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Opticron Oregon 4 PC Oasis 10×42 monocular review

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Opticron Oregon 4 PC Oasis 10×42 monocular review


Founded in the UK in 1970, Opticron is a family-owned business with over 50 years of experience in consumer optics. The Oregon 4 PC Oasis 10×42 is a budget-conscious monocular that promises good optics and attention to detail, giving the user an easy, convenient, yet high-performing piece of equipment.

Key specifications

Magnification: 10×42
Objective lens diameter: 42mm
Field of view (m@ 1000m): 105mm
Close focus: 5.9ft (1.8m)
Eye relief: 18mm
Weight: 11.75 oz (334g)

The 334g weight means the Opticron 10×42 is not the lightest in its class, but this wasn’t an issue during our tests. Bird hides often have shelving at chest height where you can rest your elbows to steady the optic, which dramatically reduces image shake and wobble — although this was never too severe an issue for us in the first place.

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The PC Oasis 10×42 has a roof prism design with BAK- 4 fully-coated optics. This enables the Opticron 4 to work well in low light conditions, with excellent visual clarity.

Design

The Oregon 4 has a tough rubber casing. (Image credit: Matt Morris)
  • Roof prism design
  • BAK-4 fully coated optics
  • Nitrogen-filled waterproof construction

The Oregon 4 is a well-constructed, rubber-cased optic with a top-mounted external focus wheel.

It has BAK-4 coatings, a helpful step up from the BAK-7 prisms often included on units at this price point. Phase-corrected prism coatings with Opticron’s high-light transmission coatings make for excellent clear images. These features give the monocular a very capable, quality feel that makes you want to use it.

There is little need to worry about undue shake or wobble at this magnification. Still, it’s worth noting that there are no fixings for a monopod, so to steady the image, observers may find it necessary to use the shelves in hides as described above or lean against posts or other solid structures.

The neck strap is made of tough nylon with padding on the neck area, which makes it handy for traveling. It’s shorter than we would like, as we found hanging the device over a shoulder and the neck much better for climbing over stiles. This stops the unit from hitting your body while it swings about. There is an included belt hoop on the carry case, though, which may be an option.

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Performance

Opticron Oregon 4 PC Oasis 10X42

The Oregon 4 offers a 10x magnification. (Image credit: Matt Morris)
  • Excellent light-gathering ability
  • Sharp optics thanks to superior glass quality
  • Close focusing down to 5.9 ft (1.8 m)

In use, the Oregon 4 is a very capable and convenient monocular. The external, top-mounted focusing wheel and the comfortable weight made it very pleasant to use at our local bird hide. We found ourselves popping it in our pocket while visiting churches and other areas of interest to investigate gargoyles and other features on buildings when outside. Its low light capability makes using it inside a breeze, too.

The Oregon 4’s rubber casing is well applied and feels pleasingly secure in the hand, giving an impression of solidity and quality. It could withstand a few knocks and drops and still be in one piece at the end of the day, making it suitable for use as a family monocular or to hand over to children, who might need to be more careful!

As mentioned, we found the shoulder strap relatively short when traveling with it, and a too-short cord attaches the larger of the two lens covers and can ride up and obscure the vision. It’s easy to push back out of the way, but it kept happening, which had become quite annoying by the end of our time with the device.

Functionality

Opticron Oregon 4 PC Oasis 10X42

The belt bag is included. (Image credit: Matt Morris)
  • Nonslip rubber armor
  • Objective lens cap attachment cord is too short
  • Heavier than some other monoculars in its class

The Opticron Oregon 4 PC Oasis 10×42 is perfect for putting in your pocket and going for a hike and some serious hide-based birdwatching. It is helpful for many pursuits where a monocular may be a handy addition to a rucksack or pocket, such as watching sports or sitting in a back garden watching a busy bird table.

The close focus of 5.9 ft (1.8m) was helpful when we set ourselves up in the garden. We used it to focus on a bird table only a few feet from us, enabling us to get great results from the visitors to the table as they were feeding.

The lens and prism coatings also helped extend our viewing into twilight when other monoculars may have struggled.

The Opticron Oregon 4 comes with an adequate-quality strap-mounted chest bag/pouch. The unit is built so well that this bag is purely for carrying — it offers no natural protection from being dropped or the weather.

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Should you buy the Opticron Oregon 4 PC Oasis 10×42?

Opticron Oregon 4 PC Oasis 10X42

A sturdy shoulder strap is included. (Image credit: Matt Morris)

It performed very well in all the situations in which we used the Oregon 4. If you are looking for a reasonably priced monocular yet still delivers, this could be the one for you. It has sharp optics, is good at low light, and has rugged construction, enabling it to cope with most situations. It’s straightforward to use, and the external focus wheel quickly captures those elusive subjects, even with sturdy gloves on. It’s worth trying out.

If the Opticron Oregon 4 PC Oasis isn’t for you

If the Oregon 4 is too heavy or the objective lens covers and neck strap is likely to be an issue, consider one of its rivals.

The Opticron Explorer WA ED-R 10×42 is lighter than the Oregon 4 PC Oasis 10×42 at 320g but is a little more expensive.

The Bushnell Legend Ultra 10×42 is almost twice the price of the Oregon 4 but has a tripod attachment and hydrophobic coatings.

How we tested the Opticron Oregon 4 PC Oasis 10X42

Opticron Oregon 4 PC Oasis 10X42

An adjustable eyepiece means there is no problem when wearing eyeglasses. (Image credit: Matt Morris)

When starting our test of the Opticron 4, we visited our local bird reserve, where we found it to be an excellent performer. The top-mounted focusing wheel was an absolute pleasure, with a smooth, one-handed operation, enabling you to quickly focus on birds in flight.

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We also tested the Opticron 4 in a cathedral, where its low-light capabilities came to the fore. While in the cathedral, we also noted the convenience of the monocular design, which lends itself to discreet use.

We also took the Opticron to our vegetable plot, where we felt OK hanging the unit from a post while we worked on the beds. Having it to hand like this made it possible to grab it quickly when spotting things of interest, but we could only do this because the Opticron 4 felt like it could handle a little rain and wind without cause for concern. It’s built to very high standards and could easily withstand a few knocks without too much of an issue.



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Oregon to investigate Border Patrol shooting of couple in Portland | CNN

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Oregon to investigate Border Patrol shooting of couple in Portland | CNN


Oregon officials are opening an investigation into a shooting by federal agents in Portland that left a married couple wounded and sparked renewed outrage in the city over the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown there and across the US.

The shooting inflamed tensions a day after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis, prompting protests and condemnation from state and city officials there.

Following Wednesday’s killing, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey told agents to “get the fuck out” of the city. Oregon state Sen. Kayse Jama took a similar tone during a news conference after the Portland shooting, telling ICE agents to “get the hell out of our community.”

The Portland shooting unfolded Thursday afternoon as US Border Patrol agents were conducting a “targeted vehicle stop” and one of the agents “fired defensive shots” after the driver tried to run the agents over, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “The driver drove off with the passenger, fleeing the scene,” she added.

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No agents were injured in the shooting, a federal law enforcement source told CNN.

McLaughlin said the driver and passenger are believed to be linked to Tren de Aragua, the notorious Venezuelan gang President Donald Trump has long targeted amid accusations of drug trafficking, murder and other violence, though she did not provide evidence.

Portland Police Chief Bob Day said local officers weren’t involved in the incident, but responded to reports of a shooting involving federal agents just after 2:15 p.m. Thursday.

Minutes later, police received a call from a different location from a man who said he’d been shot by federal officers and was requesting help, according to Day and dispatch audio.

When officers arrived, they found a man and a woman with gunshot wounds and emergency responders transported them to a hospital, Day said. The conditions of the patients weren’t known Thursday night, he added.

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The chief said his department didn’t know if the vehicle involved in the shooting had been weaponized against the agents.

The two people who were shot are married, a senior law enforcement told CNN.

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson linked Thursday’s shooting to the killing of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, the circumstances of which has been disputed by federal and local officials. Wilson said he had spoken to the Minneapolis mayor earlier in the day to offer condolences and called Good’s death “entirely preventable” in a statement Thursday morning.

Hours after the mayors spoke, Wilson was similarly casting doubt on the Trump administration’s characterization of what took place in Portland.

“We know what the federal government says happened here. There was a time when we could take them at their word. That time has long passed,” he said.

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Wilson called for ICE to halt all operations in Portland until an investigation can take place.

“Portland is not a training ground for militarized agents,” Wilson said. “When the administration talks about using full force, we are seeing what it means on our streets.”

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced late Thursday the state will open an investigation into the shooting, saying officials “have been clear about our concerns with excessive use of force by federal agents in Portland and nationally.”

“The investigation will look into whether any federal officer acted outside the scope of their lawful authority and will include witness interviews, video evidence, and other relevant materials,” Rayfield said.

On the federal government side, the FBI said it is investigating an “assault” on two CBP agents. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is assisting the FBI, it said.

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Trump has frequently taken aim at Portland, depicting the liberal city as a crime-riddled war zone and falsely claiming on several occasions that it is “burning to the ground.”

The White House was locked in a months-long battle with city and state officials over the administration’s controversial deployment of National Guard troops to the city, which was blocked by a federal judge. City officials have argued Trump’s incendiary remarks and troop deployments have inflamed violence in the city, which has been rocked by frequent protests over immigration enforcement.

Multnomah County, which includes part of Portland, voted Thursday to extend an emergency declaration in response to ICE’s continued presence in the area, County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson said.

The declaration was originally issued in December “in response to ongoing impacts from federal immigration enforcement,” Vega Pederson said at the time.

“Multnomah County will not stand by as federal governments attack our neighbors,” she said Thursday.

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Indiana vs. Oregon prediction: Who wins the Peach Bowl, and why?

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Indiana vs. Oregon prediction: Who wins the Peach Bowl, and why?


It’s a family affair for the Big Ten with a spot in the national championship game on the line as No. 1 seed Indiana squares off against fifth-seed Oregon in the Peach Bowl semifinal.

Indiana has smashed up just about everything in sight, marching out to a 14-0 record with its first outright Big Ten title since 1945 by edging out reigning champ Ohio State and then pounding the bewildered SEC runner-up Alabama in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal.

If they go all the way, the Hoosiers would become the first 16-0 team in college football since Yale did it back in 1894. Not bad for a program that has the most losses all-time.

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Oregon is a 13-1 team with that one loss coming courtesy of these Hoosiers back during the regular season, but is coming off a dominant 23-0 victory over Big 12 champion Texas Tech in the quarterfinal round.

Indiana vs. Oregon: Keys to the game

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Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

1. Indiana’s Defensive Discipline vs. Dante Moore

Indiana’s biggest edge arguably remains a very disciplined defense that already solved Oregon’s scheme once, holding Dante Moore to 186 passing yards with two interceptions and six sacks in the October win at Eugene. 

The Hoosiers compress space, tackle cleanly, and rarely bust coverages, forcing Moore to sustain long drives instead of living on explosive downfield gainers. 

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Key to this rematch is turning that discipline into disruption again: winning on early downs, disguising pressures, and closing throwing lanes so Oregon’s timing‑based pass game never finds a rhythm. 

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If Indiana can keep Moore uncomfortable without giving up cheap shots in the deep field, it tilts the game back toward another grind that favors the unbeaten No. 1 seed.​

2. Oregon’s Early‑Down Efficiency and Protection

Oregon’s path back into the national title picture depends on staying ahead of the chains and protecting Moore far better than in the first meeting. 

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This is not a max‑protect offense; the Ducks prefer to get the ball out quickly on first and second down to avoid Indiana dictating pressure looks on third and long. 

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With top back Noah Whittington healthy and Jordon Davison sidelined, Oregon must manufacture run efficiency with motion, RPOs, and constraint plays rather than stubborn downhill calls into Indiana’s stout front. 

If that early‑down formula works, Moore’s accuracy, Oregon’s speed at receiver, and a more confident offensive line could finally stress a Hoosier defense that has thrived when opponents become predictable.​

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3. Mendoza, Complementary Run Game, and Game Control

Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza has turned Indiana into a complete, ball‑control machine, pairing 36 touchdown passes with just six interceptions while adding some key rushing scores. 

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The Hoosiers average over 220 rushing yards per game, using a deep backfield and a physical line to stay on schedule and keep their defense fresh. 

Against an Oregon defense coming off a 23–0 shutout of Texas Tech, Indiana’s key is balance: steady run success, efficient intermediate throws, and red‑zone poise that converts long, methodical drives into sevens instead of threes. 

If Mendoza controls tempo again, limits negative plays, and avoids the rare turnover, Indiana’s complementary profile again looks built to survive a tight matchup.

Indiana vs. Oregon prediction: Who wins?

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Line: Indiana -3.5, 48.5, courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

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If a team of destiny exists, it might be Indiana. Give them credit: they created that destiny themselves, playing a punishing brand of defense and riding an efficient offense behind a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.

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Dante Moore had the worst game of his season against the Hoosiers’ defense, and his late interception, one of two on the day, helped seal the deal in what remains Oregon’s only loss this year.

Jordon Davison was the Ducks’ leading rusher in that first meeting, and his absence in the rematch makes it difficult to see this going another way, in particular after watching the Oregon offense fail to capitalize as much as it could have in the Orange Bowl.

Having their rushing output compromised to that degree will only put more pressure on Moore to win the game, and Indiana’s secondary coverage unit is a little too good to let that happen. The Hoosiers will play for the national championship.

College Football HQ picks…

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  • Indiana wins 33-20
  • Covers the spread
  • And hits the over

How to watch the Peach Bowl Game

When: Fri., Jan. 9
Where: Atlanta

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Time: 7:30 p.m. Eastern
TV: ESPN network

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

More college football from SI: Top 25 Rankings | Schedule | Teams

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Follow College Football HQ: Bookmark | Rankings | Picks



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Oregon turns to Peyton Woodyard, Zach Grisham to fill secondary gaps for Peach Bowl

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Oregon turns to Peyton Woodyard, Zach Grisham to fill secondary gaps for Peach Bowl


ATLANTA — Oregon’s options for who to rotate in at safety and nickel in the Peach Bowl are finite, but not inexperienced.

Peyton Woodyard has 22 tackles and an interception as a backup this season. The sophomore is the next player behind starting deep safeties Dillon Thieneman and Aaron Flowers and could also play nickel behind Jadon Canady in the Peach Bowl against No. 1 Indiana.

Woodyard was UO’s only freshman defensive player not to redshirt last season. Though he fell behind Flowers and Lopa prior to the season, he’s still prepared to play a significant role, which could come in Friday’s College Football Playoff semifinal.

“You’d have more concern if you had a guy that wasn’t preparing like he wasn’t a starter,” defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi said. “But that’s the way he prepares. I’ve got the faith that we’re not going to put somebody out there that we don’t trust. … I don’t think if he’s out there competing for us, I wouldn’t hesitate one bit to put (him) out there.”

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No. 5 Oregon lost Kingston Lopa and Daylen Austin to the transfer portal since the start of the playoff.

Walk-on Zach Grisham (44) and Woodyard (30) have the most snaps at nickel behind Canady and Austin. Woodyard has played 171 snaps this season, but just one in the Orange Bowl when Canady came out for a play. He played three snaps at deep safety during the October 11 game against Indiana.

Grisham has nine tackles in 11 games, splitting time between defense and special teams. He came in for the last defensive play in the Orange Bowl.

Lupoi called Grisham “an absolute baller” for the effort he brings to the field.

The Ducks may need to rely on one or both for a few snaps in the biggest game of the season.

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“(Woodyard) brings a lot of range and he’s really smart,” Flowers said. “A really vocal leader. Great tackler. I feel super comfortable playing out there with him. Zach, he’s a man of the game. He knows every position; he knows star, safety. He’s really quick, really good man coverage.”

No. 1 Indiana (14-0) vs. No. 5 Oregon (13-1)

  • When: Friday, January 9
  • Time: 4:30 p.m. PT
  • Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
  • TV: ESPN
  • Stream: You can watch this game on DIRECTV (free trial) or with Sling (a Sling day pass to watch this game and more is just $4.99). Streaming broadcasts for this game will be available on these streaming services locally in Oregon and Washington, but may not be available outside of the Pacific Northwest, depending on your location.



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