Author Archives: Kevin Busarow

The Italian binocular enthusiast website binomania.it just reviewed the Oberwerk BT-120XL-SD, complete with 20-minute video. Here’s the summary- “When I started my career as a young amateur astronomer in the 1980s, I never imagined that I would be able to observe the sky with instruments of this quality and diameter. Today I consider the Oberwerk BT-120XL SD one of the best giant binoculars available on the market. With high-quality 100mm FCD objectives and standard eyepieces that offer optimal performance, this binocular manages to combine power and ease of handling, making it accessible to most observers. It is excellent both for landscape observations, within the limits imposed by daytime turbulence, and for astronomy, where it clearly surpasses traditional 100mm binoculars. For many enthusiasts, it could be the definitive instrument. I recommend purchasing the dedicated fork to maximize performance.” – Piergiovanni Salimbeni

The “Focus Knob” Youtube channel recently tested the Oberwerk 10×42 SE and declared it “by far, the best 10×42 he’s ever tested, perhaps the best of any size”, his new “Gold Standard”, and even his new “favorite binocular”.

Since the year 2000, Oberwerk’s entry-level product line has been the LW (LightWeight) Series. When first introduced almost 25 years ago, they played a major role in lowing the cost of larger-aperture binoculars (50mm and up) for amateur astronomers, and they were big sellers for Oberwerk. But over the years, with an increasing number of mass-marketers trying to outdo each other on lowest price, their popularity has waned, so it was time to retire them and build something new. As a small manufacturer of specialty products, we can’t always compete on price, but we can compete on value.

We’re pretty excited about our new ES (Explore Series) binoculars. They have all the features you’re looking for: high-quality fully broadband multi-coated optics, BAK4 prisms, twist-up eyecups, and enough eye relief to use with glasses. The ES models average 96% “effective aperture,” which is unheard of at their price point (low-90s is more typical). They’re fully waterproof and nitrogen-filled, and they have an updated look that really sets them apart from everyone else.

Every ES receives a laser-engraved serial number only after passing our Quality Assurance Checklist, and that hand-written checklist is included in the box. All this for a price that’s only slightly higher than the LW models that they’re replacing! The 8×42 and 10×50 are available now, with a 15×70 and 20×80 coming next month. Ultimately there will be a 12×60, but that’s a few months away. The one LW model that remains is the 6.5×32—still popular due to its extra-wide IPD range, which uniquely makes it usable even by young children. It always had all the other features of the Explore models, so it’s simply being rebadged as the 6.5x32ES (no price change).

April of 2024 will be a very busy month at Oberwerk. Events include the April 8th Eclipse (Dayton is in the path of totality), a move to a much larger building, exhibiting at the NEAF (NorthEast Astronomy Forum) Convention (Apr. 20, 21), and a week-long visit with our business partners from Kunming, China, including a celebration dinner for friends and family at the new building. Somehow all this will happen within the month of April! We will effectively be closed after our return from NEAF for one week as we transition from the current location to the new location at 3880 Kettering Blvd., Dayton, OH 45439. Our 937-640-1040 phone number will not change, and our website will remain up and accepting orders- but those won’t ship until late-April. Our new location will feature a large showroom area, with all Oberwerk products on display. Visitors are welcome, but by appointment only please, simply due to personnel constraints.