Comfy, slightly limited FOV, fantastic lenses
342648
I decided to 'upgrade' to this from the plain ~$8 cardboard version after enjoying it so much.  This device is light, cheap, and a fair bit more comfortable and the straps are good.  If it's resting too hard on your nose, you're able to tighten and adjust the straps with their simple velcro.  The lenses give a sharp picture, and the size is a perfect fit for my Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

The only drawback I'm initially finding is that the field of view isn't as wide as it is on my cheaper cardboard one, it feels like you're looking through a pair of square binoculars, while my cardboard version fills the majority of my eyesight.  The clarity of the lenses, comfort and low price more than makes up for it, in my opinion.

There's also two tabs on the top of the device to adjust to the lenses spacing to match the spacing between your eyes, which is a lot more helpful than I first thought it would.

There's no magnets included, which most cardboard units have, to act as a 'button.'  I took the magnets out of my original cardboard and simply stuck them to the side.  I might glue the inner one, but it's not completely necessary.
3949731
Great bokeh at f/1.8, and you can shoot handheld in available light. If you step down to f/5.6 or smaller the lens is very sharp.
1432807
This lens is an affordable way to get great pictures with that soft background I crave. I mostly shoot in low light, and after being at f/1.4 with this lens, I can't go back to f/3.5+
I can take hand held pictures at night without a crazy high ISO (or flash.) The 30mm focal length is great on a crop sensor. This is used as my walk-around lens, I rarely take it off my Canon 60d. It's pretty sharp but I haven't done any of the print-out "sharpness tests". I'm obviously happy with it. Now if only there was an affordable 15-85mm f/1.4, say, under $1k... ;)
4955742
I recently switched into the mirrorless world when I was finally converted with the Olympus OM-D E-E10 Mark II. I've been very familiar in using nifty 50mm f/1.8's on my DSLR so this was of course the next logical lens for my new micro lifestyle as I love taking portraits and low light images. So far my experience has been amazing. The quality of the blur or bokeh is amazingly smooth and really compliments how sharp and detailed it is in the focused area. I also need to mention how fast this lens is because I definitely get my value with its quick autofocus abilities and smooth transitions that are also great for video. My only minor complaint is that the lens feels plastic-y and cheap compared to other lenses, but I find this somewhat beneficial because it makes it super light and great for travel.
3162576
I take my extended family hunting 2x annually which means I keep gear around for 6.  I'm just back from a 5 day trip where we used optics all day.  Of the binos I like best these are #2.  They are sharp good clear glass with pretty accurate color.  They are a bit finicky to focus and seem to have slightly narrow field of view compared to some of the others we have around here.  I notice as I'm scanning with them that things come into focus at the middle 75% of the circle. Like a bush for example will be mostly in focus at the edge of your view and come into crystal clear focus as it approaches the center of view then drift out as you continue to move.  I have a 4 yr old pair of Bushnells with ED glass that are better for hunting and about 20% less costly.  The image quality is similar or equal but the fov is larger and the entire image is in focus making it easier to scan country side with.  You notice more detail at the edges with the bushnells because the image is clearer.  You automatically begin to "tune out" the edges of the frame with the Zeiss because it's not as clear as the center sort of like tunnel vision. The Bushnell's you just aren't fiddling with, they seem to be adjusted correctly for most situations, meaning you don't have to think about them, you just think about what you want to see and look.  The Zeiss I am constantly tweaking that focus wheel, it's very good image but requires thought and adjustment everytime I hold them up.  In hunting out west you really want to catch every detail esp any movement or furry looking rock at the edge of your fov.  It's not unusual to spend 4-6 hours a day behind your glass.  A tool that you don't have to think about is preferable IMOP.  I will be keeping them since I used them for a week but they aren't my go to.  We also just picked up a pair of Celestron's for $55 here that are very impressive.  It was the high quality of that pair for $50 which arrived the same day that made the decision to keep the $300 Zeiss so hard.  All are 10x42 and worn on harnesses.
3450420
Of the three models I've bought (DUCO Optiks GX090, Gemtune Alpha-i, and these) and some Gunnar Optics I've triied, these are the best for gaming.  The frame is pretty good, with chunky hinges and a pretty good set of nose-bridge pads - my only objection is that the nose bridge attachment is a pretty fine wire that's welded/brazed to the frame, so if it breaks, it can't be repaired easily.  The DUCO GX090 had a really nice set of heavy-wire bridge supports that attach via screws, so they're both durable and repairable.  That said, the price is so reasonable on these that I don't expect to break them before I get my value out of them.

Optically is where these surpass the DUCO GX090s, at least for gaming.  The lenses have great coverage area (pretty much my whole visual field of view), and there's virtually no distortion across the whole field, so I never have to re-point my head to align the lenses with a target - I just swivel my eyes.  The lenses have a tiny bit of magnification (+ 0.20) that is very welcome, but not distracting.  The lenses have no internal reflections at all and since they wrap around, light coming from the sides or behind is not a distraction.  These are more strongly amber-tinted than the DUCO GX090s, so there is some color alteration, but it's very good for gaming.  For color-matching or other color-critical tasks, these might cause some tinting issues, but for gaming and word-processing, I've had no problems and my eyes adjust to the tint quite well.
191966
The Minolta Activa 8 x 25 binoculars are light, easy to focus and have a nice clear view with a close focus (8.5'). They work great for those who wear glasses. The only drawback was that the rubber eyepieces wore down(Inside are little nibs) after a while and would not remain in the extended position for non-glasses wearers. I eventually glued them down and they are perfect for me since I wear glasses all the time. These are not waterproof but living in Oregon hasn't presented a problem though. I've taken these on an Alaska cruise and a Carribean cruise and was really satisfied at how light and compact they are. I'm glad I chose an 8 power pair as the 10x seem a little more difficult to hold steady. I am considering a second pair for my wife.
623334
I read a lot about this lens before buying it, particularly worried about it being "slow" or "too big". Then read Ken Rockwell's (rave) review of it and some other positive comments from users here and decided to try it. I've been happy with my 35mm--sharp lens with beautiful bokeh and excellent low light performance (f1.4). But I missed a zoom (this one is manual--so nice. But it's a little stiff at first at 135mm so be sure to check that you're fully extending it in the beginning).

I love the range of this -- from wide (27mm equivalent) to telephoto (207mm equivalent). That is such a great range and this lens is actually -smaller- and lighter than the 18-55mm.

Plus the OIS is worth 5 stops--pretty incredible engineering feat there and it explains why this lens is not nearly as slow as I expected. The image quality is excellent and it really isn't that slow because (1) You can shoot up to ISO 1600, even sometimes to 3200 and still have a sharp image with acceptable noise and (2) the optical image stabilization system gives 5 stops (per Fuji, I have to take their word for it--but 5 stops, wow, that's very impressive.). You really can use the excellent OIS to handhold it at even 1/20, maybe, in good light, down to 1/8.

I like the buttons in the front of the lens that make it easy to turn OIS on or off and also, right next to it, make it easy to lock the exposure or have it able to be adjusted. The thread takes 67mm filters and you can put a couple on the front without worrying about vignetting. (I got an inexpensive Tiffen UV but not coated--about $12--works great). For sharpness, I did a test of our brick wall at full open  and stopped down, full wide FOV and zoomed in and all exceeded my expectations for sharpness, shutter speed needed and clarity. It was sharp in the corners even at full wide, although the sweet spot seems to be f8, particularly for landscapes. The bokeh is much better than I expected, too, when zoomed in. Portraits are excellent with this focal length.

Weather resistance adds even more versatility--it's a lens I wouldn't hesitate to take out in a rain, to a dusty carnival or to the beach. (I wouldn't subject it to a downpour or a duststorm, but its ability to stand up to "the elements" within reason really add to its travel possibilities. As Fuji says, this lens is dustproof, water resistant and has "weather resistant seals in 20 locations". Very durable.

This is a wonderful all-purpose lens and I keep it on the camera as my main lens about 90% of the time, maybe more. It often drops to $599 or so, so Fuji sales (which show up on Amazon, too) are worth waiting for.

Tip: If you want to see the information to show both aperture and shutter while you're shooting, don't use Auto ISO. Also, I've had good results with ISO bracketing as it will bracket lower than 200ISO if set at 200.  Another good bracket is Film Simulation which lets you choose 3 sims-- I like Provia, Velvia  plus B/W, to get an idea of dynamic range .
*******
(Note 6.19.15: re: Firmware. The latest firmware updates (1.01 came out Mar. 2015 for and another is due for the XF18-135--if used by the XT1 or XPro1-- by the end of June (XT10 already is updated).
1931079
I bought this items upon recommendations from a friend, and I'm very grateful for the advise:)
I carry a 18-200, 10-20mm, and a BIG 100-400 IS lens, and my neck feels a lot better now.
3006830
This review is directed to hobbists that are looking for an all around lens, demand high image quality but can not afford 3 or 4 L lenses. I'm a father that likes to have the family moments nicely documented and enjoys taking portraits of my children and relatives. I have already own the legendary 24-70 f/2.8L, 28-105 f/3.5-4.5 (the good, not the cheap one), 50 f/1.8, 50 f/2.5, 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 IS and still have the 70-200 f/2.8 and f/4 IS (both amazing lenses).

After trying all those lenses I decided to give the 24-105 L a chance - why? Because either were one cumbersome (24-70L - look, I'm talking about taking the photo gear along with all that stuff small children need, or the mothers think they need ;) or were them not very versatile (the fifties) or the quality felt bellow the expectation (28-105 and the cheap kit lens).

After shooting with this not so well regarded 24-105 L I must say it was exactly what I needed: delivers high IQ pictures with strong contrast and yes, it can blur the background enough for most cases - at least for portraits shot at 3 to 4 meters alway. The very best is that you don't have to change lenses all the time, that may be very valuable when traveling with the family or even at the Zoo.

My point is that one should give this nice and moderately priced lens a chance and not to belive those "professionals reviews" blindly. It is really a very consistent and sound equipment that deserves the red stripe. Of course is not a substitute for the fixed focal length lens like the 50 f/1.4 or 85 f/1.8 but can save the day while keeping one eye at the kids...
3688843
What an amazing lens! I have the EF-M 22mm f2 and thought I'd be able to squeeze some portraits out of that. Not really. Have to get too close to the subject to get bokeh, and at that point the subject starts to distort due to the wider angle of the 22mm. Also, low-light seems to give me good results, as well. The 50mm 1.8 is almost perfect for most of my needs.

Using this with an EOS M2 and Photodiox Pro mount adapter. The M2 focuses quickly enough for my needs.
2673554
Great fit and vision. Better than most higher priced lenses
1911846
My old 2" reflector telescope just died, and my daughter needed to complete an Astronomy 205 lab, so I ran out to a big box store and bought this handy-dandy little pair of binoculars. I love the view! We were able to see dozens of stars in the Pleiades cluster, 3 of Jupiter's moons, and even a tiny little cloudy object that was the Andromeda Galaxy. The craters on the moon were quite dramatic, too.

Pros:
* 10x magnification with 25mm objective lens yields excellent visibility.
* No problem with my eyeglasses. I just removed them, adjusted the binocular focus, and voila, they became my glasses. Close your right eye, set the focus for the left eye, and then make any adjustments for the right eye with the diopter.
* Easy to carry and light.
* Inexpensive and sturdy enough to give as a gift to an 8 year-old.

Cons:
* 10x magnification means you need to prop your elbows or hands to keep a steady view.
* No tripod adapter.

If I had paid $100 for these, I would rate it 3 or 4 stars. But for $10, it's a 5-star value.
1579813
First off, I'll say I'm an advanced enthusiast not into pixel peeping.  But this lens is great!  I got it primarily for some random nature walks and the 2 airshows I attend each year.  Optically, it's very sharp in the middle all focal lengths but definitely visibly falls off in the corners as I'm using it on a full-frame Canon 6D.  Not deal breaking but the outer edges are noticeably less sharp without pixel peeping.  Color rendition is very good, similar to my Canon L lenses, but probably just a bit less saturated/dull.  Focus speed is very good, I haven't missed any shots because of it yet.  If you use the focus distance limiting switches, it's even faster because it limits the focus hunting.  I haven't done any high speed tracking/panning with it yet, but that's not a super strength of the Canon 6D to begin with.  Build quality is excellent for the price.  Zoom and focus rings have good tension, no rough spots throughout the range.  All the parts fit together nicely, no play or wiggle while zooming.  The first part of the body (last 2" near the mount) is metal, the rest is thermally stable plastic as is pretty much the norm these days for non-professional grade lenses.  The tripod foot is also removeable and the lens includes a nice silicone ring to protect the foot mounts when removed.  It's also worth noting the lens comes with a nice padded, Sigma labeled bag with a strap to store/transport the lens.  This is a nice touch and saved me a few bucks since any third party lens case big enough to hold this size lens is at least $40.  Weight could definitely be an issue for some.  At 4.25lbs its my heaviest lens by far.  I use a Black Rapid RS-5 sling strap and it makes it relatively easy to carry, but a standard neck strap wouldn't work for anything more than a short stint.  For days at the airshow, I plan on using my monopod.  As a matter of habit and good practice I always put a B+W UV MRC filter on all my lenses. So just a warning that at 95mm, that size filter cost more than 10% of the lens' cost!  I waffled between this lens and the twice as expensive Sport model.  From the few online reviews available, the only real "cons" to this lens verses the sport is slightly lower optical clarity (but I'm not a pixel peeper as previously noted), slightly slower focus (could be an issue, but I'm no pro to begin with), and lack of the tank-like build quality and weather sealing.  So given these 3 cons, the only one that would really affect my personal use is build quality and I couldn't justify another thousand dollars for that.  The other obvious comparison for this lens is the similarly priced Tamron 150-600.  So the following is what swayed me to the Sigma: I'll say that I generally prefer Sigma to Tamron for third party lenses (though I do own Tamron's excellent new SP 15-30mm F2.8), I really like the look of Sigma's new Global Vision lens line (personal preference), the Sigma included a nice padded case, and the final one up over the Tamron is Sigma's USB dock.  And lastly, to cover the USB dock.  This lens has two "Custom" mode positions, and I made C1 a setting to prioritize speed in it's focus and OS and C2 a setting to prioritize accuracy in its focus and OS.

Update 11-16-2015: I still stand by this lens, it really is great.  Added some pics from the Great New England Airshow.  It was a cloudy, hazy, summer day and the lens still captured some pretty good color saturation.  Pics taken with my Canon 6D, all handheld, really shows off the len's OS.  Most pics were keepers (or at least good enough) given the fairly high-speed tracking.
4637910
A year ago I looked at about 10 binocular pairs at a shop, and I had to go to $330 in the Nikon Monarch-5 8x42s before I beat the
(porro-style) Leupold Yosemite 8x30.  These things beat the Yosemites easily, on detail and contrast, which is no small thing. Roof binoculars usually lag behind until you spend a lot more.  There are roof-prism binoculars like this that have really poured on the performance recently.  There is some flashing glare when you get within 20 degrees of a bright light or the sun. though.  I made a little hood for the front.  If you avoid that problem (like being in some shade or sun sideways or at your back), these are awesome.  They are very hefty and rugged, the diopter adjustment is just right, and the focuser moves very smoothly after running it back-n-forth all the way 4 times.  Very wide field for an 8x.  I thought it would take me $300 to get something special, but these were worth taking a chance on. The recent Vortex Diamondback 8x32s are like this, with better glare suppression. They run $180+  though.  If you wrap some black felt around the set sticking just 2 inches past you can make a decent hood. An inner-threaded flat-black-spray-threads 1-1/2 PVc pipe coupler as a hood is super but that's complicated to describe here.
4109305
I will start by saying these are fantastic optics. These are comfortable, have a great bright picture and are crystal clear. I wish I would have found a stronger pair since I often use these at the shooting range and they can't see the hole. I've gotten a spotting scope since then and it has worked out great.
3379347
I have read a great deal on the 55-200 and 55-300mm lenses. This I believe was the best choice for me without going superzoom, mega buck lenses. I like the fact of the IS and VR...do your homework. It is well worth it. SO FAR, I am very pleased with my purchase. I did purchase this as a refurbished, since more extensive testing is done on the refurbished and my first camera was a refurb and I was not disappointed. Being said, as purchasing this as a refurb, I saved a couple hundred $$. Don't know if I would pay full price for it, but for the $150, it was a great buy for me.
Highly recommend.