It seem as if I have almost come full circle when it comes to optics. I started off with fairly inexpensive bins as most do thinking that there was no reason to spend the extra money. After all there was certainly something else that could be bought or upgraded when it came to going afield.... Well the first time out with people that were serious with optics my little Leupold Wind River 8x32's (which I really liked) were just so out classed it was hard to enjoy the outing! My little leupolds were being matched up against a 15x60 Zeiss, several 15x60 Docters, and virtually everyone carried Swarovski 10x42 SLC's except for one 7x42 SLC and my little Wind Rivers. That's a tough crowd to compete with! Well after that trip I tipped the scale and went completely to the other end and would only use the current, latest, greatest German glass. Owning and only using Bins from Swarovski, Leica, Zeiss, and Docter.
I remember being in a sporting good shop somewhere around the turn of the century and getting my first look at the Nikon Superior E's. I can still remember that first view and being blown away at how good they looked in the store. The resolution, the color saturation, the 3-d feel! Wow I remember saying to myself..... Then I remembered that time in the field with my Leupolds. Sure these Nikons were much, much more expensive. Back in 2000 they almost cost the same as a new pair of SLC's! But I remember saying to myself "there only Nikon's, this is a view in a store, and there NOT German made". So, I handed them back to the clerk and forgot about the Nikon SE line for almost the next ten years as I upgraded my German optics and just knew that I had the best glass in the field!
Then for some reason this past month I remembered that view of those little 8x32 SE's and went online to see what people had said about them, thinking surely they were some old reviews that gave them some praise....... To my dismay they were STILL being talked about! And frequently, as if they were a just released binocular. And if that wasn't enough they were the bins that all the others were being compared to with usually the SE being the victor in the match!
Well that was enough for me! I had to see what this was all about and went searching for a new pair of 8x32 SE's. As luck would have it I found a brand new in the box pair of 8x32's and 10x42's right here in town. So I asked the clerk if I could take the 10x42's outside for awhile along with a set of Zeiss 10x42 FL's w/lotutec. I sat outside with them for nearly an hour going back and forth and back and forth. After that hour was up I could see why the Nikon SE is still considered by many as the best binocular for any money! The view was better in every way compared to the Zeiss FL's with the only possible advantage for the zeiss being easier eye alignment, they came to the eyes easier where as the SE's take a second to find the sweet spot to hold on. So I bought both the 8's and the 10's after a little haggling and added the 12x50 SE through ebay within the week to complete the set.
All I can say about this fine set is WOW! What have I been missing for the past ten years due to my and most binocular dealers ignorance. I was so wrong about my binocular snobbery and having the best bin in the field! All the praise bestowed on this fine binocular is VERY justified! To the point to where in the past two months sense I purchased these bins my Swarovski 10x42EL's and Leica 10x42 BRF's have not been used. Even in foul weather, which we here in Albuquerque have had our share of these past two months. The SE's are tack sharp right to the edge, Very color neutral but with just the right amount of saturation, a incredible 3-D effect that really is mind blowing the first time afield and the reason why my other two bins (which are to many the best on the market) do not get used, beautiful magnesium body and a rubber armor that just ooze its quality build. Its quite evident that when the engineers set out to build the Superior E, over ten years ago now, they did not restrain themselves and set out to build a binocular that would do two things..... One, be the best optical binocular on the planet.... Two, be able to stand the test of time and still be something to be cherished and used for many, many years and not just for the current model run. They accomplished both of these in spades and is evident by the amount of praise they still get even in the face of all the new runs of HD/ED glassed bins coming out with new dialectic prism coatings. It hard to believe that after all these years they are still that good! They are still on top!
Now, after gushing all this praise on the Nikon SE line I will say that nothing is perfect and the SE's are certainly not perfect either. They have their faults. First and foremost they are not waterproof. A lot has been a lot made about this and for good reason. When some one spends good money on anything they want to use it, enjoy it, and not have to worry about it being damaged while they are at use due to mother nature. I have seen it advertised as weather proof by some dealers but even Nikon will not claim this. I have used mine in a fine, steady drizzle and a light rain for periods of over an hour with no ill effect other than having to give them a cleaning when I got home. So to me, although I know I can't be foolish enough to dunk them in water, they seem built hardy enough to use in a steady light rain without have anything happen to them. But the waterproof thing is still there and something to take into consideration. Also, the SE's take a little getting use to when it comes to the way you hold them for proper eye placement. Most new high dollar bins that are on par or in the ballpark optically with the SE's come up very easy and are very a friendly view. Not so with the Nikon SE. I liken it to a fine surgical unit! Its very precise and takes some getting use to, to learn how to hold them and adjust them properly. Now, when one becomes comfortable with then they are very natural to hold but it might take some getting use to for some? Also due to the porro design (which gives those amazing 3-D views) , the close focus is not as good as a Alpha Roof. You get that double barrel effect at very close focus but this disappears quickly as the range increases and especially at the ranges a 10x bin excels at.
Also, as good as the Superior E is, as much as these Nikon engineers put into this binocular, and as much as they cost (they were originally much more expensive) why would they market and sell them with the cheapest accessories ever seen on a production binocular?????? Its beyond me! The rain guard is designed with both sides of it having breaks in the strap attachment causing it to continually fall off of the strap! The objective cups could have been a nice tethered type but NO! Its a .5 cent cup that is completely useless out side of the fake leather case its supplied with! Why would they do that? Again beyond me! I actually don't mind the case and think its well thought out and good looking but there is no excuse for the cheap rain guard and objective cups, none! Now to the eye cups.... For the period that the SE was designed they are pretty standard fare and the twist type had not become the standard yet so I can live this style but they seem to be of not the correct length for their eye relief? And this, I think, is one of several reasons it takes some time to get use to proper placement of the hold for these bins.
Once mastered though they are the most stunning binoculars that I have looked through and I've looked through them all and at length! They truly are something special after all these years and quite the bargain at the prices they can be found! I wouldn't give anything a 10 on a scale of one to 10 because your saying they are perfect and nothing is perfect. I'd give these a 9.5 though (and a little better if it were not for the cheap accessories) and if they were updated with water proofing, better eye cups and accessories I might rethink my willingness about giving 10's. If your in the market for a pair of high-end 10x42's DO NOT pass up the chance to look through the Nikon SE's, if you can find a pair!
