Many optics manufacturers are ‘back-filling’ their binocular ranges with smaller models these days, and now Minox too has added a 32 mm objective model to its new BL series to complement the existing 42 mm models. With the design parameters set to incorporate the ‘BL ethos’ into the production of an 8x32 which would deliver a quality image combined with ultra-close focusing, light weight and general user-friendliness, the first production models arrived in the UK in the middle of February and were available from dealers just a few days later.

I put one to the test during February and March and discovered a small binocular which was clearly up to delivering a comparable performance in the field to its larger siblings, the 8x42 of which I had already tested when the BLs were first released (see Birdwatch 157: 44).

This binocular features the contemporary body style of the larger model, with the rubber armouring moulded in the same fashionable longitudinal ribbing but appearing somewhat thinly stretched over the short objective barrels. The objective lenses themselves are, however, well protected – deeply recessed at 1 cm, half the depth of which is rubber, providing enough potential shock absorption to survive a vertical drop onto a hard surface. The toughened, lightweight polycarbonate body really does lend the impression of a more buoyant feel and, at 525 g, this is one of the lightest 8x32 roof prism binoculars currently on the market. Shallow underbody cutaways, designed to facilitate holding, are probably superfluous in such a lightweight model but they’re incorporated nonetheless, as is a removable bolt at the end of the hinge, which unscrews to fit a tripod mount!

Even though the strap lugs are mounted opposite the focusing wheel, they don’t seem to intrude too much – always a potential problem with small binoculars.

This model features the rubber-covered all metal eyepiece assemblies of the Minox BRs and, like many other binoculars in the same class, the dioptre is located on the right eyepiece, adjustable either side of a minimal +/- mid-point. Operationally, it seemed a little sensitive to my eyes and achieving the correct adjustment was not a rapid process. In the absence of a locking mechanism I found its resistance to turning is such that it remains unmoved from its setting during the binocular’s use, but turning it was much easier with the twist-out eyecup raised above it.

The latter does not employ any click-lock mechanism and, at their lowest position, the eyecups can be inadvertently raised a little in the process of removing the rainguard. I discovered this is as a result of the tension in the rainguard’s articulation, which resists positioning over the eyecups and, in trying to revert to its ‘relaxed’ position, effectively twists up either one of the eyecups. The solution is to buy a single-piece, loose-fitting rainguard which slips easily over both eyecups, and this advice extends to all binoculars with twist-up eyecups – not just to this model.

General focusing is achieved using a single-finger knurled focusing wheel, which turns smoothly but offers perhaps a little more resistance than I would have expected, although it still operates easily with gloves. During testing I was amazed to discover that the close focus measured 1.2 m. Some ‘tunnel shadowing’ is evident at this close range, but becomes less noticeable at ranges beyond 3.5 m.

The 131 m at 1,000 m field of view is more or less standard for this binocular specification, while the depth of field was certainly more than acceptable, with the need for continual refocusing kept to a minimum.

In terms of brightness, clarity, contrast and the delivery to the eye of true-to-life colour, the image has it all – even in poor light. Although it is generally sharp, I found a periphery of softness around the edges which, although narrow, I don’t recall being present to quite the same extent in the 42 mm objective model when I tested it last year.

There is also some curvature of field at the edges but this is unnoticeable during general use. The slight chromatic aberration is also on a scale that does not detract from the image generally.