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September - October 1999
Volume 31, Number
5
ISSN: 0162-3583
Number 185 |
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On the
cover...
Sako Model 75 Varmint in .22-250 Remington. Jeff C |
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In the past decade slim, straight-tubed, roof prism
binoculars have ruled the high-end binocular market. They are more popular with hunters as
they are more compact than the older, dogleg shaped, porro prism binoculars. However, due
to the roof prism's more complex mechanism, as well as a few technical laws of optics,
they sacrifice some depth of field, brightness and, most importantly, resolution (or the
ability to see fine details). A porro prism binocular built to the same quality standards
as a roof prism model will always be the better instrument.Unfortunately there are few examples of top-end porro
prism binoculars. For years my standard of reference for binoculars has been a 1950's
vintage U.S.-made B&L 7x35 Zephyr Light porro prism binocular. Its coating and hence
light gathering powers were not as good as newer models, but in decent lighting conditions
I could read a newspaper farther away with it than I could with any of Europe's finest 10x
roof prism models.
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Nikon has finally realized there
is a market for best quality porro prism binoculars. Their Superior E line of binoculars
has received rave reviews from serious bird watchers—people who require brightness
and resolution to see the smallest details. Hunters and varmint shooters can take a lesson
here. The Superior E models might be a bit larger than an equal power roof prism
binocular, but they make up for it by being noticeably lighter in weight. I carried the
stunning 8x32 SE model for a brown bear season in Alaska and then to Zimbabwe and
Mozambique after leopard, buffalo and plains game. Every PH who looked through them
declared them the best binocular they had ever seen.
I have been using the newest 12x50 Nikon Superior E binocular for six months now at my
hunting lodge and find most people prefer it to a spotting scope. For the open country
hunter and long-range shooter, it offers unsurpassed quality and is both lighter on the
neck as well as on the wallet than top-quality roof prism models.
For more information on the Superior E series, as well as Nikon's full line of
riflescopes, binoculars and spotting scopes, write: Nikon Sport Optics, Dept. R, 1300 Walt
Whitman Rd., Melville NY 11747-3064; or call 1-800-248-6846; or visit its web site at: www.nikonusa.com.
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