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Alpen Binoculars
Alpen is a relative newcomer to the world of optics, so in some respects they are still playing “catch up” with some more established competitors. Their real focus is on sports optics. Alpen offers a lifetime guarantee across most of its catalogue.
Alpen is really an offshoot of Bausch and Lomb , one could say. Alpen's founders, Tim Gardner and Tony Proper were both managers at Bausch and Lomb before digging into their own startup.
Among binocular aficionados, though, Alpen has garnered a strong reputation in a short time. Outdoor Life magazine listed the Alpen Pro Series as a "great buy" for two consecutive years - a noteworthy citation. Still, their relative inexperience is demonstrated by the fact that it was only in 2004 that the company got serious about riflescopes, introducing the Apex and Kodiak lines.
Some Alpen binoculars
Alpen's binocular line has some notable strengths.
The Alpen Waterproof 8.5x50 has a base retail price in the range of $300. It's a versatile binocular that can go anywhere. They feature BAK-4 glass prisms and they weigh only 28 oz. This makes them ideal for clear viewing in adverse conditions. Whether you're out birding, watching your favorite sport or simply trying to get a good view under dark skies, these are a fine pair of binoculars.
The Alpen Apex 496 (8x50), part of Alpen's premiere line of roof prism binoculars, is also lightweight and versatile. Nitrogen sealed, these are waterproof and fog proof. They also feature top end BAK-4 prisms with a strong, clear image that is susceptible to a slight edge effect (as are most binoculars). The Apex compares very favorably with other models in the same price range, and they're better than most.
The Alpen Pro 8x25 is a compact mini-binocular ideal for birding. Other compacts in Alpen's well-regarded Pro Series are the 10x25 and the 12x25 long eye relief (LER). The 8x25's are not fog proof or waterproof (that's very hard to accomplish in a compact) but they are versatile. They have a wide field when it comes to long range viewing (315 feet at 1000 yards) and some very fine close range viewing.
Alpen is out to prove that it belongs in a list of the big players, better than Bausch and Lomb and a contender with Nikon and Swift . Check them out: they just might be trying harder than some more established names in the world of binoculars.
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