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Nikon 8x30 EII Still Worth getting? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter rdnzl
- Start date
Paultricounty
Well-known member
Absolutely! This is nice glass, bright, sharp , great resolution with huge usable FOV. A very elegant old style retro porro with updated coatings. I have the whole line of these Nikons, and doubles in some of them, right back to the Nikon A’s. These are not water proof or even water resistant and might be a little more delicate than some of the rubber armored roofs of the day.
These are serous optics and punch far above there price point.
And worth getting even more is the superior E.
Paul
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Paultricounty
Well-known member
I see go for $450-$500 all the time NIB. The E then the improved E C (criterion designation) then EII. The SE’s were being produced at similar times from late 1990’s I believe.
Paul
EII's are fantastic. I count them as my good weather leisure binocular and look for any excuses to take them out. I don't like the way they hang so less likely to take them on longer walks. Also do not perform as well on dull overcast days. Damp mornings, they certainly stay at home. But if the weather is good they take precedence over any alpha roof for me. Gorgeous, vivid and immersive view. I paid £380 for mine some years ago, can't decide whether I would do the same on the now £600 price tag.
tenex
reality-based
There's nothing "obsolescent" about an EII. With the latest coatings, it's absolutely lovely and a joy to use, when I can pry it out of my wife's hands. All this has been said so many times here that I finally got one, as I should have sooner even though I'm a 10x guy, so this is high praise. (It's lightweight and one can simply accept the angle it hangs at, which isn't actually problematic, as so many have before.)
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dorubird
The unskilled mechanic blames his tools!
Why I like a refined Nikon EII 8x30 porro binoculars?
Why I chose a refined porro binoculars in the rugged and tough world of roof binoculars? It is about the incomparable simplicity and beauty of this porro binoculars. It has attractive curved shapes, but which hide an extraordinary optics. The mechanics are extraordinarily robust, even if...
www.birdforum.net
Dipperdapper
Well-known member
The Nikon EII 8 x 30 is my favourite binocular. No question.
Easy on the eye to look at as well as to look through. It's also a masterpiece of ergonomic design..., such a joy to hold in my hands.
I don't use it in wet weather. Indeed I rarely glass at all in wet weather as the visibility is poor in pretty much any glass under those conditions. Scottish dreich is dreich after all.
I serendipitously discovered a big improvement with the oft quoted 'hang' problem with the E II when I swapped out the shorter neck strap on my newly restored Nikon E 10 x 35 for the one supplied with the 8 x 30. A shorter strap makes it hang much better.
Neil.
Easy on the eye to look at as well as to look through. It's also a masterpiece of ergonomic design..., such a joy to hold in my hands.
I don't use it in wet weather. Indeed I rarely glass at all in wet weather as the visibility is poor in pretty much any glass under those conditions. Scottish dreich is dreich after all.
I serendipitously discovered a big improvement with the oft quoted 'hang' problem with the E II when I swapped out the shorter neck strap on my newly restored Nikon E 10 x 35 for the one supplied with the 8 x 30. A shorter strap makes it hang much better.
Neil.
rdnzl
Not Sure.
What makes the E superior to the E II ?
Paultricounty
Well-known member
Not sure what your asking. The E2 is superior to the E , it’s the evolution and upgrade to the E series.
If your asking what I meant in the last sentence “And worth getting even more is the superior E” then I was referring to the Nikon SE model ( known as the superior E) which was Nikons premium (alpha) porro.
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yarrellii
Well-known member
I think (with some exceptions) there seems to be a consensus that the EII 8x30 are very nice binoculars. I've surely enjoyed mine over the last 4 years. As for their worthiness, well that's a difficult and personal question (which is why I guess it was asked in the first place).
More and more I see a problem with its price, at least in Europe, which is around 600 Eur currently. Yes, you can find it for around 450 € from Japan, but (at least in Spain, I guess it's the same for the rest of the EU) you'd have to pay the pretty hefty import taxes, you you would end up paying more than 500 €, probably somewhere near 600 €. And the issue is that not that long ago you could get them for way less than that.
Yes, they have a unique view: easy, expansive, comfy and deep. The way your hands cup around their body is just great. But then, they also have some serious drawbacks, especially considering their price: namely not being waterproof (which means they can fog up and there's the risk of fungus... I have first hand experience regarding that). And the problem is that there is a growing number of really solid performers in the 500 € region. No, they won't give you some of what the EII gives you (great FOV, immersive Porro image), but they will give you other things like waterproofness, better portability, better accessories, etc.
Last but not least, I think a great deal of the "worthiness" of the EII is related to whether the owner has other binoculars or the EII is the only one. In the first case, I can see the EII as a very interesting addition to a small collection, to enjoy its many charms. However, if we are talking about having a single bino, then I don't think I would recommend them (or have them as my only bino), because I think there are too many compromises.
More and more I see a problem with its price, at least in Europe, which is around 600 Eur currently. Yes, you can find it for around 450 € from Japan, but (at least in Spain, I guess it's the same for the rest of the EU) you'd have to pay the pretty hefty import taxes, you you would end up paying more than 500 €, probably somewhere near 600 €. And the issue is that not that long ago you could get them for way less than that.
Yes, they have a unique view: easy, expansive, comfy and deep. The way your hands cup around their body is just great. But then, they also have some serious drawbacks, especially considering their price: namely not being waterproof (which means they can fog up and there's the risk of fungus... I have first hand experience regarding that). And the problem is that there is a growing number of really solid performers in the 500 € region. No, they won't give you some of what the EII gives you (great FOV, immersive Porro image), but they will give you other things like waterproofness, better portability, better accessories, etc.
Last but not least, I think a great deal of the "worthiness" of the EII is related to whether the owner has other binoculars or the EII is the only one. In the first case, I can see the EII as a very interesting addition to a small collection, to enjoy its many charms. However, if we are talking about having a single bino, then I don't think I would recommend them (or have them as my only bino), because I think there are too many compromises.
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rdnzl
Not Sure.
"
These are serous optics and punch far above there price point.
And worth getting even more is the superior E.
Paul"
It was this statement that had me scratching my head, but you have now clarified it. I had not heard of a Superior E.
Paultricounty
Well-known member
A pair of what, EII or SE? 🤪
Dipperdapper
Well-known member
Nota bene:
Interesting simultaneous thread on the Nikon E II 8 x 30 here;
www.cloudynights.com
Neil.
Interesting simultaneous thread on the Nikon E II 8 x 30 here;
Nikon 8x30 EII Still Worth getting? - Binoculars - Cloudy Nights
Page 1 of 2 - Nikon 8x30 EII Still Worth getting? - posted in Binoculars: Are these getting long in the tooth, or are they still worth buying? Any actual users opinions would be appreciated. thanks
Neil.
NDhunter
Experienced observer
The SE 8x32 is better than the EII for many people. The SE 8x32 has been a reference standard by reviewers for years.
Spend a little time on the site, "Better View Desired", read about these excellent porros, and educate yourself.
I have had multiple examples of each over the years. The E2 is not superior to the Superior E.
Jerry
Paultricounty
Well-known member
Hi Jerry,
I have spent more time on Better View Desired, as well as numerous other review sites and web channels much more than I care to divulge. I don’t think that there’s much more I could educate myself about the Nikon E, EII and SE’s. I have multiples of all of these little jewels in my collection, not that that would mean I’m an expert , but I have a good handle on which ones are which. Im not sure where I stated that the E2’s were better , I may have used the word superior and that may have been confusing.
I clarify my thoughts, the E2’s are good glass , but not on the same level as the SE’s (Premier SE also known as Superior E ) models. The SE was Nikons top of the line Porro , and was not only named Superior E, but they were superior (better) to any of the E series binoculars before them , in Optical quality.
Paul
