Due to this limitation, you may experience unexpected results within this site. You, the Savvy Consumer Hold the binoculars you're thinking of buying at arm's length with the lens covers off. Look for a circle of light in the eyepieces. Now look at the front lenses.
Multicoated optics have faint magenta or green reflections, as well as white.
Fully multicoated units produce only faint greenish or reddish reflections. To see if a set of binoculars will hold their focus, press down on the covered eyepieces. If the eyepiece bridge moves under very little pressure, focus could shift inadvertently. Put on some thick gloves. Now look through the binoculars with both eyes.