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Where premium quality meets exceptional value. ZEISS Conquest HDX.

Updated Nikon 10x25S and 12x25S Stabilized binoculars (3 Viewers)

Nikon invented optical stabilization and has the original patents despite being very slow to utilize it with their lenses and cameras. Without image stabilization I can use a 12x at most and only then with excellent optics. With image stabilization my Sig Sauer 16x42 are easy to use with no difficulty. The Sig binos use a single AA battery that can power them for a year. The Sig also have two levels of image stabilization at the flick of a switch. The 16x binos have replaced my spotting scope and tripod.
Do you get veiling glare with your Sig Sauer 16x42? I liked mine when I had them, but I just couldn't tolerate the glare. I had the same glare as these fellows, and I had both the older version and the newer HDX version, and they both had glare. Likewise, I returned mine.

"Was really excited about these, but regretfully returning them. Chromatic aberration is well controlled and sharpness is good, but even normal daytime sun is enough to provoke terrible veiling flare and huge contrast loss, even when almost fully perpendicular to the sun. Even the color balance between the sunward and shadeward side changes noticeably. The stabilizer appears to make the flare even worse, it resulted in misty flare ghosts that I could toggle on and off repeatedly. Also, the eyepiece lens caps are incredibly loose, such a cheap afterthought, and the objective lenses are not well shielded and come with no cover. The strap is nice and even has quick-releases, but the final attachment to the binoculars with cheap split rings is incredibly lazy design."

"Regarding the performance of the product, and as some other user such as AdAstra has already stated, it is stated that the optical quality of the binocular and its low level of chromatic aberrations are tarnished by a notable predisposition to flare and loss of contrast as soon as the unit is oriented slightly against the light and the vision is moved vertically upwards. This defect is increased if the 2 stabilization modes are used. Likewise, in a nighttime use with lights in the field of view, for example in a nighttime use in a cityscape with light sources in the observed area, continuous, annoying ring-shaped flashes occur around each light source at the edges of the viewing area."

 
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Nope -- they deemed that the defect was due to severe shocks. In my opinion, nothing but normal usage....

Repair quoted at CHF 646 (Swiss mountain dollars -- equivalent to $793); a new binocular would come down to CHF 819 ($1005). Definitely not worth the repair in my opinion.

And, for the record, no Nikon products for us until they demonstrate that they improve their build quality drastically.
That is a good example of why you are better off with traditional binoculars instead of IS binoculars, especially if you plan on keeping them for a while. Unbelievably poor warranty service from Nikon. It surprises me, I would think they would just send you a new pair. How did they deem the defect was due to severe shock? Was the case dented or damaged, indicating they had been dropped?
 

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