Robust lower middle class for little money!  Not Weatherproof!

Robust lower middle class for little money! Not Weatherproof!

Nikon Aculon A211 8x42 binoculars (8x, 42mm front lens diameter) (Electronics)

Customer Review

Nikon is well positioned in the lower segment:
The Monarch series in the lower middle class
The Prostaff series in the top entry-level class
The action and the waterproof Action EX in the beginners class
The Sporter-series in the lower level class
Now comes a new ones: The Aculon series, also in the beginners class. What to bring?

I hardly have accumulated all Monarch and action over the years. Sporter and Prostaff I have returned because of visual defects and never re-appointed. The Action bringing already for the price a reasonable figure, but are not mechanically rigid (too much plastic).
The Monarch series is already much better, but shows too many fringes and part distortion.
Now I get three different Aculon for testing purposes. Here are my detailed opinion on the A211 10x42:

DELIVERY, WARRANTY
The delivery is actually common but high IO and for the price quite good:
Binoculars, padded cloth bag, strap, lens and Okularabdeckungen, warranty documents, operating instructions.
The quality of the accessories is true, that is a solid material, wider straps with reinforcement, clean seams etc.
Nikon offers a 10 year warranty which for the first 5 years parts and labor, then only the parts are included. The postage paid by the customer.
This requires the submission of the completed sheet C of guarantee coupons and Nacheis of purchase with date.
The guarantee documents does not include service address only the tel 01805 888295, charge with 0.14 EUR / min. The number is no longer active, you will be on another station no. referenced in Dusseldorf at the local rate. There is a more complicated procedure. Other manufacturers require no invoice but seen from the building no. the date and take equal the binoculars for repair or maintenance of the plant.
The manual is easy to read and well illustrated.
My evaluation of this section: 4/5 stars.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Classic Porro prism design, Zentralfokusierung, diopter adjustment on the right eyepiece, means metal bridge, very grippy rubber full fairing, Extendable Okularringe, diameter of the entrance lenses: 42mm, magnification 10x, Weight 793 gr (LT With Strap Weight Manufacturer:.. 760 gr)
Not waterproof, "runoff with rain or splashing water, etc. into contact" (quote operator's manual).
Eyepieces: approx 19mmm,
Exit pupil: 4.2 (8x42: 5.25)
Aperture: 17.6 (8x42: 28.1)
Field of view at 1000m: 105m (8x42: 140)
Field of view (subjective): 55.3 degrees
Minimum Distance theoritisch: 5m, effectively practicable without double glance effect: from 8m.
Diopter compensation: Suitable up to 4 diopters difference left-right eye.
Eye Relief: Adjustable from 56 to 72mm (measured: to 73mm).

Your Review: A classic, simple but clean, well-balanced design, only a "fair-weather binoculars", which tolerates neither rain or splashing, therefore star deduction.
The 10x magnification is no longer so easy to control by private treaty. For beginners, the elderly, etc. which can temporarily lead by tremors and heartbeat to an impairment of the stable picture. What one wins by the (relatively minor) Enlargement, it loses again. Thus, the 10x is not necessarily result in more detail. I recommend to the license plate test: reading a license plate number is 50 meters away. In any case, brightness suffers from the higher magnification and the exit pupil verrringert from 5.25 to 4.20 mm.
Since it is so pretty from the 7mm a twilight or hunting binoculars (8x56 or 9x63).
This may seem low, but on board the Titanic would be the difference between collision and timely dodge been.

The remuneration of the lenses clearly reflected little bright spots, so much light is absorbed and passed on to the eyepieces.
The appearance itself proves to be very transparent and partly offset by the 4.2 mm of the exit pupil.

All lenses are all around very well protected by salient rubber rings. The tons, obviously. Metal also by the rather thick rubber skin
The result is a robust, powerful, bright but not too heavy Midsize binoculars, which however by the leaky construction and the weight (0.8 kg can not permanently lift) strong restrictions apply, such as no outdoor, no events .. ,

ANATOMY, haptics
With L155xB185xH55mm and 0.8 kg of fighting weight (incl. Shoulder strap) is the A211 10x42 no longer in the compact class (usually up to 32mm) but already in the full-size class.
Anatomically considered, the distance between the eyes / pupils (center-center) is sufficient both for children and adults of all sizes. Only the weight sets limits for hands-free long-term observation. The A211 has but a standard thread for tripod mount.
The fit of the barrel results in a perfect fit, even for smaller hands. The rubber lining is extremely handy.
The binoculars are good equilibrium to. The central bridge works perfectly and inconspicuously The viewing distance can also set children aged 5-6 years itself.
The Fokusierwalze is the focus, is easily accessible for both index fingers. She is almost 28 mm length and diameter not only beautiful überdimensionniert, but also covered with profile rubber and rotates on top evenly, smoothly and silently, without springs, Fettsauggeräusch or any unwanted manifestations.
The dioptre adjustment on the other hand is made of smooth Harplastik, poorly accessible plus unnecessarily heavy. The binoculars are just so pass it on to a child or woman with delicate fingers and other prescription no friendly train! When the lady at that time has polished nails, it would be better scale down your expectations for the late-night program.

The Okularringe feature 2 intermediate positions, are more than 45 degree rotation on or extended. They are backlash-free and very stable in the extended position. While the binoculars are suitable for observing with eyeglasses, but provides enough leeway with the diopter adjustment for eyeglass wearers with very distinct visual impairments so that they use it without glasses. The large lenses are supposed to be generous when the pupil is not exactly located in the extension of the optical axis. But that is not quite so, because presumably the prisms are very scarce dimensioned and the pupils must be positionned as already very accurate, otherwise quickly tretten Störschatten on the edge.

Your Review: A good design by people who understand their work. Too bad that the diopter is not rubberized and so stiff.
The binoculars are very comfortable in itself, but also Störschattenempfindlich.

PROCESSING, MECHANICS, FUNCTIONAL
For a pair of binoculars in this price range made in China, at least outside are construction and manufacturing, exceptionally well. Nikon writes in the warranty Description: "Your Nikon equipment has been manufactured according to the high quality standard of NIKON VISION Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan ....."
This was not always so, but that is true when Aculon T01 8x21 to a large extent:

The center Laxe is made of metal, but the eyepiece made of plastic. But that's OK because they do not bending back and forth as in the Nikon Action series. The entire construction is really mounted very rigid and very accurate. Actually amazing that the weather resistance is not granted below these circumstances (precaution of Nikon?).
The optical inspection (eg looking through the lenses in bright Taageslicht) reveals a single small Fremkörper in the right appearance at 1 clock. But it is so small that the figure by no means affected and quite enjoyable for a Chinese brand the price range. One must simply accept such margins in the price range. In China no nitrogen is blown after each operation with high pressure on the lenses as Zeiss.
Rubber surface, editing, paint, lettering, gap masses moving parts ... I am unable to discover any criticisms or to find Schwächstellen.

Unlike in the processing of optical components: While the collimation and the blackening of the interior surfaces is impeccable, but the mounting of lenses and prisms just looks bad from: Massive white Klebereste unloving and unclean "pukes executed" to the lens edges. (We want to tighten at the price not ask) If one sticks already so sloppy, then at least with black hot glue and not white!
This must lead to star deduction.

My review: Processing: 4/5 stars, mechanics: 4/5 stars.

Visual scoring: FIELD OF VIEW, sharpness, edge sharpness, depth of field
That the binoculars does not belong to the upper class, is already noticeable for the expert, but not immediately, and as massive as the T01: No interference Coronna with vignetting. Although there is a significant decrease in the sharpness of the edges, significant geometric distortions and often Störschatten and backlight sensitivity, but these are absolutely normal in the beginners class and it would be surprising if they were not there in the price range.

The field of view is with 140m at 1000m already panoramic and much larger than the 10x42 (105 m).
In an 8x magnification subjectively comes the impression of a distance of 125m and 140m the width corresponding to a viewing angle of almost 60 degrees. It is dipped almost in the figure. In conjunction with the good sharpness, which offered contrast, brightness and the distance of the objective lenses from one another which leads to a very plastic 3D imaging, which is not only beautiful and precise, but also pleasant and comfortable.

Sharpness in the center is absolutely impeccable and still significantly better than the T01: Small flies in 10m distance, dissolve pine needles against the bright sky in about 50 meters, millimeter-thin wires of an old television antenna in 75m distance individual and clean, everything is a no-brainer for the A211. The lines of the pick-up times to a mailbox in also 75 m are on the contrary to the T01 clearly resolved (but unreadable).
It stays that way until about 30-40% from the edge, then takes the focus gradually from (and to a lesser extent contrast and brightness), but not dramatically, and not disturbing, because normally the eye to only about 50% of Figure in the center of the visual field focused and the focus will remain far beyond this region. Contrast and brightness also. Especially side and backlight not cause annular gray haze on the edge.

Even in the depth of field gets the A211 a good report. The Fokusierrad has an operating range of a total of 405 degrees, or about 1 1/8 turn.
The first 90 degrees cause the focus to about 6 m. In the area, the depth of field is up to 1 m and the parallax adjustment of tons causes a double-look effect until 6-8m so decreases that the observation is pleasant.
In the next 90 degrees thanks to long direct and gentle translation focused to about 14m. The depth reached there about 5m, which on the outskirts of this size only minimal corrections are needed to tease out the optimum sharpness. I want to emphasize that from about 10m the picture enormously vivid and three-dimensional works, and when the sun shines, beyond wonderfully bright and contrasty.
At about 340 degrees, which is almost a revolution, the focus is located at about 75m. There the appearance distinguishes sharply between about 50 and 300 so that individual sheets are there yet resolved. More focus is of course there when small corrections are made.
These are not annoying because the Fokusierrad works smoothly and accurately, and obey the optics immediately.
It follows that in the mid-long range not only reign a huge adjustment clearance but also a generous depth of field. That's the untalented observers very well.
By exponential focus position is naturally little room for the extreme distance the field of astronomy. But even with infinitely focused optics with enough scope and precision: The full moon is mapped closely needle sharp with slight halo, which is partly due atmospherisch and the stars. The focus in the Astro-area is thus also easily accessible.

Visual scoring brightness, contrast, color fringing, geometric distortions
Counter- and side light can withstand the A211 not very good: If the sun (or at night lantern light) obliquely from the front, may appear a bright veil on the edge at 5 clock, which can spread to up to 25% of the figure. Of course it is not very happy when a fair-weather binoculars as the A211 just with sunshine problems has the backlight effective channeling and suppress.

Otherwise there is little reason to complain about:
On paper, the brightness values ​​look average to good and the visible absorption of the objective lenses or their remuneration can expect a good brightness.
This is confirmed by my nocturnal observations: As long as something Remaining or moonlight exist shows the optics quite a few details, such as tiles etc. because where the eye sees only dark spots, but slightly less than the 8x42. Color values ​​are also at dusk (naturally very weak) played long after the eye only sees grayscale.
I have, I believe, already mentioned, that the picture is very vivid, very bright, colorful and rich in contrast. Color casts I could discover no time.
What has amazed me correctly, is that it did not succeed to discover fringing, neither the full moon test yet in the otherwise very effective test of the satellite antenna against the bright sky. The moon was absolutely edge sharpened without the usual mustard yellow and purple stripes that are easily visible at the Monarch and even expensive brands binoculars of the superlative.
By contrast, it was not easy to adjust interocular distance and to find the pupil position to the eyepiece to avoid Störschatten auftretten. Even the smallest change and promptly was here and there a Störschatten. But this should not be a massive criticism that you get with patience to 50% under control and that's no exclusivity of A211.
This is true even with geometrical distortions, that is, the bending of roof edges and flagpoles or cushion effect, in this case tons effect.
The effect is obvious from the center at the A211 from about 30%, but not so bad that German homes are transformed into Chinese pagodas.
If I, however, the binoculars back in an environment with such straight lines and forth move, then I will have a little dizzy by the deformations. To be honest, the A211 is in this respect, not outstanding but also not particularly bad, even slightly better than the average in its class.

CONCLUSION
The A211 is a flat rate and undiffereniert judge actually not possible because there are a lot of good and a lot less good. Just as it would be inaccurate to describe collectively mittelgrau a chess board with white and black squares.
The strengths of the A211 are visual field, sharpness, brightness, contrast, color reproduction, plasticity, robustness, ease of use and features.
The weaknesses are the leak and weather resistance, weight, restricted edge sharpness, backlight sensitivity Störschatten, tons of effects and the splices of the lenses in the tubes.
The lack of rain leads to resistance caused by the use. The other weakness is not really tragic. Who can live with it, and that should be done at the price actually receives a LOW COST robust binoculars with good reason properties and super beautiful picture.

In absolute terms, earned the binoculars 4 stars. When value for money 5 stars.
I dozen Zeiss, Leica, HG, Kowa, Docter, Swarovski, Leupold, Rainier, Meostar and co. possess, I have for the test binoculars unfortunately no use.

A fine thing 1 Rank: 5/5
March 1
Perfect January 2776 Rank: 5/5
August 23
Very fun 31 Rank: 5/5
April 12
Perfect 1 12275 Rank: 5/5
July 28
I loved this book. 1 1 Rank: 4/5
March 20

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