designed specifically to comply with military specifications. Known as the Series 90 Military 728, they are lightweight, compact and extremely rugged. Military binoculars must be waterproof and shockproof and objects must be quickly located with steady images even after vigorous exercise or under stressful conditions. In order to achieve this the magnification is 7x power with an exit pupil diameter of 4mm. Retailing at R2,359 incl, it goes without saying that the fully coated optics are excellent but a feature that I found particularly endearing are the rubber eyecups which are folded simply by pushing against them with the palm of the hand, and once folded, afford a full field of view to spectacle wearers. Lynx would do well to use similar eyecups on other models in their range. With compact dimensions, they fit into a hunting shirt pocket and weigh only 425g. These military binoculars are protected by green camo rubber armour, hence won't make a noise if they bump against your rifle, and come supplied in a matching canvas carry case with strong steel clasps for secure attachment to a hunting belt.

Focusing is of the individual eyepieces with positive click stop adjustments for pre-setting for particular hunting conditions, permitting rapid refocusing from, for example, infinity to intermediate settings. An optional feature included in the above price is a graticule for distance estimation which should appeal to the bowhunter. Waterproof to 2m and capable of withstanding vibration and drop tests onto concrete, these are the choice of men who spend time hunting in harsh conditions where light weight and compact dimensions are of more importance than quick focussing and high magnification.

Finally, Lynx's top of the range' roof-prismed Series 40, incorporating the very latest design features such as lenses housed within a one-piece cast alloy body and full internal focusing, ensuring perfect sealing against air or moisture being sucked into the housing by the backward and forward motion of the focusing lenses. They are also purged with nitrogen to prevent internal fogging if quickly taken from a warm to a cold environment. The eyecups are retractable so that after extended use they do not become worn and unsightly. Optically these Series 40s are exceptionally sharp and reading tests showed them to be the best in the range, although possibly not quite as bright as the Series Nineteens.

The convenient focusing control is butter-smooth in operation but I did not particularly care for the positioning of the right eye diopter adjuster (for individual eye focus) which tended to upset the focus of the central focusing control during setting. This problem is overcome simply by using a fingertip of the left hand to prevent the central focusing control from turning.

Spend some time practicing this both at night (at distant lights) and during the day and memorize the average setting for optimum performance for your eye. Weighing 895g these are not light, though they are reasonably compact with height, depth and width dimensions of 149 x 110 x 73mm respectively and are the same whether of 7, 8 or 10 power All glass-to-air surfaces are multi-coated with the result that colour rendition and internal reflection control is outstanding. Waterproof to a depth of 2m, these binoculars not only incorporate the finest of optics and features that one would expect from the top of the range product but they also look extremely elegant.

I also liked the wide and comfortable carry strap with a quick detachable rain-guard, and I would like to see Lynx replace the skimpy little straps supplied with the other models with this far more substantial version. Highly recommended for the serious birder or ornithologist, and for anyone who regularly uses binoculars and demands ruggedness with outstanding optical performance in a reasonably compact package. You only have to examine the design integrity and feel the heft of the Series 40 to realize that this is a glass designed to last a lifetime, and with a suggested retail price of R4,788 I would have expected Lynx to offer a 20-year guarantee, rather than five as for the rest of their product range. Last but not least, Lynx boast one of the best equipped workshops in the country with technicians capable of repairs ranging from replacement of the rubber armor to lens collimations and this is highly reassuring when considering a purchase.