I'm thinking of aquiring Nikon 10x42 DCF Binos any reports reviews or comments.

They look very nice and rugged and fits into my price range.

Go to riflescopes.com and scroll down , find the optics forum. Search for Nikon and you should find loads of info.

Sprig

check with the opticzone.com

safari hunt,

I had bought a used pair as described about a year ago. They are really great. I had been using a pair of Leica 8x20 compacts which were very good for carry in the bush, but for long term glassing and clarity, the Nikons are very nice. They are heavy though, only down side I could see.

Check these out: Pentax 10x33 DCF XP. Top-rated by many bird-watchers mags. About $425.

A friend of mine has both the Pentax and Zeiss Victory 8x40 and says they are equal in performance. Zeiss Victory is more than twice the price.

Or the Pentax DCF XP 8X42

Leica, Swaroski and Zeiss aside I compared Lynx 10x42, Pentax 10x42, Olympus 10x42, Minolta 10x42 and then the Nikon I must say I couldn't see a difference in quality between the Pentax, Nikon and Minolta. All of them looked great the downside with the Pentax is that it was 1 1/2" longer all of them were around the same weight and the Minolta was almost double the price.

BTW I was really dissappointed with Lynx and it was the same price as the nikon, pentax.

The only downside I could find with the NIkon is the quaraantee. The SA agent was only willing to give a year quaraantee. The Minolta had 15 years, Pentax 10.

But the cheapest of them all is the Nikon which was quoted with a discount otherwsie same price as the Pentax.

So I'm really leaning towards the NIkon and since I haven't heard anything bad I think I will take them. Thanx all.

Safari- Hunt- Were you not able to source Kahles? If you can get to a place that carries them it might be worth a look for you. I just picked up a pair after being a loyal"Big Three" user for many years. What I have heard is that they are owned by Swaro, serviced by Swaro and have Swaro glass and coatings. First saw them being used by a PH in Moz and was impressed from the start.

Crane,

Thank you I know that Khales is very good as well but that is also out of my price range. The Nikon was quoted for R2900 or + - $450 US.
Which is what I can afford at the moment.

That is a good price. I think the Kahles would cost another 150-250 US. Still, 1/2 of the "Big Three".

I currently have a pair of Swarovski's and love them. At the NRA meeting, I peeked through a pair of Kowa BD42 series binoculars and was quite impressed. I have a Kowa 80 mm spotting scope that is absolutely crystal clear and top-of-the-line in all aspects. I think their binoculars (which are relatively new) are the same. Prices for the Kowa binocs are around $600 which is less than half of what I would have expected to pay.

http://www.kowa-usa.com/sporting_optics/product_bd42.php


Doug

Dunno if you wear spectacles but in my case, the extra eye relief of Swarovski 8x30SLCs was a godsend compared to my Pentax 10x42DCFs. I don't think I gave up much optically but gone are the days of having to take my glasses off to get a full field of view through the binos.

It took me about five years of talking myself into the $800 price tag on the Swaros and won't say it was unequivocably worth it but for the eye relief issue.

I'm quite happy with my Steiner Safari 8x30. The auto-focus really works and 8x magnifications is more than enough for jesse bush.
BTW, I added those Cabela's shoulder straps: they really keep my binos close to the chest and out of the way.

Thanx all for the input and comments I went ahead and Bought the BInos and I must say that I'm very happy with them so far.

Now just to wait and use them in the veldt which will be in the end of July

IMHO, Steiner binos are the best on the market for the money. I have a couple pair, but also have a really good set of old Nikons. I like binos with individual eye focus and all mine have this.

Wow, Eland Hunter, I have to say that I hope you are talking about Steiner Roof Prisms?

I have had 3 pairs of Steiner Porro-Prisms and they all sucked, even the 25x80 Senators. They aren't alligned for Binocular vision both lenses pointed at different things.

Burris makes a good set in the Signature line for $500 and all the Nikon, Pentax, Canon, stuff in that same price range is good.

I took a pair of Swarovski EL 8.5x42s to Namibia last year and I hated them. They are clear, and pick up light very well, but not $1000 better than the $500 Nikons and Burris's I own.

For normal African hunting a pair of $500 10x50s roof prisms is ideal.

For hunting wild boar at night in Germany yes a pair of Leica 8x56 is better.

I have a pair of heavy swarovskis that are for all instants and purpose useless in the field. What I rely on is the Zeiss diafun. Wherever I go they are derided as being too flimsy to stand up to the rigours of safari life. IMO they are the best bang for the buck. Light and precise, for the sport hunter(not PH) they do the job. 7 years and they still are my weapon of choice!

Product review of the Nikon Monarch 10x42.
They are super on our recent hunt with CChunter and his son I really used them well and the vision and clearness of the lens makes it really worthwhile. The light gathering is also super. It is rough and rugged a bit heavy but not a pain to cary all day long.

For the price I would hihgly recommend them. I give it a big thumbs up.

The 8 safaris I have made to Zim I have used Swarovskis. I have 10x42's and 10x50's. Carried the 10x50's a couple of times but mostly the 10x42's. I have a problem with interocular distance on most binos they don't fold together enough. My eyes are very close together. I like the Kahles and if I were to buy a smaller pair that would probably be the brand. Very bright and seem well built and they fit. My 10x50 SL's are by far my favorites. Lots of light.

3 of us went to Alaska last year for a brown bear and of course the weather was wet and raining. 2 of us had Swarovski and the other a pair of Nikon Monarchs. My friends Nikon binoculars fogged on the second day.

Nikon sent him a new pair but it was a problem on the bear hunt.

The Swarovski's did not fog.

BigB

Why do you need a pair of binoculars? I carry only one at a time.

Kahles 10x42 have served me well.

I am a big fan of Steiner binos. I have 2 pairs, one pair of 7x50 Marine and another pair of 8x30 Predator. I like having individual eye focus.

I have a Steiner nighthunter 8 x 30 and its is great. Very bright and a lot cheaper than Zeiss and the Zeiss I looked in while hunting were not better than the Steiner.
Ps. I have Zeiss classic 3-12x56 riffle scope so I have nothing against Zeiss.