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Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Monocular Review: Updated 2024!

Welcome to our comprehensive review of the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Monocular. In this detailed analysis, we’ll explore the features, performance, and overall user experience of this cutting-edge optical device.

Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, outdoor adventurer, or sports fan, the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Monocular promises to elevate your viewing experience with its exceptional clarity, precision, and portability.

Key Takeaways:

  • Exceptional Clarity: The Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Monocular delivers crisp and detailed images, making it perfect for observing distant objects with precision.
  • Lightweight and Portable: With its compact design and lightweight construction, this monocular is easy to carry on outdoor adventures, hikes, and nature walks.
  • Durable Build: Built to withstand rugged outdoor conditions, the Legend Ultra HD Monocular is waterproof, fog-proof, and protected by a rubber armor coating for added durability.
  • Versatile Applications: Whether you’re birdwatching, hiking, camping, or attending sporting events, this monocular enhances your viewing experience with its impressive optics.
  • Easy to Use: Designed for convenience, the monocular features a user-friendly focus wheel and twist-up eyecup, ensuring quick and hassle-free adjustments for users of all experience levels.

Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Monocular Overview

The Bushnell Legend is made of sturdy material, and comes with everything you need for your next birdwatching trip: a built-in tripod mount (with magnetic plate), hard case and lens cleaning disk. 

It also has a high light transmission rating of 80%, which means it will give you an amazing view of birdlife at dawn or dusk.

Plus, it has a 37 mm objective lens that is large enough for magnifying objects and enhancing detail close-up without eye strain, allowing for longer viewing times without fatigue.

Specifications:

  • Make: Bushnell
  • Model: Legend
  • Length (in.): 5.4 in. / 137 mm
  • Weight: 0.83 lbs. /13.3 oz.
  • Lens Coating: Fully Multi-coated PC-3 Phase Coating
  • Focus: Manual
  • Close Focus (m): 6.5 ft. / 2 m
  • Exit Pupil (mm): 4.2 mm
  • Eye Relief (in.): 15.2 mm
  • Field of View: 340 feet @ 1000 yards
  • Magnification: 10x
  • Objective Lens: 42 mm
  • Glass: ED Prime
  • Prism Glass: BaK-4
  • Prism Type: Roof
  • Design: Waterproof & Fogproof
  • Eyecup Type: Twist up

Features

The Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10×42 monocular offers a great 10x magnification that allows you to see targets in great detail. It’s waterproof, weighing just 0.83 pounds, so it’s easy to take with you when hiking or hunting in the woods. It has a field of view of 340 feet at 1000 yards, so you’ll be able to see your target well before you get there.

This model is 10.72 inches long, 2.5 inches wide, and has a depth of 3.24 inches, so it’s small enough to fit in your pocket when you’re out hiking or camping. The lens itself is 6.25 inches across, so you shouldn’t have any problem adjusting it to fit your vision correctly. 

Magnification

It comes with a 10x magnification and a 42 mm lens, which is relatively large compared to most monocular. With it, you can see objects clearly from great distances. You can even see objects that are over a mile away when using the Bushnell Legend!

Light Transmission Rating

This unit boasts an impressive 80% light transmission rating. The bubble-like lens allows the user to easily observe in low-light conditions and in all types of weather — rain or shine.

Field of View

The field of view of 340 feet at 1000 yards, which is pretty nice if you are looking for an all-around scope that can be used in various situations. For example, this monocular will give you a wide view of things in front of you while providing comfort for people with myopia.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Focusing System

The Bushnell Legend features a multi-coated lens with glass-etched glass for extra clarity and contrast. It also comes with 10x magnification, which will allow you to see the details clearly. While it is focused, the reticle won’t get blurry.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ It has a traditional manual focus control with fine-tuning features for better adjustments.

The large prism ensures an ideal focusing capability in low light conditions, while the quick twist objective ring makes it easy to quickly adjust your eyepiece for viewing close targets or long distance targets. This function that allows you to see sharp images quickly and easily. The manual focus system is easy to use, even for first-time users.

Waterproof & Fogproof

If you’re looking for a sturdy, reliable, and waterproof binocular that will not fail you in the worst conditions, then the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Monocular is just what you need. This durable scope is made to take on even the harshest weather thanks to its superior features.

This unit is waterproof up to 1 meter in depth, which means you can use it when in rainy conditions or in situations where water may splash in your way. It’s also fog proof to prevent condensation from forming inside the lens.

First Impressions

This particular Bushnell model comes with a twist up rubber eye cup for comfort, and a picatinny mount, so you can attach it to your rifle with ease for steadier viewing. It also has a lanyard, so you can keep it handy while hiking or hunting in the woods.

The body has an easy-to-grip rubber exterior body design for optimal handling ergonomics during use, and it comes with a soft case to keep it protected when not in use. The lens on this model is fully multi-coated, and the interior of the monocular has an ED Prime lens for better light transmission and clarity. 

A young birder birdwatching wth monoculars.

Exploring the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10×42 Monocular

This particular model is designed for viewing in low light situations, but if you have trouble seeing targets in the woods during the day, then this model could be helpful in that situation as well. The lens itself is fully multi-coated, which means the surface has multiple layers of anti-reflective coating on it to reduce glare and reflections.

The lens also has ED Prime glass for better light transmission, and the interior is phase coated for clear viewing of targets at all times. This model also comes with a manual zoom, so you can see difficult targets clearly even when you’re further away. 

Observations

The Legend Ultra HD 10×42 monocular is a great model with good features that make it easier to find targets in low light situations or in daylight. We took this model out during a hunt one day, and we found that it was able to provide a clear view of targets from a far distance.

We were even able to use the image zoom to see birds from over 100 yards away. The eye cup on the monocular is also nice for comfort when you’re wearing it for long periods of time. 

What Could Be Improved

This model isn’t really suitable for users with astigmatism, because the lens isn’t designed for up close viewing. It’s meant more for spotting objects at a distance, so you can get closer to them.

If you have trouble seeing far away objects, however, this could be a good choice for you because the zoom offers a great way to get close enough to get a clear view of your target. 

Pros

  • Excellent image quality, brightness and clarity.
  • Waterproof and fog proof.
  • Focusing ring is precise and fluid
  • The build quality is solid. 
  • Minimum focusing distance of 7 feet.
  • Not bulky. 
  • Rubberized outer coating
  • Nice pouch with belt, and a scope-mounted belt clip. 
  • Fits nicely in a hunting vest pocket.
  • Built in tripod.
  • 340 feet field of view.
  • Comes with lens cleaning wiper, a sling and a little bag for storage.
  • Includes a Picatinny rail and a Carrying clip.

Cons

  • Hard rubber lens caps.
  • Eyepiece cap keeps falling off.
  • A little heavier than 10.4 oz.
  • A bit pricey

Who Should Choose This Model

This product is suitable for stargazing, watching outdoor sports, avid hunters, bird watching, fishing or hikers who want to spot objects at a distance should choose this model, because it’s designed for viewing objects from afar. It’s lightweight and easy to take with you wherever you go, and it works well in low light or bright daylight situations.

Requires Cleaning 

The Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10×42 monocular requires some gentle cleaning to keep it working properly. We recommend cleaning your model every four to six months, depending on how often you plan on using it.

It’s easy to clean the lens of your model with some rubbing alcohol or some water, but be sure not to use any type of abrasive cloth while you’re doing this, because it could scratch your lens.

We also recommend putting some lubricant in the eye cup while you’re cleaning, so the eye cup won’t get dry and crack when you put on your model for use. 

Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10×42 Monocular Review Summary 

The Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10×42 monocular is a great model for viewing objects at a distance. It has a great 10x magnification that’s good for viewing objects at over 100 yards away, and the lens is coated with multi-coating to reduce glare and reflections whenever you need to use it.

The eye cup on this model is easy to twist up or down, so you can get the most comfortable view possible, and it has a picatinny mount, so you can attach it to your rifle if necessary. If you need a good monocular to use in the field, but don’t want to spend your life savings, the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Monocular is an ideal option.

FAQs:

Can you stargaze with a monocular?

If you are interested in stargazing, but don’t want to invest in a telescope, there is an alternative. Monoculars can give you the same quality of view as telescopes, with lower prices and less weight. The best monoculars are good enough to see most of the stars in our galaxy. 

Are bird watching monoculars good?

There are many types of them on the market today, and their quality varies greatly depending on how much you spend. The best ones will have high-quality lenses with long focal lengths which help you see details of birds from a distance.

How do I choose a good monocular?

Here are some tips to choosing a good monocular. Consider the weight and size of the product. Be sure it’s water resistant or waterproof. Choose a 8x or 10x magnification. Consider how often you will be using it. Be sure that it has a good warranty. Know what type of technology is used. Read reviews about other people’s experiences.

What is a good size monocular?

If you’re in the market for a monocular, you may be wondering what size to get. The answer depends on your intended use. A smaller one is better if you are just using it around town or in a park. For wildlife viewing, though, a 10×42 monocular will give you a wider field of view and more light transmission than its 7×35 counterpart would offer.

How Far Can You See With a 40X60 Monocular?

 A 40X60 monocular is typically used for viewing things at great distances, such as wildlife or aircraft, and has a range of approximately 9500 meters (5.9 miles).

Related Post: Best Monoculars For Bird Watching 2023 (Top 10 Picks!)

Author

  • Vince S

    Meet Vince, the passionate founder and author of Learn Bird Watching, boasting 30 years of birding experience. With an unwavering mission to empower fellow bird enthusiasts, Vince shares invaluable wisdom and guidance. As a dedicated moderator and contributor to Quora's Bird Watchers' Club, he actively engages with the birding community, where his insightful answers have garnered over 440,000 views and over 2,670 upvotes. Whether you're a budding birder or a seasoned avian aficionado, his wealth of knowledge is at your service.