Vanguard Endeavor ED II 8x32
The binoculars are very similar to each other, differing in merely cosmetic casing details and coatings – those used in Vanguards ED II seem to be more efficient, with lower intensity, providing more natural colours. If you buy one of the Vanguard Endeavor ED II pairs of binoculars you get a very rich accessory kit: the caps for objectives and eyepieces, a strap, a very stylish, profiled case, with a separate strap and a possibility to attach it to your belt and an optics cleaning cloth. The case is the proof that the Vanguard company have a lot of experience when it comes to producing bags or cases – it can be an example to follow for other optics producers.
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It is also worth mentioning that the Endeavors come with lifetime warranty both on Polish and American markets.
| Magnification | Lens diameter | Angular field of view | Prisms | Eye relief | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 32 | 126/1000(7.2o) | BaK-4/roof | 17.5 mm | 540 g | 2099 PLN |
| Real front lens diameter |
Left: 32+/-
0.05 mm Right: 32+/- 0.05 mm |
8 / 8.0 pkt | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real magnification | 7.91+/- 0.05x | 3/3.0 | ||||
| Transmission | 82+/- 1.5% | 10.5/25.0 | ||||
| Chromatic aberration | Low in the centre, a bit higher than medium. | 6.4/10.0 | ||||
| Astigmatism | Slight. | 7.5/10.0 | ||||
| Distortion | The distance between the first curved line and the field centre compared to the field of view radius: 65% +\- 3% | 7.5/10.0 | ||||
| Coma | Appears near 70% of the field of view radius and is medium on the very edge. | 7.3/10.0 | ||||
| Blurring at the edge of the FOV | The blur occurs in a distance of 85% ± 4% from the field of view centre. | 7/10.0 | ||||
| Darkening at the edge the FOV | Negligible. | 4.5/5.0 | ||||
| Whiteness of the image | About 10% of difference between the red and blue light transmission. | 3.1/5.0 | ||||
| Collimation | Perfect. | 5/5.0 | ||||
| Internal reflections |
|
4/5.0 | ||||
| Housing | Quite long for the 8x32 class - "open hinge" design. Rubber armour of very good quality. Nothing creaks or sticks out. Eyecups are rubberized and can be regulated (four steps). Produced in China. | 8/8.0 | ||||
| Focusing | Big and comfortable central wheel with fine ribbing. Running through the whole distance scale takes a turn through about 480 degrees. The wheel moves smoothly with low resistance but still within acceptable norm. A shifting ring on the right eyepiece for individual focusing; it moves the element. The only thing you can carp about is that ribbing covering the wheel – it is really too fine, not especially comfortable under your fingers. | 4.3/5.0 | ||||
| Tripod | There is a tripod exit but far from the gravity centre. In the test of 8x32 binoculars we awarded all the devices an average value of 1.5 points because the tripod exit is rarely used in that class of equipment. | 1.5/3.0 | ||||
| Interpupilary distance | from 53.6 to 74.2mm | 5/6.0 | ||||
| Closest focusing distance | 1.8 m. | 2/2.0 | ||||
| Eyepieces FOV | Apparent field of view of 56.3 deg (according to simple formula) and 52.4 deg (according to tangent formula). | 8/20.0 | ||||
| Field of view | Measured by us amounted to 7.12 +/- 0.02 degrees and it was slightly narrower than stated in the specifications. A typical field of view for this class of equipment. | 5/8.0 | ||||
| Quality of the interior of the barrels | Tubes are darkened and baffled very well. The bottom is black but slightly shiny. A very small amount of dust. | 4.2/5.0 | ||||
| Vignetting |
|
4/8.0 | ||||
| Prisms quality | Good quality BaK-4. | 8/8.0 | ||||
| Antireflection coatings | Greenish on objectives, green-purple on eyepieces and green on prisms. Medium intensity. | 4.5/5.0 | ||||
| Warranty [years] | lifetime | 6/6.0 | ||||
| Final result | 70.7% | 134.3 / 190 pkt | ||||
| Econo result | 0pkt. |
Summary
Pros:
- solid casing,
- slight astigmatism,
- good coma correction,
- not very bothersome chromatic aberration,
- low distortion,
- negligible brightness loss on the edge of the field of view,
- sharp image for most of the field of view,
- good quality BaK-4 glass prisms,
- proper darkening of the binoculars inside the tubes,
- lifetime warranty.
Cons:
- noticeably truncated exit pupils.
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I’ve had an opportunity to look through several Endeavor ED binoculars and every time my impressions have been very positive. I wanted to include the 8x42 model into our endurance test but, because of the change of the Polish distributor, I didn’t manage to get that device. Then the ED II series was launched on the market – that time I didn’t let it go. Now, as a result, you can look closely at the 8x32 model.
Already the mere comparison of the lists of pros and cons lets you know you deal here with a very good optical instrument. The final result of over 130 points confirms it, putting the Vanguard among such interesting and well done constructions as the Steiner Nighthunter 8x30 XP, the Vortex Viper 8x32 or the Meopta Meostar 8x32. The Vanguard fits that group not only when it comes to its test result but also its price (still you have to remember that the Meopta remains noticeably more expensive, the cheaper Viper isn’t produced anymore and the Viper HD, its successor, comes with a price tag of about 500 Euro).
To be completely honest despite its flaws the Vanguard came very close to being called an outstanding pair of binoculars (remembering its price all the time). First of all the producer could take a better care of the antireflection coatings – it is very clear why if you consult the transmission graph, shown below.
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The Endeavor ED II is a top-of-the-range series of that producer, it deserves only the best; meanwhile in the red part of the spectrum the transmission results never exceed 90% and in the middle of the visible spectrum they never reach higher than 82%, a level which can be called only medium. For such a price you would wish to see at least several percent more.
The second flaw is the appearance of exit pupils – if they were perfectly round, the instrument wouldn’t lose so much light and its result in our test would be by five points higher.
 Vanguard Endeavor ED II 8x32 and two Nikons: EDG 8x32 and Prostaff 7s 8x30. |
However, even with those slip-ups the Endeavor ED II 8x32 remains a pair of binoculars worth recommending. We were very pleasantly surprised by its superior build quality – the casing is solid, its armour is made of good quality rubber, the tubes are clean inside and properly darkened. Overall everything is completely beyond reproach. What’s more the device corrects well the majority of optical aberrations – the more such binoculars on the market the better!
