Nikon Aculon 7x35 - 12/29/15
Academy has 'em for $60, so I figured what the heck.....
Ain't nothing wrong with a decent set of 7x35 porros, its all I used for decades back in the day. Japanese, all-metal construction, no waterproofing or purging, notable chromatic aberration. I guess we had lower expectations and made do.
Then came in an era of cheap plastic versions with poor optics and flimsy construction. Near as I can tell Leupold's Yosemites changed all that; inexpensive plastic porros that were also fairly sturdy with decent to very good optics. But they don't make a 7x30 or 35.
These Aculons look to be about as sturdy as the Yosemites, with just a hair more flex in the plastic eyepiece chassis. Compared to Yosemites they're big, about the same way 7x35's usually were. Close focus is supposed to be 16 feet but seems closer. Focus knob is slightly over one turn lock to lock, a bit stiff but admirably quick.
The diopter adjustment underneath the right eyepiece is likewise stiff to turn, a good thing in this case as it will better hold its setting. IME the Achilles heel of inexpensive binocs are the fragile twist-up eyecups. In this case the Acolons work fine for me even with the eyecups left in the down (and less fragile) position.
Had mine out all day today and was shocked how good the optics were. Clear, bright with great color. Excellent depth of field center field, fuzzy and out of focus at the margins but still good enough at the edges of the FOV to detect movement.
Remains to be seen how the lack of waterproofing/fogproofing affects 'em over time, somehow we survived not having those features in our binocs back then.
Better than my old Japanese 7x35 porros.
At that price I give 'em two thumbs up.
Birdwatcher
Ain't nothing wrong with a decent set of 7x35 porros, its all I used for decades back in the day. Japanese, all-metal construction, no waterproofing or purging, notable chromatic aberration. I guess we had lower expectations and made do.
Then came in an era of cheap plastic versions with poor optics and flimsy construction. Near as I can tell Leupold's Yosemites changed all that; inexpensive plastic porros that were also fairly sturdy with decent to very good optics. But they don't make a 7x30 or 35.
These Aculons look to be about as sturdy as the Yosemites, with just a hair more flex in the plastic eyepiece chassis. Compared to Yosemites they're big, about the same way 7x35's usually were. Close focus is supposed to be 16 feet but seems closer. Focus knob is slightly over one turn lock to lock, a bit stiff but admirably quick.
The diopter adjustment underneath the right eyepiece is likewise stiff to turn, a good thing in this case as it will better hold its setting. IME the Achilles heel of inexpensive binocs are the fragile twist-up eyecups. In this case the Acolons work fine for me even with the eyecups left in the down (and less fragile) position.
Had mine out all day today and was shocked how good the optics were. Clear, bright with great color. Excellent depth of field center field, fuzzy and out of focus at the margins but still good enough at the edges of the FOV to detect movement.
Remains to be seen how the lack of waterproofing/fogproofing affects 'em over time, somehow we survived not having those features in our binocs back then.
Better than my old Japanese 7x35 porros.
At that price I give 'em two thumbs up.
Birdwatcher