The chosen for Nikon Sport EX 8x25 is an inexpensive glass, which I have compared to a much more expensive 8x20 DCF Nikon HGL - undoubtedly the absolute top class. If one considers the difference in price, it is no surprise that the more expensive product performs better. But you can get an idea how much the additional cost must be to ensure the quality of binoculars by means maybe - let climb Good "to excellent".
Because the EX is slightly more expensive than the very cheap optics various discounters, it was exciting to see how it is positioned to the reference class.
Appearance:
The EX is in contrast to the HG-L does not handle so dibasic. Specifically, the eyecups are in the EX extremely light and can not engage, so that an unintended adjustment would be conceivable. However, the folding bridge makes a very good impression. Weight and dimensions are similar pleasantly small, the HG-L is a bit more compact. The Nikon HG-L is manufactured in Japan, the former is produced in China. The lump sum is intended to represent no devaluation, but optics manufactured in Japan are in my experience almost always of very decent quality, which applies fully here.
The realized diopter compensation is perhaps the biggest difference between the two external devices. On EX which is reacted somewhat fiddly on a wheel directly on the eyepiece but is useful and pretends not alone. The HG-L has it specially a small wheel, similar to the main focus. This is very precisely adjustable - a truly wonderful solution.
The 8x25 is declared waterproof. Thus an internal fogging is ruled by moisture. For use in nature even at high humidity, a not to be underestimated advantage. Furthermore, can be cleaned, the optical surfaces much easier in such instruments. Putz Puren on the coated glass surfaces are brought out very quickly due to unsuitable materials, the famous paper handkerchief comes first. Instead, a careful enough showers with warm water and detergent in these products from time to time. The 8x20 has been through each of these cleanings without complaint, of course, there is also sealed.
Who has not made any thoughts about: paper (no matter how soft it seems to us) looks like finest sandpaper. Therefore, only use cleaning cloths that are really intended.
Focus:
Taking the EX in the hand and looks through it, you have to somehow afford "Fokussierarbeit" - to take the focus takes a while. Perhaps it is only on this model so - but the visible circular blur of 8x25 distracts compared to higher-value 8x20. I think that you can get used to it at 8x25. For me, this is nothing but.
At the edge sharp HG-L focusing succeed against always precisely with the first attempt.
Compensation and brightness:
It is clear, these are pure Taggläser. The exit pupil results through the different holes in the EX with 3.1mm and 2.5mm at 8x20. As long as in brightly lit conditions, the pupil of the eye is smaller or the same size, the image is bright and clear. This reasonably priced 8x25 here has more reserves.
The high-quality Nikon 8x20 shows in daylight but a purer color image with a truly impressive high contrast, presumably the reward of better remuneration. And sure enough, you look through the eyepiece instead of some distance in the lenses, it is noticeable that the EX 8x25 is reflected more light back as the 8x20 HG-L. There, the glasses disappear seemingly.
Field of view and focus:
The field of view of the EX is an impressive 143m at 1000m distance. Very good! But the edge blur is very strong, and also not distributed evenly. The bottom is more affected than the sides or the top portion. But since you always swings automatically centered in freehand held binoculars on the object to be viewed, this error is not so tragic. Who or similar glass for use on short hikes want to use, will be able to get over the absolute, because it falls only to the trained binoculars on users. Lovers rand sharp binoculars, logically with the EX can not be happy.
The expensive 8x20 HG-L provides contrast from the center to the edge from excellent sharp. The optical quality of this little glass is beyond reproach ("knackscharf" here is a fitting name). The field of view is, however, lower.
Both lenses are not entirely free from chromatic aberration. However, if this is already low at 8x25 EX, the chromatic aberration almost no longer falls on the 8x20 HG-L.
Visual comfort: (this is the crucial difference for me)
The biggest advantage of the HG-L is located in the highly comfortable eye relief. Such small glasses are perfect for my taste for hikes and maybe also in the theater at the right moment to conjure up this out of his pocket and being able to see through it without hesitation. When wearing glasses, it is having to settle the disturbing spectacle and to fumble again on the nose after the quick look. The 8x25 EX has an eye relief of 10mm, which is not sufficient for use with glasses, because the field of view then is concentrated. By contrast, a view with glasses by the 8x20 HG-L a treat. Who is not wearing glasses, it needs to ignore and is the eye relief See the EX as unproblematic.
Conclusion:
It's like in the hi-fi: Good quality can be (apart from the cheapest junk times) already achieved through moderate effort. But the issues raised in more power at HG-L can not be linearly set the price. The effort and the resulting price rise more.
The Nikon 8x25 EX is for the customer without the highest standards a very useful pocket glass, which in appearance to the very high-quality 8x20 HG L DCF is similar at first glance. The very significant price difference with about 3 to 4 times the EX is then reflected in the details, but then significantly. Ultimately, one must always ask price over the personal utility value.
This reasonably priced glass has in the processing and in the optics visible weaknesses but is significantly better than the scrap, which is offered at Coffee Rösterein.
Who is not willing to pay the considerable price for such a small companion, is with 70-90 euros when Nikon 8x25 EX received a useful tool. Because for the inexpensive Nikon glass is thoroughly recommended!
An additional thought:
It has struck me even with Nikon for some time now in the price range of about 70 to 150 euros a certain series dispersion. Anyone who takes the time to examine several instruments of the same type, may select a perfectly respectable quality or otherwise caught unacceptable cucumbers. According to my opinion on the product is to be evaluated.
Addendum to the EX 8x25:
The owner of the EX, was one day out of the small house, because his glass was suddenly no longer collimated properly during an excursion. It squinted terribly but he could not remember which it was subjected to mechanical stress (fall, shock, etc). Instead it now put away for it to send later, he solved the problem, to my horror on the spot with dosed force. He simply expressed both tubes at an angle to the axis, and lo and behold, to my great astonishment, he managed by repeating the tubes perfectly "align". At least now I have my way, hidden 8x20 bit more on the body ... ;-)
But seriously, this shows the difference be final for expensive version. The folding bridge the EX is not comparable with that of HGL despite my initial impression. The technical implementation of the HGL appears solid, reliable and significantly more precise to use. Such an orientation of the tubes would be as just described except for the risk unthinkable.
But most importantly: a tidy collimated binoculars should always retain the adjustment even in normal use.
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