When Upland Optics introduced the Venator, it became popular very quickly.
And this is not surprising because Upland Optics has made it their mission to produce only the finest optics.
The Venator like all the other optics the company makes uses ED glass and multicoated lenses for clear and sharp viewing.
What I loved about the optics is that there is no noticeable chromatic aberration even at long ranges. And this is one issue that you find that with some quality binos.
I loved the way it feels in my hand. It’s lightweight and it has a rugged texture which makes it easy to grip particularly during the wet weather.
The build is solid and the rubber armoring protects it against water damage. The lenses are nitrogen purged to keep them from fogging.
Advantages and Disadvantages
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- Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) Glass
- Eye Relief 15mm
- Flip Down Lens Protectors
- Durable Rubber Body
- Waterproof & Fogproof
- Lifetime Warranty
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- ED glass and multicoated lenses for high-quality visuals and to eliminate chromatic aberration
- Solid body that is durable, sturdy and robust
- Lightweight and compact
- Waterproof and fog proof
- Wide field of view
- Sufficient eye relief
- Comes with carrying case, neck strap, and other accessories
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- Some users may find it heavy
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Benefits and Features
Optical Quality
The Venator offers great quality images and this is because it uses extra-low dispersion glass, which minimizes chromatic aberration. I did not notice any color fringing on the edges of the images even at long ranges.
There are some quality binos that have chromatic aberration problems, which can be a real issue when you need to view images that are far away. But Upland Optics has done a great job at ensuring that the Venator optics don’t have this issue.
The Venator also uses multicoated lenses to enhance the sharpness and clarity of the images. Coated lenses allow more light through the scope thereby delivering bright and crystal clear views.
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What I liked more about the Venator optics is their ability to provide clear views in bad weather conditions and in dim lighting.
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For me, this is something that is really important because it gives me the flexibility to go hunting in any lighting or weather condition.
Magnification and Objective Lens
The Venator has an objective lens of 42mm and while it does have a compact build, some users may find them heavy. Personally, I did not find them heavy. The compact design makes it easy to carry them around without much of a hassle.
I like the size of the objective lens because it offers a wide field of view, 337 feet to be exact. This is pretty wide compared to what other 42mm binos offer.
It has a 10x magnification to bring images that are far away into close focus. And it does this without compromising the quality of the visuals. And according to most expert hunters, 10x is the most ideal magnification for hunting.
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However, bear in mind that when you crank up the magnification, the field of view narrows. And this can make it difficult to keep track of a moving target. So it would be advisable to use less power and only use high power if your target is not in motion.
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Waterproof and Fog Proof Construction
The Venator has a waterproof and fog proof construction. The lenses have been purged with nitrogen to prevent fogging. And the body is armored with rubber to make it water-resistant.
It has a rugged texture which makes it easy to grip the binos. So generally speaking, the Venator has a sturdy build, which makes it ideal for hunting.
Size and Weight
The Venator weighs 24 ounces, which is pretty lightweight. But some people may find them heavy. They are not big in size so you can easily fit them in a pocket in case you don’t have a carrying case.
Eye Relief
For people who wear lenses or glasses, it advisable that they aim at buying binos that have an eye relief of 15mm or more. The Venators offer 15mm of eye relief.
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And for some people particularly those who don’t have great eyesight may not find this eye relief sufficient. But it all depends on what makes you comfortable.
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However, 15mm of eye relief should be adequate if you are a glass wearer.
Accessories
The Venators comes with a durable carrying case and a comfortable neck strap. Uplands Optics has also thrown in a microfiber soft bag, lens covers, and a lens cloth. For me, this was great because these items are extremely useful.
Alternative Products
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1. Nikon 7577 Monarch 5 10×42 Review
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- Extra-Low Dispersion Glass
- Lead- & Arsenic-Free Eco-Glass
- Phase-Corrected Dielectric-Coated Prisms
- Fully Multi-Coated Optics
- Turn-and-Slide Rubber Eyecups
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The Nikon 7577 Monarch 5 10×42 is one of the best hunting binos out there. I am a fan of Nikon products because this is one company that puts great effort in producing high-quality optics.
The Nikon Monarch 5 uses extra-low dispersion glass to ensure that views are clear and sharp even in poor lighting conditions.
And this combined with the multicoated lenses makes your viewing experience all the more enjoyable because there are no color fringing issues and the images appear sharper and clearer.
It also has a sturdy build. The body is made of durable materials and it’s covered with rubber to give you a better grip and to protect it from water damage. The lenses are purged with nitrogen to prevent fogging.
The other thing that’s great about the Nikon Monarch 5 is the eye relief. It offers an eye relief of 18mm, which is 3mm more than what the Uplands Optics Venator offers.
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So if you wear glasses it’s always advisable to get a bino that has more than 15mm of eye relief, which makes this bino great for a glass wearer.
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When it comes to the field of view, the Monarch 5 offers a field of view 288 feet, which is not too bad. But it’s not as wide as what the Venator offers.
The other thing is that it’s lighter than the Venator weighing at 21 ounces, which is remarkable for a 42mm bino.
Features and Benefits:
- ED glass to remove chromatic aberration
- Multicoated lenses for sharper, brighter, and clearer views
- Sturdy build that is waterproof and fog proof
- Sufficient eye relief which is ideal for people who wear glasses
- Compact and lightweight
- Adequate field of view
- 42mm objective lens
- 10x magnification
- Comes with a carry case and neck strap
- Offers a lifetime warranty
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2. Bushnell 191042 Legend Ultra 10×42 Review
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- BaK-4 Roof Prism
- Fully Multicoated Optics
- PC-3 Phase-Coated Prisms
- Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) Glass
- RainGuard HD Water-Repellent Coatings
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Bushnell like Nikon and Upland Optics creates some of the best optics in the market. And as you would expect, the Bushnell 191042 Legend Ultra 10×42 has amazing optics.
It uses ED glass and multicoated lenses to deliver high-resolution images in any weather or lighting condition.
It has a magnesium chassis which is lightweight and long-lasting. The body has a rubber armoring for a non-slip grip. And the rubber armoring also provides a layer of protection against water and shock damage.
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One feature that stood out for me when I compared these binos to the Venator was the eye relief. The Bushnell Legend offers an eye relief 17mm which is more than what the Venator offers. And this is sufficient if you wear glasses or lenses.
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Like the Venator, it has an objective lens of 42mm, but with a slightly wider field of view. So if the field of view is of great importance to you when buying hunting bino, then you might want to opt for Bushnell Legend instead of the Venator.
Lastly, it’s slightly lighter than the Venator. But you can’t really notice the difference in weight between the two binos.
Feature and Benefits:
- ED glass and multicoated lenses for crisp clear views
- Waterproof and fog proof build
- Sufficient eye relief
- 42mm objective lens and 10x magnification
- Rubber armoring for waterproof performance and better handling
- Locking diopter
- Affordable
- Lifetime warranty
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3. Vortex Optics V201 Viper HD 10×42 Review
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- Compact Roof Prism
- High-Density Extra-Low Dispersion Glass
- Phase Corrected & Dielectric Coated
- XR Fully Multi-Coated Optics
- Scratch-Resistant ArmorTek Lens Coating
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The Vortex Optics V201 Viper HD 10×42 is a great bino for hunting because of its superior optics. The ED glass and multicoated lenses allow you to see your visuals clearly in dim conditions.
It also doesn’t matter how bad the weather is, these binos are designed to perform well in almost any kind of weather situation.
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They have a field of view of 341 feet, which is better than what you get with the Venator. And an eye relief of 17mm which again is better than what the Venator offers.
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The one thing that I did not like about these binos is that they are quite heavy. They weigh 48 ounces, so you would need a tripod if you intend to use them for an extended amount of time.
Other than that, the optics the excellent and the build is sturdy.
Features and Benefits:
- Multicoated lenses and ED glass for clear and sharp viewing
- Rugged, sturdy and durable build
- Rubber armoring for waterproof performance
- Purged with nitrogen for fog-proof performance
- Excellent eye relief for glass wearers
- Wide field of view to help you keep track of your target
Conclusion
In my opinion, the Upland Optics Venator is an excellent bino with great optics. The ED glass and multicoated lenses make it enjoyable to view images at all ranges. The sturdy build makes it possible to use these binos in the rain or snow.
But when I compare the Venator to the other products I have reviewed in this guide, there are some major differences. And there are differences when it comes to the eye relief distances, weight, and field of view.
So when choosing a hunting bino, it really boils down to what you focus on. Or the features that are more important to you.
