Venturer LX Manufacture Date (1 Viewer)

[Maljunulo]

I have a Venturer LX which I am giving to my #2 granddaughter, and I have not found a useful resource to look up the serial number.

They are #5022XX and they were my first "really good" binoculars.

They are going to a good home and a very excited granddaughter, who is already looking for nature walks to take them on.

I don't remember when I bought them, or from whom, so any help will be appreciated.

I believe they are close to the end of the lead-glass model run.

 

[dries1]

It is too bad that the year they were purchased is not known. I have a catalog from 1999 and there is no mention of lead free eco friendly glass in the LX 8X42 /10X42 or the SE glass 8X32, 10X42 or 12X50. I do know that when they introduced the HG/LX models 8X32 and 10X32 in 2002 the glass was described as eco friendly, so no leaded glass, this included the 8X42 and 10X42 models. So I would say after 2002 lead free, 1999-2001 the 8 and 10X42 contained leaded glass.
Below is the 2002 brochure.

Andy W.

 

[Maljunulo]

That narrows it down, and I thank you.

I bought it after Michael and Dianne Porter gave it rave reviews on Better View Desired and made it their reference standard.

Their first review (8X42) was in 02/1998, so i suspect I bought them right around 2000 or so.

They reviewed the LX L Premier in Summer of 2004, (again, the 8X42) so I presume mine were manufactured prior to that.

 

[Jonathan B.]

That narrows it down, and I thank you.

I bought it after Michael and Dianne Porter gave it rave reviews on Better View Desired and made it their reference standard.

Their first review (8X42) was in 02/1998, so i suspect I bought them right around 2000 or so.

They reviewed the LX L Premier in Summer of 2004, (again, the 8X42) so I presume mine were manufactured prior to that.

The Venturer LX is an under-appreciated binocular. I was looking for my first serious binocular in the late 1990s and I first handled the Venturer 8x42 at a bird fair at that time. In June 2000 I tried out the Venturer 8x42 at a Wild Birds Unlimited shop in Dallas, comparing it to Nikon SE 8x32. Both had superb resolution and color. There was a large piece of reflecting metal in the view from the store's yard, and in the Venturer, it came through entirely reddish from chromatic aberration. In the SE, it was neutral gray. I ended up buying the SE, which I still use. I have no idea how Nikon serial numbers are assigned, but my SE's serial number is 502XXX. So maybe your Venturer is from approximately the same time.

 

[Maljunulo]

Jonathan; Thanks for your response.

I was never aware of any significant chromatic aberration in the Venturer I had. The differences between it and the replacement EL SV were subtle but real, so I replaced them. I do not try to spot flaws in a binocular. I buy good binoculars and just use them and enjoy the vast difference between what I see through them as opposed to what I see with my bare eyeballs. The things that are there and not even glimpsed with just the eyeballs never cease to amaze me.

I am sure that my granddaughter will get many years of service out of them unless the O rings die and humidity gets in and causes trouble.

Not sure that by that time Nikon will service them. (not likely to be my problem)