✦ Free EU delivery on orders over €250 · Rock-solid guarantee · we repair what we sell
Crestfield Optics Est. 2011
Specialist since 2011

See what's actually there. Tested on the hill before it reaches your hands.

We've been sourcing, testing and selling binoculars and observation optics since 2011.

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0 Years in the field
0 Field-proven products
0 Trustpilot rating ★
European Outdoors Alliance Wild Waters Trust Wilderness Foundation EU BirdLife International Forest & Trail Society 1% for the Planet Atlantic Coastline Trust European Wildlife Federation European Outdoors Alliance Wild Waters Trust Wilderness Foundation EU BirdLife International Forest & Trail Society 1% for the Planet Atlantic Coastline Trust European Wildlife Federation
Founded 2011 · Family-owned

Crestfield Optics. A workshop where the gear is built. Six generations on.

You've been sold binoculars before. Impressive numbers on the box, a slick brochure, and then you're standing on a hillside in flat light wondering why the image looks like it was dipped in vaseline. We know that frustration. It's why Crestfield Optics exists.

We started in 2011 — four of us, a small test room, and a returns pile from a previous venture that told us everything we needed to know about which glass held up and which didn't. Our founder, Gerhard Moll, had spent nine years as a field buyer for a specialist distributor before he decided the only honest way to sell optics was to actually use them. He still does the long-range field evaluations himself.

Today we're a team of seven. We stock around 140 SKUs at any one time — not because we want a big catalogue, but because that's how many instruments have passed our bench evaluation. Every body that comes in gets checked against its published specs: exit pupil, eye relief, field of view at 1,000 metres, edge sharpness. If it doesn't match what's on the label, it doesn't go on the shelf. That check takes roughly forty minutes per unit. We do it anyway.

We don't run flash sales. We don't bundle in carry cases to inflate perceived value. We don't stock instruments we haven't tested. Join the community of observers and collectors who've trusted us since 2011 — men who read the spec sheet first and ask good questions. That's the kind of customer we're built for.

Gerhard Moll

— Gerhard Moll, founder

Built for those who look further.

We stock optics we'd carry ourselves — nothing that looks good in a box but fails in a quartering wind. Join thousands of birdwatchers, stalkers and naturalists who've trusted us to get the glass right. Take the next step: talk to us before you buy.

€0 Donated to conservation
0 Restoration projects backed
0 Years giving back
The people behind it

The eyes on the other end.

Gerhard Moll

Gerhard Moll

Founder & Head of Evaluation

Gerhard spent nine years as a field buyer before founding Crestfield in 2011.

Thomas Brandt

Thomas Brandt

Senior Optics Specialist

Thomas joined in 2013 after fifteen years repairing and calibrating optical instruments for survey and

Reinhard Pauer

Reinhard Pauer

Procurement & Stock Lead

Reinhard manages supplier relationships and incoming stock evaluation, with a background in precision

Claudia Wirth

Claudia Wirth

Customer Service & Orders

Claudia has handled customer correspondence and order logistics at Crestfield since 2014.

Rock-solid guarantee Tested in lab, proven in field
1% for nature Conservation partner network
Guides on call Available Mon–Sat, by phone
Repair service for life We repair what we sell
Browse the range

Find the glass that fits the ground.

From compact roof-prism models for hill days to full-size porro-prism instruments built for long hours at a fixed point — every optic here has been tested in the field, not just on a test chart.

Pro staff picks

Gear that earns its weight.

Picked by the guides on our pro staff — not by marketing. These are the pieces they actually pack.

Pro pick
binoculars

Forester 8x42 ED

The problem with most 8x42s is the glass. This one uses ED low-dispersion elements and fully multi-coated

binoculars

Coastline 10x50 HD

Ten-times magnification and 50mm objectives pull in light where it matters — dusk on the estuary, first

New
binoculars

Ridgeline 7x35 Porro

Porro prism geometry gives you genuine depth perception that roof prisms still struggle to match at this

binoculars

Alta 12x50 ED

Twelve-times is where hand-shake starts to cost you.

Limited
spotting scope

Stonepass 80mm Angled Spotting Scope

80mm objective, angled 45° eyepiece — the right tool when you're watching a slope for an hour or more.

spotting scope

Stonepass 65mm Straight Scope

When you're shooting from a bench or glassing from a vehicle window, the straight eyepiece is faster to

Before you buy

Questions we get from people who read specs.

Exit pupil in low light, dioptre range, warranty terms, what ED glass actually does at range. Answered straight.

01 What is the difference between ED glass and standard HD glass?

ED stands for extra-low dispersion — the glass elements are engineered to reduce chromatic aberration, the coloured fringing you get around high-contrast edges at dawn or dusk. Standard HD glass improves transmission and contrast but doesn't fully solve fringing. On something like the Forester 8x42 ED or the Alta 12x50 ED, you'll notice it most when scanning a treeline in flat autumn light. If you're using binoculars mainly in good midday light, HD is fine. Low-light field work — stalking, coastal watching — ED earns its price.

02 Which binocular is right for long-distance sea watching?

The Coastline 10x50 HD is built for exactly that. Higher magnification, larger objective, and the HD coating stack handles the haze and glare you get off open water. The 50mm objective pulls in enough light for early morning watches. If you're on a tripod-mounted setup and need to hold at range for long periods, the Stonepass 80mm Angled Spotting Scope is the better tool — but for handheld coastal work, the Coastline 10x50 is what we'd reach for.

03 Do you ship to Norway, Switzerland, and the UK post-Brexit?

Yes, we ship to all three. Norway and Switzerland sit outside the EU, so orders may attract import duty on arrival — that's determined by your local customs authority, not us, and we can't predict the exact figure. UK orders are handled the same way since Brexit. We declare goods accurately on all customs documentation. Turnaround from order to dispatch is typically two working days, and we send tracking information as soon as the parcel is on its way.

04 What does your warranty actually cover on spotting scopes and binoculars?

Manufacturing defects in materials and assembly — for the life of the product. That means if a prism shifts, a coated element delaminates, or a focus mechanism fails under normal use, we repair or replace it. What it doesn't cover: physical impact damage, water ingress from a missing O-ring you left out, or wear from field use over many seasons. Send it back to us with a short description of the fault. We'll assess it and come back to you within five working days.

05 Can I return an optic if it doesn't suit me in the field?

Yes. Thirty days from receipt. The optic needs to come back in the condition you received it — original case, caps, any included accessories. We don't charge a restocking fee. If you're unsure between the Ridgeline 7x35 Porro and the Forester 8x42 ED, honestly, try one and see. The Porro gives you a wider, more three-dimensional image. The ED corrects colour fringing. They're different tools. We'd rather you had the right one.

06 How do I clean lenses without damaging the coatings?

Start dry. A soft brush or lens blower removes dust and grit before you touch the glass — that's where most coating scratches come from. For smears, a microfibre cloth and a small amount of lens-specific cleaning fluid, worked in light circular strokes from the centre out. Don't use shirt fabric, tissue, or anything that's been in your pocket with sand in it. The coatings on the ED and HD ranges are durable, but they're not indestructible.

07 What is the difference between the 65mm and 80mm Stonepass scopes?

Objective size drives low-light performance and maximum magnification ceiling. The 65mm straight scope is lighter and packs smaller — it's the one to carry if you're covering ground on foot. The 80mm angled scope is the choice when you're set up on a fixed position: a high seat, a headland, a long coastal transect. The angled eyepiece is easier to share with a companion and more comfortable over extended sessions. Both accept the same eyepiece range.

08 Do you offer any kind of part-exchange or trade-in on used optics?

We do, on a case-by-case basis. Bring in or describe what you have — brand, model, condition — and we'll give you an honest assessment. Good glass holds its value. If it's something we can service and resell, we'll offer store credit against a new purchase. We won't take in anything with significant impact damage or missing elements, but a well-kept 10x50 from a respected maker is usually worth having a conversation about.

Talk to a guide

Tell us what you do. We'll tell you what to pack.

Our specialists answer their own phone. No scripts, no call centres. Tell them the conditions you face, the trails you walk — they'll come back with three pieces of gear and a reason for each.

The catalogue

Filter by magnification, objective, use.

Sorted by class and application. Prices from £250 — no filler, no beginner-shelf filler dressed up as something it isn't.

0 products in catalog
Weight
Material
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Action
binoculars

Forester 8x42 ED

The problem with most 8x42s is the glass. This one uses ED low-dispersion elements and fully multi-coated

binoculars

Coastline 10x50 HD

Ten-times magnification and 50mm objectives pull in light where it matters — dusk on the estuary, first

binoculars

Ridgeline 7x35 Porro

Porro prism geometry gives you genuine depth perception that roof prisms still struggle to match at this

binoculars

Alta 12x50 ED

Twelve-times is where hand-shake starts to cost you.