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Bushnell Elite ED (1 Viewer)

Kevin Purcell

Well-known member
This got buried on a Swift thread but it's worth it's own thread.

http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=1728027&postcount=10

Bushnell Elite ED should be appearing "soon" (though I've noticed that it may be a couple of months given the release time of the Legend Ultra HD last year).

Nothing on the Bushnell website yet. Not even any PR.

http://www.bushnell.com/products/binoculars/elite/

I suspect (using their naming conventions it should appear here)

http://www.bushnell.com/products/binoculars/elite-ed/


But the EO web site has them up (thanks to Blizdas for hinting at this on the other thread).

http://www.eagleoptics.com/binoculars/bushnell/bushnell-elite-ed-8x42-binocular

$389!

Magnification 8x
Objective Lens Diameter 42 mm
Field of View 330 feet/1000 yards
Eye Relief 19.5 mm
Close Focus 8 feet
Weight 25.7 ounces
Dimensions (HXW) TBD
Weatherproofing Waterproof/Fogproof

http://www.eagleoptics.com/binoculars/bushnell/bushnell-elite-ed-10x42-binocular
$399

Magnification 10x
Objective Lens Diameter 42 mm
Field of View 314 feet
Eye Relief 15.5 mm
Close Focus 8 feet
Weight 26.1 ounces
Dimensions (HXW) TBD
Weatherproofing Waterproof/Fogproof

That's a heck of a price drop from the previous model. Perhaps the first example of product pricing realignment from an existing Big Maker to take account of the Chinese EDs.

I guess FOV is the most critical "failing" in these bins, IMHO. Did they bump it up from previous 7.1° in the 8x?

And the answer is, err, unclear from the specs above. For the 8x 330 feet @ 1000 yards is about 6.2°. So that isn't right (unless they're making a Monarch competitor -- I hope I'm wrong on that). Perhaps it's a typo for 430 feet? The 10x could be 6.0°. But wider for both would be better.

It will be interesting to see what these look like.

Perhaps my Japanese Elite 8x43 roofs will now become collectible
 
Kevin,

I sort of wonder if these are the High End glass like the old Elite. The specs, outside some glass spec, look little different than the Elite e2 or the new Monarch III. I wonder if they are a phase out/replacement for the e2 and the new high end model might be something else. Something does not seem to add up here.
 
6* is not too bad for a 10x, but that paltry 6.5 in the 8x sucks ditch water. 7.1* in the previous 8x barely cut it. Of late, Bushnell hasn't been known to pony up for Plossl type ep's to get the wide field.....bad trend if they wanna stay competitive. The 8x43 shd be min of 7.5* (and I'd really like to see the 7x26 bumped to 8*).
 
I wondered if they were closer to the "real" Elite or the E2 as well, Steve. Perhaps the whole E2 thing was a chess move to phase out the "real" top end Elites (or do I give the Bushnell marketing wonks too much credit ;) )

I would take the specs with a pinch of salt. I hope they can't be that bad and if they are then most folks will be smart enough to spend $100 less on the Legend Ultra HD ;)
 
6* is not too bad for a 10x, but that paltry 6.5 in the 8x sucks ditch water. 7.1* in the previous 8x barely cut it. Of late, Bushnell hasn't been known to pony up for Plossl type ep's to get the wide field.....bad trend if they wanna stay competitive. The 8x43 shd be min of 7.5* (and I'd really like to see the 7x26 bumped to 8*).


I am disappointed by the 330ft FOV for 8x too, just like the Monarch III. If they can make 7.5-8o with decent edge performance (not asking those ridiculous edge-edge sharpness) and sufficient eye relief, I will sure try one of these.
 
I think SteveC wins the prize!

They're Bushnell Elite E2 ED (as the current E2 isn't ED).

Optics Planet have these (for rather more money - $500). Available in March 2010.

$480
http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-8x42mm-elite-e2-binocular-with-ed-glass.html
Power x Obj. 8x42
Prism Class BaK-4
Lens Coating FMC & XTR
FOV, ft.@1000yds. / m@1000m 330/110
Close Focus, ft./m 8/2.4
Exit Pupil, mm 5.25
Eye Relief 19.5
Eyecups Twist-Up
Weight, oz./g 25.7/728

$500
http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-elite-e2-10-x-42-mm-binocular-with-ed-glass.html
Power x Obj.: 10x42
Prism BaK-4
Lens Coating FMC & XTR
FOV, ft.@1000yds. / m@1000m 314/104.7
Close Focus, ft./m 8/2.4
Exit Pupil, mm 4.2
Eye Relief 15.5
Eyecups Twist-Up
Weight, oz./g 26.1/740

And as you can see the FOV's are as speced on the EO site. Not good. Looks DOA to me :eek:

Not sure what is going on. Perhaps the real Elite ED are coming later (and for more money?).
 
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