Nikon Sport Optics Products History (1 Viewer)

[Kevin Purcell]

A rather nice page on the Nikon web site (in the section dealing with their history) giving a table with the Products History of "Ophthalmic Lenses and Others", "Sport Optics", "Surveying Instruments.

http://www.nikon.com/about/info/history/products/index_03.htm

Not perfect but the highlights that might interest people here are:

1981 Fieldscope
1988 7x35E CF / 8x30E CF / 10x35E CF
1989 Fieldscopes II / ED II
1992 Fieldscopes II A / ED II A
1994 Fieldscopes ED78 / ED78 A
1995 10x42SE CF
1998 8x32SE CF, 12x50SE CF, 5x15HG Monocular, Fieldscopes III / III A / EDIII / EDIII A
1999 8x30EII / 10x35EII
2001 Action Series and SPORTER I Series
2002 MONARCH Series, HG Series, Fieldscopes ED III Black (Limited edition)
2003 Fieldscopes ED82/ED82-A
2004 Action EX Series
2005 HGL Series, ED50 Fieldscope
2006 MONARCH Series (again!)
2009 EDG

I think I find most surprising the gap between the intro of the first SE (10x ... is this the height of the 10x fo birders?) and other others in the range. The 10x42SE CF appeared in 1995 but it took until 1998 to get the 8x32SE CF and 12x50SE CF.

1998 was clearly a banner year for Nikon Sport Optics.

EDIT:

Added ED50 Fieldscope. I'm suprised they left it out and I didn't catch it. It is their most interesting product in the past few years.

 

[Kevin Conville]

I would certainly add to 2005 the release of the ED50, as a highlight.

And yes, I think 1995 was probably when 10x bins were their most popular with birders. I know that's what I was using.

 

[henry link]

Sadly this company history used to contain more binocular entries. The 1978 introduction of the original single coated E series binoculars is omitted now. The 1988 event was only the reintroduction of multi-coated versions of the same binoculars. The 8x32 SE actually came out in 1997, not 1998. I still have my Eagle Optics receipt for a pair I bought in Oct, 1997. The strangest omission to me is the 7x50 SP Prostar, introduced about 1985, still available and still state of the art for its type.

 

[BobinKy]

Kevin P...

Thanks for posting this information. This is very helpful.

...Bob
Kentucky, USA

 

[Kevin Purcell]

Sadly this company history used to contain more binocular entries. The 1978 introduction of the original single coated E series binoculars is omitted now. The 1988 event was only the reintroduction of multi-coated versions of the same binoculars.

Interesting.

1978 single coated E porros
1988 multi-coated E porros
1998(ish) SE porros

2009 still no sign of the SEx waterproof with twistup eyecup porros

 

[FrankD]

2009 still no sign of the SEx waterproof with twistup eyecup porros

That may very well be the greatest binocular mystery of all time.



I am glad to know circa what year my 7x35 Es were introduced. If I remember correctly from what Henry posted some time ago my unit is one of the multi-coated models based on the reflections in the lenses.

 

[Kevin Purcell]

Looking back over old threads but I note:

1. Monarch introduced in 2002
2. Monarch bumped in 2006
3. Monarch 3 (dielectric coating) introduced in 2010

So the next Monarch (perhaps with ED glass?) might appear in 2014.

You read it here first

 

[Jason Bugay Reyes]

Hehehehehehe

 

[spyglass]

I had a 7x35E w/FMC...I'd still have it if it wd'v had pop-or-twist ups, rubber obj rings and at least an 8* fov.....the view was nearly as good as the ProStar, and that is saying something. Many who are well versed in the evaluation and rating of optics feel the the big 7x50 gives the best view available in a bino....from any mfr, in any configuration, in any magnification....apologies to the FMT-SX (and my own beloved FL's and SE's, and Leica & Swaro, too.....). Astronomy demands more of the instrument, & the ProStar delivers. I'm sure the point will be argued, but.....(how many spirits can dance on the head of a pin?)

 

[bralk]

Here is the history of Nikon binoculars from 1917-1946.
Note that you can download the piece as a PDF file.

http://www.box.net/shared/m1i0pfhi3v

cheers

Tom

 

[mooreorless]

Hi Tom, Thanks for posting this very interesting.
Regards,Steve

 

[John Dracon]

Kevin and others - Thanks for the Nikon information. Very helpful.
John

 

[Jason Bugay Reyes]

Strange why they didn't include EDG binocular ?

 

[Kevin Purcell]

The EDG hadn't shipped when they wrote the page. And they haven't updated it.