Jacob MurphyAomekie is one of those left field brands that uses factory second runs on components from high-end brands to produce altogether decent products on an extreme budget. Their product offerings are small and their runs of products are usually fairly short. This means when you see a good deal, it’s best to jump on it because it may be gone tomorrow.
A perfect example are these rangefinder binoculars that are quite a decent product for a price that is a mere fraction of what the big names cost. Seriously, these can reach well into the thousands for a good set and even the most budget brands are still well into the hundreds. There is no other place you are likely to find anything decent for close to this price.
Sure, there are going to be a few shortcomings and sacrifices when you get a budget product but a good company can mitigate this with good component selection, clean manufacturing, and an appropriate level of customer service and warranty support. Read on if you think this may be the product for you.
Construction
Aomekie’s rangefinder binoculars are constructed around a magnesium chassis which is sealed for better strength and durability. It uses a very high-index BaK-4 prism in the for better alignment and light transmission. Overall this allows them to have image quality competitive with the higher end brands without the huge price tag. This is one place where they haven’t cut corners to save a few dollars.
Optical Quality
To be frank, there are many companies with optically superior lenses to those offered by Aomekie but those companies produce optics that are far more expensive. That said, unless you are a very discerning fan of optics, you are not likely to notice much different between these and a mid-rage set of binoculars. They are quite clear and obviously designed for a company producing quality optical devices.
Aomekie uses a green-scaled lens coating that is mostly used to prevent glare and minimize reflection. This aids in overall light transmission through the objective lens and improves the image quality significantly. You will find that the overall quality is quite clear and sharp with good contrast even in lower light levels.
As stated above the prism is of a very high quality all things considered. This is a vital component in getting the light from the objective lens to your eye and having one of this level of engineering is a huge bonus. The Porro prism in the Aomekie binoculars is easily on par with many of the name brands out there and may even be a little better than some.
Durability and Weather Resistance
Off the bat, the construction of the binoculars is quite solid and could be expected to hold up to years of use in the field. The body is strong and with an anti-slip coating that offers some protection, there is no reason to doubt their longevity. Even the eyepieces seem sturdy and well attached.
Surprisingly for such a budget optic, all of the lenses are sealed in place and the interior is nitrogen purged. This is the most surefire way to make a set of binoculars waterproof. It also has the effect of preventing intrusion of dust, fog, and any other environmental condition that could cause issues. For field use in adverse weather and harsh conditions, there is little reason to doubt that these binoculars will hold up quite well.
Features and Function
To get the basics out of the way, these are a 7 power binocular with a sizable 50mm objective lens for improved light transfer. These are reasonably powerful and have a good field of view while still having the power to get close enough to see detail. While this may not be anything spectacular, when combined with the price and optical quality, these are ahead of the game.
Inside the scope there are two noteworthy features that are not commonly found in your run of the mill binoculars. There is a ranging scale and a compass. While these are somewhat novelty features, for those inclined to use them, they can be quite beneficial. For those who have no interest in them, they may be more of a distraction. If you have no preference, it is probably best to have them just in case.
The ranging scale is somewhat different than the reticle you would usually get in a scope and will require a little more math to be perfectly accurate with. You will need to reference the numerical scale with the known field of view to come out with the distance. While this may seem daunting, it really isn’t. Instructions included with the binoculars will explain the precise function and how to best use it.
The compass is definitely a novel feature even if it isn’t a novelty to you. There are times that this can come in quite handy when calling out features, directions, or other points of interest. There are no degree markings, instead, it has a simple cardinal scale. This makes it quite simple to use if a little less accurate than some users are likely to want.
In cases of lower light levels, the scale and compass can be illuminated with the press of an easy access button. This is an altogether rare feature in a set of binoculars but the Aomekie are a rare breed of binoculars. They can serve well as they were intended and make a great training tool for learning to estimate range.
Conclusion
While it can not be said that these simple, easy to use binoculars are among the very best on the market, you can say that they are a very functional set and will cost you far less than the more advanced versions. Sure, you can opt for binoculars with very accurate laser ranging and the best glass you can get but those will cost you 10 times more at least. If you want something cheap that will get you by, these definitely feel that niche.
