normjackson
Well-known member
According to Han Braakhuis on this site :
http://www.hansbraakhuis.nl/
-> binoculars -> all nikon binoculars, telescopes
which gives an Excel file, the earliest 8x32 SEs predate the earliest 32mm objective sized HGs.
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Swarovision 8X32...SE death knell (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Pileatus
- Start date
http://www.hansbraakhuis.nl/
-> binoculars -> all nikon binoculars, telescopes
which gives an Excel file, the earliest 8x32 SEs predate the earliest 32mm objective sized HGs.
I think Brock got his dates and binocular models crossed above; he notes that he is comparing an HG to an earlier SE.
If I'm not mistaken the Nikon 10 x 42 SE was introduced in 1995 and the 8 x 32 was introduced 2 or 3 years later. That was before the HGs were introduced I believe. After the HG was introduced it becomes very difficult to compare the 2 binoculars because you can't determine if the optics in them were manufactured at or near the same time.
Nikon's serial number sequences are a mystery and have not been decoded. So it really can't be accurately determined by using their serial numbers how to find out when improvements, like changes in coatings, took place on either the SE or the HG. But we do know that the SE 505xxx is an early model based on information from owners of them.
Bob
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Thanks for the input! And good concise info with your comparison. It just about mirrors my impression of the 8x32 SV and the 8x32 SE when I did a write up of my impressions of the two last summer. They are both fantastic bins and that SV is a marvel and a joy.
On a side note- I just saw these posts just after spending about an hour (my second hour of doing so today) comparing a 8x32 SV; a Nikon 8x30 EII (brand new- black body version); and a brand new Swarovski 8x30 Habicht porro ( serial starts with a 83 - made 3 weeks ago). I did not have a SE to compare to, but I compared one of the very newest made 8x32 SE's last summer to the SV. And I have compared in the past a couple samples of the newest versions of the Nikon porro's against one another. Optically the latest SE's and the EII's are very close.
I still have a lot more comparing to do between the ones I am looking at now before I post some impressions. But I will say that that little Swaro 8x30 porro really, really impresses me with how crisp, bright, and tack sharp it is. The color rendition appears to be very true, neutral, and natural - very much like the SV; with maybe being a bit more neutral.
This is the first time I have ever laid my hands on one of these Swaro 8x30 porro's and I am quite impressed. Especially when comparing side by side with one of the technologically latest and greatest bino- the SV. I have looked at and through a friends Swaro 7x42 rubber armor Habicht before (made in the last 6 years); and remember being impressed by it. Although I did not do any extensive testing with it against other bins, other than a very brief comparison of it (the 7x42) to my Swaro 7x30 SLC.
Well, enough of that. Thanks again for your impressions.
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Jason Bugay Reyes
Well-known member
horukuru,
Is the 8x32 SV on loan or did you buy it? I asked because you said the HGL is your backup on birding tours.
If you did buy it, will the SV EL replace your SE as your main birding bin for tours? I'm surprised that the SE has survived this long in a climate that's almost always hot and always humid.even with your "dry box". They are sealed well for a porro but they still have external focus, so air, dust, mold, moisture, etc. can get sucked inside.
I'm not surprised about your comparison of the SV EL and SE. Someone else who compared the two bins had similar comments. I'm not sure if you have the latest 8x32 SE (550xxx)? It has better coatings than the previous models. Contrast is excellent. However, the EDG is slightly better due to the ED glass, but probably also the coatings. It seems that Nikon reserves its best coatings for its top roofs.
I noticed the same difference when comparing an 8x32 HG to an earlier 8x32 SE (505), the HG was made before the SE, AFAIK, yet had better contrast and more vibrant colors. So again, Nikon reserved its best coatings (and perhaps glass) for its roofs.
I did find that the latest 8x32 SE (550xxx) is pretty close in terms of contrast, still not quite as vibrant in colors as the HG/EDG but very good. Ultimately, the SE fit my budget better than the EDG (and fit my hands better too even with the original EDG I open bridge model). In my climate, and for my fair weather birding habits, the SE is more than good enough, for me, it's excellent.
How about the difference in depth perception/3-D effect? Do you find that lacking in the SV EL or not? The 8x32 EL WB I tried was surprisingly better in depth perception than other 8x30/32 roofs I've tried including the 8x30 SLCneu, but still behind the SE. In that regard, that old adage applies: "The view through a good porro is hard to beat."
Brock
It is a loan unit but with the awesome view and excellent warranty, it will replace my 8x32 SE as the main binocular for birding tour. The new king of the hill in possesion hahaha.
My SE serial no is 550350. Between HG L and SE, contrast is better on my SE with crazy sharpness too.
Thanks Stephen and I'm lucky with the nature of my job, able to test and used binocular of different brands with my clients on birding tours. And when I woke up this morning, I cannot wait to put the SV on my eyes again ! Same excitement when I got my SE few years ago hehehe
brocknroller
porromaniac
Bob,
According to my serial # scheme, garnered from a dozen samples numbered from 500xxx to 503xxx, the 8x32 SE that I had (505xxx) was made around 2001-2002, and according to Nikon, the first Nikon 8x32 HG appeared in 2002.
Thomas Antoniades, a London optics collector, who has researched the production numbers and production dates of collectable binoculars for decades, has the first batch of 8x32 SEs appearing in 1998, which agrees with Nikon's own history, ditto for the first 8x32 HG appearing in 2002, and a second batch of 8x32 SEs appearing in 2001.
He doesn't correlate the years with serial #s, and as we know from your own theory, there's no way to do that, because Nikon makes the SE bodies years in advance and stacks them on pallets in a warehouse in Japan, awaiting assembly with objectives and EPs with the latest coatings.
That sounds more speculative than my number scheme! At least I have my numbers and Antonaides' dates to work from. It gets harder to track after 503xxx, because old stock sat on the shelf in some stores while other stores that moved the SE's faster stocked new batches. For example, I have one user who bought his 504xxx 8x32 SE at a NYC camera dealer in 2001, which is what I would expect, but another who bought a 504 model from small store in 2003.
According to Antonaides' time table, the full sized Venturer LXs actually preceded the first appearance of the 8x and 12x SEs by a year.
As to the coatings improvements, I've owned three samples of the Nikon 8x32 SE (501xxx, 505xxx, and 550xxx), and there's clearly an improvement in contrast and apparent brightness as the numbers increase, and the 550xxx was the only SE advertised with having "Eco-Glass," which means it's the newest, and 500xxx is the oldest, Henry bought his in late 1997.
I've also used a 002xxx 10x42 and own a 050xx (the latest) 10x42, and the difference is stark in terms of the improvement in contrast and apparent brightness.
So while we don't have a complete picture of which serial # was made which year, I think we have more than enough pieces of the puzzle to conclude that the numbers are sequential.
Not for the main point to be lost in the shuffle, going by either my year/serial # scheme or Antonaides' dates, my HG and SE were made around the same time, but the HGs, to my eyes, had the better coatings and perhaps glass. The same coatings and glass were available, but Nikon chose to put their most advanced technology in its roofs. Ditto for the EDG vs. 550xxx SE. That was my point.
Antonaides' Excel chart is attached.
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normjackson
Well-known member
Well, still see no compelling evidence there that the 8x32 HG was manufactured before the SE only the (quite appropriately it seems) vague assertion that "my HG and SE were made around the same time".
Anyways do we have to subscribe differences in performance between the HG and SE purely to "quality" of glass and coatings? They are rather different aren't they?
Anyways do we have to subscribe differences in performance between the HG and SE purely to "quality" of glass and coatings? They are rather different aren't they?
Brock,
I didn't know about Antonaides' Excel (And EXCELlent :t: )chart. Thanks for the link! I downloaded it the best I could. It has 63 pages; about 55 pages with essentially nothing on them, but the remainder are useful.
I know my theory is speculative but it is based on the SE's modular construction. The only really new items a new run of them would have needed were the screw in objective tubes (which also could be pre made) and new lens's with up to date coatings. What could be simpler? It's more than 15 years now and they are still made the same way. Methuselah's in a world of steroid pumped roof prism teenagers trying to get rid of flab ab rolling ball and love handled CA!:king:
I did purchase a used 10 x 42 SE years ago from KEH Camera in Atlanta that was virtually brand new. They probably got it from buying out a Camera Shop where it might have been a demo. It's S# is 0053xx. I don't know when it was made. As you note, these things often sat around optics shops for long periods of time. That doesn't make dating them any easier.
Bob
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mooreorless
Well-known member
"Thomas Antoniades, a London optics collector, who has researched the production numbers and production dates of collectable binoculars for decades, has the first batch of 8x32 SEs appearing in 1998, which agrees with Nikon's own history, ditto for the first 8x32 HG appearing in 2002, and a second batch of 8x32 SEs appearing in 2001."
" Henry bought his in late 1997."
So the Nikon 8SE was made in 1997?
" Henry bought his in late 1997."
So the Nikon 8SE was made in 1997?
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I've had 501, 504, 505 and 550 8X32 SE's. The 550's, out of the box, were the "brightest" of the bunch when tested side-by-side indoors. Outside, in the real world I see no difference between serial numbers and, though I have a brand new 550, I use my trusty 504 on a daily basis. The 501 went to a happy relative. My wife uses a 550 but she's enthralled by her 8X32 SV. As an aside, she has never seen an SE blackout or SV rolling ball. However, she can spot CA with the best of them!
