Nikon Superior E 10x42

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Nikon Superior E 10x42
Probably the sharpest binoculars currently on the market. They are also very durable and easy to use. The only drawback is the high price.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41922

Nikon Superior E 10x42
I already owned the 8x32 Superior E which is every bit as good as described in Better View Desired and so are these. I liked my 8x32SE so much that I was dying to try the 10x42 especially for stargazing.
I'll describe my experience of using these in just two words: "Total Eyegasm!"
I am -5 diopters in both eyes and these have just enough focus for stars at night or objects on the horizon.
They have exactly enough eye relief for pleasurable use over my glasses and reveal the entire 60 degree FOV.
The roll-down eyecups leave no annoying marks either!
Their light weight and comfortable grip gives me extra time for looking straight up without a tripod. I can easily use them with one hand for short glances and quick sweeping around the sky.
The color purity is wonderful. The moon is pure and silvery white with no tinting or color fringing along the bright limb.
Bird plumage in sunlight looks like pictures in National Geographic. All of the luminescence, vibrance and iridescence are right there.
There is only very minor lateral color near the edge of the field.
Speaking of the field, that 60 degree apparent field is wonderful with only very moderate focus softness toward the edge. It's better at the edge than the 50 degree field of the Fujinon 7x50FMT-SX.
I wear hyper-index aspherical polyurethane lenses and they make the edge several times sharper - almost perfect!
On axis they are as sharp and contrasty as can be. They snap right into focus with no mushiness whatsoever.

They aren't cheap but they are worth it. Best new price I found was Focus @$560 and Adorama @ $609. I was lucky and picked up a very nice used pair off Ebay.

They have no 1/4-20 threads and won't attach to a standard 'L' adapter. They require a special $40 Nikon tripod adapter, which can be hard to find.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41923

Nikon Superior E 10x42
On further thought and use, I think I would have to give these a 9 instead of a 10, only because Nikon still refuses to put a quarter-twenty mounting on them, so I always end up having to handhold them and that costs enough in resolution that I reach for my litte Canon 10x30 stabilized binocs instead, since they definitely outresolve these otherwise great binoculars, when these are handheld.
Virtually everyone who has reviewed these binocs and other great binocs like the 10x70 Astroluxes and the 7x50 Prostars in the last five years has complained about this mounting problem. Why Nikon hasn't fixed it by now is well beyond me!! One last thing, if you are willing to take a refurbished pair of these, you can get one for $399 from Sierra Trading Post. I got mine there and they were in perfect shape, except that, someone had scratched the rubber armor slightly when they attempted to take off the post cover to get to, guess what?, the quarter-twenty female mounting threads that aren't there!!

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41924

Nikon Superior E 10x42
As I said before these are currently available 3-7-01 refurbished for $399 from Sierra Trading Post. They have a website. If they are out of stock when you call, don't give up, keep checking their website. They get the refurbished binocs in small batches and run out quickly, (at $399 you'd expect that!), but they usually get a new batch every few weeks.

Overall Rating: No Vote
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41925

Nikon Superior E 10x42
The 10x42 Superior E is truely astonishing in resolution and brightness.
Although the exit pupil is smaller than an old pair of Nikon Wideview
7x35s I have, they showed alot more detail in the dark shadows than the
7s. While the old pair has excellent resolution, it's lens coating
failed to keep out spurious light. I continue to be amazed at the texture
& details I see with the Es during terrestial use. As an earlier commentator
said, you have to be "right on the target" when viewing Jupiter to avoid
coma. The 10x42s are great for a "grab & look" but wish they were more powerful. I bought my pair from Eagle Optics and have only rave comments for their excellent service. Since this store carries almost all of the quality
binoculars in this price range, a very knowledgeable & friendly sales rep
tried out all of them (B&L Elites, Pentax DCF WPs, etc) and told me the Es
were by far the brightest. Regarding the lack of a tripod adapter...Contact an
authorized Nikon dealer and order Product #7806. This is a "C" clamp for
the center post. List Price $60. Can any one recommend a pair of quality binoculars with 20 Xs magnification deep sky viewing for $500? Remember, I've been spoiled by the Es.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41926

Nikon Superior E 10x42
I worked for four months in a telescope/optics shop, and had the chance to try all of the high-grade binoculars. I took a number of Zeiss, Leica, & Swarovski binoculars outside when it was late afternoon. Just for grins (as they say), I decided to try the 10x42 SE. I already had the 8x32 SE, and was very happy with it. But I wanted a really rugged waterproof binocular this time. Well... Eye relief, brightness, contrast, ergonomics, steady hold... Everything. The 10x42 SE WAS superior to all the others. The better image detail was immediately apparent. So I bought it. I had to, sadly, sell it when I moved back to Denver, for financail reasons. At least I still have the 8x32 SE, which never fails to satisfy me. But the immediate details that the 10x42 SE could deliver was even higher then with the 8x32 SE.

BUT... I've contacted Nikon about whether the Superior Es use ED glass. I've read the reviews that others have posted about this binocular, and wanted to know what Nikon said. I was told that neither the SEs or the Venturers used ED glass.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41927

Nikon Superior E 10x42
I bought another 10x42 SE to replace the one that I had to sell. I had it shipped to my work address, and some of my fellow employees tried it out. Our operations coordinator, who used to work for Bausch & Lomb, thought that it was 8x, the hold was that steady. He said that his Bushnell's optics did not compare at all to the SE. Our purchaser could not believe how clear and detailed the views were. She then said that she could see why someone might get addicted to such optics.

This is the second time that someone has said that I'm addicted to great binoculars!

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41928

Nikon Superior E 10x42
Sharpest 10x binos I've ever owned or used. I was able to easily split Albireo handheld while simply leaning against a fence railing. Believe it or not, I even got Mizar A/B *handheld* while holding my breath and locking my elbows down under me on the railing. Saw Venus' slightly gibbous phase a couple nights ago at about 4 AM. The shape was distinct with no flaring or false color.

And they're light! The light weight and wide FOV make them so comfortable they feel like 8x binos. But then when you look at open clusters like M7 or M45, your jaw drops with the 10x power.

No tripod hole so you have to order the proprietary adapter from Nikon. But I don't intend to mount mine, I've got Fuji 16x70s for that. I've also got Fuji 7x50s for general use and super FOV, but I definitely prefer the Nikons for astronomy due to the extra power and light weight. The 42mm aperture is plenty. The smaller exit pupil reduces spiking off bright objects if your eyes have astigmatism like mine. I get pinpoints on everything whereas 7x50s give me spikes on Jupiter etc.

I only wish they were waterproof. But that would make them several ounces heavier and the light weight is one of their greatest advantages! Superb product, best in class!

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41929

Nikon Superior E 10x42
Amazing lack of distortion. Worth every penny.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41930

Nikon Superior E 10x42
These are fantastic binoculars. I had a pair of Leica 10x50s which I was very happy with because of the very fine optics. They were stolen so I shopped around and decided on the Nikon 10x42 SEs. The more I use them, the more impressed I am. Extremely sharp, lightweight, well balanced in my hands, and wonderful contrast. The seeing is better overall than the Leicas and the feel and balance in my hands is much better. Others who have used these binoculars have been equally impressed. If you're serious about making an investment in binoculars, these are well worth the money.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41931

Nikon Superior E 10x42
Hi,

I did a lot of research on the web, and I finally decided on the Nikon Superior
E 10 x 42 binocular.......and WOW...these are truely amazing. This is truely
a lifetime purchased, if you take proper care of them. Them feel so amazing
in your hands..also sexy. I wish I can permenantly attach them to my eyes
all the time!!

Mike

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41932

Nikon Superior E 10x42
Being a binocular nut, I now own a bunch of pairs in my asrenal, including Leica 10x50 BN, Fujinon 16x70 FMTSX old version, Leica 8x20 BC, Carl Zeiss Jena 8x30 Deltrentis, Olympus 8x42 EXWPI, Pentax 8x24 UCFV, Celestron 10x60. Now 10x42 SE becomes a new member to my bino family.

The view of SE is very similar to Leica 10x50 BN! The Leica has noticeably larger field of view, the picture window effect is extremey addictive. Alas, the barrels is perfectly aligned. On the other hand, SE is better in distortion correction and provides more stereoscopic view, also it is more user friendly.

They are both tack sharp and crystal clear. Details jump right out of you. The view is so similar that some even says that they can't distinguish any meaningful difference exept the field issue. Call it a draw.

I will use SE as my hiking binocular and Trinovid will spend most times under night sky.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:10 Value:8
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=178185

Nikon Superior E 10x42
Now that I have used the SE and Leica 10x50 BN for more than 3 months, I would say both are excellent. To my eyes, SE may be slightly sharper than at least one BA version. I think it performs better in daytime. For astronomy, Leica should beat SE because:
1. Stars twinkle less (But why?)
2. Larger field
3. SE has some edge vignetting effect in nighttime. May be due to too much eye relief.

In conclusion, SE is best for birding and BN is best for scanning across the milky way.

Overall Rating: No Vote
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=233072

Nikon Superior E 10x42
The more I use it, the more I love it. It is simply the best 10x42 binocular optically. The view is the sharpest and brightest I have ever come across with. Although I am a strong advocate for German optics, I have to say it is a little bit brighter and sharper than Zeiss Victory 10x40 and without pin cushion distortion.
However, it is not water proof. I always wonder why Nikon doesn't make waterproof SEs and sell them like big Mac. With the impeccable optic quality, even IF will attract a lot of folks.

Overall Rating: No Vote
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Nikon Superior E 10x42
These are the best binoculars I've ever used. I happen to prefer the feel of porro prism binoculars, so these are ideal for me.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=354040

Nikon Superior E 10x42
read some stellar reviews of these and picked up a closeout at a great price.Yes, I believe they are now discontinued. The rave reviews are legit! They are the sharpest, flattest field, easiest to look through 10X binoculars I have ever seen. I compared them to very high end roof prism ones last week, and these have better optics. Sharper to the edge, and less false color are the two most outstanding features.

The way your hands wrap around the magnesium body, it makes it really easy to hand hold them. The night sky reveals pin point stars and surprisingly bright images. These are brighter than any 10X50 I have compared them to. Eye relief is good, with eye placement not that critical.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=563105

Nikon Superior E 10x42
This is a very good binocular, among the finest porro prism glasses on the market. It gives very sharp on axis images and the views remain sharp to about 80° of the way across the fov. Contrast is very good, and stray light and internal reflections are well controlled. Lens coatings are deep green and evenly applied on all surfaces. Overall, the optical quality of the 10x42SE is very good to excellent. Typical of the SE line of binoculars, however, there are significant tendencies to blackouts which can be annoying.

Mechanically, the Nikon 10x42SE is well made and smartly designed. It fits well in the hand and is fairly light and easy to use. The focuser is firm and moves smoothly. although not quite as nicely as the Nikon LX models. Rubber eyecups are provided with the SE, but twist up eyecups would be a better feature, particularly to mitigate the effects of blackout. The diopter wheel adjusts firmly and stays where it is set, although it does not lock, and the center hinge is firm and remains solidly in place through a good day's (or night's) work.

One quibble, though, is Nikon's policy of equipping its otherwise excellent binoculars with cheap accessories, including the neck strap, lens covers, and case. I have replaced these items with better products, but for the fairly stiff price of an SE, Nikon should be able to provide much nicer amenities for its premium binoculars.

Finally, Nikon's excellent 25 year, no-fault warrantee comes with this binocular. This is one of the very best warrantee policies in the business and it is comforting to know Nikon stands behind its products.

Altogether, these are outstanding binoculars and are definitely designed for the well-heeled and discriminating user. I am giving it a rating of 9 rather than a perfect 10 primarily because of its its tendency for blackouts and its cheap accessories but I would still recommend them enthusiastically to anyone searching for a top quality 10x porro prism binocular.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Value:8
Weight: 40 (Reputable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=511152

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