A Work Commenced March 19 2024
Product: Nikon Sportstar EX DCF 8 x 25
Country of Origin: China
Exit Pupil: 3.13mm
Eye Relief: 10mm
Close Focus: 2.5m advertised, 2.23m measured
Field of View: 144m@1000m(8.2 angular degrees)
Coatings: Multicoated
Phase Coating: No
Waterproof: Yes
Nitrogen Purged: Yes
Weight: 300g advertised, 298g measured
Accessories: Soft carry case, eyepiece caps, neck strap, instruction sheet.
Price: £74.00
As arguably one of the most successful companies in the sports optics industry, Nikon has gained a solid reputation for delivering the goods to enthusiasts in all budget categories.
Clever optical design, manufacture and excellent quality control have allowed Nikon to excel in all price ranges from bargain basement to premium. These sentiments were further affirmed after test driving Nikon’s economically priced pocket binocular: the Sportstar EX DCF 8 x 25.
Buying it direct from Amazon, I was pleased to see that the binocular was well packed and in good working order.
The instrument is rubber armoured for a firmer grip. The dioptre compensation is located under the right ocular – a sensible place to put it!
The eyecups do twist up but I found them to induce severe tunnel vision with a significant loss of field of view. But the situation improved markedly when I retracted the eyecups fully and began to look through the eyepieces. The focus wheel is large enough to access easily and rotates smoothly, with little in the way of play or backlash.
Optically, the Nikon Sportstar EX Is quite decent. Collimation was bang on. I detected a few internal reflections and some glare when observing against the light but was genuinely astonished to witness the enormous field of view: a whopping 8.2 angular degrees! No, that’s not a misprint!
What’s more, it was nicely corrected, even off axis. Close focus was a tad over 2 metres. The image is a bit on the dim side though, with decent contrast, colour rendition and sharpness despite its lack of a phase coating on the roof prisms. I would like to emphasise the great field of view on this pocket binocular though- the largest that I’ve personally experienced in a pocket glass. It’s larger than the Zeiss Victory Pocket 8 x 25 (7.5 degrees) and even the Swarovski CL Curio 7 x 21(7.7 degrees). Optical designers would do well to study this binocular, as even the outer parts of the field are fairly well corrected!
Out of sheer curiosity, I did compare the Nikon Sportstar EX image to that garnered by the Zeiss Victory – an unfair test for sure, but still instructive. Yes the world-class Zeiss delivered a brighter, sharper and higher contrast image, and I could clearly make out details in the Victory Pocket that were either quite subdued or well-nigh absent in the Nikon image. Still, the differences were not nearly as large as I had anticipated. You can still see a great, great deal with these basic but well-executed optics!
If you’re after an inexpensive pocket binocular that will perform basic functions, such as watching the bird feeders in your garden, or for quick looks at the landscape, this little Nikon will do a good job!
Recommended!
If you like my reviews, be sure to check out my new book, Choosing & Using Binoculars: A Guide for Stargazers, Birders and Outdoor Enthusiasts.
Hi Neil,
Thanks again for the informative review. I am in search of a compact binocular to use during hikes to see some wildlife/birds. Would you advise me to get this (new) Nikon Sportstar with its great FOV, or would you say a Porro based system such as the Papilio or a classic such as the Nikon Venturer II would be better?
I am wearing glasses and would like to keep the budget <150 euros. I already own a classic Horizon Deluxe 8×40 Porro bino for local trips.
Looking forward to get some knowledgeable advice!
Hello Abel,
Thanks for your message.
If you wear glasses then the Nikon Sportstar EX 8-25 a miss. I can only access the entire FOV by keeping the eyecups down and without glasses.
The Pentax Papilio 6.5 x 21 has much better eye relief for eye glass wearers. It has very nice optics and a super close focus of just 50cm for close up viewing . I would strongly recommend the Papilio to you !
Regards,
Neil