Customer Reviews

Nikon 7238 Action Ex Extreme 8 X 40 mm All Terrain Binoculars

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

These are for anyone on a budget that wants to upgrade from that old pair of travel binoculars or from Uncle Fred's 1954 hand-me-downs. They are *Waterproof* (very important, it's easy to confuse these with the lower-quality Nikon Action range) and fogproof, with clear and bright images. Very solid feel and compact for a full-size Porro-prism design. The 7x35 version of the Action Extreme won the highest position in the Cornell Ornithology Lab 2005 binocular shootout out of 15 budget entries - probably because the 8x40 was not tested.

Yes, they aren't perfect - higher price will get you sharper optics, lighter weights, and slightly better handling - but at this price the only alternative I could find is the Leupold 6x30 Yosemite for around 25% less - and that model is a 6x magnification.

I'm not sure why, but many sites don't cover the warranty on these. You get excellent support from Nikon USA - a 25-year no-fault warranty with a $10 fix or replace fee for the original owner. Combined with the low price and build quality this could be the last pair of binoculars you will ever need to buy.

I am a long-time birder and have used several different low- to mid-priced binoculars over the past 15 years. I bought these binoculars a month ago, have taken them out on 8-9 birding trips and and have found them to be excellent in all respects.

The binoculars are sturdy and well-balanced without being unduly heavy. The optics make for a very clear, bright image in all conditions. I particularly like that they have three click-stop adjustments for the length of viewing, making it easy for people wearing glasses to get the right length. I also very much appreciate the close-focus capability: about 9 feet, which is much closer than other pairs I have used and which makes them reasonably good for watching butterflies.

I would recommend these to any birder.

I am SO pleased with these binoculars. Great eye-relief for eye-glass wearers. Wide angle is as advertised, no tunnel-vision viewing! Thinking of buying a pair for my father for his cruise. Front lens caps are a problem, but just replace with hinged flip-top protectors like on sniper scopes and you're ready to go! Excellent product!

I purchased these binoculars planning to use them in inclement weather, and they work well for that purpose. With the caps over the eyepieces I can walk with them around my neck in rain or snow and have them ready for use as needed. They have been subjected to some gale force wind and rain storms with no adverse effects. Images seen through these binoculars are nice and crisp, and they are easy to focus and adjust. The only thing I do not like about them is the weight. The weight is not a problem in winter when I wear them outside my hood, but in warmer weather when the strap is right on my neck they are much heavier then I would like.

THE BEST BINOCULARS I HAVE OWNED,AND I HAVE HAD MANY. EXCELLENT CLARITY,GREAT FIELD OF VIEW TOO. NICE SIZE ALSO NOT TO BIG, NOT TO SMALL. YOU CANT GO WRONG WITH THIS FINE SET,HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Ordered these binoculars primarily to watch wildlife and am disappointed with the optics quality. I only have my late grandfather's Berkut-7 Soviet made binoculars to compare this Nikon to, so maybe the quality of Nikon is OK for the price. But I really expected Nikon to be superior optics-wise than a pair of dusty twenty-something year-old binoculars I disassembled and re-assembled when I was a child, scratching the coating and leaving my fingerprints in a few places, as well as couple of chips at the edge of the lens. Those old binoculars give a crisper image with almost no chromatic aberration, while Nikon's picture looks noticeably more blurry in high contrast areas, like edges of buildings on sky background, text on road ads far ahead, birds on snow, etc. The Nikon's picture is a bit brighter though (due to bigger objective diameter and superior/intact coating), the finish is definitely better and it's waterproof. I wish Nikon was lighter though and its eyepieces softer.
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Overall, it's a good pair of binoculars (but not great), it's just that it didn't meet my expectations. Knowing this I would look at more expensive series from Nikon or other manufacturers or wouldn't buy anything at all.

The click-set eye-cups are nice and the eye-relief is reasonable even with glasses. Field of view is about the largest you'll get and image is bright. They are pleasant to use. Weight is about standard for this size of binocular. The downside is that there is considerable distortion or blur in the outer 1/3 to 1/4 of the field of view. The edges of the field definitely do not look in focus. However, the field of view is so large that you don't notice the distortion unless you look towards the edges. There is some chromatic aberration, but it is not particularly disturbing.

Obviously you get what you pay for and the reason these binos are relatively cheap is because of the above optical flaws. I can't say how these Nikons compare to others in the price class but I feel that they are probably very good value for money. If you're on a <$150 budget then these are probably one of your best bets. I should be clear that my rating reflects the optical quality more than the value for money because I personally would rather spend a little more cash for better optics. However, if you want to spend under two hundred bucks then these are fine binoculars.

As a longtime birder I have learned the hard way that it's not a hobby for everyone. I had a close friend that when I mentioned that I was going birdwatching she looked at me, obviously puzzled, and said "Watch them do WHAT?"

However, every now and then I meet some young people who show a love for nature and it's various inhabitants. I met this particular couple through business and when they found out about my passion for winged creatures they often asked me questions about birds and birding. So I decided that a pair of binoculars and a birding guide-book would be an appropriate Christmas gift. The choice of a guide-book was easy for me but to choose a decent pair of binoculars took a little more study.

My everyday optics cost well over a thousand dollars. It was important to me that I picked a pair for my friends that was reasonably priced (I did not want to embarrass them by giving them too expensive of a gift). I also wanted to give them a gift that they would hold up well so that they could enjoy it for years to come.

I choose this pair for several important reasons:

* Porro-finder binos are not my favorite but they give much better performance than roof-prisms at this price point
* I wanted a pair that were nitrogen filled, waterproof, fogproof and shockproof
* I insisted on an all-metal chassis even though they were installed in a polycarbonate shell

Nikon is a great name, one that is easily recognized even by novices but I would have happily chosen Swifts or Pentaxs or any other lesser known brand if I thought that they gave more quality for the price. I believe that this is a great pair of all-purpose optics for the price and, after giving them an thorough test I proudly gave them as a gift to some very special people. Five stars based on both quality and value.

The Sibley Guide to Birds

For the money hard to beat. You can spend a lot more and buy better, but these are all I need. They are fairly good size, not your little pocket lookers.You will look very strange if you bust these our at the opera.
First time I use them was in a VIP Suite at at a football game and everyone ended up fighting over who got to use the binoculars next...Even those poeple who brought their own binoculars. They were a hit.

After a little searching i found these at a sporting goods chain and instantly knew this is what i wanted. They are a perfect size and i was shocked when i looked through them at how clear everything was. I wanted something to fit in my briefcase or laptop bag for easy transport and powerful enough for work. Working on the water i also wanted them to be waterproof and for the price i think that these are perfect. They look and feel great and so far i love them. I also love the warranty of 25 yrs. Working on boats i have used many different types of binoculars and i find these to be much better quality than some of the much higher priced models i have used. Amazon easily beat the chain store price. If you are looking for a good quality pair of binoculars for a great price this is it.