Anyone here tried the 7x42 EDG?
Apparently the soon-to-be-replaced closed bridge model is still available in the USA (@ ~$1750) but non-USA buyers may have the new open bridge model available to them. Any comparisons to Zeiss 7x42 FL would be interesting too.
The field-of-view on the 7x42s are 417 feet at 1000 yards which is incredible. I used the 7x42 EDGs for over a year and found them to be great in the field. The focus wheel problem has been a progressive fix with Nikon constantly tightening down the tension as each shipment arrives. The new EDGs should really be okay with this spec.
Best,
Mike Freiberg
Nikon's Birding Market Specialist
The field-of-view on the 7x42s are 417 feet at 1000 yards which is incredible. I used the 7x42 EDGs for over a year and found them to be great in the field. The focus wheel problem has been a progressive fix with Nikon constantly tightening down the tension as each shipment arrives. The new EDGs should really be okay with this spec.
Best,
Mike Freiberg
Nikon's Birding Market Specialist
Yes no problem at all with the focus wheel on the new EDG :king:
Kingfisher, what do you mean by gap in the focus wheel? Do you mean backlash in the focusing mechanism, or is the focus wheel not staying down?
QUOTE]
I ment backlash..
I had some problems with the focus wheel on the 8x42 EDG. The wheel got a lot stiffer after 30 min in my freezer. After a few days of usage, I also noticed a significant gap in the focus wheel. These things were some of the reasons that I chose the Swarovski 8x42 HD instead. The focus wheel of the Swarovski binoculars were not affected nearly as much of the visit in my freezer as the EDG did. The focuser of the EDG ranges from unbelievably silky to noticeably stiff depending on the temperature! At least on the copy I had access to..
Kingfisher:
I do want to reply after seeing your post. I think some here should hear
from someone who has used the Nikon EDG for some time, rather than
just a quick look.
I have had the 10x42 EDG, for over a year, and have used it in subfreezing weather, and find the focuser in typical Nikon fashion, smooth as they come.
It may slow a bit, but no backlash whatsoever.
I own and have owned the Swarovski, and I do find backlash, but not enough
to bother me.
I find it a bit odd of your experience. Since you seem to have chosen the
Swaro. I wish you well. But as far I am concerned the Nikon focuser is a very strong point, and compares better than most top makes.
Jerry
I had more than a quick look, because I used it everyday for about a month! Yes, I chose the Swarovski..but despite that I actually liked the EDG better. It may sound strange, but I think over time I will probably feel that I made the right choice after all. This because the Swarro was sharper, had higher contrast, was clearer and brighter, had better field-of-view and some other important things. The Nikon EDG was sharp, but the Swarro was still noticeably sharper. In my test the Nikon EDG got higher points for the focus mechanism than the Swarro. But remember..that was before the "freezer-test".
I'm not saying that all Nikon EDG binoculars have backlash in the focusing mechanism, but my copy had it - and became significantly stiff after a while in the freezer.
I just did the freezer test. After 30 minutes in the 1*F (-17.5*C) freezer, my sample of the EDG's focuser stiffened very noticeably, but no worse than my 8x32 SE at 32*F (0*C). Of course it was still very smooth in the usual Nikon fashion. It was a chore to use the SE focuser in the coldest days last winter (about 5*F maybe), but still manageable. With the EDG's much wider focus wheel and grippier wheel cover, I don't foresee a problem with the EDG's focuser this winter, unless some problem like the backlash that Kingfisher experienced with his sample develops.