Why I like a refined Nikon EII 8x30 porro binoculars? (1 Viewer)

Why I chose a refined porro binoculars in the rugged and tough world of roof binoculars? It is about the incomparable simplicity and beauty of this porro binoculars. It has attractive curved shapes, but which hide an extraordinary optics.

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The mechanics are extraordinarily robust, even if we are talking about a porro without water resistance . The structure is made of magnesium covered in some places with leather. It's like a sturdy piece of jewelry!

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The focus wheel feels firm but at the same time somewhat silky, without any play. The eyepiece bridge is very stiff and robust without unwanted movements. If I push harder, let's say on left eyepiece, the focus wheel starts to rotates without the bridge swinging!!! The quality of the mechanics is impeccable in this E II 8x30! Bravo Nikon!!

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Nikon EII It is about nostalgia of the old classic binoculars, but at the same time we must admit that the optical performances of this binoculars is up to date...it is amazing! The new coating does a fantastic job.

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This binoculars has a surreal center resolution. I tested it on the resolution chart and it's my clearest 8x binoculars. From what I tested only Swarovski Habicht 8x30 can slightly exceeds EII in in term of resolution. The E II image is very contrasting and at the same time very very bright. I am interested if anyone knows what is the light transmission of this binocular with NEW coating, which I suspect should be greater than 90%-92%. In Gijs test (77% 550nm) and very different allbinos test results (89% 550nm) was tested the OLD models not the new one (the new one appeared after 2017 has a SN + 820***)
The huge 8.8 degree field of view it's very well known. But it is useful to say that EII has not so bad 14mm eyerelief. Here it depends on everyone's physiognomy. I personally can see the edge of the FOV with glasses on (indeed at the limit but I can see it).
The clarity extends somewhere to 70% of the FOV, which is pretty good for such a large field of view. The clarity decreases smoothly without being very obvious. Any way, direct view it is caught somewhere at maximum of 60 degrees. What exceeds this limit I use more the peripheral view, not direct view. Chromatic aberrations are only on the edges and not intrusive, very good here.

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To better estimate the performance of this binoculars I compared it with Nikon HGL 8X32 and Swarovski Habicht 8x30, another two very good binoculars (I'm sorry I don't have any more pictures compared to Swarovski Habicht). These numbers are subjective being just a personal ranking after I compared these binoculars!

Dorubird,
One of the more recent Nikon E11's we have investigated showed light transmission values of 88,4% at 550 nm, the data can be found on the WEB-site of House of Outdoor, in a paper in which different 8x30 binoculars were investigated.
Gijs van Ginkel.

So.. mine has serial number in the 810xxx range.

Would there be a large upgrade to the new coatings?

Edit: just read your other post.
Clearly its a large upgrade.

Thank you Gijs van Ginkel!
I think that specimen with No. 3 (88% 550 nm) from your test had the serial number still below 820xxx. The new and usual E2 binoculars with series greater than 820xxx has the same new improved coating as the "100th Anniversary Edition" one. This new and usual E2 (820xxx) binoculars appeared after the "100th Anniversary Edition" which was launched in 2017! (note: the imprinted "100th anniversary Edition" has a completely different serial number order than usual series)..."The puzzle" of serial numbers from Nikon is well known

If the Nikon EII is so strong, why isn't it used by the military?

Perhaps the short eye relief or it is not up to military testing.

Regards,
B.

Aren't fully sealed bins preferred for military use?

Anytime I feel tempted by the FOV of the 8x NL, I remind myself of the E2 (which I have yet even to try)... and its cost. What's the close focus limit though?

tenex said:

What's the close focus limit though?

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I tested it and it has 2m. But due to the parallax error of the porro binoculars, the interpupillary distance must be reduced!

Dorubird, as you say, there is something about the E11 that is simple and beautiful. Certainly they're more tactile than any of my roofs, and I ought to use them more often.
Thanks to your lovely photos I was inspired to use them today on some noisy rose-ringed parakeets.

CharleyBird,​

I'm glad you like the pictures, and thank you for the words

Dorubird:
Thanks for the nice photos and your summary comparison. A nice review, and the EII is certainly a very nice binocular.

I do wonder about your comments about any changes in the late models including the anniversary model. Have you done some
comparing among the older and newer models. There have been some changes on coatings along the way, I have compared
several, as I have models all along the way. There may be a slight change in AR objective coating reflections, but that does not mean
much. I can see no difference in brightness or transmission between any of them, including the Anniversary version.
As far as new and improved, I question that. Coatings change all the time on binoculars.
Jerry

NDhunter,​

Thank you!

I have never had two different E2 specimens placed next to each other. When I bought the E2 I made sure it was over 820xxx. That's because I've read a lot of opinions on the web (and not only) that it's a significant improvement in light transmission. For example, Tobias Mennle did not have the two specimens next to each other but used Swarovski Habicht as a benchmark. He came to the conclusion that E2 with the new coating it is much brighter than the old one with old coating. I am also interested in such differences in transmission and clarification must be made. Ideal would be to do a transmission test with a model as current as possible. It is clear that regardless of the edition, EII is a great pair of binoculars for daytime observations, but I think the new edition brings improvements. Yes, coatings change all the time on binoculars but sometimes that can make a big difference. The fact that there may be big differences in performance coating is also proved by the completely different results in test of the three specimens on the WEB-site of House of Outdoor. I compared my 8x30 E2 to 8x32 HGL (my benchmark). The latter even if it is 2mm bigger and has a transmission over 91%, it still seemed just as bright with a smaller E2, which clearly shows a good transmission in my E2 (820xxx)

dorubird said:

NDhunter,​

Thank you!

I have never had two different E2 specimens placed next to each other. When I bought the E2 I made sure it was over 820xxx. That's because I've read a lot of opinions on the web (and not only) that it's a significant improvement in light transmission. For example, Tobias Mennle did not have the two specimens next to each other but used Swarovski Habicht as a benchmark. He came to the conclusion that E2 with the new coating it is much brighter than the old one with old coating. I am also interested in such differences in transmission and clarification must be made. Ideal would be to do a transmission test with a model as current as possible. It is clear that regardless of the edition, EII is a great pair of binoculars for daytime observations, but I think the new edition brings improvements. Yes, coatings change all the time on binoculars but sometimes that can make a big difference. The fact that there may be big differences in performance coating is also proved by the completely different results in test of the three specimens on the WEB-site of House of Outdoor. I compared my 8x30 E2 to 8x32 HGL (my benchmark). The latter even if it is 2mm bigger and has a transmission over 91%, it still seemed just as bright with a smaller E2, which clearly shows a good transmission in my E2 (820xxx)

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Hello,

I have similar observations, the copies produced after the premiere of the anniversary model are brighter, with better contrast, and the rendering of white falls into light yellow, where it used to be red. The sharpness in the center of the image is impressive.

Say it with me.... AAAaaaaAaargh.....


Thats it, I am upgrading!


Anybody know the minimum serial number needed for the new coatings on the 10x35 EII?

Northman said:

Anybody know the minimum serial number needed for the new coatings on the 10x35 EII?

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Here you can find a lot of information about the serial number of the 8x30 and 10x35 Nikon E2. It looks like for the E2 10x35 new number range is #020,000

AAAaaaaAaargh.....

I think the EII models are all good, no matter which age. I suppose the newest model is best, they usually are.
As I get older my eyes do not always see differences like they used to. The 10x35 EII is also a treat, very light, bright and
a nice value.

Jerry

dorubird,

Nice to see others still appreciating the Nikon HG L 8X32. I still enjoy using the original HG LX in various formats.

Modern curved lines combined with vintage shape of porro give a irresistibly classic beauty look! But looking through this binoculars is even more pleasant than looking at binoculars... This E2 gave me the most spectacular color tones that I have tested with any binoculars. I looked at the sunset through this binoculars, and the colors of the trees branches, with their rusty leaves, impressed me deeply. The colors shone with a fire like sparkle...

Nice! (I still like my 7X35 E!)

To be honest the EII 8x30 looks so much better than any other binocular. It’s so classy and I’m sure i would buy it if had some spare money - only to own it.

Just don't tell Lee about this thread... He once compared holding a Porro binocular to shaking hands with an alien. 😂😂

Have to agree, though - I love my E-II.