[ceasar]

There is a full page review of the Nikon Prostaff 10X 42 MM Binocular on page 56 of the new March 2012 issue of NRA's "American Rifleman." It is thorough (notes that they are chinese made and prisms are aluminum, and has slight aberration at the outer edges of the lenses, but only noticed while testing them and not while using them. They liked the eyecups.) and fair and favorable. Summarized; "..........a sportsman can buy an optic that should serve him for years to come, all without breaking the bank."

Bob

[giankun]

While it might not be so useful to the OP anymore, I am the owner of a Nikon Action Express 10x50, which is quite uncommon in here apparently. On the other hand, several birders who I have known use the Action 10x50, so it has happened to me to compare experiences and I looked through the Action.

Optically, the two binoculars seemed quite similar to me, but maybe the Action Express does have a very slight edge. Both the owners of the Action commented my binocular's view had more definition. Me, I thought the AE has a slightly more "tridimensional" feeling. One difference I did notice is how soft is the focusing knob of the Action, which is quite stiff on my AE which makes it painfully slow to change focus from far away to close or the reverse (that is a problem when I am, for example, at a lake watching ducks far away, and some little brown job comes out close to me which does seem to happen often).

Then the weight. The Action is so light it feels like a toy compared to the Action Express. For me this is not positive as while I don't care about carrying weight around, a heavier binocular makes it easier for me to hold it steady (but I think many people would welcome a lighter binocular).

All said, I did wonder if I could not have saved some money and gotten me a binocular which would have served me more or less the same.

[black crow]

I don't like stiff focusers.

[black crow]

I sent off an email to nikon just to see if I'd get the same response twice and here's what I got back.


Both the Action and Action Extreme will have very similar optic, both are multicoated. The only difference is that the Action Extreme binoculars are waterproof.

Thanks,
Ed

Thanks for using Nikon products!
Nikon Inc. (USA) Support / Service


Could they be more vague? First he says similar and then he says no difference. Who trains these guys?

[henry link]

Just look at the difference in eye relief. The eyepiece designs are clearly not the same.

[steve@37n84w]

Originally Posted by black crow

I sent off an email to nikon just to see if I'd get the same response twice and here's what I got back.


Both the Action and Action Extreme will have very similar optic, both are multicoated. The only difference is that the Action Extreme binoculars are waterproof.

Thanks,
Ed

Thanks for using Nikon products!
Nikon Inc. (USA) Support / Service


Could they be more vague? First he says similar and then he says no difference. Who trains these guys?

As I mentioned before I would lend more credence to the posters on this forum (especially someone like Henry) than the staff at Nikon USA. I've got a lot of Nikon products ,deal with them on a fairly regular basis...and I'm always surprised at their unfamiliarity with their own products.

The people I've dealt with are fairly proficient at matching a model number with a part number but I really don't think most of them could tell you the difference between a porro and a roof.

I know they have some qualified repair technicians who really know the difference in their various products but Nikon reminds me of my local Ford dealer. You have the guys out front who order parts etc. and the mechanics "in the back" who really know how things work. The big difference being I can always talk to the guy "in the back' at my local dealership--can't manage to do the same with Nikon USA.

Steve

Steve

[black crow]

I guess you might be correct here. I've experienced this all over so why should it be different with binoculars?