My name is Fireform and I'm a binoholic--I couldn't resist buying a pair of the 7x42 EDGs (SN 58) and took them out for a test drive.
Mechanical impressions:
These binoculars are constructed to a very high mechanical standard. The focus knob operation is perfectly smooth and even, with just the right amount of resistance. The eyecups twist up smoothly and detent with a satisfying click. The armoring is just the right compromise between firmness and grippiness. There are wide, shallow thumb indents on the underside, which if you have to have such things is the right way to have them. The open bridge design looks quite robust and adjusts firmly, but with my narrow IPD it really is of little use. Nikon has clearly gone all out to avoid any plastic feel and build an item that feels alpha class in every respect. They come with removable flip-up objective caps, ocular rain guard, adjustable strap, a lightly padded ballistic nylon case, an extra set of winged eyecups, and a no-fault 25 year warranty. All of the accessories are top flight. The ocular guard has a strap loop on the left side, and the right side engages the eyecup with a light click so that the guard stays securely in place despite being shallow and easy to remove. Very nice. The ocular guard also adjusts and locks to your preferred IPD so you aren't forever flexing the guard into position as with, for instance, the FL guard.
Three cavils: 1) The center focus knob pulls up to allow diopter adjustment, like so many roof bins these days, but there is no resistance to its movement. I did not have a problem with it, but there is the likelihood that you will reset your diopter accidentally from time to time. 2) There is a large gap between the fully retracted eyecup position and the first detent, which might not be optimal for some users. 3) The flip-up objective covers may not seat far enough onto the barrels to stay on in rough/careless use. I had no trouble with them myself and it may be an imaginary problem, but they don't go far onto the barrels.
Optics:
I compared the EDG in ABC fashion with my trusty 8x32 SEs and my 8x42 FLs (so, pretty fast optical company) in sunny, overcast, twilight and nighttime conditions, and also birded and observed with them. Unfortunately, I had no other 7x42s to compare them with, so that review will have to wait on someone with deeper pockets than I.
Henry has given a more technical review of the optics of this bin, so I won't even try to go there. The wide eyecups were easy to adjust--these should have enough eye relief (18.5mm) for anyone--and they felt very comfortable and solid in my hands, which led to a stable and non-fatiguing view. Subjectively, the color rendition and control of CA in the EDGs were superb. Colors appeared rich and saturated, and CA was about on the level with the FLs, which is to say almost invisible. They have a very wide sweet spot, even a bit better than the SEs, so they drew a few wows from me. They were a bit brighter than the SEs in twilight conditions, but not quite as bright as the FLs, and both of the 8x binoculars had slightly higher centerfield resolution of detail. That's not surprising, given the quality and higher magnification of those glasses. Picking out colors and details of warblers in the dappled light of a large oak tree against a bright sky is a tough test, but the color rendition, flatness of field and quick focus of the EDGs were superb. With the color rendition, depth of field and quick focus, following moving birds was as easy as it gets.
In the end I did send them back, but I was impressed. If and when the 8x32 EDG comes available, my SEs will have a fight on their hands.
Mechanical impressions:
These binoculars are constructed to a very high mechanical standard. The focus knob operation is perfectly smooth and even, with just the right amount of resistance. The eyecups twist up smoothly and detent with a satisfying click. The armoring is just the right compromise between firmness and grippiness. There are wide, shallow thumb indents on the underside, which if you have to have such things is the right way to have them. The open bridge design looks quite robust and adjusts firmly, but with my narrow IPD it really is of little use. Nikon has clearly gone all out to avoid any plastic feel and build an item that feels alpha class in every respect. They come with removable flip-up objective caps, ocular rain guard, adjustable strap, a lightly padded ballistic nylon case, an extra set of winged eyecups, and a no-fault 25 year warranty. All of the accessories are top flight. The ocular guard has a strap loop on the left side, and the right side engages the eyecup with a light click so that the guard stays securely in place despite being shallow and easy to remove. Very nice. The ocular guard also adjusts and locks to your preferred IPD so you aren't forever flexing the guard into position as with, for instance, the FL guard.
Three cavils: 1) The center focus knob pulls up to allow diopter adjustment, like so many roof bins these days, but there is no resistance to its movement. I did not have a problem with it, but there is the likelihood that you will reset your diopter accidentally from time to time. 2) There is a large gap between the fully retracted eyecup position and the first detent, which might not be optimal for some users. 3) The flip-up objective covers may not seat far enough onto the barrels to stay on in rough/careless use. I had no trouble with them myself and it may be an imaginary problem, but they don't go far onto the barrels.
Optics:
I compared the EDG in ABC fashion with my trusty 8x32 SEs and my 8x42 FLs (so, pretty fast optical company) in sunny, overcast, twilight and nighttime conditions, and also birded and observed with them. Unfortunately, I had no other 7x42s to compare them with, so that review will have to wait on someone with deeper pockets than I.
Henry has given a more technical review of the optics of this bin, so I won't even try to go there. The wide eyecups were easy to adjust--these should have enough eye relief (18.5mm) for anyone--and they felt very comfortable and solid in my hands, which led to a stable and non-fatiguing view. Subjectively, the color rendition and control of CA in the EDGs were superb. Colors appeared rich and saturated, and CA was about on the level with the FLs, which is to say almost invisible. They have a very wide sweet spot, even a bit better than the SEs, so they drew a few wows from me. They were a bit brighter than the SEs in twilight conditions, but not quite as bright as the FLs, and both of the 8x binoculars had slightly higher centerfield resolution of detail. That's not surprising, given the quality and higher magnification of those glasses. Picking out colors and details of warblers in the dappled light of a large oak tree against a bright sky is a tough test, but the color rendition, flatness of field and quick focus of the EDGs were superb. With the color rendition, depth of field and quick focus, following moving birds was as easy as it gets.
In the end I did send them back, but I was impressed. If and when the 8x32 EDG comes available, my SEs will have a fight on their hands.
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