Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Binoculars Review

The Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10x 42mm Roof Prism Binoculars are one of the best birding binoculars you can purchase in the mid-price range.

bushnell legend 10x42 binoculars for bird watching

Our other favorite choice in this price range are the Nikon Monarch's which are very comparable to the Bushnell Legend's in quality and price.

We like the Monarch's in the 8x42 size, but for someone who wants more magnification, we think the 10x42 in the Legend's is a good second choice with its wider field of view.

Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Features:

  • ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) Prime Glass for a high-resolution, color-tuned image
  • Fully multi-coated lenses with Ultra Wide Band for brightness and RainGuard HD Water-repellent coating.
  • Exceptional Wide Field of View for a 10x binocular - 340 ft at 1000 yds
  • Soft-Touch Grips & Rubber Armoring
  • 100% Waterproof/Fogproof

Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10x42 vs Nikon Monarch 5 Binoculars Comparison Table

Below is a comparison chart of the Bushnell Legend's vs Nikon Monarch's in both the 10x42 size.

As you can see what they have in common is relative brightness, prism design, armoring, prism material, lens coatings and waterproofing.

Model: Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10x42 Nikon Monarch 5 10x42
Field of view at 1,000yds (ft) 330 288
Exit pupil (mm) 4.2 4.2
Relative brightness 17.6 17.6
Eye relief (mm) 15.2 18.4
Close focusing distance (ft) 6.5 8.2
Interpupillary distance adjustment (mm) 56-73 55-74
 

Weight (oz)

24.7 21.2
Prism Design Roof Prism Roof Prism
Armoring Rubber Rubber
Prism Material Phase-coated BaK-4/ED Phase-coated BaK-4/ED
Waterproofing Waterproof/Nitrogen Purged Waterproof/Nitrogen Purged
Lens Coating Fully Multi-Coated Fully Multi-Coated
Dimensions 5.3" x 4" 5.7" x 5.1"
Lowest Price Online + FREE Shipping: View Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10x42 View Monarch 5 10x42

Advantages of Bushnell Legend over Monarch (10x):

  • FOV is wider: 330 vs 288 at 1,000 yards. Here is an explanation of FOV (Field of View) and it's importance in birding binoculars.
  • Close Focus is closer: 6.5' vs 8.3'
  • Smaller size: 5.3" x 4" vs 5.7" x 5.1"

Advantages of Monarch over Legend (10x):

  • Eye Relief is longer: 17.6 mm vs 15.2 mm (more important for eye-glass wearers)
  • Lighter: 21.2 oz vs 24.7 oz

What about price?

The Bushnell Legend's and Monarch's hover between $210-$290. I find that Amazon typically has the best prices for both models and free shipping (usually).

Below are the latest discount prices for the Bushnell's Legend's in various models.

Bushnell's Bulletproof & Lifetime Guaranteesbushnell binoculars bulletproof guarantee

Bushnell's no-questions asked "Ironclad Guarantee" for U.S. purchases states that they will refund the purchase price within one year of your original purchase date.

The Legend's are also covered by their limited lifetime warranty which states that the binoculars will be free of defects in materials and workmanship for the lifetime of the original owner. They also have an Ironclad Guarantee that ranges from 1 to 30 years depending on the product.

Conclusions:

Unless you can afford a pair of Zeiss or Swarovski's, we highly recommend the Bushnell Legend's, especially if you want a 10x magnification mid-priced binocular.

For the lens and prism quality in the $200 price range, you really can't go wrong.

Other Recommendations

For an 8x magnification binocular in the mid-price range, we think the Nikon Monarch's are the best. Follow the link for our detailed review.

If you are looking for a "cheaper" pair, take a look at Nikon Action's. The Actions are best for low-cost binoculars in a porro-prism design.

And here are all our recommendations for Best Birding Binoculars by Price: Economy, Mid-Price, Top-Affordable and Best-of-the-Best.

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