The exterior of the binoculars is rough, but functional. There is no leatherette covering; instead they are made of cast aluminium with a rough surface which resembles leatherette and is then painted. The machining looks good, and there is no slop in the central focus control. The right eyepiece is adjustable. The instructions are in Russian, but I was able to glean that they have a 3.5 degree field of view.
Looking at the lens slightly from the side with a backlight revealed that they are mostly coated optics, but probably not fully coated.
The exit pupils appear nice and round, suggesting that the prisms are of good quality (unlike my bargain-basement 7 x 50s which have decidedly square exit pupils).
My first reaction was to pick them up and look out the window at a distant object. Big mistake. With 20 x binoculars unmounted you see only a very wobbly world, and looking through a window tended to give a faint double-image.
I then set about installing the tripod adapter. There were no instructions relating to the adapter. I don't think I am mentally challenged when it comes to mechanical devices, but I am cautious and I didn't want to have two separated monoculars. This innate caution caused a delay of two days while I worked steadily to attach the adapter. For those who have made a similar purchase the attachment instructions are:
1) Remove the small screw from the main join between the two barrels on the side opposite the eyepieces.
2) Remove the small metal cover.
3) You will find a small metal disk with three holes. In one of those holes there is a tiny screw. Remove it.
4) Put a nail point in one of the other holes and rotate the disk counter clockwise. Do not be afraid - removing this disk will not cause the binoculars to disintegrate.
5) You can now see a screw hole which will take the tripod adapter.
Well, now that I had the beasts mounted I was in a position to try them out. When mounted and outside, they provided good contrast and the barrels appeared very well aligned.
There was no detectable chromatic abberation, although I'm assured that no binoculars are completely free of this defect.
Sighting on a star revealed very little astigmatism, although the focus was definitely superior in the middle of the field.Despite being in central Christchurch in the light of a full moon I was able to get a wonderful view of Omega Centauri which left me itching for a truly dark night. Views of the moon were impressive, and for anyone who wants good overall views of our closest astronomical wonder I can't imagine a better instrument.
We hear a lot about the need for a 7 mm exit pupil, and the 3 mm ones provided by these binoculars may seem restrictive. However, I am 43 and I live in Christchurch, which is a natural haven for air pollution. (Tourists please note, my beautiful country _is_ clean and green, and in almost any other spot clear skies need not be wished for. The images on my home page were taken from the metropolitan area of Rotorua, an astronomer's paradise like most of NZ). Anyway, back to the plot - 3 mm exit pupils and high power are just the thing for someone of my age in a city with lots of air and light pollution.
So what's the overall verdict? I am very pleased with these binoculars. The engineering is better than expected for the price, and the optics are better than similarly-priced instruments of lower power and aperture. It would be a big price step to go to 20 x 80s, and I'm not convinced that it would be worthwhile for me. On the other hand, if you are blessed with youth, wealth, and pitch black skies, you might consider buying a set with bigger exit pupils. I'll stick with my 20 x 60s, thanks. Oh, and if you buy these, or any other high-powered binoculars, you'll be either building or buying a binocular mount in short order. I'm building mine .