Nikon Superior E 8x32 Binocular

Rating:
Summary: Astonishing image quality and brightness!
Review: It is rare to find a pair of binoculars with the brightness, sharpness and clarity of the Nikon Superior E! This piece of equipment is truly amazing! It provides such a crisp, true-to-life image without color distortions or image degradation on the edge of the view. For its price, the image these produce is unparalleled. Throw in the wide field of view (the size of the "window" you look through) and a large depth of field (the amount of distance that can be focused on at one time) and you have a binocular that offers one of the very best images optics can produce.

The Nikon Superior E's come in three versions: an 8x32, a 10x42 and a 12x50. The first number in each of these, the power, represents the number of times closer objects in the binocular appear. As power increases, so does the magnification of the image, but not without side effects: field of view goes down (the window gets smaller), stability is reduced (the binocular is harder to hold steady) and more light is needed to produce the same quality image. More light can be gathered if the binocular's aperture (the size of the front lenses) is also increased. That's where the second of the two numbers comes in. The number after the power number represents the aperture, (the diameter of the front lenses in millimeters). A larger aperture means a brighter image in low light conditions, but also means a bulkier, heavier and more expensive binocular. Most bird watchers prefer an 8x42 binocular, with hunters and those bird watchers that spend a great deal of time watching hawks, eagles, shorebirds and water fowl often preferring a 10x50 binocular. The Superior E, unfortunately, has a smaller than optimal aperture for its power.

Despite this small Aperture:Power ratio, the high quality glass and lens coatings used in the Superior E produce a brighter image than nearly all other binoculars! The only time most 8x42 binoculars will appear brighter than the 8x32 Superior E is in very low light, and even this is usually only noticeable by young people whose pupils can dilate more than the average person 40 or older. To these people, the brightness of the superior E will be reduced as the sun sets a little before many 8x42 binoculars, but the Superior E will still appear brighter and sharper at other times of the day.

The Superior E is water resistant, but not water proof. This limits the use of the binoculars somewhat, making it less than ideal for tropical conditions, use on a boat, or bird watching in the rain (which can yield some fantastic sights!) Still, one need not be extremely cautious with these optics and water, as a little water usually won't hurt them. And if they are damaged, Nikon's warranty will have them covered: for 25 years, Nikon will repair or replace them (at their discretion) if they are damaged, at a cost of $10 + shipping - even if the damage was your fault!

These are a great pair of optics, and as you can see, I highly recommend them. If, however, you feel that greater durability, water-proofing and low-light capabilities are more important to you, and you don't want to spend $900 to $1500 for Swarovski or Leica, I would go with the Eagle Optics 8x42 Platinum Rangers. These are durable, water-proof, have an image quality that, though not as amazing as the Superior E, is still nothing short of breathtaking, and have a similar no-fault warranty to keep them safe. The Platinum Rangers are also considerably cheaper (~$350 - $425 at the time of this review), making them an excellent buy. (The Platinum Rangers are not available through Amazon.com, but can be ordered through eagleoptics.com).

The Superior E's are not perfect in every respect (and no binocular is) but despite a few drawbacks, I give the Superior E's 5 stars! As I said, there are no perfect binoculars - you can't improve one quality of optical equipment without hurting another quality. I don't expect this binocular to be everything, but it is the best at being what it is: image perfection!

Rating:
Summary: Exceptional, but not waterproof
Review: This is truly a marvelous binocular, and unquesitonably one of my favorites. The size is perfect, it's lightweight and very comfortable to hold. And the images are breathtaking in their clarity and detail. In terms of image quality I prefer this binocular over much more expensive models by Zeiss, Leica, and Swarovski. Yes, it's that good.

The 8x32 designation means that this binocular magnifies the image by 8 times and the objective lens (this is the lens pointed towards what you are looking at that lets the light in) is 32mm. While some are drawn to 10x42 models or even 10x50, it needs to be stressed that more is not always better. Additional magnification tends to only enhance the minor muscular trembles in your hands and arms, making the image seem less stable. Additionally, higher magnification leads to a constrained field of view. While the 42 and 50mm lenses do allow more light in and thus theoretically lead to brighter images and higher resolution, this is an advantage that is seen in only very unusual circumstances. And it brings a lot more weight and bulk as the penalty. For most terrestrial observation, this 8x32 combines exceptional image quality in a light-weight, ergonomic package.

The downside is that this binocular is not waterproof. While some careful preparation should allow a user to keep safe in the field, I've had more than a few experiences in tropical forests where unexpected rains have left me thoroughly saturated. For most users and in most applications, this issue shouldn't be too much of a problem. But if you are prone to stepping off the path and going into some inhospitable areas with severe tropical rain, I'd suggest a waterproof model. You may wish to look at the Nikon Venturer series.

If you're looking for a comfortable, light-weight binocular that is easy to carry, this is the one. If you're looking for binocular with images that are astonishing in their clarity and purity of color, this is one. And if in most instances you will be avoiding situations where waterproofing is essential, it's hard to go wrong with the Nikon Superior E.

If this model was waterproof I would give it 5 stars and unhestatingly recommend it for general use over any other binocular currently available. It's that good.

Rating:
Summary: Exceptional, but not waterproof
Review: This is truly a marvelous binocular, and unquesitonably one of my favorites. The size is perfect, it's lightweight and very comfortable to hold. And the images are breathtaking in their clarity and detail. In terms of image quality I prefer this binocular over much more expensive models by Zeiss, Leica, and Swarovski. Yes, it's that good.

The 8x32 designation means that this binocular magnifies the image by 8 times and the objective lens (this is the lens pointed towards what you are looking at that lets the light in) is 32mm. While some are drawn to 10x42 models or even 10x50, it needs to be stressed that more is not always better. Additional magnification tends to only enhance the minor muscular trembles in your hands and arms, making the image seem less stable. Additionally, higher magnification leads to a constrained field of view. While the 42 and 50mm lenses do allow more light in and thus theoretically lead to brighter images and higher resolution, this is an advantage that is seen in only very unusual circumstances. And it brings a lot more weight and bulk as the penalty. For most terrestrial observation, this 8x32 combines exceptional image quality in a light-weight, ergonomic package.

The downside is that this binocular is not waterproof. While some careful preparation should allow a user to keep safe in the field, I've had more than a few experiences in tropical forests where unexpected rains have left me thoroughly saturated. For most users and in most applications, this issue shouldn't be too much of a problem. But if you are prone to stepping off the path and going into some inhospitable areas with severe tropical rain, I'd suggest a waterproof model. You may wish to look at the Nikon Venturer series.

If you're looking for a comfortable, light-weight binocular that is easy to carry, this is the one. If you're looking for binocular with images that are astonishing in their clarity and purity of color, this is one. And if in most instances you will be avoiding situations where waterproofing is essential, it's hard to go wrong with the Nikon Superior E.

If this model was waterproof I would give it 5 stars and unhestatingly recommend it for general use over any other binocular currently available. It's that good.