Russian Military 8x30

Mfr: KOMZ? "Made in Russia"

Serial Number: 423M21

Date: circa 1990's

AFOV: ~68 degrees

TFOV: ~8.5 degrees

Eye Relief: ~11-12mm

Prisms: high index

This is a Russian military style 8x30 porro binocular with individual focusing and rubber armor.  The objectives have attached rubber covers and the plastic eyepiece cover has compartments for filters.  The left eyepiece has a reticle.  While Russian commercial 8x30 binoculars are common, the military style seems to be more rare.  This sample does not have a manufacturer's name but resembles binoculars made by KOMZ (there is a red star on the body).

This Russian 8x30 has somewhat crude construction but fairly good optics.  It has the typical pincushion distortion and edge softness seen in wide angle 8x30's.  There are also some noticeable prism leaks.  Interestingly, a commercial Russian 8x30 I have does not show these prism leaks and appears to be a different design.  Also noticeable on these binoculars is a slightly yellow image that seems to be common with Russian optics.  These binoculars do not have enough eye relief to be really usable with glasses, though the eyepieces do have rubber rims.