EDG 7/8/10 x42 still in production? (1 Viewer)

[ukorim]

This is my first experience with the EDG and although they may be 12 year old design I like them a lot so far. My first non-scientific impressions are slightly better resolution than my 10x42 SE (but without the wonderful 3D view) and a more noticeable increase in resolution than my 8x32 HGL.

Previous comments i read about the objective covers not staying on don't apply as these click on securely and stay on.

The focus and ergonomics are wonderful.

 

[Paultricounty]

As I recall from when I bought my EII, Kyoei's price is more like $1400.

I was referring to the prices on the NikonUK website. I haven’t looked on any of the Nikon retailers websites yet, but I’d assume they’d be very close if not the same as the Nikon listed price.

I think any new EDG for around $1500 is a great deal. It could easily make it a no brainer when comparing to similar quality optics.

Paul

 

[mwhogue]

Here's hoping all the good news on this thread is correct. I slightly prefer the EDG 7x42 over the Zeiss FL and the UV HD+ and the EDG 10x32 over the SV FP, FL, and UV HD+ although all are close.

Mike

 

[Scott98]

I inquired with Kyoie about buying the 7x42 EDG which their website showed "in stock". However the reply I received was somewhat cryptic, they said "the inventory of EDG 7x42 we have is limited. It will take at least one month to prepare the next EDG 7x42".

Sounds a little sketchy. I think the quest to live on the EDG may be over for me. I wanted to try a 7x42 but I'm in the US and if anything goes wrong I'd have to ship the binos overseas for service. Not sure it's worth it. My Zeiss SF 8x42 have a larger FOV anyway, so the only advantage of the 7x42 would be DOF. Maybe it's better to finally say goodbye to the Nikon alpha binos....

 

[Paultricounty]

I inquired with Kyoie about buying the 7x42 EDG which their website showed "in stock". However the reply I received was somewhat cryptic, they said "the inventory of EDG 7x42 we have is limited. It will take at least one month to prepare the next EDG 7x42".

Sounds a little sketchy. I think the quest to live on the EDG may be over for me. I wanted to try a 7x42 but I'm in the US and if anything goes wrong I'd have to ship the binos overseas for service. Not sure it's worth it. My Zeiss SF 8x42 have a larger FOV anyway, so the only advantage of the 7x42 would be DOF. Maybe it's better to finally say goodbye to the Nikon alpha binos....

7x42 Leica UVHD, BN, BR, Zeiss FL to name a few options.

 

[Binocollector]

Abbe-Koenig prisms are not being used anymore, other than a few hold outs , 56 SLC, Vortex UHD and I believe Conquest in 56.

As well as Kite Cervus HD 8x56, all the Pirschler models by DDoptics, a number of Mavens, some Vixen models if I remember correctly. I think there was a complete list once either here or on cloudynights.

 

[MFoortjes]

Also the GPO (German Precision Optics) Passion 8x56 and 10x56 do use Abbe-Koenig prisms. Both are real bargains IMHO with independent lab measured transmissions of up to 93 percent (at 550nm).

 

[NDhunter]

I posted some info in another discussion concerning this topic about the EDG’s. I’ve been in conversation with Nikon UK via email for the lsat two weeks, Nikon doesn’t seem to be able to answer multiple questions in one email so it takes a while to get all my questions answered.

Heres where it stands, all EDG’s except the 8 x 32 which have been discontinued are in production and can be ordered from multiple dealers in the UK and some other countries. I have the list somewhere. These are not new old stock. These can be bought in the United States but have to be bought from one of those overseas dealers. Nikon UK does service them and continues their warranty, but they will have to be mailed back overseas for service and repair.

Paul

Paul:
Thanks for doing the research. I have had the 10x42 EDG from the very start of production. Many reviews gave this
binocular much praise. Especially read the Allbinos review, it held their #1 ranking for quite a while.

It is great news that Nikon is still making this binocular.
Jerry

 

[Scott98]

Willpower broke down and I decided to order the 7x42 EDG, and 2 weeks later, the eagerly anticipated package arrived. My short review is that I'm thrilled with this purchase. These exceeded my expectations - all my favorite aspects of the old 8x42 HG are present in the 42mm EDG with several improvements. The body is more refined with slimmed-down rubber armor and streamlined, easier-to-hold barrels over the HG's. Edge sharpness is even better than the 8x42 HG. Color correction is perfect. The single-bridge design is easier to hold.

Testing the binos out with some viewing from my deck, I didn't notice much DOF or stability benefit of the 7x versus 8x. However, yesterday I took them for a coastal birding tour. With the first views of some scoters, loons, and ducks bobbing in the surf, I saw it - it felt like somebody turned on the IS! Panning around was especially smooth and steady. Later we did some viewing in meadows and the depth of the field looking across the meadow made the views extra realistic and comfortable. The contrast and natural color rendition of the EDG is fantastic. I'm already considering an order of 10x42 EDG.

pretty funny - no majestic pictures of raptors flying around - the EDG box is all-black, looking more like it's ready for a night out at the clubs:

 

[Scott98]

A couple photos of them next to my 8x42 SF. (I replaced the lame-O cases from Nikon and Zeiss with my favorite Swaro field bags). The EDG body is much smaller and fits into the 8x32 EL case which is nice. The ergo-balance of the SF is definitely nice, but the compact body of the EDG feels super comfortable and may be easier to hold steady. The weight of the 2 binos is virtually the same.

The SF's AFOV is defintely much wider but that comes with weird bending effects while panning from the rectilinear distortion. The bending while panning with the Nikons, HG and EDG, is much less, nearly undetectable. The biggest surprise came with extended viewing - the "eye box" or eye placement on the EDG is vastly superior to the SF, at least for my face and eyes. I get more kidney beaning and blacking out in the SF, it has a learning curve, you have to concentrate on keeping your eye centered and not moving the binos by "leading with your eyes", you must keep your eyes centered as you pan around. Conversely the EDG feels like slipping on a comfortable shoe, there was about 1/10nth the kidney bean struggles as with the SF.

The 7x42 does have a larger exit pupil, so that could be part of it. The EDG also has larger eyepiece and eye lens diameter. Will be interesting to see if the 10x42 EDG shares the advantage of easy eye placement. I don't want to keep this many premium binos, will have to decide if it's worth keeping the 8x42 SF or if I should roll with the 7x and 10x EDG. 10x is definitely appreciated for the coastal bird watching around here, and I suspect the compact body and balance of the EDG will make it one of the steadier 10x binos.

Also did some astronomy and the EDG kept pace with the SF on Jupiter - equally clean view and lack of flaring on this difficult target. I will compare again on the torture-test of the Moon when I get a chance. The EDG easily wins on edge sharpness over the SF although the AFOV is smaller.

 

[dries1]

Congrats on the 7X42 EDG it is a nice glass, I am familiar with all the others except the 10X32. One thing you stated about kidney beans and looking at the eyecups extended on the SF. Have you tried the SF with the eyecup inserted one step inward? that might give you improved performance. I use both EDG 8X32/42 and the 10X42 with the eyecups extended one stop out from flush (for glasses).

Enjoy the glass.

 

[mwhogue]

Willpower broke down and I decided to order the 7x42 EDG, and 2 weeks later, the eagerly anticipated package arrived. My short review is that I'm thrilled with this purchase. These exceeded my expectations - (EDITED)

View attachment 1477286

Welcome to the club and enjoy in good health. FWIW I predict the more you use them, the more you will like them.

Mike

 

[Scott98]

I had an epiphany last night while reading up on Birdforum - thank you people! - there's nothing wrong with the eye placement on the SF's, it's my face. The eyecups are too short for me when extended all the way out (I don't wear glasses). I followed someone's advice of unscrewing the eyecups one or two rotations to extend them - it seemed to cure the blackout problem.

So I will be looking into some kind of o-ring or other solution for this. Have no idea what size or where to order. I might call Zeiss & see what they say. It's definitely me, I had the same problem with the Swaro 10x56, I'm working on getting the 8x56 eyecups from Swaro. Same thing with a recent Curio trial as well. Bino-makers are designing their eyecups one click short of where I need to be.

It's still early, just getting used to these, but I do notice a different color balance b/w the SF and EDG....it may turn out I prefer EDG to the SF's, the color seems more natural in EDG and from the transmission curves on Allbinos it seems that EDG has the flattest transmission - very even from 400 to 700 nm, where Zeiss drops off more on the ends, accentuating the green and yellow. It sure does seem to me that EDG has the best optics, I'm not surprised Nikon has not upgraded or changed them in 12 years. Personally I see no reason to chase wider fields. I'm used to 40 and 50 degree AFOV astronomy eyepieces so the EDG seems quite wide and comfortable to me.

The one thing I like about the Zeiss SF is somewhat trivial but important to me - the underside of the top bridge is completely flat - the bottom of the focus knob is perfectly flush with the bottom surface of the bridge. So you can hold the binos by putting your hand/fingers under the bridge and it's flat and comfortable. All other binos have a knob that sticks out, hitting your finger and knuckle. Zeiss did a great job with the ergonomic design of the SF.

 

[tenex]

The eyecups are too short for me when extended all the way out (I don't wear glasses)...
Bino-makers are designing their eyecups one click short of where I need to be.

Zeiss are reported to offer alternate taller eyecups, so definitely contact them. I don't understand this problem; it's only a couple of millimeters, why be stingy? Especially with finicky modern eyepieces.

So you can hold the binos but putting your hand/fingers under the bridge

This is how I too like to hold a bin in one hand, its weight resting on the side of a finger so I don't have to clutch it. The shape of any protrusion also matters; the rounded plastic tripod-socket plug of SLCs for example is no problem for me.

 

[Scott98]

The shape of any protrusion also matters;

Yes - the EDG have a rounded wide knob there which is not bad to hold either, it goes between the knuckles of my finger. The SF is best in this department though.

I've got a workaround for the SF - I just added a small piece of blue masking tape to hold the eyecups in place after I unscrew them. Need to test more in the field but it looks like 1 or 1.5 rotations puts them in the right spot for me - I can still see the whole field stop and the blackouts are nearly gone. It takes 5 full rotations to remove the eyecups so it should be OK.

I talked to Zeiss - frustrating - the support guy said I"m the first person he's heard of that thinks the SF eyecups are too short. It comes up more often w/ Conquest, they make a higher eyecup for them but not SF. So you're on your own.

Of course they don't hear much because the people with shorter eye sockets probably don't buy SF or return them or sell them off. He advised against using the binos with the eyecups loosened or with an o-ring because they'll eventually fall out. The only alternative is to sell the binos so not much help there!

 

[tenex]

It comes up more often w/ Conquest, they make a higher eyecup for them but not SF. So you're on your own.

Too bad that's only for Conquest, not SF. Sounds like your tape will work. Leica eyecups pull straight out with substantial friction, so one could coax them to a desired height and expect them to stay put. But Zeiss and Swaro unscrew.

 

[Scott98]

I'm working on rubber o-rings - looks like the outer diameter of the SF threads is around 33mm. Now I need to find a place that sells one o-ring at time instead of packs of 50...looks like 1 turn of the eyecup is enough, which measures around 1mm.

I just tested them again, female goldfinch and some chipmunks and fall foliage, the viewing is so much more comfortable on the eyes with the 7x EDG, I may just not be a wide-field person.

 

[Scott98]

I did the Moon test last night - finally a big victory for the Zeiss SF 8x42 over the EDG. My 7x42 EDG shows 4 diffraction spikes on the moon and bright streetlights at night, the SF is totally clean. This issue was reported by Allbinos for the 8x42 EDG as well (but not in their 10x42 review). It's similar to observing with a Newtonian mirror scope, the spikes aren't as bright but it defintely spoils the view of the Moon quite a bit...an unwanted distraction. On Jupiter the spikes are much fainter, barely detectable.

As Allbinos says...a major oversight for binos of this quality. My HG 8x42 doesn't have it. The EDG view is much cleaner and sharper otherwise. The EDG has the best color correction of the three, even the SF showed a tiny amount of false color around the moon's edge. Jupiter is much a cleaner image in the EDG than the HG. So not something you'll ever see during daylight observing, or deep-sky night time observing, but still something that will degrade contrast to a certain degree at all times. I still like the 7x42 EDG just as much, but I found their Achilles' heel. Will be interesting to see if the 10x shows it....arriving Tuesday.

not sure what others think of Allbinos, I love them, seems like they do a great job:

>One point was deducted for weak performance against bright light. At night, when a light post is within the field of vision, you can notice distinct light artifacts. At such price point and in this quality class it shouldn’t have happened.

 

[dries1]

I could not get the SF 8X42 to suit my viewing day or night, I have many others in my collection but no SFs. Funny, I have no issues with the 8X42 or 10X42 EDG on the night sky.

 

[Paultricounty]

I did the Moon test last night - finally a big victory for the Zeiss SF 8x42 over the EDG. My 7x42 EDG shows 4 diffraction spikes on the moon and bright streetlights at night, the SF is totally clean. This issue was reported by Allbinos for the 8x42 EDG as well (but not in their 10x42 review). It's similar to observing with a Newtonian mirror scope, the spikes aren't as bright but it defintely spoils the view of the Moon quite a bit...an unwanted distraction. On Jupiter the spikes are much fainter, barely detectable.

As Allbinos says...a major oversight for binos of this quality. My HG 8x42 doesn't have it. The EDG view is much cleaner and sharper otherwise. The EDG has the best color correction of the three, even the SF showed a tiny amount of false color around the moon's edge. Jupiter is much a cleaner image in the EDG than the HG. So not something you'll ever see during daylight observing, or deep-sky night time observing, but still something that will degrade contrast to a certain degree at all times. I still like the 7x42 EDG just as much, but I found their Achilles' heel. Will be interesting to see if the 10x shows it....arriving Tuesday.

not sure what others think of Allbinos, I love them, seems like they do a great job:

Have you found the Achilles heel in the SF? The deadly blue ring 😉

I don’t have that issue in my 8 x 42EDG. Maybe more prone to the 7 x 42, I don’t know.

Paul