Customer Reviews

Nikon Premier SE 8 x 32 Binocular with Ultra Wide View

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've used this binocular for over 7 years and I can validate every thing that Vallis said in a previous review. You cannot go wrong with this unbelievable binocular.

But, in the same previous review, one thing is, by experience, not true:

"Still, one need not be extremely cautious with these optics and water, as a little water usually won't hurt them. And if they are damaged, Nikon's warranty will have them covered: for 25 years, Nikon will repair or replace them (at their discretion) if they are damaged, at a cost of $10 + shipping - even if the damage was your fault!"

It's right to say that you don't need to be extremely cautious. I've done some birding in rainy condition and I never had any problems with my binocular. But this summer I went true a rough sea in a boat and a big wave of salt water splashed over the deck and got me a little wet. At first, the binocular seemed fine but, after 10 minutes, the left part became completely black. Some salt water touched the prism and a chemical reaction turned its surface to black. Absolutely no light passed true it anymore. The right side of the binocular was ok.

I sent the binocular to Nikon with the proof of guaranty.

After 8 or 9 calls from me and SIXTEEN WEEKS, I got a message telling me that it was not possible to repair them but that they offered me a brand new one for... 500 $ can. (About 450 us)

So, that proves that they are not waterproof and that they don't repair them or exchanges them for free.

Nikon service was, for me, next to zero.

But this binocular is still incredible.

It is rare to find a pair of binoculars with the brightness, sharpness and clarity of the Nikon Superior E! This piece of equipment is truly amazing! It provides such a crisp, true-to-life image without color distortions or image degradation on the edge of the view. For its price, the image these produce is unparalleled. Throw in the wide field of view (the size of the "window" you look through) and a large depth of field (the amount of distance that can be focused on at one time) and you have a binocular that offers one of the very best images optics can produce.

The Nikon Superior E's come in three versions: an 8x32, a 10x42 and a 12x50. The first number in each of these, the power, represents the number of times closer objects in the binocular appear. As power increases, so does the magnification of the image, but not without side effects: field of view goes down (the window gets smaller), stability is reduced (the binocular is harder to hold steady) and more light is needed to produce the same quality image. More light can be gathered if the binocular's aperture (the size of the front lenses) is also increased. That's where the second of the two numbers comes in. The number after the power number represents the aperture, (the diameter of the front lenses in millimeters). A larger aperture means a brighter image in low light conditions, but also means a bulkier, heavier and more expensive binocular. Most bird watchers prefer an 8x42 binocular, with hunters and those bird watchers that spend a great deal of time watching hawks, eagles, shorebirds and water fowl often preferring a 10x50 binocular. The Superior E, unfortunately, has a smaller than optimal aperture for its power.

Despite this small Aperture:Power ratio, the high quality glass and lens coatings used in the Superior E produce a brighter image than nearly all other binoculars! The only time most 8x42 binoculars will appear brighter than the 8x32 Superior E is in very low light, and even this is usually only noticeable by young people whose pupils can dilate more than the average person 40 or older. To these people, the brightness of the superior E will be reduced as the sun sets a little before many 8x42 binoculars, but the Superior E will still appear brighter and sharper at other times of the day.

The Superior E is water resistant, but not water proof. This limits the use of the binoculars somewhat, making it less than ideal for tropical conditions, use on a boat, or bird watching in the rain (which can yield some fantastic sights!) Still, one need not be extremely cautious with these optics and water, as a little water usually won't hurt them. And if they are damaged, Nikon's warranty will have them covered: for 25 years, Nikon will repair or replace them (at their discretion) if they are damaged, at a cost of $10 + shipping - even if the damage was your fault!

These are a great pair of optics, and as you can see, I highly recommend them. If, however, you feel that greater durability, water-proofing and low-light capabilities are more important to you, and you don't want to spend $900 to $1500 for Swarovski or Leica, I would go with the Eagle Optics 8x42 Platinum Rangers. These are durable, water-proof, have an image quality that, though not as amazing as the Superior E, is still nothing short of breathtaking, and have a similar no-fault warranty to keep them safe. The Platinum Rangers are also considerably cheaper (~$350 - $425 at the time of this review), making them an excellent buy. (The Platinum Rangers are not available through Amazon.com, but can be ordered through eagleoptics.com).

The Superior E's are not perfect in every respect (and no binocular is) but despite a few drawbacks, I give the Superior E's 5 stars! As I said, there are no perfect binoculars - you can't improve one quality of optical equipment without hurting another quality. I don't expect this binocular to be everything, but it is the best at being what it is: image perfection!

This is truly a marvelous binocular, and unquesitonably one of my favorites. The size is perfect, it's lightweight and very comfortable to hold. And the images are breathtaking in their clarity and detail. In terms of image quality I prefer this binocular over much more expensive models by Zeiss, Leica, and Swarovski. Yes, it's that good.

The 8x32 designation means that this binocular magnifies the image by 8 times and the objective lens (this is the lens pointed towards what you are looking at that lets the light in) is 32mm. While some are drawn to 10x42 models or even 10x50, it needs to be stressed that more is not always better. Additional magnification tends to only enhance the minor muscular trembles in your hands and arms, making the image seem less stable. Additionally, higher magnification leads to a constrained field of view. While the 42 and 50mm lenses do allow more light in and thus theoretically lead to brighter images and higher resolution, this is an advantage that is seen in only very unusual circumstances. And it brings a lot more weight and bulk as the penalty. For most terrestrial observation, this 8x32 combines exceptional image quality in a light-weight, ergonomic package.

The downside is that this binocular is not waterproof. While some careful preparation should allow a user to keep safe in the field, I've had more than a few experiences in tropical forests where unexpected rains have left me thoroughly saturated. For most users and in most applications, this issue shouldn't be too much of a problem. But if you are prone to stepping off the path and going into some inhospitable areas with severe tropical rain, I'd suggest a waterproof model. You may wish to look at the Nikon Venturer series.

If you're looking for a comfortable, light-weight binocular that is easy to carry, this is the one. If you're looking for binocular with images that are astonishing in their clarity and purity of color, this is one. And if in most instances you will be avoiding situations where waterproofing is essential, it's hard to go wrong with the Nikon Superior E.

If this model was waterproof I would give it 5 stars and unhestatingly recommend it for general use over any other binocular currently available. It's that good.

A correction to the comments by "Bird Watcher" about the Nikon SE porro prism binocular: The SE is not waterproof. The sealed waterproof Nikon model is called the Premier LX or LXL series. It is a different design employing the roof prism configuration. It is not a "replacement" for the SE, as both offerings have co-existed for years, though there is a rumor that Nikon is going to drop the porro prism SEs at some point. Who knows?

The Nikon Premier SE 8x32 binoculars are NOT!!! waterproof. This was confirmed through Nikon USA customer support. Nevertheless, it is a top of the line optics binocular.

Their are 2 downsides to this bino.
Not waterproof, if that is a factor for you.
Some users report the "rolling ball" visual effect when panning. (not for me though).

Other than that they may be the best bino optically speaking, on the market. At the time of this review and for their aperture class; they optically out-perform any other porroprism design, and are optically matched by a one or two of the roof designs costing above $2200 USD.
A well made porroprism bino such as this one will out-perform most roof designs due to much of the expense in the roof design, apart from hopefully superior sealing/waterproofing, goes into overcoming the losses resulting from the higher number of reflective surfaces in the roof design.
Serious review: [...]

I just want to add to the chorus of online reviews just how good these are. While not waterproof (they are weather resistant according to Nikon) and not fashionable like roof prism bins, you cannot find a better 8x32 binocular on the market today.

I've compared these to Swaro 8x32 EL's, Zeiss 8x32 FL's, and some various Leica 8x32's. None of them are as good optically much less better. You will find the Nikon SE's have better edge sharpness, better image clarity and detail, and, to me, better handling.

I've had mine for five years and every time I compare them to the alpha roofs I end up coming to the same conclusion - there is no finer 8x32 made.

The one issue any potential purchaser should keep in mind is that they may not work well in situations where fog-proofed and water-proofed optics are needed.

The SE is very well made and fits nicely in the hands. In fact, it is one of the most comfortable binoculars I have ever held. Additionally, it is lightweight at 22 oz. and hangs fairly well from it's neckstrap. The focuser is in a convenient position and moves firmly, yet easily, requiring about one and a quarter turns to move from extreme close focus to infinity. The diopter wheel is easy to set and, although it does not lock, it remains firmly in place. The eyecups are rubber and roll down for eyeglass wearers. Twist up eyecups would be more desirable, however, given the SE's tendency for blackouts, but more on this later. The SE line is touted to be "water resistant" by Nikon, but it is not water proof. This is not a problem for me as I do not plan on using it in the rain, but for those who live in damp or humid locations, this might be a consideration. The center axle is firm and remains solidly in place throughout a day's hiking.

The glass surfaces are a deep, liquid green and cast very few reflections. Nikon's excellent coatings result in very bright images rivaling the views through larger binoculars. Color rendition and contrast are very good overall. Moderate pincushioning is apparent at the eyepiece. On axis sharpness is outstanding, offering the ability to pick out tiny details in birds and terrestrial views. Off axis, the view remains sharp until the last 10%, at which point it drops off. The fov is listed by the manufacturer as a satisfying 7.5°, a figure that appears accurate from my comparisons with other binoculars. Internal reflections and flare are very well controlled. Eye relief is adequate at 17.4mm. The 8x32SE shares one unfortunate flaw with the other members of the SE line: blackouts. Eye position is critical in order to control this problem and twist up eyecups might contribute to mitigating this effect. Overall, however, the optical quality of this binocular is excellent.

Other minor issues include Nikon's inexplicable policy of including rather poor quality accessories with its premium binoculars, including flimsy objective covers, uncomfortable neckstraps, and a cheap case. These are easily replaced with much better aftermarket accessories, but for the not inconsiderable price Nikon charges for this fine instrument, a little more attention in this area would be very welcome.

Included with the SE is Nikon's excellent 25 year no fault warranty. This is a valuable feature and should be an important consideration when choosing any expensive binocular.

To sum up, the 8x32SE is one of the very best birding binoculars available at any price and will satisfy any dedicated birder who wants top quality optics. The matters of waterproofing, cheap accessories, and blackout prevent me from bestowing it with a perfect score, but it is one of my favorite binoculars in this class, nonetheless.

These binoculars are the standard to judge all other binoculars. European binoculars at 2 to 3 times the price of these Nikons CANNOT compare! Everyone who has the opportunity to look through these Nikon Premier SE (sometimes called Superior "E")binoculars always respond....WOW! You can look through these all day without any kind of discomfort or eye strain. They are very light to hang around your neck and handle/focus quickly. Truly a remarkable binocular and an excellent buy thru Amazon!!

I thought it would be useful for the reader if I wrote this note as an addendum to the two previous reviews. The two previous reviews are for the Nikon Superior E binocular which is an exceptional glass but is not waterproof as stated. The Nikon Premier SE is the replacement model for the Superior E and is almost identical in every respect except that it is now nitrogen filled and is waterproof. I hope this clarification helps.