Sometimes you just know you are going to like a product by how it fits
and feels in your hands. That is exactly what happened when I first picked
up a pair of Nikon's new Sporter I binoculars. On top of the lasting first
impression, the testing proved the Sporter to be a quality unit through
and through.
Before getting into the testing we should cover some of the basics
of binoculars and the Sporter I model in particular. Binoculars come in
two basic configurations, the Porro prism and the roof-prism. Lenses on
Porro prism units are offset while roof-prism models, like the Sporters,
are always in straight alignment. The roof-prism style lends itself to
the possibility of a more compact design. While high quality optics can
be found in both configurations the roof-prism models usually run a little
more expensive.
Another area of interest is the strength of magnification and objective
lens size. When shopping for a pair of binoculars you will see numbers
such as 10x50, 7x42, 8x25, and 10x36. The first number indicates the magnification
power while the second number gives the diameter of the objective lenses
in millimeters. Generally, a larger objective lens diameter equals greater
light gathering capabilities and better resolution. The down side to a
large objective lens is the increased size and weight. The Sporter is equipped
with 36mm objective lenses, which provide a good balance between weight
and low light performance.
Another good definition to know when purchasing optics for hunting is
"exit pupil". Exit pupil is defined as the amount of light (diameter of
the spot) that reaches the viewers eyes and is calculated by dividing the
objective lens diameter by the magnification. The higher the exit pupil
numbers the better the low light usability. Again, the trade-off is increased
weight for increased low light performance. The Sporter I has an exit pupil
of 3.6, which is somewhat low on average among the many choices available
in today's market.
One of the most confusing aspects of optic quality for many people is
the whole issue of anti-reflective lens coatings. You will see designations
such as P-coated, FMC, SLC, and PMC as you shop for your next pair of optics.
P-coating refers to a phase correction coating that was introduced in the
late 80's by Carl Zeiss company.
This coating improves the resolution by correcting the phase shifts
that naturally occur in roof-prism units. FMC , PMC, and SLC all refer
to the number of coatings per lens and the extent to which all lens surfaces
are treated. For example: PMC (partially multicoated) denotes lenses that
have multiple coatings per surface however not all the surfaces have been
treated. FMC (fully multicoated) on the other hand, indicates that all
lens surfaces have multiple coating layers. SLC stands for single layer
coating. These anti-reflective coatings improve light transmission and
clarity through the reduction of light reflections inside the unit. The
Nikon Sporter model has partially multicoated lenses.
Field of View (FOV) is communicated in three ways; angular FOV "real"
in degrees, angular FOV "apparent" in degrees and FOV @ 1000 yards measured
in feet. I like to keep it simple and go with the FOV @ 1000 yards in feet
for comparison purposes. Basically FOV is the size of the area that can
be viewed. Most often the higher the magnification power the smaller the
FOV. The Sporter FOV is 293' at 1000 yards.
With some of the basics covered we can now move onto the testing. As
with any product I receive the first thing checked is out-of-the-box quality
and workmanship. The Nikon's appeared flawless in every mechanical and
cosmetic aspect. The glass, rubber armor coating, mechanical workings and
accessories were all checked in this initial inspection. This is a good-looking
unit with a solid feel and sleek design.
Next up was lowlight performance testing. To do this I simply took my
bow equipped with fiber optic sight pins, six pair of binoculars covering
a large price range, and a McKenzie 3-D buck target into the woods near
dusk. When light had faded to the point that my fiber optic pins were nearly
impossible to see I used the six binoculars to glass the buck's rack looking
for individual tines. One by one the binoculars fell out of the running
with the Sporter I tied for third place.
The pair of binoculars that tied the Sporters had slightly larger
objective lenses and are in the same price range. When all the low light
testing was said and done the Nikon Sporter I model performed above average
considering objective lens size. Remember, the game of optics is a give
and take deal and the Sporter I 36mm objective lens size is physically
lighter and smaller. A definite plus for bowhunters.
Resolution, the ability of an optical unit to distinguish fine details,
was tested in two ways. The first test was conducted using the box that
the Nikons came in, specifically the word "Sporter". The box was placed
on the top of my mailbox and the word "Sporter" was read with my unaided
eye at increasing distances until the maximum range was reached at which
I could still read the image clearly. That distance, 10 yards, was then
multiplied by the magnification number, 10 again, for a total of 100 yards.
I stepped off the 100 yards and tried reading the image again with the
binoculars. I needed to move in 27 yards closer before the word "Sporter"
could be read clearly. Five other binoculars were also tested in the same
way. In all except the most expensive pair the larger the objective
lens the better the resolution. Again, you will generally pay with extra
weight or a pile of money to increase your resolution drastically. Resolution
is affected by many factors including lens coatings, objective lens size
and improperly treated internal parts that may cause flare.
Another test I like to do for resolution is to place a whitetail deer
rack in some tall, tan grass to see if the binoculars are up to the challenge.
The Sporter I model did the job well with one pair of the six being completely
unable to distinguish individual tines at 60 yards.
One of the tests that I consider essential to hunters in general is
a damp and foggy morning in the field glassing animals. Although the Sporter
I model is not waterproof they are water resistant and performed well.
In an entire morning on stand only minor external fogging was experienced.
Ergonomically this unit is a winner in my book. The center-focusing
ring is easily reached and adjusted. The twist-out eyecups are another
plus. The Sporter I has the look and feel of a high priced unit without
the sticker shock! As was said from the beginning - I like these binoculars.
For a street price around $175.00 you will be impressed.
Specifications
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Magnification: 10x
-
Focusing system: Center ring
-
Objective lens diameter: 36mm
-
Angular field of view(real) in degrees: 5.6
-
Angular field of view(Apparent) in degrees: 56
-
Field of view @ 1,000 yards (ft): 293
-
Close focus distance (ft): 9.8
-
Exit Pupil (mm): 3.6
-
Relative brightness: 13
-
Eye relief (mm): 16.1
-
Size (length x width in inches): 5.5 x 5.0
-
Weight (oz): 24.6
Workmanship: 4.5 of 5
Every aspect of the Sporter I was in perfect order. No external blemishes
or internal scratches were found. The unit is mechanically smooth.
Low Light Performance: 3.5 of 5
This average score is due mainly to the relatively small objective
lenses coupled with 10x magnification. I still had plenty of visibility
with the Sporter well after shooting light was gone.
Resolution: 4 of 5
While the Sporter 1 is sufficient for most bowhunting applications.
Value: 4 of 5
At a street price around $175.00 you will be hard pressed to find a
better binocular in a 10x power.
For more information on this or any other product in Nikon's large line
of sporting optics contact:
Nikon
Inc.
1300 Walt Whitman Rd
Melville, NY 11747-3064
1-800-Nikon US
http://www.nikonusa.com |
