Nikon Sporter or Bushnell H2O

[steve55]

I'm looking to buy my first pair of binoculars for birding, having managed so far by borrowing a pair (regent goldstar 8x40 porro's)

I have a budget of around £100 and have see a few pairs on warehouse express.

Nikon Sporters 8x36 DCF and Bushnell H2O 8x42

I have looked through a lot of past posts and both seem to have good reviews but as expected i have been so far unable to find a comparison.

I was just wondering if anyone out there who knows a little more than myself would be able to reccommend which of the 2 would be best.

Obviously the bushnell's have a larger objective lens (42) than the nikons (36) but would nikon's quality make up for this?

[rezMole]

My girlfriend has some Opticron 10x42 Imagic Porros. I'm going to buy myself a pair of those too - i love 'em! Just a bit over your buget (from Warhouse Express)

[elkhorn98]

I would also check out the Celestron Noble and Audubon Equinox.

[pduxon]

I would also check out the Celestron Noble and Audubon Equinox.
neither of which are available in the UK unfortunately.

Steve,

I've not done a comparison of the two you are after but the Nikon is excellent value.

as has been stated check out the Opticron Imagic porro prism and the Countryman porros (the later aren't waterproof).

If you want a porro those Nikon's are good value.

[scampo]

I'm looking to buy my first pair of binoculars for birding, having managed so far by borrowing a pair (regent goldstar 8x40 porro's)

I have a budget of around £100 and have see a few pairs on warehouse express.

Nikon Sporters 8x36 DCF and Bushnell H2O 8x42

I have looked through a lot of past posts and both seem to have good reviews but as expected i have been so far unable to find a comparison.

I was just wondering if anyone out there who knows a little more than myself would be able to reccommend which of the 2 would be best.

Obviously the Bushnell's have a larger objective lens (42) than the nikons (36) but would nikon's quality make up for this?
I recall tha the Bushnell H2O was well reviewed when it was launched. I have never plooked through a pair. My wife has the Nikon Sporter 8x and brother's wife the 10x; both are standing up very well physically with no signs of poor craftsmanship or wear. The 8x would be my choice as it is bright and wide - and it's now selling for half its original price. I'd choose the Nikon against the Bushnell, myself, but try to test both if you can.

One exceptional aspect of the Nikon 8x is its extraordinarily long eye relief which makes it a very easy and comfortable binocular to use with or without spectacles. It gives a sharp, wide, bright and clear "walk in" view that is unusual in my (limited!) experience in bins of this price. The Nikon is also, whilst not "waterproof" calimed to be showerproof - certainly, I don't think misting would ever be an issue.

The one very slight weakness of the Nikon is its eyecups which don't always lock up especially well. So, unless you wear glasses and need the eyecups permanently down, you might find the need to twist up the eyecups each time you take the binocular out of its case as they have a habit of twisting themselves down.

[Richard D]

I own a pair of Nikon Sporters (10x36) and have tried H2O's and the Sporters have the definitive edge in terms of sharpness and clarity. There's less to choose between the Sporters and Bushnell Trophy's (I use a pair of 8x25's ) but the Sporter's still just have the edge in sharpness and clarity.

[steve55]

I own a pair of Nikon Sporters (10x36) and have tried H2O's and the Sporters have the definitive edge in terms of sharpness and clarity. There's less to choose between the Sporters and Bushnell Trophy's (I use a pair of 8x25's ) but the Sporter's still just have the edge in sharpness and clarity.

Thank you richard sounds like the nikons are winning so far and since the sporters are currently on offer for half price £99 and therefore even cheaper than the Bushnell Trophys i think i might have found a winner.

the eye cup problem simply wont be a problem as i wear glasses and will have them down all the time anyways.

i was just wondering for those who own the nikons how waterproof they are?

Any problems with fogging?

I dont think im going to need full waterproofing and definately not going to need to submerge the things so would "water resistant" be good enough?

Im just a little aprehensive in buying something that i'd not be able to try out... Or does anyone know anywhere in newcastle (upon tyne) that sell nikon sporters?

I might just have to take a gamble.

[Grousemore]

Thank you richard sounds like the nikons are winning so far and since the sporters are currently on offer for half price £99 and therefore even cheaper than the Bushnell Trophys i think i might have found a winner.

t

I tried a pair of the Nikons yesterday for the first time and thought they were very good. At £99 they are a 'steal'!

[boyinthebush]

I had the Sporters/Bushnell dilemma and plumped for the Sporters and love them. I've not had any problems with the eye cups and find the optics, for £100, superb. Love them to bits.

[steve55]

I had the Sporters/Bushnell dilemma and plumped for the Sporters and love them. I've not had any problems with the eye cups and find the optics, for £100, superb. Love them to bits.

Just wondering what you use them for. I know that sound like a pretty obvious question being on a bird forum and all but what type of areas do you usually use them in?

Just wondering how they perform in woodland areas, as this is where i do most of my watching.

[Richard D]

Just wondering what you use them for. I know that sound like a pretty obvious question being on a bird forum and all but what type of areas do you usually use them in?

Just wondering how they perform in woodland areas, as this is where i do most of my watching.

I use the 10x36's, and most of my birding is on marshes. I've used them in woodland and haven't had a problem with lack of light, but not late evening where any problems would be likely to show. I'd imagine the 8x36's would be brighter.

I've used them in heavy snow as well as incessant drizzle and haven't had a problem with fogging as yet.


Richard

[boyinthebush]

Just wondering what you use them for. I know that sound like a pretty obvious question being on a bird forum and all but what type of areas do you usually use them in?

Just wondering how they perform in woodland areas, as this is where i do most of my watching.
Anywhere and everywhere really.
I certainly do use them in woodland however and while I'm not going to say they're as bright and sharp as a nice pair of Leica's they do a darn fine job for £100.

[Corwin]

I have had a pair of the 8 * sporters for around a year now and am very happy with them. I do a lot of bush birding and they have stood up to bumps, scrapes and occasional downpours very well. When I went looking I did have a peep through the H20's which i was initially going to get but wasnt too impressed. Admittedly it was indoors in a shop. The main problem is the eyepieces but that is easily solved by a pair of rubber bands (or wearing glasses)

Cheers
Tim

[Gerry Hooper]

I bought a pair of Sporters about a month or two ago and I wouldn't go for anything else for the money,excellent value.

[steve55]

Thank you all very much for your replies.

I have just ordered a pair of sporters and im hoping i'll be posting again here very soon to express my delight with my new toy.

Again thank you all for your time and help!!

[Henry B]

Steve, did you go for the 8xs ?.

[steve55]

Steve, did you go for the 8xs ?.

yeah went for the 8x36's

tried 10x in various other models of binos and im just not comfortable with them.

i hope this isnt going to be the point at which you tell me somthing horrible about the 8's

[Henry B]

yeah went for the 8x36's

tried 10x in various other models of binos and im just not comfortable with them.

i hope this isnt going to be the point at which you tell me somthing horrible about the 8's
Yep i,ve got the 8x36s as well no probs :clap:

[steve55]

well recieved my pair this morning. delivered while i was at work so i havent been able to have a good play with them yet. sure i'll be back here with a review as soon as i get out with them.

[Gerry Hooper]

Good choice Steve, I hope you enjoy them.
Be sure to follow the Safety intrructions on page 6.
"Do not look through the binoculars while walking. You may walk into something and get hurt." :eek!: