The media could not be loaded. I wanted a small monocular that was crafted of decent quality, somewhat rugged, small enough to fit in my hand without looking like a pirate, and not so expensive that it would cause rapid and violent swearing possibly followed by tears of anguish if I dropped it. It came down to either this Tactical model or the Vortex Solo 10x36. So I ordered both and did a side by side comparison. They are both solid performing for their price range, far better than the cheaper plastic models and most every unit available under $90. No real comparison. Spending $200-300 on a monocular requires a very specific need or desire - neither of which applied here. Are they clearer? Sure, but not by much. These units are both very well made with a killer warranty. To clarify a few things (no pun intended), the 10x model versus the 8x model are just about identical in viewing color and clarity. Science will tell us that the 10x model doesn't allow as much light to the pupil, but you would need a very accurate measuring device to verify that with these two models. They are both nearly identical in dimensions, the only difference being the location of the pocket clip - the tactical version has the clip attached ½" closer to the eyepiece. Do you really need a range finder? It can be a little distracting, depending on what you're looking at. The mil lines that you use for this action are small by design. So imagine you're standing there holding this thing with one hand and trying to hold your target at the crux of the crosshairs and count mils. You also need to know the height of your target, which becomes really important at longer ranges. Elevation differences, lighting, and environment all effect this equation, so practice with known objects first. At ranges over 200 yards, you might want to be leaning on a tree or employ the use of a secondary support. Practice brings accurate results. There's no direct attachment point for a tripod or holder, so what do you do? Here's a very simple free tip that someone smarter than me can make money from - Use a magnet on the supporting device to snatch the giant metal clip on the side. Stability is your friend. A mini camera tripod (like thisPedco UltraPod II Lightweight Camera Tripod ) a magnet setup would be small, light, cheap, easy to make, and totally sweet. This unit is about five inches long, not seven as listed in some descriptions. The 10x does make the view closer, but not by much. If you're on the fence about getting an 8x or 10x, but want the range finder, you're not really sacrificing much. Both units will easily spot or track a person / place/ thing / animal with ease. I like this for a very simple reason - no batteries. I can see stuff closer, figure about how far away it is, clip it to my person, or put it in the relatively useless holder. The EOTWAWKI types will appreciate this. When the stuff gets tough, you can laugh at the gear geeks with the laser range finders that don't work for sake of dead batteries. To that aspect, the holder needs help. There are no lens protectors for either unit, the case is supposed to provide that, which is sort of does. A neoprene scope cover might do well for this, and would be preferred. Simple, quiet (no Velcro), offers multiple levels of protection, floats if dropped separately, and still allows use of the clip. If you sew on a flap to hold the included lens towel, you've got a winner. In the accompanying video, any shadowing, blurry or fuzzy edges are strictly the result of this amateur photographer using an iPhone through a magnifying device. There's some science (and frustration) behind using two lenses out of alignment and fighting with the autofocus feature that wants to "see" the reticle not the target. If you're ever looking to use this to take pictures - practice first. A lot. It's not like your paying for film. So there's a real world example if you try it yourself. I have big hands, and it was still a challenge to hold the phone in perfect harmony with the monocular and tap the screen or squeeze a button without screwing up the picture. It's not a wondrous piece of cinematic excellence, but it's the only one on the net that shows what it does. If you're shopping for a quality monocular, I hope it helps.
