dryflyelk
Active Member
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LAST EDITED ON Sep-11-10 AT 08:18PM (MST)[p]With the great rebates and deals on the EDG right now, I jumped on a pair of the 8x32s. I wanted a smaller bino for woods hunting and this one seemed like it would be perfect. I had the superb 8x32 Nikon LX L before, and I'm still not sure why I sold those, and so I wanted a replacement. I bought the EDG sight unseen, with the plan to sell it if it didn't turn out what I wanted.
I've spend a couple of weeks in the woods with them now hunting hard for muleys and elk in some ultra tough country. Optically, the EDG will stack up with anything out there. The clarity and "pop" will put it in the top class. I still prefer the view from the swarovisions, but the EDG is beautiful. They are a dream to look through and I couldn't find any faults.
The other thing I really love on these binos is the focus. Buttery smooth and it puts Swarovski to shame. I wish the swarovisions had the same focus mechanism. I've had two pair of swarovisions and they both have a gritty focus. The EDG is perfect in that regard. The best I've ever used.
They have the open bridge design (that is changing for the current model), and I really like that. It allows easy one handed glassing and and they are very ergonomic.
Now for the drawbacks. I noticed that the binos were almost the same size as many 42mm binos. I was hoping they would be smaller and more compact. They weigh more than the top 32 binos, also, by several ounces.
After a couple of weeks of hard hunting, they are chipping in places. There are several places on the focus wheel where the paint and enamel is coming off. They just are not built like a Leica or a Swaro bino. The EDG seems to be aimed at birders or something. I'm hard on my gear, and I need it to hold up. They also have a shiny glare to them that I don't like that. Half of the body is a hard (magnesium?) material that would reflect the sun. I don't like that. I'll probably cover that up with camo tape.
For the price I paid, they are worth the money. You can find them for about a grand, plus you can get the rebate for the Nikon D3000 camera kit (which I'm selling- value around 450) so overall the cost will be in the $600 range. If you can get them for the same price, jump on it.
Are they in the same league as the Leicas and the Swaros? Not for me. The Germans build optics that feel like they can take a licking. I don't get that feeling from these binos. Plus, the reflective surface is a no-no.
Overall, a great bino, but not in the top tier. A great value under a grand compared to the others, but in my book, Swaro and Leica remain on top.
I've spend a couple of weeks in the woods with them now hunting hard for muleys and elk in some ultra tough country. Optically, the EDG will stack up with anything out there. The clarity and "pop" will put it in the top class. I still prefer the view from the swarovisions, but the EDG is beautiful. They are a dream to look through and I couldn't find any faults.
The other thing I really love on these binos is the focus. Buttery smooth and it puts Swarovski to shame. I wish the swarovisions had the same focus mechanism. I've had two pair of swarovisions and they both have a gritty focus. The EDG is perfect in that regard. The best I've ever used.
They have the open bridge design (that is changing for the current model), and I really like that. It allows easy one handed glassing and and they are very ergonomic.
Now for the drawbacks. I noticed that the binos were almost the same size as many 42mm binos. I was hoping they would be smaller and more compact. They weigh more than the top 32 binos, also, by several ounces.
After a couple of weeks of hard hunting, they are chipping in places. There are several places on the focus wheel where the paint and enamel is coming off. They just are not built like a Leica or a Swaro bino. The EDG seems to be aimed at birders or something. I'm hard on my gear, and I need it to hold up. They also have a shiny glare to them that I don't like that. Half of the body is a hard (magnesium?) material that would reflect the sun. I don't like that. I'll probably cover that up with camo tape.
For the price I paid, they are worth the money. You can find them for about a grand, plus you can get the rebate for the Nikon D3000 camera kit (which I'm selling- value around 450) so overall the cost will be in the $600 range. If you can get them for the same price, jump on it.
Are they in the same league as the Leicas and the Swaros? Not for me. The Germans build optics that feel like they can take a licking. I don't get that feeling from these binos. Plus, the reflective surface is a no-no.
Overall, a great bino, but not in the top tier. A great value under a grand compared to the others, but in my book, Swaro and Leica remain on top.
I love them, by the way.
