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Zhumell Nova ED 8x42 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter FrankD
- Start date
David Swain
Well-known member
I got a pair of these today and I can confirm Frank's evaluation: these are comfortable to hold, well-balanced, with smooth eyecups, a focuser that is smooth but with a pretty firm tension, a diopter adjustment that is precise but rather easy to dislodge, and a pleasant, wide, sharp view. As Frank noted, they have a wide sweet spot with shallow curvature (about 60%) beyond which the image falls off slowly into astigmatism, with substantial CA in the outer 20% band. I'd say the rated FOV is about accurate, a hair wider than my 6x30 Yosemites, certainly wider than my 8x32 SEs. They are prone to veiling glare; eye adjustment can eliminate some of it, but in virtually all views toward sunlight there is a white crescent at the bottom of the FOV. Granted, I am spoiled by the superb glare suppression of my SEs.
Superficially these are well finished, but a long look down the tubes reveals roughly stamped field stops, bright tool marks, and some rough edges. Parts appear painted a semi-gloss enamel black. No baffling behind the objectives. Around the eyecups and where the body meets the armor there are many bits of clinging fiber.
While these are clearly mass-produced roofs, they offer more than acceptable performance. I bought them primarily for my son, who is getting back into birding, but also as some car bins/wet-weather back-ups for my SEs. They will certainly get used, and I would certainly call them a great value at the $100.01 I paid for them.
David Swain
Superficially these are well finished, but a long look down the tubes reveals roughly stamped field stops, bright tool marks, and some rough edges. Parts appear painted a semi-gloss enamel black. No baffling behind the objectives. Around the eyecups and where the body meets the armor there are many bits of clinging fiber.
While these are clearly mass-produced roofs, they offer more than acceptable performance. I bought them primarily for my son, who is getting back into birding, but also as some car bins/wet-weather back-ups for my SEs. They will certainly get used, and I would certainly call them a great value at the $100.01 I paid for them.
David Swain
Ok, so still waiting on delivery as I'm in Australia and had to use a third party shipping agent as binoculars.com won't ship to me. Hoping I get a good pair otherwise I'm in trouble!
While I'm waiting couldn't help but notice in another thread that Frank mentioned these binoculars may have been released under the Eden Quality ED name but again I am only speculating based on look/specifications.
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=2209629#post2209629
Short Review:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=176276
External Reviews:
http://www.fatbirder.com/reviews/index.php?article=479
http://www.birdwatch.co.uk/channel/reviewitem.asp?review=3137
http://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/Eden Quality8x42ED-84.htm
Seems like the Zhumell Nova EDs, Helios Nirvana EDs and Eden Quality EDs all stem from Bosma.
http://www.bosmaoptics.com/products/birding-series-binoculars-303317-303318.htm
Last but not least, I have seen a few people mention that the manual which comes with the Zhumell Nova EDs is no good and is not even for the right binocular. So below is a link to the manual for the Eden Quality EDs which is decent and looks to be for the right model.
http://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/documents/Eden-Quality-Binoculars-Manual.pdf
While I'm waiting couldn't help but notice in another thread that Frank mentioned these binoculars may have been released under the Eden Quality ED name but again I am only speculating based on look/specifications.
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=2209629#post2209629
Short Review:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=176276
External Reviews:
http://www.fatbirder.com/reviews/index.php?article=479
http://www.birdwatch.co.uk/channel/reviewitem.asp?review=3137
http://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/Eden Quality8x42ED-84.htm
Seems like the Zhumell Nova EDs, Helios Nirvana EDs and Eden Quality EDs all stem from Bosma.
http://www.bosmaoptics.com/products/birding-series-binoculars-303317-303318.htm
Last but not least, I have seen a few people mention that the manual which comes with the Zhumell Nova EDs is no good and is not even for the right binocular. So below is a link to the manual for the Eden Quality EDs which is decent and looks to be for the right model.
http://www.bestbinocularsreviews.com/documents/Eden-Quality-Binoculars-Manual.pdf
FrankD
Well-known member
Paul,
I would love to help out with your question but I sold the Everests to another forum member a few weeks ago. I never had the two side by side. My opinion (based on everyone's favorite...memory) was that the Bresser is slightly sharper on axis with a noticeably warmer color tone. The Novas offer a larger sweet spot and a more gradual transition off axis. Both are comparable overall optically.
I would love to help out with your question but I sold the Everests to another forum member a few weeks ago. I never had the two side by side. My opinion (based on everyone's favorite...memory) was that the Bresser is slightly sharper on axis with a noticeably warmer color tone. The Novas offer a larger sweet spot and a more gradual transition off axis. Both are comparable overall optically.
These arrived today, and they're going right back. First issue is that the diopter turns the focusing knob a little, which makes properly adjusting the diopter after the left barrel is focused a real pain. Second reason is that they won't quite focus to infinity without my glasses. Bummer.
Frank: Just curious. If you sold your Bresser Everests, what's your current favorite budget 8X?
Frank: Just curious. If you sold your Bresser Everests, what's your current favorite budget 8X?
Last edited:
My pair finally arrived on Monday.
Unfortunately although I ordered the 8x42 I was sent the 10x42. Apparently this happened to someone else over at cloudynights.
Considering I am a binocular newbie there's not much point in me doing an in depth optics review, will leave that to the experts but can make some general comments. They feel like they are good quality in the hand and the view is peasant to my untrained eye. Found when looking through one of the objectives that there is a small fleck of metal stuck to one of the prisms which again sounds like a similar issue someone had on cloudynights. This doesn't seem to affect the view though. Focusing is smooth and works quite well and the close focusing distance is about right as per the published specs. Also found that when moving the diopter to the left, there is a reassuring click with every adjustment however this is not the case when adjusting it to the right. Not sure if this is the intended behaviour or not but hard to tell how far you have moved if you need to readjust them to the same point later.
Unfortunately I am located in Australia and had to use a third party to purchase these so can't send them back for another pair. Won't be doing that with Hayneedle/Zhumell again. Next time I think I will try to source bins with local support but its hard to swallow paying up to twice the price as US folks do for the same thing. I will keep this pair and I'm sure I will enjoy using them as the above faults aren't that serious considering the price, I will miss the wide FOV of the 8x though.
Unfortunately although I ordered the 8x42 I was sent the 10x42. Apparently this happened to someone else over at cloudynights.
Considering I am a binocular newbie there's not much point in me doing an in depth optics review, will leave that to the experts but can make some general comments. They feel like they are good quality in the hand and the view is peasant to my untrained eye. Found when looking through one of the objectives that there is a small fleck of metal stuck to one of the prisms which again sounds like a similar issue someone had on cloudynights. This doesn't seem to affect the view though. Focusing is smooth and works quite well and the close focusing distance is about right as per the published specs. Also found that when moving the diopter to the left, there is a reassuring click with every adjustment however this is not the case when adjusting it to the right. Not sure if this is the intended behaviour or not but hard to tell how far you have moved if you need to readjust them to the same point later.
Unfortunately I am located in Australia and had to use a third party to purchase these so can't send them back for another pair. Won't be doing that with Hayneedle/Zhumell again. Next time I think I will try to source bins with local support but its hard to swallow paying up to twice the price as US folks do for the same thing. I will keep this pair and I'm sure I will enjoy using them as the above faults aren't that serious considering the price, I will miss the wide FOV of the 8x though.
FrankD
Well-known member
Paul,
I still have the Sightron S II Blue Sky 8x32s now after almost two full years with zero problems. They are my favorite budget 8x. If you desire the 8x42s then I would say I found them equally enjoyable in a slightly bulkier and heavier package (in comparison to the 8x32s).
I still find the 8x32s to be the best "all arounder" under $200. It still performs better overall than many binoculars costing twice as much.
As always though I am constantly on the lookout for new budget 7x and 8x models. Will be sure to post if I find any others.
I still have the Sightron S II Blue Sky 8x32s now after almost two full years with zero problems. They are my favorite budget 8x. If you desire the 8x42s then I would say I found them equally enjoyable in a slightly bulkier and heavier package (in comparison to the 8x32s).
I still find the 8x32s to be the best "all arounder" under $200. It still performs better overall than many binoculars costing twice as much.
As always though I am constantly on the lookout for new budget 7x and 8x models. Will be sure to post if I find any others.
