Reviews by Sailcat

The SE is very well made and fits nicely in the hands. In fact, it is one of the most comfortable binoculars I have ever held. Additionally, it is lightweight at 22 oz. and hangs fairly well from it's neckstrap. The focuser is in a convenient position and moves firmly, yet easily, requiring about one and a quarter turns to move from extreme close focus to infinity. The diopter wheel is easy to set and, although it does not lock, it remains firmly in place. The eyecups are rubber and roll down for eyeglass wearers. Twist up eyecups would be more desirable, however, given the SE's tendency for blackouts, but more on this later. The SE line is touted to be "water resistant" by Nikon, but it is not water proof. This is not a problem for me as I do not plan on using it in the rain, but for those who live in damp or humid locations, this might be a consideration. The center axle is firm and remains solidly in place throughout a day's hiking.

The glass surfaces are a deep, liquid green and cast very few reflections. Nikon's excellent coatings result in very bright images rivaling the views through larger binoculars. Color rendition and contrast are very good overall. Moderate pincushioning is apparent at the eyepiece. On axis sharpness is outstanding, offering the ability to pick out tiny details in birds and terrestrial views. Off axis, the view remains sharp until the last 10%, at which point it drops off. The fov is listed by the manufacturer as a satisfying 7.5, a figure that appears accurate from my comparisons with other binoculars. Internal reflections and flare are very well controlled. Eye relief is adequate at 17.4mm. The 8x32SE shares one unfortunate flaw with the other members of the SE line: blackouts. Eye position is critical in order to control this problem and twist up eyecups might contribute to mitigating this effect. Overall, however, the optical quality of this binocular is excellent.

Other minor issues include Nikon's inexplicable policy of including rather poor quality accessories with its premium binoculars, including flimsy objective covers, uncomfortable neckstraps, and a cheap case. These are easily replaced with much better aftermarket accessories, but for the not inconsiderable price Nikon charges for this fine instrument, a little more attention in this area would be very welcome.

Included with the SE is Nikon's excellent 25 year no fault warrantee. This is a valuable feature and should be an important consideration when choosing any expensive binocular.

To sum up, the 8x32SE is one of the very best birding binoculars available at any price and will satisfy any dedicated birder who wants top quality optics. The matters of waterproofing, cheap accessories, and blackout prevent me from bestowing it with a perfect 10, but it is one of my favorite binoculars in this class, nontheless.

I own the Venturer 8x42LX, and I use it for daytime birding and nature walks. I was interested in a premium binocular that provided excellent views and top notch mechanical quality and, after reading many reviews of high end binos, I took the plunge and purchased a pair of these fine glasses.

Mechanically, it is an outstanding instrument. Covered by a thick rubber-like sheath, it is substantial and solid. It fits well in my hands and the focuser wheel is convenient and moves with a firm, fluid smoothness. It focuses quickly, and remains in focus even after being handled or stored. The center hinge also moves smoothly and firmly, and remains where it is set. The interocular distance can be adjusted relatively close and, although I wouldn\'t go so far as to say it can be adjusted to accomodate small children, it is more than adequate for adults. The Nikon 8x42LX has a locking diopter ring, and twist up eyecups that snap into place at their furthest extentions up or down. The eyecups remain in place even after pressing them hard against my eyeglasses, but move easily when adjustment is needed. The Venturer\'s excellent mechanical qualities come at a price, unfortunately, in the form of its mass; it is a heavy instrument. I do not find its heaviness to be a drawback, personally, but I can imagine others may find them burdensome to hold and carry for any length of time.

Optically, I have found the Nikon LX to be a very good binocular. The coatings on the glass are a deep, liquid green, evenly applied and casting very few reflections. The barrels are well baffeled and possess dark internal coatings, and as a result, I have seen no evidence of ghosting or stray light. At the eyepiece, on axis sharpness, color fidelity, contrast, and brightness are all excellent. The image begins to soften somewhat at a distance more than halfway from the center until it reaches the edge, at which point it drops off. Overall, the image is very good on axis, with only slight off axis degradation until the edge of its 7 field. Eye relief is ample for eyeglass wearers such as me, and objects snap into focus quickly and easily with little or no fussing necessary at the focus wheel. The only thing that prevents me from giving these otherwise excellent glasses an 10 is the matter of CA: bright, high contrast objects are rimmed with a tiny fringe of color. The 8x version of the Nikon LX is less affected by false color than the 10x model, but it is clearly there, nontheless. I do not feel the color is objectionable under most circumstances, but the opinions of others may differ from mine in this regard.

One matter about which one should be mindful when laying down a considerable sum of money for a high end binocular is the warrantee: does the manufacturer stand behind the product? Nikon\'s twenty-five year no-fault warrantee, and their fine service give the buyer a sense of confidence in the binocular and in the company...an important issue in my estimation and one that deserves more attention in product reviews.

One minor quibble is the matter of the neck strap. Inexplicably, Nikon has supplied their top of the line, world class binoculars with a narrow, unpadded strap. It would have been nicer for a comfortable version to have been included to complete an otherwise excellent package, but I am replacing the original with a more suitable aftermarket strap, instead.

In conclusion, the Nikon Venturer 8x42LX binocular is a wonderful instrument, possessing solid mechanics and satisfying optics. The issues of the LX\'s weight and CA are its only significant downsides. If it were possible to give this binocular a rating of 9, I would do so, and I would recommend them without hesitation to anyone desiring a well built binocular with fine optics.