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Message: <blockquote data-quote="brocknroller" data-source="post: 1687151" data-attributes="member: 665">I tried three 2009 bins: 8x42 Promaster ED, 10x42 EDG, and ZR 7x36 ED2. The one I liked best was the ZR. The combination of the 7x36 configuration, WF, ED glass, and light weight make it great for birding, and the ergonomics are more like the EDG than the Promaster. The Promaster ED had overall better image quality than the ZR, sharper, less pincushion, better edges, and better color depth (snappier reds like Nikon, in fact, the contrast and color depth are very similar to the LX). But I found the ergonomics somewhat awkward (too long, not enough finger room between barrels, and the thumb indents were in the wrong place for my hands and were too deep). The Nikon EDG gets the optics and ergonomics "right," IMO. For $1,600 more, it damn well better! My only beef was the on-the-focus diopter. Even though the cap problem has been corrected, I still prefer the diopter adjustment on the right eyepiece, preferably with a pop up ring like the ZR and LX. Interesting to note that two out of three bins had defects that were corrected later, the ZR with the stray light problems and the Nikon with the loose focuser cap. What I learned from trying these three bins is that the Chinese are catching up to the Japanese in optics, and are able to offer a competitive product for a fraction of the cost. While the Top Three are secure, because there will always be a market for luxury products and the "snob appeal" of anything "Euro" will continue; however, I think Nikon needs to offer better competition at the upper mid price level - I haven't tried the Monarch X, but from the specs and features, they don't seem to compete with the Chinese EDs. Ditto for the second-tier Zeiss Conquests. From what I've read, they are overpriced for what you get, but they will still appeal to Europhiles. With the product safety issues from China, I have been slow to be won over. But the recession helped with that. If necessity is the mother of invention, then poverty is the mother of necessity.</blockquote>

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