Unveiling Distant Worlds: The Bushnell PowerView 20x50mm BK-7 Porro Prism Binoculars

Are you an avid outdoor enthusiast, a dedicated hunter, a passionate astronomer, or simply someone who loves to bring distant scenes into sharp focus? If you've ever found yourself wishing you could see that majestic elk across the valley, pinpoint a specific star cluster, or get a closer look at the action from the nosebleed seats, then the Bushnell PowerView 20x50mm BK-7 Porro Prism Binoculars are engineered precisely for your needs. This robust optical instrument is designed to provide powerful magnification and clear images, making it an indispensable tool for a vast array of activities where seeing far and clear is paramount.

The Bushnell PowerView 20x50mm isn't just another pair of binoculars; it's a gateway to extending your vision. This model stands out for its impressive 20x magnification, allowing you to observe subjects twenty times closer than with the naked eye. Coupled with its generous 50mm objective lenses, these binoculars gather ample light, ensuring bright images even in challenging light conditions. Whether you're scanning vast landscapes at dawn, observing nocturnal wildlife, or studying the constellations under a moonlit sky, the PowerView 20x50mm aims to deliver a consistent and satisfying viewing experience.

Who Are These Binoculars For? Bringing the World Closer

The ideal user for the Bushnell PowerView 20x50mm is anyone seeking a significant magnification boost without compromising on image quality and durability. This particular model excels in scenarios demanding high power and good light-gathering capabilities.

Typical Users and Their Benefits:

• Hunters and Wildlife Observers: Spotting game or elusive birds from a distance requires powerful optics. The 20x magnification helps identify targets and observe animal behavior without disturbance. The wide objective lens ensures enough light for dim forest environments or dawn/dusk viewing.
• Amateur Astronomers: While not a dedicated astronomical telescope, the 20x50mm PowerView is an excellent entry-level option for stargazing. You can easily view the moon's craters, distinguish Jupiter's moons, resolve star clusters, and get a better look at nebulae. Its portability makes it ideal for quick sky scans.
• Outdoor Enthusiasts and Hikers: From scanning mountain ranges to identifying landmarks across a canyon, these binoculars enhance exploration. The rubber armor ensures they can withstand the rigors of the trail.
• Sports Fans and Concert-Goers: Elevate your spectator experience. Whether you're at a football game wanting to see the quarterback's expression, or at a concert trying to make out the details of your favorite artist's stage presence, the 20x magnification brings you into the heart of the action.
• Surveillance and Security Professionals: For long-distance observation and monitoring, these binoculars provide a clear and stable image, crucial for identifying individuals or objects from afar.
• Coastal Observers and Boaters: Spotting buoys, distant vessels, or coastal features from the deck of a boat or from shore is made easier with high magnification and good light transmission.

What Problems Do These Binoculars Solve?

• "I can't see far enough!" The 20x magnification directly addresses the need to view distant objects with clarity.
• "My images are too dim!" The large 50mm objective lenses ensure excellent light collection, providing brighter images, especially important in low-light conditions.
• "My binoculars feel flimsy!" The robust Black Rubber Armor casing offers protection against impacts, ensuring longevity and a secure grip in various weather conditions.
• "I want clear, sharp views, not blurry ones!" The Porro Prism design, combined with BK-7 glass, contributes to a good depth of field and a generally bright, clear image with decent contrast, especially for its price point.
• "I need binoculars for multiple outdoor activities." Their versatile design makes them suitable for a wide range of applications, reducing the need for multiple specialized optical devices.

Diving Deep into the Design: Features that Matter

The Bushnell PowerView 20x50mm (Model Number 132050) is packed with features designed for performance and durability. Understanding these core components helps appreciate why this model is a reliable choice for long-distance viewing.

1. Powerful 20x Magnification:
This is the defining characteristic of these binoculars. "20x" means that an object viewed through the binoculars will appear twenty times closer than it would to the naked eye. Imagine an object that is 200 yards away; through these binoculars, it will appear as if it is only 10 yards away. This extreme magnification is perfect for observing subjects that are very far off, making them popular for high-power long-range viewing.

2. Generous 50mm Objective Lenses:
The "50mm" refers to the diameter of the objective lenses – the large lenses at the front of the binoculars that face your subject. A larger objective lens means more light can enter the binoculars.

• Benefit: More light translates to brighter, clearer images, particularly crucial in low-light conditions such as dawn, dusk, or when observing stars at night. It also helps in maintaining image brightness even with high magnification.
• Impact on Exit Pupil: With a 20x magnification and 50mm objective lens, the exit pupil is 2.5mm (50mm / 20x = 2.5mm). The exit pupil is the diameter of the light beam that leaves the eyepiece and enters your eye. While 2.5mm is relatively small compared to binoculars designed for extreme low light (e.g., 7mm exit pupil), it is sufficient for daytime use and general low-light observation, especially given the high magnification.

3. BK-7 Porro Prism System:
This refers to the internal optical design of the binoculars.

• Porro Prisms: Named after Ignazio Porro, these prisms are arranged in a way that allows the objective lenses to be set wider apart than the eyepieces. This design creates a more three-dimensional image with excellent depth perception, which can be very beneficial for tracking moving objects or discerning distance. They are also known for providing a wider field of view compared to some roof prism designs.
• BK-7 Glass: This is a type of borosilicate glass commonly used in optical instruments. While slightly less optically refined than BAK-4 glass, BK-7 prisms in the PowerView series still deliver a clear and bright image, making them a cost-effective choice for general-purpose high-magnification binoculars. You might notice a slight "square" cut-off around the edge of the circular view if you hold them away from your eyes, but this doesn't significantly impact the central image quality during use.

4. Durable Black Rubber Armor:
The exterior of the binoculars is coated with a robust black rubber armor.

• Protection: This protective coating acts as a shock absorber, safeguarding the internal optics from accidental bumps, drops, and general wear and tear during outdoor adventures.
• Grip: The textured rubber provides a secure and comfortable grip, even in wet conditions or when wearing gloves. This enhances handling and reduces the chance of accidental slippage.
• Stealth: The non-reflective black finish minimizes glare, making them ideal for hunting or wildlife observation where you want to remain unnoticed.

5. Fold-Down Eyecups:
These provide comfort and flexibility for viewers.

• Eyeglass Wearers: If you wear prescription glasses or sunglasses, you can fold down the eyecups to bring your eyes closer to the eyepiece lenses, allowing you to see the full field of view without vignetting (darkening at the edges).
• Non-Eyeglass Wearers: Keep the eyecups extended for maximum comfort and to block out peripheral light, which can cause distractions.

6. InstaFocus® System:
Bushnell's proprietary InstaFocus® system allows for rapid and smooth focusing. Instead of a traditional central focus wheel that often requires multiple turns to adjust focus across distances, the InstaFocus lever enables quick adjustments, which is particularly useful for tracking fast-moving subjects.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Bushnell PowerView 20x50mm

To truly appreciate the capabilities of these binoculars, proper usage and care are essential.

Setting Up for Optimal Viewing:

1. Adjust the Interpupillary Distance: This is the distance between your pupils. Hold the binoculars up to your eyes and look through them. Adjust the hinge between the barrels until you see a single, perfectly round field of view.
2. Focusing:
   • Point the binoculars at a distant object.
   • If your PowerView has an InstaFocus lever, slide it back and forth until the image is sharp.
   • If it has a traditional focus wheel, use the main focus wheel to bring the image into sharp focus for your left eye.
   • Then, close your left eye and use the diopter adjustment ring (usually on the right eyepiece) to focus the image for your right eye. Once set, you only need to use the main focus wheel for different distances.
3. Eye Relief: If you wear glasses, fold down the eyecups. If you don't wear glasses, extend them to block out ambient light and ensure comfortable viewing.
4. Stability is Key: At 20x magnification, even minor hand tremors can cause the image to shake. For the steadiest views, especially for prolonged observation, consider mounting your binoculars on a tripod. The Bushnell PowerView 20x50mm often features a built-in tripod adapter socket.

Care and Maintenance Tips:

• Cleaning Lenses: Use a soft lens cloth (microfiber is ideal) and a specialized lens cleaning fluid. Breathe gently on the lens to fog it, then wipe in a circular motion from the center outwards. Avoid using abrasive cloths, paper towels, or household cleaners, which can scratch the coatings.
• Storage: Store your binoculars in their protective case when not in use. Keep them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures, which can damage the optics and coatings.
• Protection: The rubber armor provides good protection, but still avoid dropping them onto hard surfaces.
• Water Resistance: While the rubber armor offers some protection from light splashes, these binoculars are generally not fully waterproof. Avoid prolonged exposure to heavy rain or submersion in water.

Why Choose Bushnell PowerView? A Brand You Can Trust

Bushnell has been a leader in high-performance sports optics for over 70 years. Their commitment to delivering reliable, high-quality, and affordable optical products has made them a household name among hunters, birdwatchers, astronomers, and outdoor enthusiasts worldwide. The PowerView series specifically embodies this philosophy, offering a powerful combination of features and value. When you choose Bushnell, you're investing in a brand with a long-standing reputation for optical excellence and customer satisfaction. The Bushnell PowerView 20x50mm (UPC: 029757132051) exemplifies their dedication to bringing distant subjects into clear, close view.

For those looking to acquire these exceptional binoculars, they are readily available through reputable retailers like DEGuns.com. DEGuns specializes in providing a wide range of outdoor and shooting sports equipment, ensuring you receive genuine products and reliable service.

Frequently Asked Questions about Binoculars and the PowerView 20x50mm

Q: What do the numbers "20x50mm" mean on binoculars?
A: The first number, "20x," denotes the magnification power. It means that an object will appear 20 times closer than it does to the naked eye. The second number, "50mm," refers to the diameter of the objective lenses (the large front lenses), measured in millimeters. A larger objective lens gathers more light, resulting in brighter images, especially in low-light conditions.

Q: Are 20x magnification binoculars good for handheld use?
A: While possible for short periods, 20x magnification is quite powerful, and hand tremors can cause significant image shake. For extended viewing, especially for long-distance observation or astronomy, using a tripod or other stable support is highly recommended to achieve the steadiest and clearest image. The Bushnell PowerView 20x50mm often includes a tripod adapter socket for this purpose.

Q: What is the difference between Porro Prism and Roof Prism binoculars?
A:

• Porro Prism (like the PowerView 20x50mm): Characterized by their offset objective lenses (wider than the eyepieces), which create a classic, bulkier "Z-shaped" light path. They often provide a better depth of field and a wider field of view, and are generally more cost-effective to produce while delivering excellent optical performance, including a bright and sharp image.
• Roof Prism: Have a straight-through design where the objective lenses and eyepieces are aligned. This results in a more compact, streamlined, and often lighter binocular. They typically require more complex manufacturing and advanced coatings to achieve comparable image quality to Porro prisms, which can make them more expensive.

Q: Is BK-7 glass good for binoculars?
A: BK-7 is a common type of optical glass used in binoculars, especially in more budget-friendly or mid-range models like the PowerView series. It performs well and delivers clear, bright images. While higher-end binoculars might use BAK-4 glass (which typically provides a slightly brighter image with less vignetting at the edges due to a higher refractive index), BK-7 is perfectly adequate for general observation and offers excellent value. For most users, the difference between BK-7 and BAK-4 is minimal in real-world use, particularly considering the performance-to-price ratio.

Q: Can I use these binoculars for stargazing?
A: Yes, the Bushnell PowerView 20x50mm is a great entry-level option for amateur astronomy. The 20x magnification allows for detailed views of the Moon, bright planets like Jupiter and Saturn (though surface details on planets will be limited), and makes it easier to resolve star clusters and some brighter nebulae. The 50mm objective lenses gather a good amount of light from faint celestial objects. For the best stargazing experience, use them with a tripod to minimize shake.

Q: How do I know if the Bushnell PowerView 20x50mm (UPC: 029757132051) is the right choice for me?
A: This model is an excellent choice if your primary need is high magnification for long-distance viewing. If you prioritize seeing distant subjects clearly, are looking for a robust and durable binocular for outdoor use, and appreciate a good balance of performance and value, then these binoculars are likely a great fit. If portability and extreme compactness are your top priorities, you might consider a lower magnification roof prism model, but you would sacrifice the powerful zoom capability of the 20x50mm.

Bushnell PowerView 20x50mm Specifications

Feature	Detail
Model Number	132050
Magnification	20x
Objective Lens	50mm
Prism Type	Porro
Prism Glass	BK-7
Exit Pupil	2.5mm
Lens Coating	Multi-coated
Armor Type	Black Rubber Armor
Focus System	InstaFocus® (or Central Focus)
Field of View	170 ft @ 1000 yds (57 m @ 1000 m)
Minimum Focus	45 ft (13.7 m)
Eyecups	Fold-down
Water Resistance	Water-resistant (not fully waterproof)
Tripod Adaptable	Yes (adapter socket)
UPC	029757132051