Kumlieni,
I'm curious about the decision to discontinue the LXL as it seems very short-sited to me. The Edg is priced so high that there is little chance I will be able (or willing) to afford one anytime soon - no matter how wonderful it is. I can't imagine I am alone in this situation. I'm sure there are many who want a really high quality binocular but who simply cannot justify the premium price tag commanded by the so-called "Alpha" binoculars.
Why would Nikon remove their only viable entry in the ~$1000-$1300 market segment? In doing so you've basically gauranteed that all the money spent in that market is going to go toward the purchase of Leupold, Bushnell, Burris,
Minox, Meopta, Vortex, Kahles, Cabela's, etc., none of which helps Nikon at all. I can't imagine keeping the LXL around would have much (if any) affect on Edg sales.
I don't want a $300 Monarch as I consider them very "entry-level" and I already have such binoculars. I want something better. What then does Nikon have to offer?
Can't answer that question. That kind of decision goes way above my pay grade. After talking to a number of birders about the LXLs over the past two years it, my feeling is, priced as they are, the LXLs were falling between two markets. They where not priced high enough to be taken seriously by many looking to buy premium optics, though they offered premium performance. But they were a bit more than most people looking for Vortex/Minox type optic where willing to spend.
I will say that it would not surprise me if Nikon puts out something between the Monarchs and the EDG at some point. We will have to wait to see.
Cameron