The Japanese sports optics giant, Nikon, has firmly established itself as one of the most successful marketers of binoculars in the modern world. What sets them apart from the European manufacturers of sports optics is their excellent bang for buck. Another distinguishing feature of all the Nikon products I’ve tested is their excellent quality control.
In the last few years, Nikon gave their entry-level and mid tier binoculars – the Prostaff and Monarch series- a makeover, incorporating more advanced features into these models that would have been quite out of the question only a decade ago. In this review I’ll be discussing my thoughts on the new Prostaff P7 8 x 30, the successor to the original Prostaff 7S 8 x 30 I reviewed back in 2020.
So What’s New?
Quite a few things actually. There’s a new hydrophobic coating applied to the lenses, which causes condensation to bead and slide off the optics in damp weather conditions. The right eye dioptre is now lockable and the field of view is substantially wider, going from 6.5 degrees to a whopping 8.7 degrees! And while it’s about 60g heavier than the first-generation Prostaff 7S, it still tips the scales at a featherweight 476g. The rubber armouring is also new with a more textured grippy feel than the original model.
I liked how it feels in my medium-sized hands. The textured rubber affords a good grip and the barrels protrude far enough beyond the bridge to allow your fingers to securely wrap around the instrument. But other things about its ergonomics niggled me. For one thing, the central hinge was too loose, so much so that I had to keep adjusting the IPD while in field use. The focus wheel is covered in thick black rubber with deep ridges. It turns smoothly enough but my unit had a small amount of play which detracted from the overall viewing experience. The eyecups are excellent, clicking firmly into well-established detents. I’m not really a fan of lockable dioptre mechanisms, especially the designs used by Nikon and Vanguard. I find them overly delicate and a bit flimsy to say the least. And while the dioptre locked well enough on this unit, I was always left wondering when it was going to snap. In this capacity, a simple rotatable ring under the right ocular lens, like that exhibited on the less expensive Prosfaff P3 would have been more welcome …. and more durable I suspect!
Optics Examining how the instrument handled a bright light source from across my living room showed up a few significant internal reflections as well as a small diffraction spike, which also showed up on a bright sodium street lamp after dark.
Daytime views are very good: it’s got a great big sweet spot, with excellent central sharpness and contrast owing to its phase corrected roof prisms and highly effective multilayer coatings. Colour tone looked neutral to my eyes, and its performance against the light proved to be above average. Testing on the brighter stars of summer in a twilit sky showed good off-axis control of aberrations with only mild field curvature slightly bloating the stellar images in the outer 20 per cent of the field. That said, what most impressed me about the little Prostaff P7 8 x 30 was its huge field of view: an enormous at 8.7 degrees! It really has to be seen to be believed! Indeed, it’s noticeably wider than the more expensive Monarch M7 8 x 30.
1.3 revolutions clockwise takes you from closest focus(a decent 2.28m)to infinity. But there was not much ‘beyond infinity’ focus in my test unit. Eye relief is decent but nothing to write home about: I struggled to see the entire field using glasses with the eye cups fully retracted.
Back in 2014, Zeiss launched their new flagship binoculars embodied in the Victory SF, which were offered in both 8 x and 10 x 42 configurations. Then in 2020, two smaller models were launched, the Victory SF 8x and 10 x 32. While these offered class leading optical performance, they were rather long (15cm)and heavy(over 600g) in their compact class. The demand for something smaller and more lightweight impelled Zeiss to re-imagine their Victory SF series, and to create a new line of instruments offering top-notch optical performance in a more diminutive and lightweight package. In 2022, Zeiss answered their fans with the new SFL series, first introduced in 8 x and 10 x 40 configurations, but followed soon after with their smallest compact models yet developed: enter the 8x and 10 x 30 SFL.
Just like in the Zeiss Victory line, the SF stands for “ smart focus” while the L designates its light weight. So what did they do? Under the aegis of a newly head-hunted optical engineer from Swarovski, they made the lenses a little bit thinner(2mm) and smaller, which allowed them to be mounted in a shorter tube assembly. They also jettisoned the centrally placed locking dioptre mechanism to shave off even more weight, with the result that the new SFL 8 x 30, for example, tipped the scales nearly 150g lighter than the Victory SF 8 x 32. But there were other changes to the optics. The Ultra FL glass was replaced by Zeiss’ proprietary Ultra HD( UHD), of slightly lower grade. The field of view shrunk a bit too. Compared with the Victory SF 8 x 32( 8.8 degree field), the 8 x 30 SF sports an 8.1 degree field. In addition, while the SFL line does have field flattening optics, it’s not the ultra-flat system exhibited by the Victory SF series, as I was to discover during field testing. Light transmission took a small dive too: down from 92 percent in the case of the Victory SF to 90 in the case of the SFL series. The reader will note that these SFL binoculars are not made in Germany, but in Japan, under the supervision of Zeiss. In this capacity, they share that distinction with the Zeiss Victory Pocketseries. Here, I’ll be taking a close look at the Zeiss SFL 8 x 30 model.
Ergonomics
This is one small binocular. Check it out compared with the Zeiss Conquest HD 8 x 32.
Despite its small size, the Zeiss SFL 8 x 30 is surprisingly easy to handle. Its short bridge allows the barrels to protrude enough to enable the user to wrap their fingers round them for a secure grip, although those with larger hands may struggle a little with it. The black rubber armouring is lightly textured which also helps with gripping the instrument. The eyecups are well made and very comfortable to view through for prolonged periods. They can be unscrewed from the eyepieces to assist cleaning, though I did discover that if they’re not screwed in securely they can be accidentally unscrewed while extending the cups upwards.
A little extra care is definitely required here. It’s not an issue for me, as I leave the cups permanently extended. There are four positions, each of which locks into place firmly with an audible ‘click.’ Eye relief is plenteous: I can easily engage with the entire field while wearing my eye glasses.
The focuser is excellent: big and easy to engage with. Just 1.4 revolutions clockwise brings you from closest focus to infinity and beyond. I was delighted to see that there’s a decent amount of ‘post infinity’ travel too which will be music to the ears of those of you who have extreme short-sightedness. A single finger can rotate it smoothly and accurately. Just a slight turn of the wheel brings objects into sharp focus from close up to far off. While there is no play or backlash in the movement, it does show some resistance to movement near the end of its anticlockwise travel.
I really like the right eye dioptre on the SFL. It’s got excellent resistance to movement. Simply rotate it into your preferred position and leave well alone.
Zeiss claim that the SFL is watertight to 400mbar water pressure. Why they use millibar units is a bit of a mystery to me. Isn’t immersive depth much more accessible to the average Joe? Both Swarovski and Leica publish depths and not pressure. Quite sensibly I’d say. Indeed I note that the two well known binocular reviewers linked to in the preambles above parrot this nomenclature too. C’mon guys: a bit of high school physics will clarify this for your readers. Follow this procedure:
Optics
Examining how the binocular coped with shining a bright white light source from across a room showed very good results. Internal reflections were well controlled and unlike the Zeiss Conquest HD I tested it against, it didn’t show a prominent diffraction spike. I did however pick up some faint ghosting when examining the blue super full Moon shortly after local midnight on August 21.
Examining the exit pupils showed excellent results as you can see below.
Optically, the view is very impressive: wide, bright, tack sharp within its generous sweet spot, with plenty of high resolution details on display. It is significantly better, for example, than the image served up by the Conquest HD 8 x 32 I tested along side it. Glare suppression is excellent against the light. Colours are vividly but naturally portrayed.
There is some mild pincushion distortion off axis and I detected some softening of the images near the field stops. The nature of this edge-of-field softening became all too clear when I monitored the bright star, Vega, high overhead. The bright white luminary remained tightly focused within the inner 60 per cent of the field or so but thereafter began to distort. At the field edge it was quite noticeably bloated. Because I was able to focus much of this out showed it was field curvature in the main. The same was true when I trained the SFL on a waning gibbous Moon in the wee small hours of August 24. While it was tack sharp within its sweet spot, it became quite blurry near the field stops. Which brings me to the subject of field flattening optics. Clearly not all field flatteners are created equal. Comparing it to the ultra flat field of my full size Sky Rover Banner Cloud 8 x 42 APO, for example, which showed pinpoint stars right across a significantly wider field from edge to edge, the result for the Zeiss SFL was rather disappointing, especially considering its rather steep retail price.
Chromatic aberration was essentially absent from the centre of the field but crept up as I moved my test subjects off axis. Near the edge of the field, the images of dead tree branches against a uniformly bright overcast sky showed significant lateral colour. It was noticeably more pronounced than in my control binocular(the Banner Cloud mentioned above). Again this was a bit disappointing as I know of much cheaper binoculars that have much better colour correction. These results were also clearly seen when examining a silvery white Moon.
Notes from the Field
Close focus was measured at 1.57m: very good indeed, though I was half expecting it to be a tad shorter, based on all the comments I read or heard about during my researches, which almost invariably claimed sub 1.5 m close focus. The view is very comfortable: perhaps the most comfortable compact I have personally experienced. Panning showed up no rolling ball effect which I attribute to the influence of Dr Holger Merlitz, whose research findings were taken into consideration by Zeiss in the overall optical design of the SFL series.
The big selling point of the SFL series, of course, is their light weight, and at 462g it certainly is light! But this can be somewhat of a disadvantage in some circumstances, as I discovered when I brought it out during a blustery spell prior to the arrival of Storm Lilian during the third week of August. With strong winds whipping by me in the open air, I found it much more challenging to hold steady compared with a full size 8 x 42 under the same conditions.
Conclusions & Recommendations
Without question, the Zeiss SFL is a premium compact binocular that excels in many areas: feather light, small size, a comfortable wide field of view and razor sharp optics within its sweet spot, but it doesn’t quite reach the dizzying heights of optical performance seen in the current line of ultra-flat field APO binoculars in the 32mm format. It will appeal greatly to daytime birders and those who like to travel.
Still, for me at least, like all compact binoculars I’ve gradually discovered, it leaves something to be desired compared to the more immersive and engaging views garnered by top quality full-size instruments. So something to bear in mind.
Very highly recommended!
Dr Neil English is the author of Choosing & Using Binoculars: a Guide for Stargazers, Birders and Outdoor Enthusiasts. Please support his ongoing work by purchasing a copy of the book.
Chassis Material: Rubber over Aluminium/ Polycarbonate
Eye Relief: 18mm
Exit Pupil: 4mm
Field of View: 131m@1000m(7.5 angular degrees)
Coatings: Fully Broadband Multicoated, Oasis Phase coatings on Schmidt-Pechan prisms.
ED Glass: Yes
Close Focus: 2m advertised, 2.23m measured
Dioptre Compensation: +\- 3.5
Waterproof: Yes
Nitrogen Purged: Yes
IPD Range: 56-75mm
Weight: 531g advertised, 554g measured
Tripod Mountable: Yes
Accessories: Padded soft case, rubber rain guard and tethered objective caps, padded neckstrap, instruction card with warranty.
Dimensions: 12.4 x 13cm
Warranty: 30 Years
Price(UK): £300-350
If you’ve been following my reviews or reading my new book, you’ll already know that I have cultivated a great admiration for the UK-founded company Opticron. Over the years, the company has brought an excellent selection of compact and full-size binoculars to the market that offer very good optical performance at prices that many consumers can afford. I’ve already highlighted their impressive range of Porro prism binoculars, as well as their most excellent flagship roof prism model, the Japanese-designed Aurora BGA VHD in 8 x 42, which delivers sensibly perfect images across a flat 8.1 degree field. In this review, I’ll be discussing another Japanese-made model from Opticron; the Verano BGA VHD 8 x 32, kindly lent to me by the very experienced binocular enthusiast. Gary Murphy, from Northern Ireland.
The Opticron Verano BGA VHD 8 x 32 is a neat and tidy binocular.
The name ‘Verano’ derives from the Spanish for ‘Summer,’ and as luck would have it, I received the package right at the end of another academic year, preparing my students for careers in maths and the physical sciences. And though summertime has not quite arrived yet, the longer hours of daylight proved ideal for testing this binocular.
Belly side up.
First Impressions
The instrument arrived safely, well packaged, inside its original box. Tucked away inside the black soft carry case, I was immediately taken by the very small and chunky body of the Verano 8 x 32. It’s almost as wide as it’s long, at just 12.4 x 13cm making it almost as tiny as the Leica Ultravid HD Plus 8 x 32 (11.6 x 11.6cm), the most compact 8 x 32 I have personally experienced. Tipping the scales at just 554g, it’s almost as lightweight as the Leica glass too. The chassis is overlaid by a thick black rubber armouring which offers excellent grip. The large, central focus wheel rotates very smoothly and easily, taking two full turns clockwise from one end of its focus travel to the other. I detected no backlash in the focus mechanism in either direction of travel.
The objectives on the little Verano are nicely recessed. Check out those smoothly-applied multicoatings
The objective lenses have very evenly applied antireflection coatings which exude a green colour in natural daylight but renders the lenses almost invisible when looking at them head-on. They’re also very decently recessed to protect them from peripheral light and the elements.
The eyepieces are decently large and easy to engage with, and comfortable to press one’s eyes against during prolonged periods of viewing. The right eye dioptre is adjusted using a subtly protruding lever which has an excellent amount of friction, ensuring that it won’t wander while in field use. The twist-up eyecups are rather large and provide 4 positions. I found my optimal setting by twisting the cups down a few millimetres from fully extended which set them in an intermediate position between two locked settings. It was a minor irritation finding and maintaining these settings, but after some practice it came as second nature to me.
The eyepieces are large enough to easily engage with even while using spectacles.
Eye relief is generous. I was able to access almost the entire field with my spectacles on and while the cups were fully retracted.
I personally found no difficulty in handling the instrument stably, although those endowed with larger hands might find the little Verano a little cumbersome to use.
In summary, the Opticron Verano BGA VHD 8 x 32 is a joy to handle with a sensible, ‘no frills’ body design that the majority of people will find convenient to use. Good job Opticron!
Optics:
The Opticron Verano 8 x 32 displayed excellent control of internal reflections. I detected none of any significance. Nor was there any diffused light around an intensely bright light source. These results are as good as I’ve seen on any quality optic. Examination of the exit pupils showed great results too: nice dark regions surrounding the circular pupils. From these results I fully anticipated better than average control of glare and stray light. And, as I shall shortly divulge, that’s exactly what my field tests revealed too!
Left pupil.
Right pupil.
I took an instant liking to the images served up by this binocular: bright, very sharp within a generously wide sweet spot, very accurate colours and excellent correction of off-axis aberrations, particularly pincushion distortion. Glare suppression is also well above average on this unit. Qualitatively, I formed the opinion that the Verano images were very similar to the company’s more expensive Aurora model. Looking back on my notes of the latter showed it had an edge over the Verano in getting rid of that last residual of glare against the light, and had a wider, flatter field owing to its built-in field flattening optics. Indeed with its very conservative field size (7.5 degrees), the Verano can dispense of the need for field flattening optics as the view remains quite sharp even near the field stops. I was able to verify this under the stars when the bright stellar luminary, Vega, remained decently sharp even when placed at the edges of the field. I’m certainly confident that the Verano was indeed assembled on a genuine VHD platform like the Aurora, Opticron’s flagship offering.
Notes from the Field
8 x 30/2 is my favourite binocular format, with a strong preference for Porro prism models over their roof prism counterparts. So it took a little bit of getting used to using a compact roof like the Opticron Verano in the field again, learning how best to hold it in my hands, but practice makes perfect.
The Verano has a very smooth and responsive focus wheel but what I found quite remarkable was the amount of travel it exhibited beyond infinity – more than one full revolution(so more than half its focus travel in fact) – allowing users with severe myopia to engage with the instrument without wearing spectacles. Indeed given this fact, I was especially delighted to see that its close focus distance was a little over 2 metres. For the record, if this feature is not required the focuser could be recalibrated to accommodate much closer focusing distances.
Testing the Verano in a variety of lighting conditions, the quality views kept coming. Its excellent central sharpness allowed me to view small migrant birds such as Pied and Grey Wagtails, at long distance, foraging in sheep fields or combing the shores of my local river, respectively.
The Opticron Verano 8 x 32 versus the Zeiss Victory Pocket 8 x 25(right).
I conducted some visual comparisons of the Opticron Verano with my Zeiss Victory Pocket 8 x 25( a £650 retail value), sporting the same true field of view. The comparisons were very instructive. The Verano displayed very similar central sharpness to the Zeiss. In good light, I perceived the sweet spot in the latter to be slightly larger and had slightly better optical performance against the light but the differences were subtle at best. However, in dull evening light, the greater light gathering power of the Verano pulled it noticeably ahead of the Zeiss, giving it distinct advantages over the smaller instrument under these conditions. These observations served only to consolidate my opinion that the 30/32mm format is more versatile than smaller aperture glasses.
Conclusions & Recommendations
A quality visual experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed test driving the Opticron Verano BGA VHD 8 x 32. I note that this high-quality instrument can be acquired new at values below £300 if you shop around. That represents excellent value for money. What’s more, with Opticron’s 30-year warranty on this product, you can be assured of receiving first class attention should you hit any snags with it. I note also that there are 42mm options from the same series should you prefer this larger format.
Highly Recommended!
My thanks to Gary Murphy for kindly lending me the binocular for field testing.
Read about many more binocular models, from the very large to the very small, in my new book: Choosing and Using Binoculars: A Guide for Stargazers, Birders and Outdoor Enthusiasts.
Warranty: 10 Years(+1 year if product registered online)
Price(UK): £875.00
The Swarovski Habicht 8 x 30 W exudes quality from top to bottom.
Anyone with an interest in binoculars and their history will undoubtedly be familiar with the Swarovski Habicht Porro prism binoculars, the company’s oldest continuously developed product line, which began production immediately after WWII. This review will concentrate on arguably the most popular of the Habicht line: the compact and lightweight 8 x 30 W.
First Impressions:
Belly Up.
The instrument was bought from a reputable dealer: The Birder’s Store in Worcester. The instrument was dispatched via expedited delivery and arrived within 24 hours of purchasing. The package was delightful: a nice presentation box with a beautiful alpine scene. The instrument was found encased in a lovely green Cordura case together with its rain guard. The package also contained a logoed neck strap, instruction manual and microfibre lens cleaning cloth.
The serial number reveals the year and month of manufacture: December 2022.
The instrument was immaculately presented with a serial number beginning with the numerals 12 indicating that its year of manufacture was 2022. The rubber eyecups are very comfortable but afford minimal eye relief at 12mm. This didn’t present a problem for me as I don’t wear spectacles while glassing. However, some folk have endeavoured to acquire the longer rubber eyecups that accompany the more heavily armoured GA model for better eye relief.
The focus wheel moves smoothly and very precisely. Just over one revolution clockwise takes you from closest focus to a little bit beyond infinity. Unlike quite a few other reports, I do not consider the focuser on the 8 x 30 W to be overly stiff. Indeed, I very much liked it right out of the case! What I especially appreciated though was the + and – markings on the side of the focus wheel facing the ocular lenses: which allow the user to dial in the approximate focus for objects close at hand and in the middle distance without ever having to look through the instrument! I was very relieved to see the dioptre compensation ring moves with a fair amount of tension. This means little to no wandering while operating in the field. Indeed it is just about as good as that found on the Nikon EII 8 x 30.
I was particularly relieved to discover that the dioptre compensation ring under the right ocular is nicely frictioned to prevent wandering in field use.
The leatherette armouring on the 8 x 30 W seems more organic to me, less artificial, than that found on the Nikon EII body. It is slightly more elastic and grippy too. It didn’t take me long to find the best way to handle the instrument, which is a joy to hold in one’s hands. Being intimately acquainted with the haptics of the EII 8 x 30, I would say the only significant difference between the two models is the slightly wider spacing between the barrels and the central shaft of the Habicht, making it easier to wrap one’s fingers round. The latter is also a bit more streamlined than the former: a fact confirmed by comparing their weights – 565g for the EII and 536g for the Habicht 8 x 30 W.
The ocular lenses are a little smaller than those found on the Nikon EII and thus are ever so slightly harder to engage with.
Eyepieces: six elements apiece.
The 30mm objective lenses have immaculately applied coatings and are recessed a few millimetres from the binocular frame.
The Habicht 8 x 30 W objectives have very derp coloured multicoatings.
The leather neck strap is a real work of art it must be said, and an absolute pleasure to use. Beautifully crafted from traditional materials it’s adorned with the fetching silvered avian Swarovski logo on either side. Indeed I have yet to see a better neck-strap than this one!
The beautifully fashioned padded leather neck starp accompanying the Habicht is a worthy accessory for a product of this pedigree.
Although I elected not to store the instrument in the supplied green Cordura case for everyday use, it will serve as an excellent travel case when I need it.
All in all, the Habicht 8 x 30 W is a most charming and impressively designed instrument with a great deal of attention to detail immediately in evidence!
Optical Testing:
My first optical tests were to check the collimation and look for internal reflections. Collimation was spot on as my star testing revealed. Directing an intensely bright beam of light from across my living room into the binocular revealed excellent results: just two very insignificant reflections noted with no diffused light or diffraction spikes( the standard result for a Porro). This was a most excellent result indeed!
This was confirmed by glassing a bright, waxing gibbous Moon in the February sky and a bright yellow sodium street lamp after dark, both of which showed the same great results.
Next I took some shots of the exit pupils, which you can see below:
Left pupil.
Right pupil.
As you can see, both pupils are perfectly round with very little in the way of any false pupils in their vicinity. You can however make out some light leaks well beyond the exit pupils which may be responsible for manifesting some glare and off axis flaring. More on this later.
The view through the Swarovski Habicht is simply out of this world! In careful tests involving my EII 8 x 30, Zeiss Victory Pocket 8 x 25 and a Leica Ultravid HD Plus(UVHDP)8 x 32, it was the clear winner in terms of sheer central sharpness, brightness and contrast. Really quite incredible!
Particularly memorable was a shootout I conducted with a new villager, Davey, who had just completed building a new home overlooking Loch Carron, just a few miles from my home. He recently acquired both an 8 x and 10 x 32 Leica UVHDP, as well as an older Leica Trinovid BN 8 x 32, and invited me up to his place to have a look around. Observing the loch and the surrounding forests from his porch, he got a good chance to compare the views in both the Habicht and his 8 x 32 with their similar sized fields. We both declared the Habicht to have the superior optics but his jaw dropped when I told him that the Habicht was half the price of the Leica!
It makes for wonderful viewing in any kind of lighting conditions, but really excels in dull, overcast lighting where its extraordinary light transmission(an astonishing 96%) pulls it readily ahead of all the competition. Comparing it most carefully to the EII 8 x 30 I would describe the Habicht as peeling off that last layer to reveal its subjects in breathtaking clarity. The field stop in the Habicht is very nicely defined also.
I do want to mention another brief test though. My former student and astrophysics graduate, Joe Stearn, joined me one afternoon with his dad’s Oberwerk SE 8 x 32. Joe reckoned his dad’s instrument was sightly better than his own unit which he left back home in rural Massachusetts. We compared the views and decided they were very close; with the nod going to the Habicht in ferreting out low contrast detail in dull overcast. Like I said before, the Oberwerk SE 8 x 32 with its ED objectives is an exceptional performer but at 800g it’s not a glass you want to carry round your neck all day!
Chromatic aberration is better controlled in the Habicht compared with the EII, particularly off axis, but this might be due to the former’s smaller field of view(7.8 compared with 8.9 degrees in the EII). Pincushion distortion is also vanishingly low in the Habicht, even at the extreme edges of the field, rendering it a most excellent instrument for studying architectural features. The sweet spot on this unit is quite generous: maybe covering the central 60 per cent of the field, after which gentle field curvature gradually distorts the outer part of the field of view. The Habicht has a very uniformly illuminated field though. Moving the gibbous Moon from the centre of the field to the edge revealed little in the way of light drop off. Some lateral colour and a touch of astigmatism were also in evidence by studying the bright star Procyon as it was gradually moved from the centre to the field stops. Notes from the Field:
Roofprism binocular killer.
Several Habicht 8 x 30 W users have reported that the instrument suffers from excessive glare. I can report that this is grossly exaggerated. Yes, it behaves less well against the light than the Nikon EII or Zeiss Victory but I have never perceived it as excessive with the worst cases easily improved by shielding with an outstretched hand over the objectives. The Habicht does exhibit strong off axis flaring however. Just placing a bright Moon just outside the field of view reveals this fairly easily.
Close focus was measured to be 2.68m: better than the advertised 3m but this can actually be improved owing to the large beyond infinity reach of the existing focus wheel. By resetting the position of infinity closer to the end of its travel, a significantly better near focus value could be obtained. I am aware of a binocular repair company that can provide such a service. For others, the extra focus travel beyond infinity will help severely myopic individuals achieve good infinity focus without wearing glasses.
I have not had any issues with the focus wheel on the Habicht. Reports that it can’t be used for extensive birding activities because of the sluggish movement of focus wheel are also untrue in my experience. I’ve been able to track birds flitting from nearby bushes to trees in the middle distance with no problems at all. In short, it’s called skill and practice makes perfect!
Depth of focus and the wonderful stereoptic view only provided by Porro prism instruments are very similar in both the EII and the Habicht. Indeed they render roof prism models decidedly ‘flat’ in comparison.
Storage:
Easy access.
I elected to store the Habicht 8 x 30 W in a dry box: just like all my other non/waterproof Porros. It’s much easier to access the instrument using this set up compared with storing it in the zipped Cordura case supplied with the instrument.
Closing Remarks & Conclusions:
primus inter pares
The Swarovski Habicht 8 x 30 W exhibits the best optical performance I have personally experienced in the 30mm/ 32mm binocular format, with ergonomics that don’t fall far behind it. If anything it underscores my conviction that compact alpha roof models are a profligate waste of money. If you’re after world class optics in a small, lightweight and weather resistant chassis, check this binocular out! It will delight its owners with years of peerless optical and mechanical performance.
Very highly favoured!
Neil English’s new book, Choosing and Using Binoculars: A Guide for Stargazers, Birdersand Outdoor Enthusiasts, is now available for purchase.
Over the years I’ve reviewed a number of Celestron binoculars and have been impressed by their efforts to bring higher than average quality optics and ergonomics to the market at prices that are affordable to many, such as the Trailseeker line and the more advanced Regal ED, for example, being the most recent examples to come to market. However Celestron actually began their foray into advanced roof prism binoculars about 12 years ago, when they launched their sophisticated Granite series, featuring an open bridge design, ED glass, fully multicoated and phase corrected optics. Initially, the series included 8 and 10 x 42 and larger, 10 and 12 x 50 models. But the general success of these instruments led to the marketing of a further two smaller models:7 and 9 x 33 Granites.
In my new book, I showcased a mini review of the 7 x 33 contributed by Philip Grimsey, a keen birder and amateur astronomer, based in Hitchin, England. My first encounter with Phil came through a purchase of a classic Russian 7 x 35binocular, which turned out to be a very pleasant surprise and since then I’ve discovered that Phil is a kindred spirit, having a very similar taste in optics to yours truly.
Phil contacted me asking if I’d like to test drive the 7 x 33 Granite for myself. Curiosity got the better of me and I accepted his kind offer.
Ergonomics
My first impressions of the instrument were very favourable indeed. The magnesium alloy chassis is overlaid by a thick layer of matte black rubber, which affords excellent protection from the elements as well as accidental knocks and bumps. In addition, the underside of the instrument has shallow grooves for resting your thumbs in while glassing. The Granite was one of the earliest econo models featuring an open bridge design for superior handling.
Belly side up.
Tipping the scales at just over 600g, the Granite is nifty, light-weight binocular that can be taken pretty much anywhere.
The nicely machined metal eyecups are overlaid with soft black rubber. They are very firm, with one intermediate position between fully retracted and fully extended, locking rigidly in place in all configurations. I think they’re excellent: a little smaller than the larger frame of Celestron’s more recent models, but right up there with those I’ve seen on models costing much more. Eye relief is very generous too: I was easily able to engage with the entire field wearing my eyeglasses.
The Celestron Granite 7 x 33 possesses excellent twist -up eyecups and a smoothly operating central focus wheel.
The large, centrally placed metal focus wheel is overlaid with raised strips of rubber which greatly assist with its turning. I would describe this focuser as being on the fast side, taking a little over one revolution to go from closest focus to a little beyond infinity.
The dioptre compensation wheel is quite sensibly placed under the right ocular. It’s good and tight and held its position very well.
The Celestron Granite 7 x 33 has very nicely applied antireflection coatings which present a fetching bluish bloom as seen in broad daylight. Clearly they’ve held up very well over the years since its manufacture.
The Granite’s antireflection coatings are very evenly applied.
In the hands the little Granite 7 x 33 feels great, with plenty of room to position one’s hands to get an optimal grip. I had one minor niggle with the central hinge though. I felt it was a little loose for my tastes but in practice it never presented a problem.
I did like the ocular covers though, which are tethered via a bracket on the underside of the barrels. They snap into place to seal off the objective lenses from dust and moisture.
Optics
I checked to see how the Celestron Granite handled an intensely bright beam of light. It did very well indeed. Internal reflections were very well subdued and while I did detect a small diffraction spike around the light source but it amounted to little or nothing when I turned it on a bright sodium street lamp after dark and also on a bright gibbous Moon.
Examining the exit pupils also showed good results with only a fairly inconspicuous light leak around the main pupil(see below):
Left exit pupil.
The view through the Granite is very good: it has excellent central sharpness with some peripheral softening as the field stops are approached. The large smooth focuser makes dialling in the precise focal plane easy. There is also a modest amount of pincushion distortion in the outer field. And boy what an expansive field it possesses at 9.1 angular degrees! I would describe the colour tone of this instrument as distinctly warm. Colour correction is excellent: there’s effectively none within the sweet spot and I could only detect a trace in the outer portion of the field while glassing through denuded winter tree branches against a bright overcast sky.
As you’d expect from a 7 x wide angle glass like this, depth of field is very generous, being noticeably deeper than 8x or 10 x instruments, thereby requiring less frequent focusing. Close focus distance was measured to be just 1.64 metres: an excellent result and well below the advertised 2m.
Having readily enjoyed a 7 x 35 Porro prism binocular for quite some time, I’ve come to appreciate the sheer comfort of a larger exit pupil with an expansive field of view. The Granite served up a field quite reminiscent of the Porro but with a flatter, less 3-dimensional view.
I was able to ascertain more about the aberrations in the outer field by testing the unit under the stars. Stars remained tiny pinpoints of light within the sweet spot, which extends to about 60 per cent out from the centre, after which the same stars began to slowly morph and bloat as the field edges are approached. A lot of this could be focused out, indicating that field curvature was the main contributor, but some coma and astigmatism was also clearly present right at the field stops. Examining a bright gibbous Moon as it was panned from the centre to the field edges showed much the same thing.
Glare suppression is very good in the Celestron Granite 7 x 33 too, performing well against the light but also handling veiling glare very effectively.
In Praise of the 7 x 33/35mm Format
In chapter 30 of my new book, I discussed some very charming 7 x 35 instruments from yesteryear, including a number of classic Porro prism binoculars such as the Nikon Action Mark I with its excellently corrected 9.3 degree field, the Swift Holiday Mark II with its 11 degree field, and the Sans & Streiffe sporting a whopping 13 degree portal on the world. But companies like Leica (formerly Leitz)also marketed iconic roof prism models such as the Trinovid 7 x 35B manufactured from the 1960s through the 1980s and recently revamped in the ornate 7×35 ‘Retrovid’ with its upgraded coatings.
The ornate Leica Retrovid 7 x 35. Image credit Holger Merlitz.
The Celestron Granite 7 x 33 was the first Chinese manufactured instrument to break the European and Japanese monopoly on these instruments and did a rather excellent job to boot. Sadly the Granite 7x 33 was rather quickly abandoned for reasons unknown to this author but I hope this article will encourage other manufacturers to take up the gauntlet to produce a new 7 x 35 at prices that won’t break the bank. The advantages of such an instrument include:
Small. lightweight and portable
A wide and stable viewing experience
Improved depth of field over higher power models
A large exit pupil for improved performance in low light.
Such instruments are likely to prove very popular with birders, and outdoor enthusiasts and even for doing some casual astronomical viewing. It would be remiss of me not to also mention the Hawke Endurance ED Marine 7 x 32 with its 8.3 degree field, although this particular model was created for marine use. Will we see a model like the 7 x 33 Celestron Granite making its reappearance in the market? Time will only tell!
My thanks to Philip Grimsey for lending me the Celestron Granite 7 x 33.
Thanks for reading
You can read a great deal more about hundreds of other contemporary and classic models in my new book, Choosing & Using Binoculars: a Guide for Stargazers, Birders and Outdoor Enthusiasts.
About 15 months ago, I took possession of the Nikon E II 8 x 30. That instrument radically transformed my opinion about the relative merits of roof prism models versus Porro prism designs, so much so that it all but extinguished my interest in the former as a serious long-term investment. This world-class compact Porro delivers and astonishing, ultra-wide field of view with excellent brightness, contrast and sharpness across most of the field. But I also quickly appreciated the astonishing ease with which I could engage with the field of view despite its small (3.75mm)exit pupil, with zero blackouts or rolling ball effect, which I frequently encountered while using high-performance roof prism models such as the Nikon Monarch HG 8 x 30. Collectively, these qualities greatly endeared the instrument to me, and it remains my favourite, general-purpose instrument to this day.
When Nikon launched the E II back in 1999, they produced two models; the 8 x 30 and a larger 10 x 35 instrument. I had long resisted the larger 10 x 35 owing to my very positive experiences with the earlier Nikon E 10 x 35 Criterion model, which gave me a real taste of high-power widefield glassing in a compact, lightweight Porro prism format. But the newer E II model was never far from my mind. If the Nikon E 10 x 35 delivered such delightful images, what could I expect from the more advanced E II instrument? There was only one way to find out, so I ordered up a unit from a reputable UK dealer.
First Impressions
The Nikon E II 10 x 35 has a beautiful classic look.
The instrument arrived in exactly the same box with the same accessories as I received with the smaller E II; just a simple faux leather carry case, a neck strap, plastic objective caps and rain guard, instruction manual and warranty card. The serial number of the instrument is 020173, which my research was able to confirm, is a post-2017 manufacturing date.
The serial # indicates a fairly recent date of maufacture.
The instrument exudes quality. The light weight, die-cast magnesium alloy chassis is a real work of art. Tipping the scales at 612g without the strap, it’s exceptionally easy to hold in my middle-sized hands. The central hinge is strong and rigid, holding my required IPD perfectly. The fine kinematics of the central focusing wheel was a great relief to me. One of the things that niggled me about the Nikon E 10 x 35 was its stiff turning. I simply believed that this was a built-in design feature of the instrument and never occurred to me that it might have stiffened up over the years. That said, the E II focus wheel is a good step-up performance wise, moving with super smoothness through 1.25 revolutions clockwise from closest focus to a little beyond infinity. Indeed, its lightly tensioned gearing is pretty much identical to its smaller sibling.
Underside.
The right eye dioptre ring has the exact same tension as on the smaller E II model. Once adjusted it’s very hard to move accidentally. That came as a great relief to me also, as one of my pet peeves is a wandering dioptre. The objective lenses are decently recessed, and the antireflection coatings take on a very deep, dark blue hue in broad daylight. Indeed, as the image below reveals, there is a noticeable difference in colour cast between the smaller EII 8 x 30 and larger 10 x 35 objective coatings, which surprised me. The 8 x 30 has a stronger green hue to my eye and appears to reflect slightly more light than the 10 x 35 E II. The eyepiece coatings appear to be identical in each model, however.
The objective coatings appear slightly different in broad daylight. The 10x 35 appears more blue and slightly less reflective.
Handling the 10 x 35 EII is a real joy. The leatherette armouring is very easy to grip with or without gloves – as good as traditional rubber substrates. You can wrap your hands round those barrels, where your fingers naturally rest on the large focus wheel. I like to place my hands closer to the front of the instrument, for extra stability while glassing, something you can’t really do with the smaller and stubbier 8 x 30 EII. Indeed, on balance (excuse the pun), I think I prefer the handling on the 10 x 35 that little bit more. Like the smaller Nikon EII 8 x 30, the 10 x 35 has fairly tight eye relief for eyeglass wearers. By turning the rubber eye cups down, I could see the entire field while wearing eye glasses, but it’s a tight squeeze!
Optical Evaluation
Just like its smaller sibling, the Nikon E II 10 x 35 shows negligible internal reflections when aimed at a bright internal light source or a street lamp at night. Nor was there any diffused light around these light sources. Examining the exit pupils, I got broadly similar results to those found on the 8 x 30 E II, that is, perfectly round pupils with a pleasant degree of darkness surrounding them. Although very good, I’ve seen significantly better on less expensive instruments.
Left Pupil.Right pupil.
Collimation was spot on as judged by defocusing a bright star using the right eye dioptre whilst keeping the left barrel image tightly focused. The tightly focused star was seen in the centre of the defocused anulus of light, as sketched below:
What perfect binocular collimation looks like.
Optically, the images served up by the Nikon E II 10x 35 are superb; extremely sharp, bright, faithful colours, lovely contrast and very little glare even in tough backlit scenes. The image is rendered even more compelling by virtue of its enormous field of view. The specs say it’s 7.0 angular degrees, but my own tests threw up a very pleasant surprise. Mounting the instrument on a sturdy photographic tripod, I centred the star Altair in Aquilla and measured the time it took for it to move to the field stop. Altair lies close to the celestial equator(+8.87 degrees declination), making it ideal for such measurements. Taking an average of three timings, I found that the true field in this instrument is actually 7.3 degrees(129.1m@1000m) That puts it right up there with the very widest roofs available today. For example, the Zeiss Victory SF 10 x 32 delivers a true field of 130m@1000m and 135m@1000m for the Swarovski 10 x 32 NL Pure. By any measure, this a hugely impressive result. Indeed, it’s like looking through a regular 8x birding glass, except the images are amplified to 10x. As you can imagine, this greatly adds to the sheer enjoyability of the instrument in field use.
An interesting Aside
When I got the results of these measures I contacted a very experienced E II user and astronomer, based in Nevada. Rich V has owned and used both of the E IIs for over 20 years. He was able to confirm that his measurements also provided a field of view of between 7.2 and 7.3 degrees for the 10 x 35 EII. He also measured the field size on the smaller 8 x 30 E II and it came out at 9 degrees! I subjected my own 8 x 30 E II to four timing measurements and my results yielded an average of 8.97 angular degrees – call it a cool 9.0 degrees!
Screen shot:
See Post #12
As additional evidence to support the larger than expected field of view on the Nikon EII 10 x 35, I took shots with my iPhone through my trusty Svbony SV202 8 x 42 and compared it directly to the image of the same scene through the Nikon glass. The reader will note that as part of my review of the SV202, I measured its field size to be almost exactly 7.5 angular degrees by noting that it was just barely unable to hold the stars Betelgeuse and Bellatrix (separation 7 degrees 33′) in the same field. The first shot shows the SV202 field:
The 7.5 degree field of the Svbony SV202 8 x 42.
Now compare this to the Nikon E II 10x 35:
The Nikon E II 10 x 35 field in comparison.
I hope you’ll agree that the Nikon E II field is just a little smaller than the field served up by the SV202. Indeed, I shared these images with Rich and he agreed that the results were pretty compelling.
One of the first instruments I compared it to is the venerable Nikon E 10 x 35 Criterion WF binocular, the direct antecedent of the EII series. Although I’ve greatly enjoyed the Nikon E with its immersive 6.6 degree field, a few minutes comparing and contrasting the images through both instruments showed the newer Nikon E II to be the clear winner. It had better brightness, contrast and superior control of glare and internal reflections. In addition, you can immediately perceive the enlarged field of view in the Nikon E II.
Like the Swarovski Habicht Porro prism binoculars, the Nikon E IIs do not employ ED glass. Despite this they serve up remarkably bright and vivid images. Indeed, it would be remiss of me not to stress that, despite what some birding magazine binocular reviewers keep parroting falsely, the incorporation of ED glass does not result in brighter images. Indeed, the binocular with the highest transmission measured to date – the Swarovski Habichts – have a light transmission of 96 percent – higher than any model employing ED glass currently on the market! Although I did not have any means to measure light transmission, I wouldn’t be surprised that the E II 10 x 35 delivers in excess of 90 per cent to the eyes. Indeed measurements made over a decade ago showed a light transmission of 86 per cent but Nikon has continually improved their coatings(often with no public notice to the effect) since then, resulting in brighter images with improved contrast.
The Nikon E 10 x 35 (left) and the Nikon E II 10 x 35(right).
As expected, chromatic aberration is a little bit more evident on high contrast targets than the smaller 8 x 30 model, but it’s largely unobtrusive. Close focus was measured to be 2.95m, significantly closer than the advertised 5m. What the 10 x 35 excels at though is presenting extraordinary stereoscopic views of the objects in the middle distance. One fine summer evening in bright sunshine, I visited one of my local patches, the Buzzard Field, on account of a pair of nesting Buzzards that have taken up residence in the trees on either side. One of my favourite targets is a large fallen tree that often shows birds that perch there before moving on. When I turned the Nikon EII 10 x 35 on the tree some 30 metres in the distance, I was gobsmacked -disabled even – by the stunning three dimensionality of the view, almost as if I could reach out and touch it with my hands!
Porro prism binocular images are qualitatively different from roof prism instruments. The much greater image plasticity in the former confers more information to the eyes allowing the observer to glean much more accurate spatial relationships between the objects in the image. Some have claimed that this enhanced stereopsis is unnatural because it artificially extends the separation of the human eye. But I find such arguments to be largely unfounded and somewhat disingenuous. Isn’t parallax- a closely related phenomenon – a useful optical parameter? Do we not employ it subconsciously to infer the relative distances to targets in the visual field? Should we then dismiss the seminal work of the German astronomer, Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel(1784-1846), who was the first person in the history of the world to measure the mind-boggling distance to the star 61 Cygni using this very phenomenon? Couldn’t we make the same argument for magnification? Perhaps we should all go round with binoculars magnifying 1x to get the most natural views? All jokes aside, the enhanced stereopsis at 10x over 8x is very easy to discern in the Nikon E IIs. It enhances the view of everything, from buildings and tree branches swaying in the wind, to swirling pools of water and rock formations, and all for the better.
Astronomical Applications
I have cultivated a strong preference for smaller exit pupils(4mm or less) when viewing the starry heavens, preferring 10 x 42 over 8 x 42, for example. The smaller exit pupil ensures that you’re imaging the field with the best(least curved) part of your eye. Larger exit pupils bring out the astigmatism in my eyes, distorting the images of point sources like stars. In addition, smaller exit pupils create more contrast between the stars and the background sky, painting more aesthetically pleasing vistas. Observing in summer twilight, when the sky doesn’t get properly dark, comparing the views through an 8 x 42 and a 10 x 35 shows the advantages of the smaller exit pupil. The 10 x 35 darkens the background sky much more effectively than the 8 x 42, causing the stars to stand out more. I have thoroughly enjoyed the astronomical views through the Nikon E 10 x 35 with its generous 6.6 degree field, but I must say the more advanced EII 10 x 35 is a nice step up, with its magnificent 7+ degree true field. Stars remain tight pinpoints within a generously large sweet spot, with only mild field curvature and astigmatism creeping up as one approaches the field stop. Another nice feature of the E II 10 x 35 is that there is a negligible drop in field illumination at the field edges, making the field appear larger than it really is. Although it doesn’t have the reach of a more traditional 10 x 50, its low weight and excellent form factor render it decidedly more ‘handy’ than the larger 10 x 50 glass. For serious astronomical forays, 10 x 50 is the better option, but for casual stargazing, especially doing autumn Milky Way sweeps, the 10 x 35 simply can’t be beat.
Comparing the 8 x 30 and 10 x 35 Nikon E IIs
Siblings: Nikon E II 8 x 30(left) and 10 x 35(right).
Both instruments are beautifully designed with fantastic ergonomics. Both exhibit that majesty factor characterised by their expansive fields, as well as the instant gratification one gets when you bring them to your eyes. Small details, such as the position of the dioptre compensation are identical in both instruments, as the photo below shows.
The dioptre compensation for both instruments is identical.Consider parallax.
The 8 x 30 is a magnificent glass for scanning landscapes and closer range birding. It’s ideal for glassing in forests and its low weight makes it a wonderful travel binocular. The 10 x 35 excels at longer range viewing in wide open areas or for picking off details in smaller targets closer at hand. If you’re one who enjoys 3-D terrestrial impressions, the 10 x 35 is the clear winner. In addition, the larger EII is the superior astronomy glass as I’ve noted time and time again comparing the 8 x 30 EII to the 10 x 35 E model during the winter months, where it pulls in fainter stars and deep sky objects.
Storage
Dry box storage.
As outlined in Preamble 2above, I’ve developed a simple storage technique that keeps the instruments bone dry as well as rendering them fog proof. Lining a Tupperware container with about 200g of activated silica gel draws all of the water vapour from the inside of the binocular so that it won’t fog up in normal use. It will also prevent fungal growth inside the instrument so that they can be used for years to come. I make sure to rack the focuser out a bit to get the the most rapid outward diffusion of water vapour. Indeed, having stored the new E II 10x 35 in such a container at room temperature for a couple of weeks, I was able to verify its fog proof status while carrying out the star drift measurements, when the instrument was exposed to the cool, humid night air for more than an hour. Once I brought the instrument into my living room, the outer lenses rapidly generated condensation, but once it had evaporated away, the interior remained completely clear and dry.
Conclusions & Recommendations
Sublime.
The Nikon E II 10 x 35 is an excellent, high-performance Porro prism binocular manufactured to the highest standards. It’s a greatly under-rated format, combining high power, wide-angle views in a light-weight chassis that can be carried around for hours on end. Despite its relatively high price tag, I think it represents excellent value for money when you consider the quality of the views it serves up, as well as its extremely comfortable handling. I for one am very glad I took the plunge to add a second E II to my collection.
Thank goodness there are only two!
I’d like to thank Rich V for interesting discussions on the Nikon E II 10 x 35
You can sink your teeth into a great many binocular reviews in my up-and-coming book, Choosing & Using Binoculars: A Guide for Stargazers, Birders and Outdoor Enthusiasts, which will be published by Springer Nature in late 2023.
Field of View: 145m@1000m(8.2 angular degrees)advertised, 7.48 degrees (131m@1000m)measured
Eye Relief: 15mm(Useable)
Coatings: Fully broadband Multicoated
Chassis Material: Aluminium
ED Glass: Yes (FK-61)
Water Proof: Yes
Nitrogen Purged: Yes
IPD Range: 56-76mm
Close focus: 3m advertised, 2.99m measured
Weight: 794g advertised, 798g measured
Tripod Mountable: Yes
Dimensions: 13 x 11 cm
Accessories: neoprene neck strap, padded canvas carry case, rubber objective caps and rain guard, microfibre lens cleaning cloth, test card.
Warranty: 2 Years
Price(US): $249.95
If you’ve been following my blogs and the kind of gear I review, you’ll no doubt come to see that I have cultivated a particular fondness for Porro prism binoculars. Though they have somewhat fallen out of favour in the smaller size formats due to the flooding of the binocular market with roof prisms with all their technical bells and whistles, it remains the case that Porro prism designs are much easier to execute well to such an extent that it takes a great deal of technology to create a roof prism binocular that can compete with well-made Porro prism instruments. Moreover, they have certain optical qualities by virtue of their design that no roof prism can match.
Roof prism binoculars offer many conveniences to the modern outdoor enthusiast, not least of which is compactness, full water- and fog proofing, as well as the incorporation of dielectric coatings, phase corrected prisms and ED glass which deliver bright, sharp, high-contrast images nearly devoid of chromatic aberration. Add in field flattening optics and you arrive at a state-of-the art roof prism design that can edge out the best traditional Porro prism binoculars in critical tests. But there’s a catch: to do so involves shelling out relatively large sums of money, where today you’d have to pay four figure sums to secure the very best. And while there have been noble efforts made by a number of binocular manufacturers to bring those costs down, you still have to pay in the region of £350-500 just to acquire entry-level instruments having all these features.
The push to develop the best roof prism models over the last twenty years has resulted in a rather serious underinvestment in Porro prism designs. But there are signs that this trend is now being bucked with news of compact Porro prism binoculars with improved optical designs including wide angle eyepieces, ED glass and state-of-the art anti-reflection coatings, as well as better ergonomic features that promise to give the best roofs a run for their money. One such instrument arrived here in Scotland from the United States; the Oberwerk SE 8 x 32 ED.
I first got wind of the new Oberwerk binocular from online forums like Cloudy Nights and Birdforum, where it was generating quite a bit of excitement, especially from Porro prism fans. The founder and CEO of Oberwerk, Keven Busarow, seems to have a penchant for resurrecting cool instruments from the past. The company’s highly lauded Oberwerk 20 x 65 ED Deluxe is one such example, which Busarow described in his own words to be, “our take on the venerable Takahashi Astronomer 22x 60.” Here at least, Oberwerk appears to have been vindicated.
The Oberwerk SE 8 x 32 ED is the culmination of Busarow’s latest efforts to fashion a modern re-interpretation of a binocular that seems to have held legendary status among binocular collectors just a few short decades ago, the Nikon Superior E(SE) line of advanced Japanese-made Porro prism binoculars that flourished for a while before being discontinued back in 2014. Since then, these fine instruments, which included 8 x 32, 10 x 42 and 12 x 50 models, have become as rare as hens’ teeth, commanding eye-watering sums on auction sites whenever they show up. What Oberwerk has attempted to do is create a product that offers similar levels of performance at a price that won’t break the bank. Did they succeed? That’s what this review is all about!
First Impressions
The instrument arrived well packaged and double-boxed. The binocular was stored inside a very attractive green canvas padded case of the type I’ve not seen before. All the accessories were there too – the neck strap, test card, lens cleaning cloth etc – but I found it odd that no instructions were included in the package. That said, the accompanying thank you card does have a link to Oberwerk’s online guide to setting up a binocular. Anyway, I soon forgot about that once I prized the instrument from the case. This is one chunky instrument, tipping the scales at 798g – the heaviest 8 x 32 that I’ve personally encountered and much more in keeping with instruments in the 42mm aperture class. That said, it has a beautiful, solid feel in the hands, the central hinge being good and tight, the focus wheel moving smoothly, the eye cups twisting up and down nicely. The instrument came with the thick rubber rain guard and objective lens covered attached. These were of unusually high quality, at least on a binocular that retails for just under $250. They fit on very firmly, so there’s little chance of losing them by accident. While the rubber rain guard is tetherable to the neck strap, there is no such provision for the objective caps. That wasn’t an issue for me though, as I hardly ever use them, except for storage purposes. I also really liked the antireflection coatings on the Oberwerk SE 8 x 32 ED. They are immaculately applied and give a pink hue in daylight.
Ergonomics
The handsome chassis of the Oberwerk SE 8 x 32 ED.
The Oberwerk SE 8 x 32 ED is a handsome binocular. With an aluminium chassis covered in a thick green rubber armouring, the instrument feels very secure in the hands. Like the Nikon SE, it has bulky shoulders where the prisms are located, which gives it a very distinctive look. The rubber armouring around the objectives has a rougher texture than that of the upper body, no doubt to assist the fingers in gripping the barrels. The objective lenses are exceptionally well protected thanks to about an inch of barrel overhang. Indeed they reminded me very much of the Kowa SV II, which adopts a similar design. This affords them excellent protection against rain, dust and the encroach of stray light. The sides of the barrels have upraised ribs to allow the palms of one’s hands to better grip the instrument.
Bellyside up: note the heavy duty armouring of the aluminium chassis.
The twist up eye cups are constructed from machined aluminium and covered with soft rubber which are very comfortable when pressed against the eyes. There are three intermediate positions between fully retracted and fully extended. At each position the cups lock securely into place. Eye relief is very generous, especially for a 32mm instrument. I was able to access the entire field using glasses while the eyecups were fully retracted.
The centrally placed focus wheel is distinctly different from the original Nikon SE in that it is placed further away from the eyecups. It’s very easily and comfortably accessed once you wrap your hands round the barrels, when the fingers can naturally fall on its prominent ridges. It turns smoothly with a good amount of friction. I experienced no backlash or free play, although I sometimes encountered a bit of inertia when the wheel was reversed in direction at the extreme ends of its travel. Just shy of 1.5 revolutions anticlockwise takes you from closest focus(measured at 2.99m) to infinity and a little bit beyond.
The excellent twist-up eyecups are very comfortable and offer generous eye relief for eye glass wearers.
The dioptre compensation is achieved by rotating a small plastic ring under the right ocular. It moves smoothly but I would have liked to have seen a wee bit more tension to avoid it accidentally wandering in field use. For example, while out on a forest walk, I encountered some light rain which forced me to place the rubber rain guard on quickly. Once the shower passed, I began to struggle getting it off again(yes it’s that tight!), but that physical effort was enough to move the dioptre slightly out of its desired position.
The exceptionally deeply recessed objectives afford excellent protection from the elements and stray light.
Though it’s quite a heavy binocular for its aperture class, the supplied padded neoprene strap helped greatly to lighten the load. Handling the instrument is a real joy though. Because more of the weight is located towards the eyepiece end of the binocular, its centre of gravity is tipped closer to your body, making prolonged viewing more comfortable. Indeed, Zeiss use the same idea –ergobalance – on their flagship SF models. I certainly never felt any strain or fatigue while using the instrument in the field for several hours at a time.
Optics
Good ergonomics count for very little if the optical performance isn’t up to scratch. So how did it perform? Well, beginning with my bright light test, I directed an intensely bright beam of light from my iPhone torch placed at the far end of my living room and examined the focused image of it through the binocular. The results were excellent. There was only a couple of very faint internal reflections and no diffused light around the light beam indicating well applied coatings throughout the optical train. The same was true when I turned the instrument on a bright sodium streetlamp after dark. The image was very clean with no internal reflections and no scattered light around the source.
My next test involved looking at the exit pupils of the binocular. As you can see below, the results are excellent: perfectly round pupils and no false pupils or stray light in their vicinity. In fact, this is one of the best pupil images I’ve personally seen in four years of testing out binoculars!
Right exit pupil.Left exit pupil.
To be honest, I had very high hopes about this binocular given its advertised specifications as well as the reputation Oberwerk has garnered among members of the amateur astronomy community. And I wasn’t disappointed! The day the instrument arrived was quite overcast and dull – not the best light to glass, but certainly the best conditions to ferret out any issues the binocular might have had. The images were incredibly sharp in the centre and also on the edges, with bright, vivid colours, excellent contrast and superb control of glare. Examining a vertically erected scaffold pole, I was delighted to see very mild pincushion(positive) distortion in the outer part of the field. I was also thrilled to see the well-defined field stops with the eyecups fully extended. Unlike the Nikon SE, which was widely reported to have black outs owing to spherical aberration of the exit pupil, this instrument produced none. The view was, to all intents and purposes, sensibly perfect.
The Oberwerk SE 8 x 32 ED(left) versus the Nikon EII 8 x 30(right).
Images snap to a very precise focus with no ambiguity. But what really amazed me was its complete lack of chromatic aberration. This instrument employs Chinese FK-61 low dispersion glass, roughly equivalent to Ohara FPL-51, but it was more than enough to cut out colour fringing both in the centre of the images and in the outer field. Comparing the venerable Nikon E II 8 x 30 with the Oberwerk SE, the former showed some lateral colour on high contrast targets like the branches of trees set against an overcast grey sky. The Oberwerk SE showed virtually none, save for the merest trace right at the field stops. Indeed, comparing the views of both instruments in a variety of lighting conditions, I formed the impression that the Oberwerk was just slightly sharper with a little better contrast and more pronounced colour ‘pop’.It’s also noticeably brighter in dull light conditions owing to its 14 per cent greater light grasp. The biggest difference between the two was the significantly wider field of view in the Nikon E II(8,8 degrees vs 8.2 degrees). That’s quite a result for a $250 binocular!
On another afternoon, I chanced upon a wonderful apparition on the road leading to Culcreuch Castle. This time of year, Chaffinches, Bullfinches and other species forage in the leaflitter at the sides of the road, with many of them hopping onto the road in search of tukka. About 25 yards ahead of me, I watched in sheer amazement as a beautiful Redwing was taking a bath in a water-filled pothole. Standing dead still, I brought the Oberwerk SE to my eyes and focused in on the scene. The image was superb! I could see its beautiful dark brown spots adorning its white belly, its striking red flanks and underwings and the creamy white stripe over its eyes. The contrast against the dark tarmacadam made it all the more compelling, but I also became acutely aware of the bumps and depressions on the road, both in front and beyond the bathing Redwing- a consequence of the binocular’s prominent stereopsis(3D effects) at moderate distances.
Ad Astra
The question of how well corrected the field is is always best answered by examining celestial objects. That’s why I recommend all optics reviewers for birding magazines learn to star test their binoculars. It will also show up any potential aberrations that can all too easily be missed in daylight observing. Centring the bright star, Procyon, in the field of view, I was delighted to see that it remained a tightly focused pinpoint nearly all the way to the field stops. I would estimate that in the last 10 per cent of the field, the effects of very mild field curvature and a trace of astigmatism(elongation) could be made out with a concentrated gaze. This is an excellent result. I must report though that there is some modest illumination drop off as the star approached the field stops. Comparing it to the Nikon E II 8 x 30, the same tests showed more pronounced field curvature starting in the outer 20 per cent of the field, becoming distinctly distorted at the field edges.
An exceptional binocular like the Oberwerk SE deserves a high-quality carry case.
Turning to the full Moon, I noted no chromatic aberration in the centre of the field, but also crucially, virtually none right up to the field stops. Only the merest trace of lateral colour – blue nearest the centre and yellow furthest away – could be made out. The Nikon E II showed much more pronounced colour at its field stops in comparison. A few short weeks ago, I reviewed the Celestron Regal ED, which, you’ll remember, has field flattening optics. I noted that the image of the Moon was distinctly distorted at the field edges, mainly due to astigmatism and a touch of coma in the outer 10 per cent of the field, which couldn’t be focused out. What’s remarkable about the Oberwerk SE was that it was far better corrected at the field edges in comparison – and all of this without field flattening optics!
Summary & Conclusions
Hanging out.
The Oberwerk SE 8 x 32 ED is a phenomenal performer by day and by night. Though it was inspired by the Nikon SE, there are a number of significant design differences that set it apart from the famous Japanese optic: it has a significantly larger field of view, incorporates modern ED glass to improve colour correction and doesn’t use field flatteners – a design characteristic I personally prefer. Yet it achieves a very high level of optical performance thanks to the incorporation of cleverly designed wide angle eyepieces. Moreover, it does not manifest the less desirable optical effects of the Nikon SE with its widely reported kidney beaning(blackouts). It’s also water proof and fog proof, so can be employed in a wider variety of outdoor conditions than the Nikon super glass. This is a first-rate birding binocular but will also serve up excellent views of the night sky. And if it gets a bit heavy to hand hold, stick it on a lightweight monopod and you’re off to the races. Mr Busarow ought to be congratulated for bringing such a superb optic to market at a price that many folk can afford. It goes without saying that this product gets my highest possible recommendation.
Very highly favoured!
Dr Neil English is the author of seven books in amateur and professional astronomy. His new book, Choosing and Using Binoculars: A Guide for Stargazers, Birders and Outdoor Enthusiasts is now available for purchase.
While it is generally true that you get what you pay for, it’s also true that you can pick up very decent optics for not a lot of money. I was very much reminded of this when I test drove the Nikon Aculon A211 7 x 35. This is yet another cost-effective Porro prism binocular from Nikon having a good black rubber armouring, twist-up eye cups and a large central focus wheel. Though it’s not quite as well armoured as Nikon’s more expensive and waterproof Action EX 7 x 35, it is considerably lighter, tipping the scales at just 684g. Indeed, I had no trouble carrying it round my neck for several hours while completing a 10km trek near my home.
The Nikon Aculon A211 7x 35 is a pleasure to use.
The instrument is multicoated ensuring a high light transmission. Indeed, according to tests carried out by allbinos.com, light transmission is close to 80 per cent. Right out of the box, this little Aculon impressed. I had a wee bit of trouble adjusting the dioptre setting as the ring under the right ocular was quite stiff but it eventually yielded. The image is bright and sharp within its sweet spot, which covers the inner 50-60 per cent of the field depending on your degree of accommodation. Contrast is very good too. But what’s most impressive is its huge field of view: 9.3 angular degrees. That’s ideal for surveying landscapes. Eye relief is tight though: that wasn’t a problem for me as I don’t wear glasses while looking through binoculars, but when I did try to engage the view with eye glasses on, I could not see the entire field.
I found that the Aculon had a small amount of glare when the eye cups were fully extended upwards but I was really surprised to discover that I could comfortably access the entire field of view without glasses when they were fully retracted! This will obviously reduce the wear on the eyecups, so extending their functional longevity. But it also had the effect of removing much of the glare I encountered in the open air.
The focus wheel is silky smooth and easy to turn with no backlash or free play. Indeed it felt considerably better than the Action EX 7x 35 I reviewed some time ago. Moreover, of all the different brands of binoculars I’ve tested over the years, Nikon focus wheels have been consistently excellent. The ease with which I could move the focus wheel made this binocular a very enjoyable birding binocular. Indeed, I spent some time watching flocks of Long Tailed Tits flit from tree to tree across the valley. Their mode of flight – in fits and starts – reminded me very much of the way Wagtails navigate during the warmer months of the year. It was so easy to keep up with them, even as they moved off into the distance. The impressive depth of field meant refocusing was an infrequent affair. And that’s got to be a good thing for any birder.
I was impressed by its close focus distance – less than half of the 5m advertised value. The enhanced 3D views through the Nikon Aculon A211 were very memorable, especially when scanning for signs of life inside a densely forested patch near my home. The field curvature actually helps keep closer objects at the bottom part of the field tightly in focus, creating a heightened sense of spatial awareness. This little 7x 35 was a much better fit in my hands than the larger 8 x 42 Aculon I tested prior to acquiring this smaller instrument. Does it have any flaws? Yes. When I turned the binocular on a bright streetlamp after dark I picked up significant internal reflections. It was the same when I glassed a bright, waning gibbous Moon. Bothersome? Yes, a little, but didn’t really detract from the nice, relaxed views I enjoyed during the day. And while the internal reflections detract somewhat from the aesthetic of Moon watching, it’s quite an impressive stargazing binocular. By studying the image of the bright, first magnitude star Rigel, I could see that field curvature and coma are strongly apparent near the field stops but to be honest, there is plenty enough field to thoroughly enjoy the view. Lateral colour was also strong at the edge of the field but nowhere near as bad as what I saw testing the larger 8 x 42 Aculon A211.
I spent 30 minutes enjoying the glories of the Winter sky on Christmas Day. Orion looked magnificent riding high on the meridian, sweeping east into Monoceros where the binocular easily showed the somewhat overlapping NGC 237 and NGC 2244 and even the 8th magnitude M50 to the south was faintly discerned. I also enjoyed sweeping up the three Messier open clusters high overhead in Auriga. The large, expansive field of the little Nikon Aculon 7x 35 made light work of framing all of them inside the same field. I also spent some time in a zero gravity chair sweeping through the wonders of Perseus, Cassiopeia and Cygnus, now sinking low into the northwest sky.
The Nikon Aculon A211 7x 35 in its ultra dry Sarcophagus.
For a binocular that you can acquire for about £100 or less, it’s probably a best buy in my opinion. It does lots of activities well and is great fun to use. If you’re on a tight budget and want decent optical performance in a portable package, go check them out. Indeed, as a firm Porro prism binocular fan, this is such a good bargain that I decided to prepare another ‘Sacrophagus’ for the Nikon Aculon A211 7 x 35; a simple water tight Tupperware container with lots of activated silica gel desiccant inside. This will also render them fog proof, as my tests on higher-end Nikon Porros have shown
Recommended!
Dr Neil English is busy writing a book dedicated to binoculars. Choosing & Using Binoculars: A Guide for Stargazers, Birders and Outdoor Enthusiasts, which will hit the shelves in late 2023.
The Japanese optics giant Nikon has produced some incredible binoculars over their century + years of being in business. What I think they really excel at is designing and marketing really sweet binoculars at very competitive prices. That’s exactly the sentiments I felt towards their very economically priced Action EX 7 x 35 after spending a couple of weeks with it in the field.
You might think a 7 x 35 format would be lightweight and streamlined: not so with this binocular! Weighing 800g, this is one chunky binocular, overlaid as it is with a very thick rubber armouring, which contributes to its wet weather resistance. This instrument is o-ring sealed and purged with dry nitrogen gas making it fully water- and fog proof.
Nikon states that the Action EX series have multi-layer coatings on the lenses and prisms ensuring high light transmission. One good way to test the effectiveness of these coatings is to aim the binocular at a bright artificial light source after dark and examine the images produced. I was glad to see that there was very minimal internal reflections. Having said that, it was virtually identical to the result I obtained with the lower priced Aculon 8 x 42 marketed by Nikon. Still, those coatings weren’t nearly as good as the Japanese-made Nikon E II series which cost considerably more but shows virtually none in comparison.
The Nikon Action EX 7x 35 is exceptionally well armoured for use in all weathers.
The large centrally located focus wheel moves very nicely with no free play or backlash. It’s been reported that waterproof Porro prism binocular often have overly stiff focus wheels – a necessary compromise for making it weatherproof – but I must report that this was not my experience with the Action EX 7 x 35. The gearing in the focus wheel was perfectly fine, even when rapidly adjusting focus from close up to far away. One and a quarter turns clockwise brings you from closest focus to beyond infinity. Unlike classic Porros of the past, which usually come with fold-down rubber eyecups, the Nikon Action EX has modern twist up cups with three detents. Eye relief is a very decent 17mm. I tested them while using my eyeglasses and was comfortably able to access the entire field. The ocular lenses are very large and easy to centre your eyes in. The objective lenses are also very deeply recessed, further protecting them from stray light, dust and rain. The right eye dioptre ring is located under the eyepiece. It’s well designed and holds its position well.
Some may think the Action EX 7x 35 is overbuilt. I really don’t think so. Yes, it’s quite heavy for its relatively small aperture but it feels exceptionally sturdy in the hands and its 7x gives very stable views which partially negates its bulk mass. Comparing it to the lower cost Aculon 8 x 42, I felt the grip was noticeably better in the Action EX. The rubber armouring is simply more grippy in the latter.
Optically, the Nikon Action EX 7 x 35 is quite impressive: bright, sharp across a good chunk of the field with very good contrast. How bright? Allbinos measured one Action EX model to have a transmission of the order of 80 per cent– not bad but noticeably dimmer than models nearer 90 per cent transmission. Intriguingly, the lower priced Aculon models apparently have similar light transmission values.
The Nikon Action EX 7x 35 binocular also controls glare very well. That said, it was not significantly better than the less expensive Aculon 8 x 42 I tested alongside it. The outer field does display field curvature, but I think this is quite acceptable given the fact that the field of view is a whopping 9.3 degrees. I felt the edge of field performance was a little better than the 6.5 x 32 Opticron Adventurer T WPI tested a few months back. Depth of field is impressive too. I quickly became consciously aware of how little I had to refocus the instrument as I scanned the hills around my home. Anything beyond about 50 yards is sharply in focus.
On the afternoon the binocular arrived, it was a dull, overcast and drizzly late October day, but the Nikon Action EX 7 x 35 seemed to take it all in its stride. I scanned the leaden skies in the open fields near my home and quickly picked up the silhouette of a hovering raptor, which I was later able to identify as a Peregrine Falcon from its fanned-out tail feather. The enormous field of view allowed me to track the bird as it moved off toward the hills. At one stage the Peregrine entered the same field as a Buzzard which looked enormous in comparison. What a sight on a gloomy autumnal day! Nikon quote the close focus on the Action EX 7x 35 to be 5 metres, but I found that it is well under 2 meters!
I also found the Nikon Action EX 7 x 35 very useful during a few forest walks. This is where the field curvature and enhanced 3D effects combine to create incredibly vivid images of treescapes with even closeup tree trunks being sharply focused. Absolutely exhilarating! As good as this binocular is for daylight glassing, I found it most excellent for stargazing. With a decent magnifying power of 7x and 35mm objectives providing a 5mm exit pupil, not to mention its enormous 9.3 degree true field, the Nikon Action EX 7 x 35 throws up wonderful views of the night sky. On a dark, moonless night, I enjoyed sweeping the Milky Way through Cygnus, Perseus and Cassiopeia. The dazzling Pleaides star cluster looked rather small in the enormous field of this binocular. Ditto for the Hyades beneath it. The effects of field curvature are quite pronounced near the field stops but that’s a small compromise when you consider the modest cost of the instrument and the more than generous field of view. Quite simply, there is plenty to see in each new field of night sky.
A good all-round performer.
Conclusions
I was pleasantly surprised by the Nikon Action EX 7x 35. It’s a very nice binocular to use in the field and I can readily understand why it’s such a popular choice. Its build quality goes well beyond the call of duty and although it’s rather heavy for such a small aperture binocular, you’ll quickly forget about it. This will make a good binocular for short-range birding, exploring landscapes and casual star gazing. It does many things well.
Recommended.
Dr Neil English is the author of a highly lauded 650+ page historical work: Chronicling the Golden Age of Astronomy.
If you’ve been following my blog reviews, you’ll be aware of my great affection for the Nikon E II 8 x 30. From the moment I put it to my eyes, I was stunned by the magnificent views it served up: a wonderful, tack sharp, ultra-wide view, rich in contrast and detail, and all with an enchanting 3-dimensionality. That experience got me curious about other small Nikon Porros and I became intensely interested in the now discontinued E series, especially after reading Roger Vine’s glowing report on the Nikon E 8 x 30 linked to in the preamble above. I decided to bite the bullet and purchased a used Nikon E 10 x 35 from a seller based in Tokyo, Japan.
The workmanship that went into the making of the Nikon E 10 x 35 is exemplary.
The seller stated that the instrument was in good condition, with no fungus and a small amount of dust that had made its way inside the instrument. Checking the serial number, I was relieved to see that it was one of the later, multi-coated models, which were manufactured between 1988 and 1998, after which time Nikon introduced their latest, greatest small Porros – the venerable E IIs and SEs. Judging by the numbering – 611675 – I guessed that it was made in the mid -1990s.
The serial number most likely dates this instrument to the mid 1990s.
It took just a week for it to travel from the Far East to my home here in rural central Scotland, and I was very excited about the prospects of holding the instrument in my hands. The binocular was exceptionally well packed, taking what I felt was an eternity to remove all the bubble wrap before I could finally hold it! Straight from the get-go I was extremely impressed with the instrument, coming only with a neck strap of extremely high quality. The instrument looked very lightly used, with no significant scuff marks on the body. I could instantly tell that this instrument was made during an era where craftmanship was at a much higher level than it is today; the beautiful contouring of the solid metal chassis, overlaid by an immaculately applied retro leatherette armouring. As Mr Vine states, you simply don’t get instruments made to these standards today!
The underside of the binocular.
Weighing just 624g without its strap, the instrument feels great in the hands. Like the newer E II models, the eyepieces are fitted with soft rubber and offers decent eye relief for eyeglass wearers. Texture-wise they felt just as firm as the E II, which came as a relief to me, as I had heard that this type of rubber hardens with age. The focus wheel is slightly less refined than on the E II though, feeling significantly stiffer to turn. The opposite was true when I examined the dioptre adjustment mechanism, located under the right ocular. It was significantly easier to move then the E II dioptre ring, but still stiff enough to remain in place firmly during field use.
The objective lenses looked immaculate, with the characteristic green coatings. Ditto for the ocular lenses.
The multicoated objectives are in pristine condition.
View from the ocular end of the instrument.
I was relieved to see that the instrument arrived in excellent collimation. The exit pupils were nice and round, with very little extraneous light around them. Performing my Iphone torch test showed no significant internal reflections, diffused light or diffraction spikes, all characteristic of a well-executed Porro prism design. But I hit a snag when I examined the interior of the binocular from the objective end. Yes, there was a small amount of dust visible on the prisms, a very thin veneer of haze, but also significant fungal growth on the prisms of both barrels – something I was assured was not present by the Tokyo seller.
Saprophytic wee blighters. Top centre. Some haze present also.
Bummer.
Left exit pupil.
Right exit pupil.
Fortunately, the fungal growth and dust didn’t significantly compromise the view. How was it? Well, I can agree with Mr. Vine about its sheer superiority to the classic Zeiss 8 x 30s. Compared with my late 1980s multicoated Zeiss Jenoptem 8 x 30, the Nikon view was indeed much better. 10x in a very well corrected 6.6 degree field offers a unique perspective; at least from my own experiences. Brightness, contrast, glare suppression and sharpness were all very good in this modern classic. And just like my smaller E II, the view is supremely comfortable, with no problems with eye placement and zero issues with blackouts. I disagree with Mr Vine’s claim of 90 per cent transmission though. Maybe at yellow-green wavelengths, but surely not over the entire visible spectrum.
I also disagree with Mr. Vine regarding the ultimate quality of the view; comparing the images of the Nikon E II 8 x 30 to the E 10 x 35, I judged the former superior in terms of contrast and glare suppression. I also compared it to my excellent Opticron Imagic TGA WP 10 x 50, which served up a noticeably brighter and maybe even a tad sharper image, with much better glare suppression and noticeably more vibrant colour renditions. I know this was not a totally fair comparison, as there is a world of difference between a 10 x 50 and a 10 x 35. In bright sunny conditions, the views were quite comparable, but under overcast skies, the 10 x 50 pulled far ahead of it.
A properly executed modern Porro prism binocular can edge out even the greatest of classics. Opticron Imagic TGA WP 10 x 50(left) and the Nikon E 10 x 35(right).
This came somewhat as a shock to me, but in retrospect, modern anti-reflection coatings are just superior to older ones, and there’s no getting around that. The world has moved on. Mr. Vine also stated that to get images in the same league as the E series, you’d have to move to the Swarovski Habicht, Nikon E II or SE series. My comparisons of the Nikon E 10 x 35 with the Opticron Imagic TGA WP proved otherwise.
A Great Night Under the Stars
In the wee small hours of the morning of September 6, I enjoyed sumptuous views of the Hyades in Taurus and right above it, fiery red Mars and the Pleiades. 10x has been my personal favourite magnification for stargazing of late. It just goes that little bit deeper than a 8x equivalent. I was very impressed by the Nikon E 10 x 35’s wide field of view, with pinpoint stars across most of the field. Near the field stops, you can readily make out some field curvature, which can be focused out to some degree. Moving higher into the sky, the Nikon E served up excellent views of the early autumn Milky Way through Cygnus, Cassiopeia and Perseus. Views of the Double Cluster were also highly captivating, following the curving chain of stars northwards to commune with the lovely starry patch, Stock 2. Later in the season, this will make a nice lightweight binocular to study the winter constellations of Gemini and Orion, both of which are rich in astronomical booty.
Notes form the Field
At home in nature.
I enjoyed one more day with the Nikon E 10 x 35, taking it up to one of my local patches – Culcreuch Pond – where I enjoyed some great views of Mute Swan cygnets learning how to fly. It’s all about mimicry. The adult directs the cygnets to one end of the pond, then takes to flight, keeping low above the water. The cygnets began flapping their wings frantically but as yet, they’ve not mastered the power of the air. I was also lucky enough to watch a magnificent Red Kite circling over the newly cut hay in a nearby field, the 10x glass showing some nice details quite invisible to a 8x equivalent. Close focus was measured to be 3.7 yards – plenty close enough for the vast majority of birding activities. It was during such a time that I thought about what I’d do about this very good modern classic, and I decided on getting it professionally serviced by skilled experts. I wanted to have the fungus removed from the prisms and the optics thoroughly cleansed so that it would enjoy a new lease of life. So I phoned Tony Kay, technical director of OPTREP,based in Selsey on the south English coast( the home of the late Sir Patrick Moore no less), explaining what work needed done to the instrument and whether he was willing to refurbish it for me. To my relief, he accepted. So I fetched my leatherette pouch that came with my Nikon E II 8 x 30, which proved to be a snug fit for the larger 10 x 35 glass, packing it away in a small box with plenty of bubble wrap. The next day, September 7, it was winging its way to his workshop.
Haste ye back!
Needless to say, I’m very much looking forward to seeing what Tony can do to revitalise the Nikon E 10 x 35. Hopefully, I’ll get it back soon, when I’ll provide an update to this blog.
Update: On Saturday September 24, the instrument arrived back safely from its journey to the English south coast. I’m happy to report that the Nikon E 10 x 35 was thoroughly cleaned internally, with no sign of fungus, haze or dust inside the barrels. Collimation was perfect also. All in all, a very happy camper and excited to begin new adventures with this great classic Porro prism binocular from Japan.
The refurbished Nikon E 10 x 35.
I prepared another ‘sarcophagus’ for this instrument to keep it bone dry and free of internal moisture; just in the same way I store my Nikon E II 8 x 30.
The water and air tight container filled with several silica gel desiccant sachets to maintain a bone dry storing compartment for the instrument.
I’ll have more to say about both these instruments in the coming weeks and months, so watch this space.
