Vixen Meglass 6x16 DCF

Made in Japan, the 6x16 DCF Meglass binoculars from Vixen are very interesting in that they have combined a very compact shape with a low 6x magnification. These two main attributes in particular work together to offer a number of unique advantages to the user.

Firstly the double hinge body design enables the instrument to fold down into an ultra compact shape that will easily fit into most jacket pockets when not in use. This portability makes this binocular ideal for travelers, hikers, and backpackers.

Whilst the low power is not the right choice for long distance observation, is perfectly adequate for most mid to close range uses and offers a number of important advantages that includes making it far easier to keep a steady image and helps to produce a wide view.

Indeed, at 145 meters wide at 1000 meters, the field of view you get when looking through these compact binoculars is extremely wide, making it easier to quickly locate your subject, take in more of the action without having to pan the view about and then follow it. At close range and with things like fast moving birds, this is a very important quality.

When you factor in this wide field of view with their compact shape, it means these Vixen binoculars are an ideal choice to take along to an outdoor sporting event, concert or museum.

Whilst the small 16mm objective lenses play a massive part in achieving such a compact shape, the downside is that they are less effective at capturing light than larger ones and thus unless you are going to be looking at bright lights (like at a concert or at the theatre) these binoculars are best used during the day and in reasonably good light conditions.

The minimum close focus distance of 3.2 meters is relatively long for a compact. For most uses this will be of little concern, but should you be specifically looking for a binocular for ultra close range activities like butterfly observation, the Vixen Meglass 6x16 is not an ideal solution.

At 14mm, the eye relief is perfectly acceptable for a compact binocular, however, if you need to wear glasses this may not be sufficient as we usually recommend a minimum of 16mm to ensure that you can observe the full width of the image. If this is a concern, a good alternative is the Vixen Atrek HR 8x25 DCF binoculars that have an excellent 18mm.