jrweisner
member
Reged: 02/15/07
Posts: 38
Loc: Kronberg, Germany
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Hi all,
I´m waiting impatiently for a Nikon porro model from Japan.
The Nikon 15x70 was discontinued in 2004.
I think and hope I can get one new.
This very interesting bino was only produced for japanese market.
I think it will be a good completion for my little nikon collection.
When the bino has arrived I like to present it for you.
Best regards from germany
Juergen
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Nikon 7x50 IF HP WP (tropical)
Nikon 7x50 IF SP WP
Nikon 10x70IF HP WP
Nikon,10x70IF SP WP
Nikon 18x70IF WP WF
Vixen 127 /F4
Pentax PF 100 ED
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Nikon 7x50 SP
Nikon 10x35 E II
Nikon 10x70 SP
Nikon 18x70 WF
Kowa 8,5x44 Genesis
Pentax PF 100-ED with XW14, XW10, XW 7
Manfrotto 055 with Head 701RC2
Vixen 127/F4 2-lenses Photaron with Nagler 12mm T4
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camvan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/02/05
Posts: 2086
Loc: British Columbia
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I'm looking forward to reading your 'first impressions' once it's arrived and you've looked thru it a bit! 
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Cameron
"Aperture can only be replaced by even more aperture. Dark transparent skies cannot be replaced by anything else." - Stathis Kafalis
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brocknroller
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/16/03
Posts: 1514
Loc: Liberal, Kansas
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Juergen,
Yes, I'd also be interested in hearing a review of this model especially since you have some fine Nikons to compare it with, including one of Bill Cook's favorites, the 7x50 Tropicals.
I like the 15x70 configuration for stargazing, but I'd rather have a 15x70 with higher quality Japanese optics that STAY in collimation.
I'm a big Nikon bin fan too, I used to own a 12x50 SE, but now I have a collection of Nikon birding and general purpose bins:
8x32 LX
8x32 SE
8x30 E2
8x35 WF
7x35 WF
8x23 Venturer II
Brock Nippon :-)
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Oscar Zoroaster Diggs
"O.Z."
#########################################
"And remember, my sentimental friend....a heart is not judged by how much you love,
but by how much you are loved by others."
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1636
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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Brock,
I understand that the Nikon Sports and Marine 7x50mm IF is made in Japan. Have you had an opportunity to look through one yet? Any remarks about the quality?
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Pentax 12x50mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 16x60mm PCF WP FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 20x60mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Orion 12x63mm Mini Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 15x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 16x80mm Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 20x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 30x80mm MEGAView FMC/JAPAN
Barska 30x80mm X-Trail LW FC
Burgess Optical Series II 20x90mm FMC/WP/FP
Handel's Messiah**Hallelujah! For the LORD God Omnipotent Reigneth
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brocknroller
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/16/03
Posts: 1514
Loc: Liberal, Kansas
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Hi Stan,
No I haven't tried the Nikon S & M 7x50s; the 7x50 configuration has too large an exit pupil for my eyes.
Capn' Cook has pitched the benefits of using a wider exit pupil than one needs, and what he says makes sense, particularly for marine use, but for stargazing, 7x50s wash out my already bright skies. A 4-4.5mm exit pupil works best in my area and for my eyes, hence my interest in the 15x70s.
The contrast with my 12x50 SE was excellent when moisture was fairly low (below 50% is low for Cloudy Valley) and when the contrast was decent (on non-football weekends -- the Nittany Lions pack in about 100,000 extra visitors on home game weekends, causing the light dome from campus and the downtown area to extend over the surrounding townships, and the skies look about as bright as when there's a quarter moon).
As Edz pointed out on another thread, the 12x50 SE resolves as well (or almost as well) as a Chinese 15x70, but I like the larger image scale of 15x, which I had on my Nikon 8-16x40 XL Zooms (narrow FOV, but very sharp optics).
If I could get the sharpness and contrast of an SE in a 15x70 format, that would be very appealing!
We also missed out on the fine Nikon telescopes and zoom EPs that were never sold in the US.
I wonder why Nikon chose not the market their telescopes, zoom EP, and the 15x70s in the US? The scopes had .965 EPs, which is a turn-off most AAs so that's one explanation. The zoom EP is supposed to be excellent (reviewed on CN), but needs an adapter, and if the 15x70s are on par with the others in the Prostar/Astroluxe series, it would probably have been devoured over here by AAs who can't make use the larger exit pupil bins.
Brock
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Oscar Zoroaster Diggs
"O.Z."
#########################################
"And remember, my sentimental friend....a heart is not judged by how much you love,
but by how much you are loved by others."
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1636
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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Thanks Brock,
Actually, I was thinking about the possibility of daytime use for the Nikon 7x50mm IF.
On another optics talk forum someone said that the S & M 7x50mm was good out to around 75% with softening around the edges.
I will keep my ears and eyes open and see if anyone else has experience with these.
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Pentax 12x50mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 16x60mm PCF WP FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 20x60mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Orion 12x63mm Mini Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 15x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 16x80mm Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 20x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 30x80mm MEGAView FMC/JAPAN
Barska 30x80mm X-Trail LW FC
Burgess Optical Series II 20x90mm FMC/WP/FP
Handel's Messiah**Hallelujah! For the LORD God Omnipotent Reigneth
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jrweisner
member
Reged: 02/15/07
Posts: 38
Loc: Kronberg, Germany
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Hi Brock,
I expect a very high quality of the 15x70.
Nikon uses the good let me say standard objective in the 10x70 too which is
owned by me since 15 years.
The metallic body is always the same.
There was never a problem of danger by decollimation because they are extremly rigid and very stiffened.
Nikon uses for the 15x70 a 60 degree eyepiece with an eyerelief of 17.1 mm.
In comparism to the astroluxe 10x70 and prostar 7x50 which I also own both binos are using very fine ed objectives and have better correction of edge sharpness.
Also they have an incredible multilayer coating on all lens and all prism surfaces which gives an excellent view.
The image is total free of any reflections.
Very high transmission, even much better as comparable Fujinons or Zeiss.
The 18x70 which is sold in europe with 72 degrees eyepieces uses the same fine ed objectives.
This 18x70 astroluxe is the best suiting binocular for astronomical viewing worldwide in this league.
In my opinion it is better than the Zeiss 15x60 and better than the fujinon 16x70.
Sorry, my english isn´t good enough to explain all my knowledge concerning these Nikons.
I´m also wondering why Nikon has never opened the 15x70 to american or european markets.
If all works fine I´ll get it in the next two weeks.
Juergen
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Nikon 7x50 SP
Nikon 10x35 E II
Nikon 10x70 SP
Nikon 18x70 WF
Kowa 8,5x44 Genesis
Pentax PF 100-ED with XW14, XW10, XW 7
Manfrotto 055 with Head 701RC2
Vixen 127/F4 2-lenses Photaron with Nagler 12mm T4
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Les
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/22/06
Posts: 664
Loc: Maryland
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Hi Juergen,
Quote:
The 18x70 which is sold in europe with 72 degrees eyepieces uses the same fine ed objectives.
I assume this is the same one sold here in U.S. but I always wondered why it doesn't have an "SP" designation like the 10x70 Astroluxe.
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Les
Canon 10x42L IS
Oberwerks BT80/45, Helix Hercules mount on Oberwerks Standard Tripod
Swift 8x44ED Ultralite
Questar 50th Anniversary Model, 501 head on Manfrotto 475 tripod
Stellarvue SV90T 90mm Fluorite refractor Bogen 3236/Televue Tele-Pod Head
Questar 7 Astro
Vixen GP-DX on Baader Surveyor Tripod
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gatorengineer
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/28/05
Posts: 725
Loc: Hellertown, PA
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I have an 18x70 Astrolux 4 degree FOV, and to the best of my knowledge it is not ED glass...... I was double checking that there was not a recent change when I noticed it appears they have redesigned the 18x70 to only a 3 degree FOV.........
http://www.adorama.com/NK1870SP.html?searchinfo=18%20x%2070%20&item_no=1
I sure hope this is a typo, they Nikon USA site did not list specs. If so, one of the best astro binos ever has been discontinued...........
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16" & 20" Dobs
4" Triplet Refractor
10" LX200R OTA
8"F20 Dall Kirkham
12.5" F3.5 Newt
CGE
Lots of binos---
Nikon 8x30, 10x35, Prostars,10W/18 x 70 astrolux; 10x50 Fujis. Collectors items 12x60 BLC, 10x80 Flaks, Gas Masks, US Mark 28, 30, 41, 43's
Telescopes Past - 8" Stf Mak, C8, Meade LX10-10", SN8, TAL150K, Orion 150MC, Jason 60mm refractor, ATM 6" F8, WO 110FLT, 92mm Off Axis Newt, Nikon 20x120 bino's, 15x110 Boarderguards, Kuhne Flaks
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jrweisner
member
Reged: 02/15/07
Posts: 38
Loc: Kronberg, Germany
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The red ring marked objectives are always the sign for sp.
The 18x70 does use sp objectives believe me.
They use exactly the objective like 10x70 Astroluxe or the same 10x70 IF SP HP.
The change for USA market concerns only the eyepieces with 3 degrees for better edge sharpness.
The correct declaration for the 4 degrees Nikon should be 18x70 IF HP WF SP but Nikon nomenclature allows 3 let me say letter codes.
The 18x70 was very expensive, the price in Germany in 2002 was about 1800 euro, today you can get it for 1200 euro.
Only 4 degrees version is available in Europe.
Juergen
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Nikon 7x50 SP
Nikon 10x35 E II
Nikon 10x70 SP
Nikon 18x70 WF
Kowa 8,5x44 Genesis
Pentax PF 100-ED with XW14, XW10, XW 7
Manfrotto 055 with Head 701RC2
Vixen 127/F4 2-lenses Photaron with Nagler 12mm T4
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Les
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/22/06
Posts: 664
Loc: Maryland
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The Adorama ad lists this as MFG#8210, which is the same as the 4 degree FOV model. I assume they got something wrong in the ad.
Virtually all dealers list this as having ED or "SP" glass. The documentation that came with mine makes no mention of special glass. The box is labeled #8210 just like the ads. The NikonUSA site has no info on this 
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Les
Canon 10x42L IS
Oberwerks BT80/45, Helix Hercules mount on Oberwerks Standard Tripod
Swift 8x44ED Ultralite
Questar 50th Anniversary Model, 501 head on Manfrotto 475 tripod
Stellarvue SV90T 90mm Fluorite refractor Bogen 3236/Televue Tele-Pod Head
Questar 7 Astro
Vixen GP-DX on Baader Surveyor Tripod
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jrweisner
member
Reged: 02/15/07
Posts: 38
Loc: Kronberg, Germany
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Nikon politics is sometimes hard to understand also here in germany.
They told me that exactly the same ED objectives are used for the 18x70.
Red coloured rings...
Please note that the original plastic eyecups with the rubber rings mounted are not suitable to the correct eye relief of 15.4 mm.
You can´t see the whole FOV.
What´s this?
You can only use special rubber eyecups from Nikon made in Japan.
This is just an example no one knows why they have done it.
May be japanese fellows own other eyes :-)
Juergen
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Nikon 7x50 SP
Nikon 10x35 E II
Nikon 10x70 SP
Nikon 18x70 WF
Kowa 8,5x44 Genesis
Pentax PF 100-ED with XW14, XW10, XW 7
Manfrotto 055 with Head 701RC2
Vixen 127/F4 2-lenses Photaron with Nagler 12mm T4
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Rick
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/05
Posts: 2562
Loc: Tokyo, Japan
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The 18x70 does NOT have ED (SP?) glass. I verified this with a Nikon engineer at the Tokyo Photo Imaging Expo 2 years ago. The Japanese catalog also indicates as much.
clear skies,
Rick
Edited by Rick (09/09/07 12:13 AM)
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jrweisner
member
Reged: 02/15/07
Posts: 38
Loc: Kronberg, Germany
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If the 18x70 has no ed objectives they don´t need to carry the red ring coloured objectives.
They could use the black body also for 18x70 astroluxe otherwise only used for 10x70 IF HP WP or 15x70 IF HP WP.
German Nikon authorities having very good contact to Nikon
in Japan have told me these bino uses definetly ed objectives.
Something is really unlogical!!!
Now I go to bed and I say good night to all because it´s too late for me here in Germany
Juergen
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Nikon 7x50 SP
Nikon 10x35 E II
Nikon 10x70 SP
Nikon 18x70 WF
Kowa 8,5x44 Genesis
Pentax PF 100-ED with XW14, XW10, XW 7
Manfrotto 055 with Head 701RC2
Vixen 127/F4 2-lenses Photaron with Nagler 12mm T4
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Rick
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/05
Posts: 2562
Loc: Tokyo, Japan
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I believe the red stripe indicates the use of field flatteners in the eyepiece group.
Rick
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12510
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Take a laser pointer and shine it at an angle down into the objective lens. If there is no ED glass, you will see the beam pass thru each lens element as a shaft of light with a little bulbous node at each lens surface. If one of the elements is ED glass the shaft will not appear in that element. careful you don't mistake an air-spce. This little trick courtesy of Roland Christen.
green laser thru ED element
Air_Spaced Triplet
Air-spaced Doublet
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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jrweisner
member
Reged: 02/15/07
Posts: 38
Loc: Kronberg, Germany
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Hi Edz,
thank you for the hint.
I´ll try it out I´ve enough nikons to compare...
Juergen
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Nikon 7x50 SP
Nikon 10x35 E II
Nikon 10x70 SP
Nikon 18x70 WF
Kowa 8,5x44 Genesis
Pentax PF 100-ED with XW14, XW10, XW 7
Manfrotto 055 with Head 701RC2
Vixen 127/F4 2-lenses Photaron with Nagler 12mm T4
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Rick
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/05
Posts: 2562
Loc: Tokyo, Japan
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Quote:
If one of the elements is ED glass the shaft will not appear in that element. careful you don't mistake an air-spce. This little trick courtesy of Roland Christen.
I am pretty sure this test only indicates the presence of Fluorite, and does not hold for the various kinds of ED, SD, SP, or other low dispersion glasses.
Rick
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jrweisner
member
Reged: 02/15/07
Posts: 38
Loc: Kronberg, Germany
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Now I´ve checked it using a red laser.
By comparing both binoculars objectives 10x70 IF SP WP (astroluxe) and 18x70 IF WP WF (astroluxe) with the method described by Edz I´ve seen no difference.
Exactly the same appearance on both.
Juergen
--------------------
Nikon 7x50 SP
Nikon 10x35 E II
Nikon 10x70 SP
Nikon 18x70 WF
Kowa 8,5x44 Genesis
Pentax PF 100-ED with XW14, XW10, XW 7
Manfrotto 055 with Head 701RC2
Vixen 127/F4 2-lenses Photaron with Nagler 12mm T4
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pedro
super member
Reged: 09/28/04
Posts: 199
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So this mean that you found there the ED element in both?
In my opinion make no sense Nikon to provide with the ED element just their LESS powered 70mm model instead their HIGH powered one...sounds a bit strange...but as said before this is just my thought.
cheers Pedro
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