Hopefully this guide will help you evaluate NEWCON and similar binoculars.........The NEWCON Brand FOTON 10x40 Roof Prism binocular arrived in a simple cardboard box, with a plain paper wrapper. Little marketing hype is evident  in the packing scheme, and I was curious as to the make and finish of the Russian made units.  The binoculars were packed in a well fitted and nicely padded case.  The case is superior to the usual "add-on" affair and appears to be  hand sewn with a robust zipper and thick padding.  Each unit has an optician's test report with stamp and name. Someone at the factory has vouched for the performance of this unit - its a nice touch.

The units remind one of an earlier time when quality and hand fitting were the norm. The Fotons use a classic styling with a leather (?) covering and robust stippled enamel over an alloy frame. The binos have a subtle and pleasing aroma reminicient of classic photography gear. Finish is outstanding with no rough machining evident. The binocular hinge is very stiff . This worked out to be a positive design feature, as the interpupilary distance is maintained and one can put ample hand pressure on the units without fear of the hinge collapsing. The units have that rare feeling of solid build and lightness.  At 1.3 lbs they can be carried comfortably all day,  but the alloy frame is tough enough to fend off a mugging. They are built like a tank. 

One of the best design elements is the diopter correction which rides on the main focus wheel. This is a great design which I'd like to see more often. It actually allows the user to make subtle diopter corrections (which I am always doing)  without removing the units from the eyes. Focus control is well thought out, with a large alloy wheel with precise machine cut ridges, offering smooth operation and perfect resistance. Eye releif is ample for eyeglass wearers. Rubber eyecups are of the fold down type and and likely provide an extra measure of moisture sealing.  There is no evidence of any opening to the binocular body, and  short of an actual dunking, I would assume the unit would be highly impermeable to rain and moisture.

Optically the Fotons  perform as good as their design. Images in the FOV are razor sharp and contrasty. Internal reflections are well controlled. This is not suprizing as the NEWCON BPO and EWA models have received online reviews which favorably compare their optical resolution to the most expensive European and Japanese designs - the highest standards. Subtle details appears as would be expected from a fine optical setup. Reportedly the prisms are an improvement on the classic Zeiss design. They appear to be BAK4 high density, and I am assuming NEWCON uses  the equivilent of phase correction coatings from the resolution performance. I spent several hours testing the units on various resolution targets and they always performed at an exceptional level. Clearly performance is commensurate with the exceptional design and build. Edge sharpness is outstanding, wth only slight distortion at the very edge, a design feature to eliminate disturbing rolling during panning.

Finally the best thing about the Fotons is their outstanding value. Sure you can get similar performance from name brand roof prism models,  but expect to pay more, and your units would likely be rubberized with plastic components throughout. You will certainly not get the hand fitted, tested quality with the solid build of the Fotons. Considering optical  performance design and buiild, nothing touches them in their price range. They are a great choice that will last a lifetime.