Adasion 12x42 HD

Is the Adasion 12x42 HD worth buying?

The Adasion 12x42 HD is worth buying at £64.99 if you want to photograph or film what you watch, because a universal phone adapter and a 2.2 in extendable tripod come in the box and 16,711 owners rate it 4.5. If you never intend to shoot through the eyepiece, the usogood 12x50 at £30.49 does the watching for £34.50 less.

It suits the whale watcher, the traveller and the stargazer who wants a record of the trip as well as a look at it. The 42 mm objective and Bak-4 roof prism put it above the pocket compacts, and at 544 g it stays carryable in the crossbody case that comes with it. It is also the sort of box that works as a gift, since the phone adapter and tripod are already inside.

What does 367 yards of view mean in practice?

The Adasion 12x42 HD shows 367 yards of width at 1,000 yards, a wide window for a 12x pair and noticeably wider than the 330 ft the Kylietech 12x42 gives at the same distance. That width is what lets you find a bird in flight without lowering the binoculars, and the 7 degree apparent angle of view keeps the eyepiece feeling open rather than tunnel-like.

The front lens measures 42 mm, which collects roughly 2.8 times the light-gathering area of a 25 mm objective, the gap between this pair and the compact 12x25 models. The fully multi-coated optics and the Bak-4 prism also keep colour neutral, which is what you want when a plumage detail is the whole identification. The 12x pulls a bird in close at 100 m, and that same magnification is why your pulse shows in the view after a minute or two.

What comes in the box and how does it carry?

A 2.2 in extendable tripod with a 360 degree swivel head and a universal phone adapter both come in the box, along with a crossbody case and a neck strap. The binoculars weigh 544 g, or 1.25 lb, and measure 15.2 by 12.7 by 6.1 cm, so they drop into a coat pocket or the case without trouble. The body is wrapped in non-slip rubber, which keeps the grip secure when your hands are cold.

Setting them up takes three adjustments: twist the eyecups up or down for a 13.6 mm to 19.6 mm eye relief, turn the centre focus wheel, then set the dioptre on the right eyepiece so the two eyes balance. The IP55 rating covers rain and fog, so a shower does not end the session. A tripod mount socket sits on the body, which means you can swap the supplied tripod for a full-size one on a long watch.

Where does the Adasion 12x42 HD fall short?

At 544 g it is roughly twice the weight of a 260 g compact such as the Hontry 10x25, and after an hour on a neck strap you feel the difference. The 12x magnification also shows every tremor in your hands, so the tripod has to come out of the bag rather than stay in it. Eye relief drops to 13.6 mm at its lowest setting, which narrows the field for anyone wearing thick frames.

The price is the other sticking point. The Kylietech 12x42 with Tripod at £29.99 and the usogood 12x50 at £30.49 both come with a tripod and a phone adapter, so £64.99 is £34.50 to £35 more for the same accessory set. The extra money buys a wider eyepiece, a lighter body and the crossbody case, not more light.

How does the Adasion 12x42 HD compare with the usogood 12x50?

The usogood 12x50 costs £30.49, which is £34.50 less than the Adasion 12x42 HD, and it brings the tripod, the phone adaptor and a two-year warranty with it. Its 374 ft of view at 1,000 yds edges past the Adasion's 367 yards, and 6,014 owners rate it 4.5. Buy the usogood if you watch far more than you film and you want the money left in your pocket.

The Kylietech 12x42 with Tripod is the closer call at £29.99, rated 4.6 by 1,595 owners, waterproof and shockproof with the same 12x42 formula. It saves you £35 and weighs the same order of magnitude, so choose it over the Adasion if you rarely use the phone adapter. The Adasion is the pair for the person who wants the photographs, not just the sighting.