Carson’s TD-042EDMO Camo Binoculars and HookUpz 2.0 Smartphone Stand are ideal for the Buffalo lifestyle. You can record sporting events, such as your kid’s football, hockey, or soccer games on your smartphone. I take them to the Canisus College Griff’s basketball games and capture footage of the action. Schedule here.

They are also great for birdwatching - you can see the bird’s feathers in all of their glory. I plan to bring them to the Buffalo Ornithological Society’s Field Trip on November 27 at the Niagara River Gulls at Fort Niagara State Park. They are also excellent for getting better views of historic architecture, such as on Preservation Buffalo Niagara’s City Hall Tour every Monday through Friday at noon. Here is a video of the view of my neighborhood on Richmond Avenue from the 28th floor obsrrvation deck.

Upon receiving the Carson Optical TD-042EDMO 10x42 binoculars and HookUpz 2.0, the first thing I noticed was the impressive packaging that they come in. Everything about the outer packaging and carry case screams "You're getting some really cool and quality stuff here, buddy!" This is a very positive first impression.  

Upon opening the boxes. I wasn't disappointed. I don't know where to start. Do I fawn over the beautiful Mossy Oak Armor finish that makes these binoculars feel bulletproof? Or do I wax poetic over how the TD-042EDMO feel in your hands, with all the indents and functions falling right where you expect them to?

I also love the optics - crystal clear and beautiful. The exceptional color and clarity are noticeable. Prolonged viewing does not affect your eyes. Apparently, the details do indeed count. Compared to other brands that I own and tried during this review, the Carson units just produce a more beautiful image. Glare was never an issue with these and in my early morning testing, fogging was non-existent. The extendable eye cups are so comfortable that it is noticeable every time you use these binoculars, and they prevent your eyeballs touching the lenses. Focus operation with one hand is easy and again, falls to hand perfectly, and the overall balance of these units are great.

In terms of accessories, the Carson Optical units come with lens covers that protect well and a sturdy neck strap. A pleasant surprise accessory was a shoulder harness - very handy. The carry case is well designed utilizing magnets and an elastic arrangement, making it unnecessary to remove the Carson binoculars from the case fully or fumble with it. When you want to use your binoculars, you don’t have to worry about where you're putting the case. This keeps the case clean and on hand rather than a muddy mess after dropping it in the mud like I did with the case of another pair I was comparing at the time. Carson put great thought into every aspect of this product. The tripod will be my next purchase. I'll be using it for events with Carson's HookUpz 2.0 which is another fabulous product, but that’s another review.

What did I initially not like about these units? Price was a little rich at first, but after using them and seeing the quality, ergonomics, intelligent design and well thought out accessories, I see where the money is going. A great product at a great price.

The Carson Optical 10x42 TD-042EDMO binoculars have positively affected me. That’s quite impressive for a pair of binoculars. These units are a stand out product and I thank Carson Optical for reaffirming that there are still companies that design high quality products with fabulous engineering.

Carson Optical HookUpz 2.0

The Carson Optical HookUpz 2.0 is marketed as a device used to hold your smartphone to capture video and pictures from binoculars, telescopes, microscopes and pretty much anything you can clamp the device to.

The HookUpz 2.0 is a well engineered device that opens a world of awesome opportunity. I used the HookUpz 2.0 with Carson Optical 10x42 binoculars to capture video and pictures so far away that it has blown away those I've shown the pictures and videos to. In fact, paired with the tripod available for the binoculars, I plan to get fabulous long distance shots and video of bicycle and auto racing this upcoming season.

Just place your cell phone into the HookUpz 2.0 unit, aligning the camera unit to the lens hole and locking it into place. Then place the phone and HookUpz 2.0 assembly over the eyepiece of your desired enhancement device, be it a microscope, binoculars or a telescope, and then lock it in position. It is designed so intuitively that I successfully installed it on both the phone and the binoculars without reading the instructions.

This device can be used with both small and large phones and everything in between. It worked with Android devices and even with an iPhone 6S Plus with a case, so it is very versatile.  

It's a cool, handy and reasonably priced purchase that turns your phone into so much more. I personally love it. It works with many different products, but try it with the Carson Optics Mossy Oak 10x42 binoculars,