The binocular has become an irreplaceable part of a hunter’s kit. Simply put, you’ve got to see it to shoot it, and the use of a quality binocular will assuredly increase the odds of a hunter’s success. Leupold has a wide range of binoculars, including the excellent Santiam and ProGuide lines, but this new BX-3 Alpine HD 10x42mm and 12x50mm models sure check a lot of the boxes for me. It seems that over the last decade or so, Leupold has really bettered their entire optics line, with the binoculars being no exception. Falling right in the middle of the product line, the BX-3 Alpine HD might just offer the best blend of features and price point.
I received the 12x50mm model for review. It’s built on a magnesium chassis to reduce weight and increase rigidity, covered in a rubberized outer finish in a two-tone black/charcoal gray motif Leupold calls Shadow Gray. I like the fact that the finish affords a positive grip without any stippled areas, which can easily collect dirt, dust, blood or grime. As an added bonus, the binocular simply looks pretty darned cool. The unit weighs in at just under two pounds—29.2 ounces, without the harness, to be precise – and is light enough to carry comfortably in either the case/harness which is included with the binocular, or (as I prefer) with the provided strap. It is also heavy enough to settle down quickly while trying to judge an animal or pick out that slightest bit of movement in the brush; I feel Leupold has struck a great balance here, and while it might not be a lightweight mountain binocular, it isn’t a boat anchor either.
The Leupold Form Fit eyecups have three different positions, which are achieved by screwing the cups in or out to suit your fancy. I prefer them all the way in, my wife likes them extended all the way out, and switching between the two positions is no issue at all. For those users with glasses, or for those using their binoculars in bright conditions, Leupold ships the BX-3 Alpine HD with two additional sets of eyecups. The diopter adjustment in on the right lens, quickly allowing the user to bring the unit into perfect focus between the two eyes, and the centrally located focus wheel has a smooth yet positive adjustment.
I said earlier that Leupold has upped its lens game in the last ten years, and the BX-3 Alpine HD is clearly indicative of that. The first thing I noticed—and I asked my wife, my dad and some friends as well—was that the colors simply popped. There seems to be an enhancement of dark reds and browns—perfect for the deer hunter—and the overall contrast is excellent. Leupold calls it the Elite Optical System, and whatever wizardry is used in the production of the lens system is certainly working. The edge-to-edge clarity is excellent, and I grabbed my old favorite binocular—Leupold’s own BX-5 Santiam HD, which have been around the world with me—to compare to the BX-3 Alpine HD. Keeping in mind that my Santiam bino is a 10x42mm model, and the Alpine is a 12x50mm model, with the latter gathering a bit more light, I will say that the new unit is very, very close in the image department.
Those lenses are protected by the Guard-ion treatment, which helps to shed dirt and water, and that was very helpful in the turkey woods this spring. I keep a lens cloth in my turkey vest, but the lens coating made a huge difference. The BX-3 Alpine HD are manufactured to be both waterproof and fogproof (the rains of late April and early May had no effect), and like all Leupold binoculars, carries their Lifetime Warranty.
In my opinion, low-light conditions show the benefits of this model. I have the benefit of stepping onto my front porch to glass deer and/or turkeys nearly year-round, out to 200 yards and beyond. I was highly impressed with the capabilities of this binocular in both bright sunlight and low-light, cloudy conditions when things really matter. Though a 50mm objective lens might be influential in the light-gathering department, Leupold has a winner here, checking many of the boxes for the hunter, as well as for those who use their binocular for bird watching, boating and similar outdoor activities. I think the best way to describe the BX-3 Alpine HD is as a wonderful deer-stand binocular. At 12x magnification, you can easily find those little movements—the flick of an ear, the glare off a wet nose—that can alert a hunter to a deer that might otherwise have been missed; this magnification level is also great for glassing elk across a canyon, or a pronghorn out across the prairie. At 1,000 yards, this model offers a field of view of 278 feet, yet will focus crisply down to less than eight feet. I found that the crisp image was maintained in a number of different environments, be it the humid, warm days of spring where the heat waves can be terrible, or the colder, gray, low-light days where everything wants to take on a similar hue. The BX-3 Alpine HD gives a contrast and color enhancement that the hunter will certainly appreciate.
The unit is shipped with a quality case and chest harness, and two extra sets of eye cups of varying design. With an MSRP of $349.99 for the 12x50mm model and $299.99 for the 10x42mm model, the BX-3 Alpine HD offers a great value to the hunter who is in the market for a quality optic which will give years of good service. leupold.com
Specifications:
- Magnification: 12x
- Objective lens: 50mm
- Field of view at 1,000 yards: 278 feet
- Angular field of view: 5.3 degrees
- Length: 6.4 inches
- Weight: 29.2 inches
- Close focus distance: 7.2 feet
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