Nikon EDG Binos

[SzimiStyle]

This whole Forum looks to be dead but I try to get some info about the new Nikon EDG binoculars. Anyone has personal experience or any good review is available somewhere?

Cheers, Szimi

[AndyB]

Hi Szimi, birdwatching did a review that seems pretty positive. Haven't seen a pair myself yet but hope to get a review pair soon and will post here:
http://www.birdwatching.com/optics/2008roundup/nikon_edg_2008.html

[forktail]

I've had two pairs of Nikon HGs in recent years (very similar to these EDGs) and while they've been very good value they have been poor mechanically. The first pair's focussing mechanism locked up on my first night into a solo trip to Costa Rica. It was so bad that I had to break the mechanism in order to be able to use one eyepiece for the rest of the trip.

A second pair has developed fungal growth in both eyepiece barrels. The rubber on both pairs has worn very badly and has also lifted in several places. The eyecups have become very mishapen and ripped along their folding edges. Sure they've had some hammer (birding every day by the sea etc) but that's a pretty poor performance.

I'm now using my old 7 x 42 dialyts which are both brighter and sharper, in better nick despite 20+ years use in all conditions including two years in the tropics - and they fell off the car roof while I was doing 70 down the A47. My ED50 has also been trouble with it's mounting foot helicoil messing me about before I fixed it permanently with superglue / epoxy.

In my experience, optically fine but build quality poor.

[Red-eyed Video]

I'm now using my old 7 x 42 dialyts which are both brighter and sharper, in better nick despite 20+ years use in all conditions including two years in the tropics - and they fell off the car roof while I was doing 70 down the A47.

Reacting to the dead forum comment, I can't vouch for the Nikons as I've only owned a cheap pair of Travelite which I gave away.

I'm still using my Zeiss 7x42's after nearly suffering the same fate. I had pulled out of a reserve in Devon up to the main road and I was cursing the slow moving traffic with no-one letting me out when I noticed a car behind flashing his lights and gesticulating at me.

Thinking he was being impatient I was about to give him a piece of my mind when he got out waving his arms, "he we go" I thought. Instead he ran up to the car, grabbed my bins off the roof and handed them to me. :eek:

So thanks mate whoever you were, and thanks to all those car drivers for not letting me out! I haven't rested them on the roof since. :err:

[darrenjhughes]

Don't spend the money find some secondhand Liecas/ziess on the net easy option will last you a life time if you look after them

[SzimiStyle]

Don't spend the money find some secondhand Liecas/ziess on the net easy option will last you a life time if you look after them

I was addicted to buy the new KOWA but not sure that is the bino I need. Out of the weight it is a brilliant optics but I still think it under scored in the Chart of High-end Binoculars Round-Up (http://www.birdwatching.com/optics/2008roundup/chart_main.html) from last year. If I see the price and the value it is a nice choice. I had Swaro EL 10x42 and was not really satisfied with this. Prior to that I had the Trinovid 10-42 from Leica. Now I need a mid priced but still ok bino.

I would avoid to get an used one.

Szimi