Folks:

Thanks to our association with the great folks at Camera Land, we have a sneak peek at a brand new line of binoculars from Nikon, the EDG. Here's an image:



"EDG Technology

Pronounced “EDGE”, the all-new EDG is the first hunting binocular to harness the optical superiority of Nikon’s exclusive and legendary ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) glass. Nikon’s ED lenses were developed to push the limits of optical performance by virtually eliminating chromatic aberration, or the dispersion that occurs when light rays of varying wavelengths pass through optical glass. The resulting Nikon ED lenses product brilliant, color-corrected images that are extremely bright, razor sharp and free of flare for unparalleled viewing."

These are going to be the schnizzle!

You read it here first.

Rick Bin

Priced right along with the Big Three?

They will be priced in similar fashion but from what I am told they will be the best of all available in brightness and in resolution.
Notice the winged eye-cups. They've been listening to what people want.

Yup.

This line is meant to nudge the Premier LX-L line into the number 2 slot in the Nikon lineup.

They're going for the Big Boys with this one.

rb

Yes, I do like the winged cups on my older SLC's.


Casey

Looks a lot like the Steiner Peregrine XP. I'm disappointed.


BTW, something has been bothering me for awhile about the current trend in binocular design. For years and years everyone claimed that one of the inherent benefits of the roof prism design was that their long, "piano" hinges made them more robust and less prone to collimation problems than the open hinges found on porro prism binoculars. Now everyone is making these open-hinged roofs and touting how strong they are. Isn't this a bit of a contradiction?

Couldn't agree more, one of the gripes I see with the EL is the hinge design - this one looks to be no stronger. Glad they're making better glass as I have said all along the the LX's fall short of the big 3, I'm guessing that optically this one will be pretty close however.

Well I disagree with cfran, I actually own a Nikon 8X32 LX and feel that it is a very fine bino - as did many of the bird experts. The only area that if find them to be inferior to the big 3 was in controlling flare in extreme conditions. If nikon has improved upon the LX's then WOW, because every time I put the LX's to my eyes the view is just stunning. Equal or better quality, a few hundred less than the big 3 - I say good for Nikon!

I don't think we're that far apart in that for the price they (LX) are a great bino. Just not up to par with some of the others but granted we're not talking a huge difference. I also have noticed the flare, something I don't get with a Swaro or Leica (haven't really tested an FL).

As a big fan of the best in the Nikon line, and fanatic when it comes to the best image availiable, I'm not even going to consider an EDG. They are not built as tough as the LX, that's odvious. The LX, on the other hand, has passed Barsness's "alaskan guide tests" as far as toughness. That's good enough for me.
The other is the reduction in weight. Again, not me. The Zeiss FL, and the Leica Ultravid are reported by many to be, maybe, a hair better than the LX. They are also much lighter, as apparently the new EDG will be. Not for me. I don't want anything lighter than my 25.5 oz. 8X32 LX. Too much image shake for me. E