Regarding Nikon Se (1 Viewer)

[brocknroller]

So, not having these for very long, I am wondering (being an eyeglass wearer) how durable the rubber is on the SE eyecups since I have to fold them down each time I use them with glasses.

Do they crack? And if they do, which I assume they must eventually, is there an easy repair that Nikon will make? Or are they pretty durable?

Just looking for feedback on your experience with them.

Thanks all.

If you always need to use eyeglasses with bins, why not just leave the eyecups folded down? Do you share them with a non-eyeglass wearer?

I don't use eyelgasses with bins for birding. My issue with the SE eyecups is that they are wider than my eye orbits so they're uncomfortable if I push them hard into my face to see the full FOV. Also, after a while from doing this, the eyecups tend to flare out, which makes the situation worse. When that happens, I turn the eyecups upside down and use them that way since the base is hard and won't flare. Then I can see almost the full FOV, though still not as much as w/ the eyecups off and my index fingers and thumbs pushing against my face to keep me at the right distance to avoid image blackouts.

I'd wish for twist-up eyecups, but they'd probably run along the side of the EP housing, which would make them even wider (and probably harder), so I'm content to just work around the fold down eyecups the best I can.

Brock

 

[Tantien]

A few years ago I ordered 2 pair of SE eyecups from the CA facility. It took a few months for Nikon to get some in stock. I had completely forgotten about them and then, voila, they arrived in the mail. Turns out I sold the SE's before I ever needed replacements though. Five bucks a piece as I recall. Just be patient.

I would remove the cups and treat them all over with Armor All, wait a day, wipe off any excess and reinstall. They should last a good long time that way.

Tantien, since you wear glasses you might try this trick if you're prone to blackouts with the SE's: roll down the eyecups half way. They stay there quite well and give you a bit more eye relief if you need it.

Mark

Thanks Mark! I think it is a matter of getting used to the placement.

S'cuse me while I wax poetic for a bit about these:

I just came back from a walk with these marvels of older technology (I overlook the Calif. Coast and it was a beauty of a late afternoon) and I had one thought going on as I look again through these "I've found my Alphas."

I just came off of a terrific Alaskan trip and had 10 days looking through the 8x32 Viper HDs and my 10x42 Atlas Optics Intrepid EDs, very pleased with both. But viewing the woods and coasts through the SE's brings about a sense of magic and sparkling clarity that I totally get is what Alphas are/should be all about.

With the SEs on a Vortex harness (and a set of zip-ties to connect the harness to the body lugs) it keeps them pretty flat against me and they don't swing.

So with this nearly perfect arrangement, and (with practice the blackouts grow fewer and fewer, with my glasses on), I'm almost hesitant to say that I would be paying that much more for Swaros and Zeiss's, because I know that I'd be paying 2-4.5x more for such a small gain. The 3-D is truly amazing and I watch ordinary things, like bushes and weeds, with a new appreciation of their dimension in space.

In fact the only thing I would ask for would be a waterproof, fog-proof version of these--do they even exist?

And to Brock's point, I don't really share these, so I'll treat the eye-cups with the Armor-All and fold them down all the time.

So I will take my time looking for my next pair. I really have to be convinced that the expense, clarity, and quality would really justify displacing these. Only ones that add the extra water and fog protection might tempt me.

We'll see how long this euphoria lasts for these, but they really have shown me why they are so well regarded by all here.

 

[BruceH]

Back to the SE Eyecups

..........................
BTW: I just wrote Nikon USA CS to see if they will send another set or what they'd charge for a pair of replacement rubber eye-cups. Will post their response here.

Tantien ...... Here is an old thread with part numbers for the eyecups. There is also a PDF attached with a parts diagram. This info may be helpful in your quest.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=250447

Also, the current part number for the Nikon Premier SE 8X32 is 7381.

http://www.nikonsportoptics.com/en/Nikon-Products/Binoculars/7381/Premier-SE-8x32.html

 

[Torview]

Tantien, glad to hear you`re wowed by the SE also, I see no way of tiring of that view, and trust me it makes you super critical of other optics you try after !

I was worried about wp fp issues, but so far despite several wettings I`m having no problems.

Pretty cool and wet here, last year the average temperature was 46f with 130+inches of rain on the highest parts.

 

[Stanbo]

...........

Tantien, since you wear glasses you might try this trick if you're prone to blackouts with the SE's: roll down the eyecups half way. They stay there quite well and give you a bit more eye relief if you need it.

Mark

Mark,

Bingo, suggestion of the year - no blackouts! I have glasses and have been using a 3 mm spacer washer on the base of the eyecups with the eyecups rolled down to increase eye relief and stop blackouts which works, but your suggestion is even better. Congratulations.

I can use binoculars both with and without glasses and I have the same blackout problem in both cases with the SE's. With glasses, as I have said, I have cured it by using a spacer. Without glasses I have used plastic tubes inside the eyecups that extend for 3 mm beyond the edge of the eyecups and that works as well.

It seems to me that it is the eye relief that is more critical on the SE's than the IPD.

Tantien,

I recommend that you give Mark's suggestion a try.

Stan

 

[Kammerdiner]

Mark,

Bingo, suggestion of the year - no blackouts! I have glasses and have been using a 3 mm spacer washer on the base of the eyecups with the eyecups rolled down to increase eye relief and stop blackouts which works, but your suggestion is even better. Congratulations.

I can use binoculars both with and without glasses and I have the same blackout problem in both cases with the SE's. With glasses, as I have said, I have cured it by using a spacer. Without glasses I have used plastic tubes inside the eyecups that extend for 3 mm beyond the edge of the eyecups and that works as well

Tantien,

I recommend that you give Mark's suggestion a try.

Stan

You'e welcome Stan. By the way I meant to say rolling them halfway down gives you less eye relief not more when wearing glasses, but you figured that out.

Mark

 

[Stanbo]

I would remove the cups and treat them all over with Armor All, wait a day, wipe off any excess and reinstall. They should last a good long time that way.


Mark

Mark,

Which Armor All product do you use. There are a number of possibilities, but it is probably the Protectant, either matt or gloss.

Stan

 

[Kammerdiner]

Mark,

Which Armor All product do you use. There are a number of possibilities, but it is probably the Protectant, either matt or gloss.

Stan

Yes, Armor All makes all kinds of products. You'll want the protectant, "Original" they call it here. Some swear by more expensive brands like 303 Aerospace Protectant, but I've never spent the extra $ on them.

 

[Tantien]

Yes, Armor All makes all kinds of products. You'll want the protectant, "Original" they call it here. Some swear by more expensive brands like 303 Aerospace Protectant, but I've never spent the extra $ on them.

I just used what I already had on hand: Natural Finish Detailer, non-greasy formula--no residue to worry about transferring to my glasses lens'

Worked great--dried clean and non-shiny overnight with no filmy, shiny, coating like the original Armor All that I'd used years back on my car surfaces.

But I would not even have considered this treatment had it not been for this board. So thank you.

And to Mark and Stan, a very clever suggestion! :t:

I've just returned the Armor All-treated cups to the SEs with a 1/2 fold-down and it really appears to help! I'm going to give it a better test today to check it out.

 

[Tantien]

The eyecup for all SE models is indeed the same.

To Tantien and others who attempt to order the eyecups, I seem to remember that I had to get them from a Nikon facility in NY rather than the usual parts/repair facility in CA because they were considered an "accessory" and not a "part". Until I figured that out, the folks I talked to at Nikon weren't sure it was possible to get the eyecups. Others have ordered them more recently, so maybe this is easier now than it used to be. Again, they've gone in and out of stock. I remember placing an order and having to wait a couple months or so for it to be fulfilled.

--AP

I tried to ask when my serial number was manufactured (504XXX) to see how long I had on the original warranty but she neatly side-stepped that question and provided this re: eye cups.

Nikon CS Response Via Email (Tiffany A.) 08/21/2013 09:11 AM

Your Nikon 8x32 Premier SE binocular are covered for 25 years from manufactured default with Proof of Purchase. If not then it falls under the No Fault Policy.

Nikon No-Fault Repair/Replacement Policy for Binoculars, Spotting Scope, Field Scopes.

Nikon is dedicated to quality performance and total customer satisfaction. If your Nikon Binocular, Spotting Scope, or Field Scope requires service or repair not covered by our 25 year limited warranty. Nikon will repair or replace it (even if it was your fault) for just $10, plus shipping and handling.

We will not be able to sell or give out spare eyecups because the premier series binocular are specially designed to were [sp] we do not have those parts on hand so if you ever need eye cups you will have to send them in for repair.


Thank you
Nikon Support

So it appears prudent to treat the ones you have now if you don't want to send them in for a "repair" that would really take no more than a couple of minutes to do.

 

[ceasar]

I tried to ask when my serial number was manufactured (504XXX) to see how long I had on the original warranty but she neatly side-stepped that question and provided this re: eye cups.

Nikon CS Response Via Email (Tiffany A.) 08/21/2013 09:11 AM

Your Nikon 8x32 Premier SE binocular are covered for 25 years from manufactured default with Proof of Purchase. If not then it falls under the No Fault Policy.

Nikon No-Fault Repair/Replacement Policy for Binoculars, Spotting Scope, Field Scopes.

Nikon is dedicated to quality performance and total customer satisfaction. If your Nikon Binocular, Spotting Scope, or Field Scope requires service or repair not covered by our 25 year limited warranty. Nikon will repair or replace it (even if it was your fault) for just $10, plus shipping and handling.

We will not be able to sell or give out spare eyecups because the premier series binocular are specially designed to were [sp] we do not have those parts on hand so if you ever need eye cups you will have to send them in for repair.


Thank you
Nikon Support

So it appears prudent to treat the ones you have now if you don't want to send them in for a "repair" that would really take no more than a couple of minutes to do.

Translation:

"We don't have them in stock and don't know when we will get any. We may have to request them from Japan so we need to see what the condition of the ones on the binocular are in."

In the past they were routinely in and out of stock and Nikon USA would get some in at irregular intervals. I purchased extra pairs for my SEs and EIIs back when they were available several years ago. I called Nikon USA first to inquire about getting them and was told by a technician that they were back ordered and they expected to get some soon so I ordered them. It took a month or two before they arrived. I think they cost me $5.00 a pair.

At this time the EIIs are no longer being sold in the USA and it is likely that very few new SEs are being sold in the USA every year so it isn't surprising, to me at least, that they don't have any in stock. Nikon USA probably never thought about replenishing them when they ran out and might not even have noticed it when they did run out of them.

Bob

PS: If you do have to send the binocular in for new eye cups you might as well tell Nikon USA to also look over the binocular and clean it and it's optics. That should be covered under your $25.00.

 

[Pileatus]

SE eyecups will be available...for the right price.

 

[angelo225544]

Since this thread is, at least partially, concerned with eyeglass wearing, I have a question on that aspect of binocular use. I have been told that the need to wear ones eyeglasses when using binoculars has mostly to do with correction of astigmatism. I have also read that binoculars with smaller exit pupils are less likely to trigger astigmatism in the users eyes (this from a thread in the CloudyNights forum). I wonder whether anyone has tried this experiment, to see whether different size exit pupils have any effect on controlling astigmatism. As a photographer, the idea of placing a plastic lens over my expensive optics is a complete anathema, but we do so with our binoculars. Please forgive me if my question flies in the face of medical knowledge, as I have no such training, nor do I have severe astigmatism - all I bring to this is my curiosity.

 

[Tantien]

I tried to ask when my serial number was manufactured (504XXX) to see how long I had on the original warranty.

FYI: CS answered: "They we last manufactured in 2008 Fall."

So when does that place the 505s and 550s?

So I'd like to know if these others that are being sold as new today, are actually manufactured a few years ago, like mine. Anyone know about their dates of when theirs were made?

No biggie, but I was surprised to see that 5 years had passed before this pair was sold (on eBay as New, Old stock). Still: the warranty is from date of purchase so the original owner never really sent in his warranty card I wonder if they'll honor an eBay receipt as the start date.

 

[Pileatus]

FYI: CS answered: "They we last manufactured in 2008 Fall."

So when does that place the 505s and 550s?

So I'd like to know if these others that are being sold as new today, are actually manufactured a few years ago, like mine. Anyone know about their dates of when theirs were made?

No biggie, but I was surprised to see that 5 years had passed before this pair was sold (on eBay as New, Old stock). Still: the warranty is from date of purchase so the original owner never really sent in his warranty card I wonder if they'll honor an eBay receipt as the start date.

I have no doubt 2008 was the last manufacture period. In spite of the praise found on these forums, very few SE sales materialize. I'll bet the 550's were all made around 2008 and that most sat on warehouse shelves until orders trickled in.

Your warranty is good for 25 years plus No-Fault from date of purchase. Cleanings, for example, are covered under warranty. SE's are very well built so you shouldn't need much service.

Enjoy!

 

[Alexis Powell]

Since this thread is, at least partially, concerned with eyeglass wearing, I have a question on that aspect of binocular use. I have been told that the need to wear ones eyeglasses when using binoculars has mostly to do with correction of astigmatism. I have also read that binoculars with smaller exit pupils are less likely to trigger astigmatism in the users eyes (this from a thread in the CloudyNights forum). I wonder whether anyone has tried this experiment, to see whether different size exit pupils have any effect on controlling astigmatism. As a photographer, the idea of placing a plastic lens over my expensive optics is a complete anathema, but we do so with our binoculars. Please forgive me if my question flies in the face of medical knowledge, as I have no such training, nor do I have severe astigmatism - all I bring to this is my curiosity.

My need for glasses is largely to correct astigmatism. I've heard the same things you have about small exit pupils, where small exit pupil is equated to small aperture (like pinhole camera), though I'm not sure it is truly equivalent. I haven't pursued the theoretical details because my own experience has been that my vision is always much better with glasses on. My dad is an astronomy buff, and he's always worn glasses in everyday life to correct astigmatism, but in the past always took off his glasses to use short focal length eyepieces (in the past, universally with poor eye relief) at high magnifications that yielded very small exit pupils compared to any bins. Once long eye-relief design eyepieces became available, I remember him being surprised to discover that the view with glasses was often better, and now he almost always keeps his glasses on.

--AP

 

[brocknroller]

Since this thread is, at least partially, concerned with eyeglass wearing, I have a question on that aspect of binocular use. I have been told that the need to wear ones eyeglasses when using binoculars has mostly to do with correction of astigmatism. I have also read that binoculars with smaller exit pupils are less likely to trigger astigmatism in the users eyes (this from a thread in the CloudyNights forum). I wonder whether anyone has tried this experiment, to see whether different size exit pupils have any effect on controlling astigmatism. As a photographer, the idea of placing a plastic lens over my expensive optics is a complete anathema, but we do so with our binoculars. Please forgive me if my question flies in the face of medical knowledge, as I have no such training, nor do I have severe astigmatism - all I bring to this is my curiosity.

A fellow astro club member had a Fuji 7x50 FMT-SX, and he was disppointed with its performance on the night sky, because stars looked "spikey" to him. To me too when I looked through the bins. However, during the day, the image was excellent, very sharp.

The same was true of the CZJ 8x50 Octarem I had - bloated stars at night but crisp images during the day. Even at twilight, the images were still pretty good, certainly they showed detail I couldn't see through any of my other bins and were much brighter than my 8x32 SE in dim light. But look at a point source of light at night, and it's..Spike City

We both had astigmatism. I bought a pair of glasses to correct my astigmatism and stars were noticeably more "punctiform" (if you've been over on the Cloudy Nights bin forum, you've probably read Claudio's posts with that word).

Now some 15 years later, my pupils no longer open that wide, so astigmatism isn't as big a problem as it used to be, cataracts are. Which just goes to show you, it's always something! If it's not one thing, it's another! (RIP Gilda)

So the good news is that when you become stigmatized with the "over 50" label, astigmatism (and near sightedness) won't be as problematic as they might be today, because your pupil won't open as wide so less misshapen cornea, less astigmatism, and presbyopia will counteract your near sightedness.

The bad news is that your lens will yellow from exposure to UV over the decades, and you might eventually develop cataracts. So use those 100% UV protection sunglasses whenever you're out. It will delay their development and girls will think you're cool.
:girl:

When I get my cataracts taken out eventually, I'm going to ask my eye doctor to install Zoomies so I won't need to buy any more binoculars. |8)|

Brock

 

[normjackson]

So use those 100% UV protection sunglasses whenever you're out.

And keep that 8x30 SLC in your pocket :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/7465716660

 

[bonesmalones]

"When I get my cataracts taken out eventually, I'm going to ask my eye doctor to install Zoomies so I won't need to buy any more binoculars.

Brock"

What fun is there in that?

 

[Tantien]

"When I get my cataracts taken out eventually, I'm going to ask my eye doctor to install Zoomies so I won't need to buy any more binoculars.

Brock"

What fun is there in that?

After that we should coin a new word: "Binonic" (As in the Amazing Binonic Man) :-O