Nikon Venturer Ii? (1 Viewer)

DavidEnoch · Oct 6, 2006

Nikon Venturer II?

I saw a pair of 8x32 6.3 degree Nikon Venturer II on e-bay. I couldn't find any information out about them and passed on them. I am just curious as to how good a binocular they are? I read a lot of good reviews about the Venturer but couldn't find anything on the II model.

Thanks,

David Enoch

Tero · Oct 6, 2006

Should be OK, as long as you know what to pay for them. Also see if warranty is transferable.

FrankD · Oct 7, 2006

Hmm, I have never heard of this model. I thought the Venturers were the first versions of the HG (High Grade) models which have "morphed" over the years into Venturer XLs, Premier XLs and eventually Premier LXLs/HGLs. The 8x32 configuration always had a field of view closer to 8 degrees rather than 6.3. I would email Nikon about it if you cannot get further clarification here.

Tero · Oct 7, 2006

Does look a bit confusing. The Venturer is the forerunner of HG, as you said, but how old can this bin actually be?

FrankD · Oct 9, 2006

Tero,

I have a vague recollection of seeing a Venturer model that predates the 8x42s (or possibly occured at the same time). I seem to remember seeing something in Mr. Ingraham's website...possibly related to his original article on finding his first "Bird Worthy" binocular. I will have to pull out the hard copies and see if I can find the reference. That bin might match up with the one mentioned above.

Alexis Powell · Oct 9, 2006

Sorry that I've been ignoring this thread. The Nikon 8x23 Venturer II (there was never an 8x32) was a optically nice and functional but unexceptional reverse porro that was extremely popular in the late 1980s and early 90s (I knew a number of people who bought them in 1990-92). Its success came from an endorsement from Consumer Reports in one of their typically idiosynchratic articles that evaluated a bunch of radically different binos. As I say, it is a fine bino, but nothing special, and it is a bit bulky by today's standards. Actually, at the time reverse porro compacts weren't a design that was super popular. The success of the Venturer II might partly explain the explosion of interest and current wealth of such binos in today's market.
--AP

DavidEnoch · Oct 13, 2006

Alexis Powell said:
Sorry that I've been ignoring this thread. The Nikon 8x23 Venturer II (there was never an 8x32) was a optically nice and functional but unexceptional reverse porro that was extremely popular in the late 1980s and early 90s (I knew a number of people who bought them in 1990-92). Its success came from an endorsement from Consumer Reports in one of their typically idiosynchratic articles that evaluated a bunch of radically different binos. As I say, it is a fine bino, but nothing special, and it is a bit bulky by today's standards. Actually, at the time reverse porro compacts weren't a design that was super popular. The success of the Venturer II might partly explain the explosion of interest and current wealth of such binos in today's market.
--AP

Thanks for the information. I had done some searches but didn't pull up anything.

David Enoch

lf966 · Sep 2, 2007

re: Nikon Venturer II 8x23

DavidEnoch said:
I saw a pair of 8x32 6.3 degree Nikon Venturer II on e-bay. I couldn't find any information out about them and passed on them. I am just curious as to how good a binocular they are? I read a lot of good reviews about the Venturer but couldn't find anything on the II model.

Thanks,

David Enoch

Hi,

I have this binocular , bought it used from a camera store ...for the same price $99 I had 2 choices the Venturer II or newer similar compact Nikon Traveler binos... the image clarity/brightness were like apple and orange ...the Venturer II is a real gem , imo ...frankly , once I was on a bird watching with a friend of mine (I'm just a casual birder) and had a chance to glance thru someones $1500 Swarovski...well, I would have traded it for the Swarovski but then turn around sell it on eBay and REBUY the Venturer II 15X over

:t:

Bosque · Aug 6, 2009

A friend of mine has a pair of these (8x23), she got them at a pawn shop for less than $20 I think. In comparison to my Nikon Prostaff 8x25, the Venturer II was brighter but more washed out, while the Prostaff was decidedly crisper and more detailed, if a little darker image.

Not terrible for very cheap binoculars, although the weird colored vinyl on the outside is... weird.

Alexis Powell · Aug 7, 2009

Bosque said:
although the weird colored vinyl on the outside is... weird

I always thought reverse porros of this boxy body design (the Venturer II was not the only one that looked like this) were weird enough for their shape alone, though I did wonder if there might be a revival of the style following the release of the movie Wall-E. It doesn't appear to have happened.

--AP

brocknroller · Aug 8, 2009

Alexis Powell said:
I always thought reverse porros of this boxy body design (the Venturer II was not the only one that looked like this) were weird enough for their shape alone, though I did wonder if there might be a revival of the style following the release of the movie Wall-E. It doesn't appear to have happened.

--AP

Good catch! It does look like Wall-E.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3298/3430689399_ab50791bbf.jpg

The 8x23 Venturer II was the first birding binoculars of Steve Ingraham (former reviewer of Better View Desired), which is why I became interested in buying one.

I also wanted a bin to take on long walks that wouldn't cause subluxations in my neck and to use at concerts, and the Venturer II works superbly for both uses.

While compacts have their limits due to the small exit pupil and small objectives, the bulky Wall-E head design is perfect for my large hands, and the images are surprisingly sharp with a large sweet spot and gradual fall off at the edges.

While I wish the bin had a better close focus, I much prefer it over any hinged roof compact I've tried, both optically and ergonomically.

Brock

John S. · Aug 25, 2009

Good catch! It does look like Wall-E.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3298/...ab50791bbf.jpg

The 8x23 Venturer II was the first birding binoculars of Steve Ingraham (former reviewer of Better View Desired), which is why I became interested in buying one.

I also wanted a bin to take on long walks that wouldn't cause subluxations in my neck and to use at concerts, and the Venturer II works superbly for both uses.

While compacts have their limits due to the small exit pupil and small objectives, the bulky Wall-E head design is perfect for my large hands, and the images are surprisingly sharp with a large sweet spot and gradual fall off at the edges.

While I wish the bin had a better close focus, I much prefer it over any hinged roof compact I've tried, both optically and ergonomically.

Brock

And here's an earlier member in the extended family of Nikon reverse porro binoculars. The Look series of binoculars originated in 1964. The 8x24 model has 7.0 FOV and from the front looks kind of like an old pair of Rayban sun glasses. It has decent optics in a compact easy to hold package.

http://www2.osk.3web.ne.jp/~hirodas/suki/binocular/look02.jpg

http://www2.osk.3web.ne.jp/~hirodas/suki/binocular/look.jpg[

brocknroller · Aug 31, 2009

John S. said:
And here's an earlier member in the extended family of Nikon reverse porro binoculars. The Look series of binoculars originated in 1964. The 8x24 model has 7.0 FOV and from the front looks kind of like an old pair of Rayban sun glasses. It has decent optics in a compact easy to hold package.

http://www2.osk.3web.ne.jp/~hirodas/suki/binocular/look02.jpg

http://www2.osk.3web.ne.jp/~hirodas/suki/binocular/look.jpg[

John,

Thanks for posting those photos of Wall-E's father Look-E.

I think I'd like the feel of those in my hands. We need a new line of compacts designed for the "big & tall" market segment.

But I guess the thought is, if you make them too big, then what's the point of making a compact, you might as well go up to a mid-sized bin.

With the proliferation of small, lightweight, mid-sized roofs, that argument makes sense, but I would still rather have a reverse porro than a compact roof since the porros fit my hands better.

Big Hand Brock (son of Cool Hand Luke)

John S. · Sep 1, 2009

brocknroller said:
John,

Thanks for posting those photos of Wall-E's father Look-E.

I think I'd like the feel of those in my hands. We need a new line of compacts designed for the "big & tall" market segment.

But I guess the thought is, if you make them too big, then what's the point of making a compact, you might as well go up to a mid-sized bin.

With the proliferation of small, lightweight, mid-sized roofs, that argument makes sense, but I would still rather have a reverse porro than a compact roof since the porros fit my hands better.

Big Hand Brock (son of Cool Hand Luke)

Yes, they are quite comfortable to hold and with all that metal and glass they have a nice heft. I understand the Look series originated in 1964 and and the 6x18's were rolled out in conjunction with the Tokyo Olympics. Subsequently Nikon added a 7x21 and 8x24. My 8x24 was sold in 1970.

I've used both the 8x24 and the 6x18 over the past decade and they deliver satisfactory and enjoyable views. The 6x18's flare a bit when near a bright light, but that's not unusual from middle-aged wide field glasses.

I agree - I think modern compact binoculars have gotten a little too compact and maybe too lightweight.

james holdsworth · Aug 10, 2013

Thought I would revive this very old thread.

I picked up a pair of Nikon 8x23 Venturer II's today, at a thrift store - for $6.00 [yep, six]

Covered in filth and quite unworkable, as the right side didn't seem to focus at all but, for six bucks, they could be a doorstop if they couldn't be fixed.

Quick look at home revealed the right ocular had been unscrewed and then cross-threaded, so I re-threaded and 'voila.' A five minute scrub also removed all the gunk and she was looking nearly new.

Really nice view for a compact - bright, very sharp and [best of all] almost the entire field is sweet spot! Compared to my 8x20 BGAT*P Dialyt, the Nikon is much better - sharper, brighter with a far more comfortable and relaxed view. The pinhole sweet spot of the Dialyt makes the Zeiss far less of a pleasure to use.

Ah well, the Dialyt was purchased purely for collecting but the Venturer is good enough to be a travel bin or, at worst a glove-box go-to. For 6 bucks, I finally think I got lucky at a Thrift Store! It wasn't my dream of finding a grossly under priced 15x60 BGAT but nice none-the-less.

etudiant · Aug 11, 2013

james holdsworth said:
Thought I would revive this very old thread.

I picked up a pair of Nikon 8x23 Venturer II's today, at a thrift store - for $6.00 [yep, six]

Really nice view for a compact - bright, very sharp and [best of all] almost the entire field is sweet spot! Compared to my 8x20 BGAT*P Dialyt, the Nikon is much better - sharper, brighter with a far more comfortable and relaxed view. The pinhole sweet spot of the Dialyt makes the Zeiss far less of a pleasure to use.

Was a nice glass and a superb value even at list price.
You got a steal at $6, even if it then took expert hands to restore.
Have fond souvenirs of using it to watch otters in Oregon.
It does not pretend even to mere water resistance, much less to being waterproof, but if you respect that, it is a great tool.

brocknroller · Aug 11, 2013

John S. said:
Yes, they are quite comfortable to hold and with all that metal and glass they have a nice heft. I understand the Look series originated in 1964 and and the 6x18's were rolled out in conjunction with the Tokyo Olympics. Subsequently Nikon added a 7x21 and 8x24. My 8x24 was sold in 1970.

I've used both the 8x24 and the 6x18 over the past decade and they deliver satisfactory and enjoyable views. The 6x18's flare a bit when near a bright light, but that's not unusual from middle-aged wide field glasses.

I agree - I think modern compact binoculars have gotten a little too compact and maybe too lightweight.

If you read Stephen Ingraham's article on compacts, he said that even the most expensive alpha compact couldn't beat the then $200 B&L 7x26 Custom (now $241 Bushnell 7x26 Elite) optically.

It will be interesting to see if the $800 Swaro 8x25 CL pocket bin can beat the venerable Bushnell compact. Considering the vast difference in price, it had better beat it bloody.

BVD article on compact-binoculars

http://www.betterviewdesired.com/Bushnell-7x26-Custom.php

Brock

Troubador · Aug 11, 2013

etudiant said:
Have fond souvenirs of using it to watch otters in Oregon.
QUOTE]

Hey Etude at last a fellow Otter-Watcher on BF. o

We go on holiday to the Western Isles of Scotland soon and one of our main attractions there (we go most years) are the Otters. A different species from yours but very similar in looks and habits. Those that we see mainly forage in the sea which causes some folks to call them Sea Otters but we don't have those.

Lee

etudiant · Aug 11, 2013

Troubador said:
etudiant said:

Have fond souvenirs of using it to watch otters in Oregon.
QUOTE]

Hey Etude at last a fellow Otter-Watcher on BF. o

Lee

Click to expand...

There would be more of us if there were more otters to watch.

Apart from Sea Otters at Monterey and the River Otters (is that the proper name?) on the Rogue, I've never seen others. They are so delightful to watch, lithe, playful and very beautiful.

Troubador · Aug 12, 2013

etudiant said:
Troubador said:

There would be more of us if there were more otters to watch.

Apart from Sea Otters at Monterey and the River Otters (is that the proper name?) on the Rogue, I've never seen others. They are so delightful to watch, lithe, playful and very beautiful.

Click to expand...

Yes Etude, yours are called River Otters and ours are just called European Otters.

They are our favourite animals (although Mountain Hares run them close) and we are looking forward to seeing them in a few weeks time.

Hope you get to see some more soon.

Lee

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