Kammerdiner
Well-known member
I use compacts often for hiking, kayaking, etc. Times when I'm not really dedicated just to birding. So when I saw the Nikon 10x25 Ecobins for $66 a couple weeks ago (they've been selling for $130+) I thought I'd give them a try. I generally don't use 10x, but surprisingly I like these. They'll probably be the first 10x I actually keep!
Quick impressions: It's a Prostaff 10x25 ATB, but with olive drab rubber. Narrow FOV (262') but for quick looks at odd times and locations it works fine. The added magnification comes in handy, let's say, for kayaking when you don't have time to move in and have a closer look (or don't want to hold up the group). I'm convinced reverse porros give stable views because the objectives are so close together, and these do that. I can see as much detail, and probably a bit more, than I can with my Leica 8x20 Ultravids. Not bad for the price.
On Valentine's day my wife and I were on our way to a restaurant and we stopped to look at horned larks under pretty inhospitable conditions--cold, cloudy, blowing and drifting snow, middle of nowhere. These worked well.
Brightness and contrast are not stellar, but in good light the Nikons are very nice.
Interestingly, they have zero pincushion. I mean zero. I noticed the rolling globe, but I don't think it'll bother me.
Despite having the same 2.5mm exit pupil as the Leica 8x20, they are less fiddly to use with glasses--for whatever reason I don't know. I bring them up and have the view immediately. The Leica always seems to need some fiddling.
Of course they're waterproof, well-armored, seemingly very well made, but a bit heavy for compacts at 12.9 oz. The focus is quicker than my other compacts, around 1/2 turn from min to infin, and Nikon smooth. Reminds me of my FL, too. I like it.
The Ecobin strap is a classy cut above the standard issue. Khaki and olive drab, nicely made. The case is nice too, except for one problem: lint! It gets all over the bins. Whatever the eucalyptus derived all-natural fiber it's made of has going for it in terms of being eco-friendly, it loses in terms of lint. Maybe that will dissipate with use.
The day after I bought these, the price on Amazon jumped to $71, but that's still a pretty good deal. I doubt I'd pay a premium for Ecobins, not more than the regular Prostaff at ~$100-110, but for the price these will get a lot of use.
Mark--who is barely affiliated with anything, much less Nikon.
Quick impressions: It's a Prostaff 10x25 ATB, but with olive drab rubber. Narrow FOV (262') but for quick looks at odd times and locations it works fine. The added magnification comes in handy, let's say, for kayaking when you don't have time to move in and have a closer look (or don't want to hold up the group). I'm convinced reverse porros give stable views because the objectives are so close together, and these do that. I can see as much detail, and probably a bit more, than I can with my Leica 8x20 Ultravids. Not bad for the price.
On Valentine's day my wife and I were on our way to a restaurant and we stopped to look at horned larks under pretty inhospitable conditions--cold, cloudy, blowing and drifting snow, middle of nowhere. These worked well.
Brightness and contrast are not stellar, but in good light the Nikons are very nice.
Interestingly, they have zero pincushion. I mean zero. I noticed the rolling globe, but I don't think it'll bother me.
Despite having the same 2.5mm exit pupil as the Leica 8x20, they are less fiddly to use with glasses--for whatever reason I don't know. I bring them up and have the view immediately. The Leica always seems to need some fiddling.
Of course they're waterproof, well-armored, seemingly very well made, but a bit heavy for compacts at 12.9 oz. The focus is quicker than my other compacts, around 1/2 turn from min to infin, and Nikon smooth. Reminds me of my FL, too. I like it.
The Ecobin strap is a classy cut above the standard issue. Khaki and olive drab, nicely made. The case is nice too, except for one problem: lint! It gets all over the bins. Whatever the eucalyptus derived all-natural fiber it's made of has going for it in terms of being eco-friendly, it loses in terms of lint. Maybe that will dissipate with use.
The day after I bought these, the price on Amazon jumped to $71, but that's still a pretty good deal. I doubt I'd pay a premium for Ecobins, not more than the regular Prostaff at ~$100-110, but for the price these will get a lot of use.
Mark--who is barely affiliated with anything, much less Nikon.
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