Join South West Optics at Otter Estuary Nature Reserve on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th October for a two-day showcase of world-class optics. Explore Swarovski, Kowa and HIKMICRO binoculars, spotting scopes, and thermal imaging devices, plus enjoy expert workshops and live night vision demonstrations in one of Devon’s top birdwatching locations.
GPO Passion ED Binoculars: A Closer Look At South West Optics, we are always on the lookout for optics that strike the right balance of performance, build quality and price. The GPO Passion ED binoculars are a great example of...
At South West Optics, we know how important it is to keep your binoculars in top condition. In this guide, Russel shares some simple, effective ways to clean and maintain your optics so every view stays sharp, bright, and crystal clear.
The Leofoto Urban LX-225CT is a compact carbon fibre travel tripod kit, that comes with the XB-32Q Ball head. Featuring an exceptionally compact (yet still functional), lightweight design that utilises high-grade materials and a familiar, functional design that is ideal for vlogging, but still usable for general photography This review explores its features and performance based on my personal use.
Compact tips, big impact. In this video, Russell from Southwest Optics shares a lesser-known trick that can help binocular users unlock a broader field of view by rethinking how they use their eye-cups. Whether you wear glasses or not, this...
The Leofoto LM-324CL is a tall, modular carbon fibre tripod that competes in the premium space without the typical premium price. With high-end materials, smart design, a broad accessory ecosystem, and thoughtful details, it’s delivered strong performance for my landscape, studio, and hybrid photo/video work. This review reflects my experience after extended field testing.
The HIKMICRO Habrok HE25L 4K is an absolute game-changer for wildlife observation—intuitive, powerful, and incredibly effective right out of the box! I was thrilled to discover that I could achieve stunning results almost immediately, without needing to slog through a...
In this post, Russel explains why getting your Interpupillary Distance (IPD) right is essential for clear, comfortable viewing through binoculars. He shares how we adjust for it in-store, recommends a great model for narrower faces, and highlights why trying before you buy really matters.
We often get asked how to get the sharpest possible view through a pair of binoculars, and one of the simplest yet most overlooked steps is setting the diopter correctly. In this post, I’ll walk you through how we adjust the diopter on our own optics, share a few tips we’ve learned along the way, and explain why this small tweak can make such a big difference to your viewing experience.
