Nikon Action 7x35 EX ATB quick review (1 Viewer)

[Kevin Purcell]

I bought a set of Nikon Action 7x35 EX ATB (silly name ... the waterproof Actions).

They are very nice bins.

Construction quality is good for a Chinese made bin. Finishing of the armor could be better.

Nice view that is sharp and bright with a big 9.2 degree FOV (a real 7x!). Perhaps the not the best contrast with the "black level" not being as black as it could be probably from on-axis scattered light. Perhaps AR coatings could be better. Looking at the reflection of my face in the objectives I can see a bit more detail than some other bins (a useful quick test).

Nice focus action that is quite light for a waterproof porro. A good close focus too < 10 feet.

I think they don't have a lot of pincushion so there is some rolling ball.

Nice grip particularly aided by a design tweak where they've rotated the prism cluster downwards so the objectives are below (and outside) the eyepieces by 30 degrees (rather than zero degrees - all on the same line -- in a "flat" conventional porro like the Celestron DX 8x32). That makes the porro a lot easier to hold with a natural hand position and avoiding a "seagull stance".

I got mine as a Cameraland "demo" for $90 + shipping (about $100 shipped).

Recommended.

I suspect all in this Action (if you don't need the ER and waterproofing) are similar as they seem to share a "common exit pupil size" design (7x35, 8x40, 10x50) so I suspect the EP and prism designs are the same with the objectives and barrels changing.

 

[falcondude]

I think they don't have a lot of pincushion so there is some rolling ball.

Most Nikon binoculars lacks pincushion, with exception of Monarch. I sometimes got dizzy when spending too much time scanning the horizon with rolling ball effect. But the distortion free viewing might be good for astronomer?

 

[Kevin Purcell]

Most Nikon binoculars lacks pincushion, with exception of Monarch. I sometimes got dizzy when spending too much time scanning the horizon with rolling ball effect. But the distortion free viewing might be good for astronomer?

Yes, I've heard similar comments about Nikon e.g. today or yesterday Brock commented that the full size HG and HG L didn't have much if any pincushion but the mid-sized HG does.

There are a couple of other threads that talk about the rolling ball effect where the amount added seems to be part of the "design" style of the company. And if there is a "national design style" the Japanese seems to be less rather than more (e.g. Nikon and Kowa seem to have the same approach but Pentax less so) but that's a very broad brush.

And I can see astronomers might like it.

Also terrestrial observers that don't pan or use the bin in urban areas with lots of strong vertical and horizontal lines.

Perhaps there is a Japanese bin use case that minimizes panning (pick a target and look or scanning in steps) so they consider it not desirable. Or they consider urban use more common?

It's also generally not uncommon in porros too. I have a EO Raptor 10x42 porro (Vixen Foresta ... so another connection to Japan) with a similar lack of pincushion (though it's no zero).

But then again I have a Bushnell Legend 8x42 and Celestron DX 8x32 that has some similar pincushion + field curvature features that look similar. So it might be a part of a eyepiece design too.

 

[edz]

Astronomers don't care about pincushion one way or the other as it has absolutely no affect on the dark sky view. No one can ever tell if a star has moved position slightly.

However, pincushion distortion is almost alays associated with slight rediction in fov from specified, and in that respect both astronomers and terrestrial viewers alike would prefer the fov be as wide as possible. Terra viewers must temper the max fov with at least some moderate pincushion for a comfortable view.

The Nikon AE 8x40 and the AE 12x50 both have very low pincushion. The 10x50 AE has considerably more than those other two.

edz

 

[Kevin Purcell]

The Nikon AE 8x40 and the AE 12x50 both have very low pincushion. The 10x50 AE has considerably more than those other two.

Have you compared the 7x35 to the others in the range for pincushion?

 

[FrankD]

Kevin,

I had a pair of these some time back. I agree with your assessment of them. Very nice view for the price. There was a time when I considered that these could easily be my full-time binocular....and there are times when I wished I had another pair of them to use from time to time. I just looked through a pair of them last month on my trip up to Hawk Mountain (same time as I looked through the EDGs). That particular pair was out of alignment but still provided a very impressive view.

 

[Bosque]

How would these compare to other 7ish x 30ish binoculars in the price range?

Trying to find a nice, low cost, waterproof, wide porro view, weight isn't as huge a concern since I already have a light compact pair of bins.

 

[Kevin Purcell]

How would these compare to other 7ish x 30ish binoculars in the price range?

What other wide 7ish x 30is porros? There aren't many (any?).

If you take it to 6x then you have the Leupold Yosemite and the Vortex Raptor/Eagle Optics Raven. Not nearly as wide FOV but lighter.

The Nikon Actions 7x35 are not nearly as good as these (from reports by edz) but wide and cheaper.

Aside from that I don't see any other choices.

Try searching for the latter ... they've got write ups on the forum.

 

[BobinKy]

What other wide 7ish x 30is porros? There aren't many (any?).

. . .

The Nikon Actions 7x35 are not nearly as good as these (from reports by edz) but wide and cheaper.

Aside from that I don't see any other choices.

Try searching for the latter ... they've got write ups on the forum.

I tried both Nikon Action 7x35 and Nikon Action Extreme 7x35 at a local gun store. The owner was nice enough to let me go behind the store to observe in a large field backing up to a stream. I kept switching between the two models for over an hour. I purchased the Nikon Action 7x35 because I liked the comfort level more than the Action Extreme 7x35. The Extreme was more rugged, especially the eyecup bridge, and it is waterproof. However, the Action just felt more natural in my hands. They are awesome to follow birds in flight. The birds just seem to suspend in air, quite a personal view. They also are great for observing clouds.

...Bob
Kentucky

 

[spyglass2]

I'd personally like to have seen Nikon take the great 7x35E, add the popups and wide field of the Action, along with rubberized armor. Even if they didn't go to the 9.3* (a true 8* would be enuf), that would be a really great all-around, doncha think?