IOR 7x40 and 10x50

Mfr: IOR, Bucharest, Romania

These two military design binoculars from Romania share the same basic design and are available in the United States from dealers who cater to hunters and other outdoorsmen.

IOR 7x40

Date: 1993

AFOV: ~60 degrees

TFOV: 150m at 1000m (~8.5 degrees)

Eye Relief: ~19mm

Prisms: high index porro

Serial Number: 00500

This sample, marked "2B7x40", is not marked "IOR" but has the same logo as the 10x50 below.  It has very rugged construction with individual focus, rubber armor, and rubber eyecups.  The objectives have attached plastic covers with compartments for amber filters.  In addition, a plastic eyepiece cover attaches to the strap.  The IOR 7x40 resembles the Zeiss Jena DF 7x40 but is more compact and is different optically.

The IOR has a very noticeably yellow image, much more so than with the Zeiss Jena DF 7x40.  Also, though the IOR gives a well corrected image, it is not quite as sharp at the edge as the Zeiss Jena.  The coatings appear to be good quality multilayer.  Extraneous light leaks are well controlled.   I find the view to be very comfortable without glasses, with the soft contoured eyecups fitting well and the field stops easy to see.  The eye relief is good, but, unfortunately, the eyepieces have hard protruding rims making it difficult to use with glasses.  My sample does not have a reticle.

IOR 10x50

Date: 1996

AFOV: ~60 degrees

TFOV: ~6 degrees

Eye Relief: 18.5mm

Prisms: high index porro

Serial Number: 0102-96

The IOR 10x50 is basically the same as the 7x40 but larger.  It has the same excellent construction with rubber armor and eyecups.

The optics on the 10x50 are very similar in performance to the 7x40.  It has the same noticeable yellow cast.  There is some field curvature and astigmatism as well as pincushion distortion towards the edge of field, but I would still rate the optics as good.  Like with the 7x40, I find the 10x50 easy to view through except with glasses due to the hard rims.  Also, the 10x50 is very heavy so I find it tiring to hold for long periods.