Nikon Action 8x40

Nikon's Action series has always been their entry level effort. The series has gone through some pretty radical changes over the years. Nikon seems to be much more adventuresome at this price point than they are in their top of the line products. The latest Action binoculars all feature aspheric lens technology.

The Action 8x40 is probably the glass of most interest to birders. It is a wide angle design, with 8.5° of field (that translates to 446 feet at 1000 yards), a close focus in the 12 foot range and eye relief of about 10mm. The limited eye relief means that spectacle wearers will not see the full field (what else is new?)...but the usable field for most people will still be relatively wide when compared to most 8x40s on the market (especially in this price range). The body is mat gray armored. The smooth armor is sufficiently tacky to provide a good grip, but some gripping aids (ridges or patterns) might have made it more secure in the hands. Body design is standard porroprism, and comfortable in the hands, with a large comfortable ribbed focus control. However the focus might be a stretch for those with real small hands.

Optically, the Nikon Action 8x40 gives the extra bright, extra sharp first impression that I have come to associate with Nikon's applications of aspheric technology. While the view is not the equal of that provided by glasses like the Swift Ultralite 8x42 glasses which cost over twice as much as the Nikon Action 8x40, it is certainly very close.

When compared to the current BVD Reference Standard for bargain binoculars, the Bushnell 8x42 NatureView, the Nikon Action 8x40 is slightly brighter, with a bit more snap (likely due to the lack of multi-coating on the NatureView). The NatureView, however, has much better eye relief and a bit more comfortable view. While the NatureView retains its Reference Standard designation for the moment, the Nikon Action 8x40 are certainly very fine binoculars in the same price range...a BVD Starred Product, highly recommended to anyone who wants bird-worthy binoculars on a budget. Really, if you start birding with the Egrets, it may be a long time before you feel the need to upgrade, and it will certainly spoil you for many a lesser glass that just happens to cost more.

The Nikon Action series binoculars utilize aspherical lenses, ergonomic chassis, and quick central focus to maximize long term viewing comfort. All models feature high light transmission, multicoated lenses and high index BaK-4 prisms for superior resolution and brightness.

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5 stars

These are perfect for live music. They pack enough power and are not as bulky as higher powered 'nocs. The 8 in 8x40 means objects (rock stars?) you are viewing won't look like you just came off a three day bender. Viewing angle is wide enough for even the widest stages. Images are crystal clear. 5 stars

These are my first pair of binoculars (actually a gift for my husband who likes birding and hiking), so I didn't know much about buying such an item. I read a lot of reviews and did some looking, and these seemed to be the best quality at the best price. After using them for several months, we couldn't be more pleased. The lenses offer clear, crisp viewing, and are easy to adjust for comfortable viewing. I like that the eye cups are soft and won't scratch my glasses. It's brought a whole new dimension to our nature hikes! 5 stars

Be very careful in hooking the objective lens caps (the big ones) to the neckstrap. I did so according with the manual instructions in an air show near my town , 10 minutes later one of them was gone and of course I couldn't find it. So don't feel to sure that they won't get off, because they do and then you'll have a hard time getting a replacement.

The Binocular are very good for the price.
3 stars

I really was overjoyed with these binoculars. Crisp, very bright viewing. Clarity very good, and the comfort and ease of use is great. I like the rubberized texture, very nice padded high quality carrying case with a loop to allow belt attachment (although it would be rather large, it's still nice) and a wide carry strap which allows optic cover attachment (although a bit "clunky" looking but still works). I am not an afficianado of optics just a general consumer but I can say these are the best I've ever had the opportunity to view through in 44 years. I highly recommend them and with a 25 year mfg defect warranty how much safer can you get on a purchase, not even Mercedes or Bentley does that! Excellent Amazon.com shipping rate (free) and fast. A++++++++++ 5 stars