jaseroque's Full Review: Nikon Action (7x35) Binocular
I am a biologist who works in the great outdoors. Among other things, I go out into the wild and watch animals for weeks at a time. I therefore needed a good pair of binoculars (sturdy, lightweight, good magnification, comfortable) but as a graduate student, I did not have much money to spend.
I discovered that there is a huge range out there in binoculars. At the top of the line is Leica. These binocs cost over $1,000, but they have fabulous optics and are well nigh indestructible. A colleague of mine got a pair for bird field work in Costa Rica -- she needed to be able to see colored leg bands on birds perched way up in trees while she was standing in a swamp.
I could not afford to pay anywhere near that much (though some day I aspire to a top of the line set!), so I shopped and asked my peers for a pair of binoculars that gives a lot of bang for the buck.
I settled on the Nikon Naturalist IV -- many of my fellow biologists use them and recommended them to me. They are not expensive (less than $100), but you get great value for your money.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF THIS MODEL
Good optics. For binoculars that cost as little as these do, the optics are very, very good. They give a clear, wide, bright, crisp image that is perfect for day viewing. (If you need binocs for twilight or night, get a pair with a number larger than "35" in the 7 x 35 specs).
Lightweight and comfortable. I typically have my binoculars plastered to my face for five to seven hours a day, in the desert, in August. It is ESSENTIAL that they be lightweight, easy to hold, and comfortable. After using an ancient pair of Bushnells that weighed as much as a small car, the Nikon was a dream.
Case and strap included. This is fairly standard for quality binoculars.
Can be adjusted for eyeglass wearers. The little rubber rings around the eyepieces can be folded back for people wearing glasses -- a must if you need to do a lot of switching between binoculars and naked eye.
Cheap You can't beat this price -- under $100. I actually got mine for $85 by shopping online. Never buy binoculars at a retail outlet, you'll pay an arm and a leg. Always use mail order or online purchasing.
THE DOWNSIDE
The Naturalist IV isn't all sweetness and light, however. These binoculars to have a few drawbacks.
Don't drop them. Unlike top notch binoculars (Leica, Zeiss, Swift etc.), which would survive being dropped in a swamp, stepped on by an elephant, or hurled out of a Jeep (believe me, these things happen), the Naturalist IV is fragile. You can't drop them or let them get too wet or humid. If you drop them the optics will be knocked out of alignment and you are screwed. If you let them get too wet water will condense on the glass inside, and you are screwed. As I work in the desert, humidity is not a problem for me, but humidity may be an important concern for you.
CONCLUSION
On the whole, if you can be careful with these binoculars and do not slam them against a tree or drop them in a lake, you will get great value for your money. I highly recommend them for cash-strapped nature watchers.
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