About Tasco
Tasco binoculars: the Essentials 10x42 roof prism, the Essentials 10x50 porro prism and the Kids 8x21 for children aged 3 to 12. Tasco makes affordable, no-fuss optics, and its products are now sold through Bushnell's own website. These are sensible first pairs for boat days, beach walks and family trips. Order online from Scuba Evolution in Johannesburg, delivered anywhere in South Africa.
Tasco in South Africa
Tasco makes straightforward, affordable binoculars, and the brand now sits alongside Bushnell, whose website sells Tasco products. We carry three: two full-size Essentials models and a pair made for children. They're in marine binoculars and optics with the rest of our optics.
Roof or porro?
The two Essentials models show the difference well. The Essentials Roof Binoculars are a 10x42 with a slim, straight body that's easy to hold, at 290 g. They have centre focus, fully coated lenses, a field of view of about 62 m at 100 m and close focus at about 9 m. The Essentials Porro Binoculars are a 10x50 with the wider, traditional porro shape, BK7 prisms and bigger 50 mm lenses that gather more light for late afternoons and overcast days. They're heavier at 770 g, focus as close as about 5.5 m, and have fold-down eyecups for glasses wearers.
Pick the roof model if you'll carry it all day around your neck or in a day bag. Pick the porro if brightness matters more than weight, for example watching boats from the shore at the end of the day.
For children
The Kids Binoculars 8x21 are made for ages 3 to 12, with soft fold-down eyecups, a soft rubber grip and a folding bridge that adjusts to a small face. At 8x they're easy to hold steady, and at 175 g a child can carry them on a beach walk or a boat trip without complaint.
Questions we get asked
Are Tasco binoculars waterproof?
Our product information for these three models doesn't state a waterproof rating, so treat them as splash-shy and wipe them dry after a boat trip. For a sealed, waterproof pair, look at the Bushnell H2O or Marine models.
What age are the Tasco Kids binoculars for?
Tasco makes the Kids 8x21 for children aged 3 to 12. The bridge folds to fit a narrow face and the soft eyecups are gentle around small eyes.
Which Tasco Essentials model is lighter?
The Essentials Roof 10x42 weighs 290 g, against 770 g for the Essentials Porro 10x50. The porro's bigger lenses give a brighter image in return for the weight.
Can I use Tasco Essentials binoculars with glasses?
The Essentials Porro has fold-down eyecups designed for use with or without glasses. Fold them down if you wear spectacles so your eyes sit at the right distance from the lenses.