The Pentax Papilio II 6.5×21 binoculars are unique, blending specialized features with practical functionality. Designed for enthusiasts who desire a closer connection with the minutiae of the natural world, these binoculars break the mold of traditional distance-focused models. Here’s a deep dive into what makes the Pentax Papilio II stand out.
Specs and Features
- Unique Pentax Technology: Pentax Papillion II offers not only distant views but also a fresh viewing experience with the original 50 centimeter macro
- Versatile Binoculars for a Wide Range of Situations: Specifically developed to view the detail of flowers, insects and artwork close up; Thanks to their compact size, these binoculars are also ideal to take with you for your favorite activity such as spectator sports, star gazing, concerts, travel and hiking
- Diopter Adjustment: If you have differing prescriptions in each eye, You can adjust the left and right lenses independently, whilst the long eye relief allows you to use the binoculars comfortably, even when wearing glasses
- Fully Multi Coated: Fully multi coated optics provide a bright and clear view for incredible detail
- Papilio II Series: Available in 6.5×21 and 8.5×21 Magnifications and Their Compact Adjustable Size Allows Children to Use them Too Available in 6.5×21 and 8.5×21 magnifications and their compact adjustable size allows children to use them too
Design and Build
The Pentax Papilio II 6.5×21 Binoculars represent a significant advancement in the field of optical engineering, particularly for those with a keen interest in the details of the natural world. This section delves into the meticulous design and build of these binoculars, highlighting their unique features and the thoughtful considerations behind their construction.
Reverse Porro Prism Design
At the heart of the Papilio II’s exceptional close-focus ability is its reverse Porro prism design, which is less common in the compact binocular market. This design choice not only facilitates the remarkable close viewing capabilities but also contributes to the binoculars’ compact form factor. The reverse Porro system, combined with patented converging objectives, allows users to observe details as close as 18 inches away, making it an ideal tool for studying insects, plants, and even artworks with unparalleled clarity.
Durable Construction
Despite their lightweight profile, weighing in at just 290 grams, the Papilio II binoculars are built to last. The main body is constructed from high-quality materials that strike a perfect balance between durability and portability. The outer casing is covered with textured rubber armor, providing a secure grip and added protection against bumps or drops, enhancing the binoculars’ longevity.
Ergonomic Features
Understanding the varied needs of outdoor enthusiasts and nature observers, Pentax has integrated several ergonomic features into the Papilio II design. The binoculars are equipped with a large, textured central focus wheel that is easy to operate, even with gloves on. This focus wheel requires about three full rotations to transition from the minimum focus distance to infinity, allowing for precise adjustments.
The dioptre adjustment, equipped with click stops, is another user-friendly feature that enables users to fine-tune the focus to their eyesight, ensuring sharp images every time. The eyecups are designed to be comfortable against the eyes and adjustable to three positions, catering to eyeglass wearers and those without, with a maximum eye relief of 15mm.
Optical Housing and Protection
Pentax has taken care to ensure that the optical components are well-protected, housing the objectives behind optically flat glass windows. These windows are treated with anti-reflective coatings to maximize light transmission and minimize glare, a particularly beneficial feature in bright, outdoor environments. Although the Papilio II binoculars are not nitrogen-purged or waterproof, their construction quality and the inclusion of a rain guard for the ocular lenses mitigate potential damage from external elements.
Portability and Convenience
With dimensions of 11.0 x 11.4 cm (W/H), the Papilio II is designed for easy handling and transport. Its compact size and light weight make it an ideal companion for hikes, nature walks, or any outdoor adventure where space and weight are considerations. The addition of a tripod mountable feature further extends its versatility, allowing for hands-free observation over extended periods.
Optical Performance
The Pentax Papilio II 6.5×21 Binoculars are distinguished by their exceptional optical performance, tailored to deliver an immersive viewing experience, especially for close-up observations. Central to their design is a unique set of features that enhance both the quality and versatility of the visuals they provide.
Fully Multi-Coated Optics
Every lens surface within the Papilio II is fully multi-coated, a crucial detail that significantly improves light transmission. This treatment reduces reflective losses and ensures that images appear brighter and more vibrant, with enhanced contrast. This feature is particularly beneficial under the varied lighting conditions encountered in outdoor environments, from the shadowed underbrush of forests to sunlit clearings.
Reverse Porro Prism Design
The reverse Porro prism design of the Papilio II contributes to its compact form factor while maintaining a wide field of view. This design is less common than the roof prism setup found in many modern binoculars but offers several advantages, including a greater depth of field and a more three-dimensional image perception. This is especially useful for close-up observations, where understanding the spatial relationship between different elements in the view can enhance the overall experience.
Close Focus Capability
Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the Pentax Papilio II is its close focus capability, allowing users to focus on objects as near as 18 inches (approximately 0.5 meters). This feature is unparalleled in the binocular market and opens up a new realm of possibilities for observation, making these binoculars ideal for studying insects, plants, and even fine details of artworks or textiles.
Exit Pupil and Eye Relief
The exit pupil of 3.23mm, calculated by dividing the objective lens diameter by the magnification, strikes a balance that suits a wide range of lighting conditions. The 15mm eye relief provides a comfortable viewing distance for most users, including those who wear glasses, ensuring that they can also enjoy the full field of view without vignetting.
Field of View
With a field of view of 7.5 degrees (132m at 1000m/323ft at 1000 yards), the Papilio II offers a broad vista that is particularly beneficial when observing larger areas or tracking moving subjects. This wide field of view, combined with the binoculars’ stellar close-focus performance, makes them exceptionally versatile, catering to a broad spectrum of observational hobbies and professional uses.
- Fully-multi-coated optics assure maximum light transmission resulting in high quality viewing. Every surface of every element is fully coated minimizing internal glare and flare and giving a bright clear view.
- Unique Uni-body design enhances durability by locking objective lenses in a single housing and synchronizing the eyepiece movement. This minimizes moving parts and assures these binoculars will function properly and clearly for years to come.
- Aspherical lens elements, which are critical in compact binoculars, provide exceptional edge-to-edge sharpness. This assures that items on the edge of your field of view are just as sharp as those in the center.
- The UP models are offered in unique, attractive color options that match your personal style.
Customer Feedback
The feedback highlights the Pentax Papilio II 6.5×21 Binoculars’ strengths in optical performance and unique features, while also pointing out areas for potential improvement to enhance user experience and product versatility.
Likes:
- Close Focus Capability: Customers rave about the ability to focus on objects as close as 18 inches, finding it perfect for observing the intricate details of insects, plants, and even artwork. This feature sets the Pentax Papilio II apart from other binoculars and is often highlighted as a key reason for their purchase.
- Optical Quality: The fully multi-coated lenses and reverse Porro prism design receive high praise for producing bright, sharp, and vibrant images. Users appreciate the contrast and clarity, especially in natural settings.
- Lightweight and Compact Design: Many users appreciate the lightweight and compact nature of the binoculars, making them easy to carry on hikes, bird-watching expeditions, or even long travels without feeling burdened.
- Ease of Use: The ergonomic design, including the user-friendly focusing mechanism and comfortable grip, is frequently mentioned. Customers find these binoculars easy to handle and adjust, even for extended periods of use.
- Wide Field of View: The broad vista offered by the Papilio II is a significant advantage, especially for users interested in bird watching or tracking moving subjects. The wide field of view combined with excellent close-focus capabilities is highly valued.
Dislikes:
- Lack of Waterproofing: A common criticism is the absence of waterproofing and nitrogen purging, which limits the binoculars’ usability in damp or rainy conditions. Customers express concern over potential damage from moisture and fogging.
- Plastic Feel: Some users mention that the binoculars feel “plasticky,” questioning their durability over time. This perception affects the confidence of some users in the ruggedness of the product for outdoor use.
- Limited Low-Light Performance: Due to the relatively small 21mm objective lenses, a few customers note that the binoculars perform less optimally in low-light conditions, such as at dusk or dawn, compared to models with larger lenses.
- Eyecups Design: While the eye relief is generally praised, a minority of users find the eyecups design to be less comfortable, especially for those who wear glasses. They suggest that improvements could be made for a more universally comfortable viewing experience.
- Carry Case Size: The carry case is noted to be on the small side, particularly when trying to fit the binoculars with the neck strap attached. Users would prefer a slightly larger case to avoid having to detach and reattach the strap each time.
Pentax Papilio II 6.5×21 Binoculars Review Conclusion
The Pentax Papilio II 6.5×21 Binoculars are a standout choice for those interested in the closer, often missed details of the natural world. Offering a unique combination of close-focus capability, optical quality, and user-friendly design, they invite users to explore the beauty of nature in a new and intimate manner. While they may not replace more traditional binoculars for all users, they undoubtedly offer a specialized viewing experience that is hard to match. Whether for bird watching, nature study, or even as a tool for artists, the Papilio II proves that sometimes, the most fascinating wonders are found not in the distance, but in the details right before our eyes.
- Fully multi coated optics assure maximum light transmission resulting in high quality viewing; Every surface of every element is fully coated minimizing internal glare and flare and giving a bright clear view
- Unique Uni body design enhances durability by locking objective lenses in a single housing and synchronizing the eyepiece movement; This minimizes moving parts and assures these binoculars will function properly and clearly for years to come
- Aspherical lens elements, which are critical in compact binoculars, provide exceptional edge to edge sharpness; This assures that items on the edge of your field of view are just as sharp as those in the center
- The UP models are offered in unique, attractive color options that match your personal style
- Compact roof and porro prism models that balance small size and premium image quality. These binoculars are easily packable when small size and weight are critical but a high quality image is required.
- Premium multi-layer coatings assure the maximum light transmission through the binocular. The result is bright, crisp, true-to-life images in the widest range of viewing conditions.
- Durable construction includes fiber reinforced polycarbonate designs which combine light weight and rugged styling. The reinforced chassis is extremely rigid, but light enough to carry anywhere.
- Waterproof and nitrogen-filled (JIS Class 6) to handle the most extreme weather conditions (submersible to 1m).
- Fully-multi-coated optics assure maximum light transmission resulting in high quality viewing. Every surface of every element is fully coated minimizing internal glare and flare and giving a bright clear view.
- Unique Uni-body design enhances durability by locking objective lenses in a single housing and synchronizing the eyepiece movement. This minimizes moving parts and assures these binoculars will function properly and clearly for years to come.
- Aspherical lens elements, which are critical in compact binoculars, provide exceptional edge-to-edge sharpness. This assures that items on the edge of your field of view are just as sharp as those in the center.
- The UP models are offered in unique, attractive color options that match your personal style.
- Case and strap is included in the box
- Bright and clear view of the subject with minimal glare and ghost images, thanks to the application of a full multi-coating process to all lens surfaces and a special coating designed to optimize light transmittance.
- Sharp, high-contrast and blur-free image can be realized by ED (Extra-low Dispersion) optical elements for effective compensation of chromatic aberration
- Compact and lightweight for easy carrying in a wide range of applications — from bird watching and nature observation to the viewing of sports events and concerts.
- Easy-to-operate diopter adjustment mechanism with a non-slip, ring-type adjuster.
- Waterproof construction equivalent to JIS Class 6 standards for dependable use in adverse weather conditions.
- PENTAX BINOCULARS SINCE 1938: Bringing together technology cultivated through the development of a wide variety of cameras and lenses, PENTAX binoculars have been viewing the world since 1938. Experience the clarity made possible by trusted optical performance and revolutionary coating techniques.
- 10X MAGNIFICATION. An object 100 meters away appears the same size as when viewed from a distance of 10 meters.
- LIGHT AND COMPACT: The lightest PENTAX binoculars in the range weighing around 195g. As it is palm-sized and easy to use, it can be easily taken everywhere and is also suitbble for sharing with children.
- HIGHLY VERSATILE: These binoculars are designed for astronomy, bird watching, hiking, stargazing, traveling and sport. Offering great visibility and brightness for both indoor and outdoor viewing.
- BRIGHT AND CLEAR FIELD OF VIEW: The optical system is multi-coated to prevent unnecessary light reflection, achieving excellent image performance with reduced flare and ghosting.