Hunting Field Test for Nikon 8x40 Action EX Extreme Binoculars

Archieved Hunting Product Field Test
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Binoculars

Nikon Action EX Extreme 8x40 Binoculars

After nearly a year of hunting use in South Africa, Namibia, North America and Argentina, and side-by-side comparisons with binoculars costing five times as much, the verdict is in: Dollar for dollar the Nikon Action EX Extreme 8x40 Binocular is a quality product at a great price!

The glass clarity is what you'd expect from one of the finest camera manufacturers. Low light transmittal is excellent. Under normal hunting conditions I saw no perceptible difference between the Nikon Action EX Binocular and the Leica ULTRAVID Binocular (about four-times the cost of the Nikon Action EX).

Probably the best test I could have given these binoculars came on my recent Argentina Red Stag hunt which took place on the Patagonia High-Desert with winds of 40-70 miles per hour. For those that are unfamiliar with this area it consists of low mountains with nothing growing much higher then your knees.

The numbers of Red Stag in this area is very high and they are usually first spotted at distances greater then 1,500 yards. Of course this means the Red Stag can see you equally well - making stalking closer very difficult and time consuming.

These conditions put any binocular to the test and being able to maintain both focus and clarity at these great distances, so no time is wasted stalking a small stag, is very important. The Nikon Action EX Extreme 8x40 Binocular is up to the test and allowed me to judge the trophy quality at distances much further then I can shoot.

Are there any negatives? A couple of very minor ones:

1. The covers for the objective lenses (the big ends) don't attach to the binoculars themselves but to the neck strap, so when you replace the neck-strap with a harness the caps become something that will quickly be lost in the field.
2. The click-stop eyecup design detents, that allow for variable eye relief to the users own eyes and eyeglasses, are not sufficient in their holding strength. As you put the binoculars to your eyes the click-stop eyecups gradually move back toward the binocular body, necessitating a frequent readjustment.

Do either of these negatives influence my buying decision? No - not considering the price the Nikon Action EX Extreme binoculars sell for and their overall quality.

In closing I'll mention that my guide, who was using Zeiss binoculars, so liked the Nikon Action EX Extreme that he asked me to leave them behind with him when I left - which I did. You can't ask for a better endorsement.

Visit Nikon Sport Optics Web Site for more information.

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