Hi,
well, I think Nikon can build 8x30 bins a lot smaller than the Monarch HG 8x42 - look at the tiny Monarch 7 8x30. I hope though that they will refrain from building extra tiny at the cost of some optical flaws - the M7 8x30 could have used a bit more baffling for better reflection and glare control plus in an MHD the field flattener will bring a bit of weight.
Regarding the list of nice Nikon 8x30 bins from Bob - it's missing the E2... and yes a very good MHD in 8x32 at $1000 or so will sure be a bit of competition to the EDG, but even more so for Conquest, Trinovid, CL et al.
Joachim
Hi,
thanks to Jan for an interesting inside view... Regarding cannibalizing your own top model vs. giving the competition a hard time in the upper middle class... Nikon has already done the same thing with the 42mm MHD models.
As to why, we can only speculate. My theory is that the EDG is unfortunately not selling that well among the alphas, as can be seen by fairly moderate pricing.
Reasons might be their weight, size and probably most important in that range, the lack of a well known blue, red or silver logo...
So maybe the rationale was to try to get a good market share at the $1000 price point and if they loose a few sales of EDG (which at their current price point might not be too lucrative for Nikon anyways) to the MHD, so be it.
Joachim
Hi Joachim,
Don't know how it is in Germany, but in Holland Nikon is only represented in the Photo sales channel. Red, bleu and silver are also represented in the hunting, travel-leasure and birding sales channels.
IMHO the EDG is in performance absolutely compatible to the top dogs of red, blue and silver, but taking the aspect of after sales service in consideration they are on North Korea 2.0 level (same as Canon in that aspect with their absolutely superior IS bins).
For them optics is peanuts compared to the photo sales and is treated accordingly.
Jan
My theory is that the EDG is unfortunately not selling that well among the alphas, as can be seen by fairly moderate pricing.
Reasons might be their weight, size and probably most important in that range, the lack of a well known blue, red or silver logo...
Hi Jan,
yes indeed, the marketing for Nikon sports optics leaves room for improvement. The lower and mid range series are often found in electronics malls right beside the cameras - sometimes a cheap M7 demo can be snagged up there...
In specialized stores for Birding, Hunting and Outdoor Nikon is sometimes available, sometimes not. But usually the top series are not on offer - If I would want to buy an MHG or EDG in a brick and mortar store, I would have to do a lot of searching online and probably drive for hours.
Joachim
Hi Joachim,
Down here you won't find them in any brick&mortar store except those of the photobranche.
Nikon is/was represented for the non-photobranche by a external distributor who had to take his margin which came on top of the purchage price.
The photo branche didn't have to pay that "added value" and together with their end year bonus (camera sales included) their consumer prices were below our purchage prices.
Exit Nikon in the other sales channels.
Canon decided to bring their distribution exclusivly at 3 purchaging volume groups of which the (photo)retailer has to become a member of. On this way Canon has no "hassle" with dealing of hundreds of retailers. Same result: no Canon present except in the photo channel.
Jan
They are the most expensive binoculars in their respective ranges at B&H, that hardly qualifies as moderate pricing. That also explains why they are special-order-only.
They are the most expensive binoculars in their respective ranges at B&H, that hardly qualifies as moderate pricing. That also explains why they are special-order-only.