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Cons: I could almost copy the text of Maja´s review: 1. Diopter setting changes continually when using the focus wheel 2. Rubber of the eyecups comes off after a few months 3. Some accessories are complete rubbish, they just don\'t fit the bino, the bag is very slippery etc. 4. The projection of the case around the front lenses is far too small, less than 1 cm - as soon as it rains or snows, you have water on your front lenses, and if you ever drop the bino, the front lenses are likely to be damaged by some gravelstone 5. Warranty is only 5 years - for another 5 years they will only pay for spare parts, not for the work. What does that mean? Well, there are expensive parts in a bino (prisms and front lenses, for instance), but if they get damaged, it will be your fault anyway. However, if a 50-cent-cog of the focus mechanism breaks and they will need 3 hours to take your bino apart an repair it ... this so-called-warranty will not help you very much.

Pros: 1. Perfect optical quality 2. Rolling ball effect is there, but so weak, that even I got used to it soon (I am very susceptible to it) 3. Rubber of the casing is perfect, neither too soft nor too hard, and it is very firm 4. World-class focus mechanism with no play, working smoothly in summer heat and winter frost 5. Perfect hinge-tension at all temperatures (some users had complaints here, but my set is great) 6. Good to use with glasses

Summary: It´s a pity, really. Optically such a great bino, but, as it happens so often, Nikon completely messed it up when it comes to important details. I´ve experienced the focus problem described above with various binos (Celestron Trailseeker 8x42 and Nikon Monarch HG 8x42, see my user opinions there). But when - after 2 weeks of use! - the tubes of my EDG didn´t focus identically any more, I just refused to believe it ... and well, it wasn´t a defect in the strict sense: It just happens that using the focus wheel, by means of friction it moves the diopter-adjustment (super-smartly placed \"inside\" of the focus wheel) too. I didn´t feel ready to send in yet another bino, so I found I groove where I could push in the cut-off tip of a cable tie to stop the diopter wheel from moving - no joke. It works. What makes things worse: I´ve found users complaining in forums about the dioptre problem many years ago, some Nikon manager telling them, that the problem was not known to Nikon and that it must be an isolated case ... but obviously they just don´t care. The rubber coating of the eye pieces: I´ve glued it on myself twice. If I ever have a warranty case, they are probably going to tell my, that warranty is void, because the bino has been tampered with ... When it comes to accessories, I still use the bag, the front-lens covers and the eye-piece covers left over from a Celestron Trailseeker. They are not perfect, but way better than what Nikon supplies. Conclusion: It seems like a bad joke - you buy a bino with a usual market price of more than 2000 Euros, and you end up repairing it with cable ties and glue. Would I buy it again? Obviously not. As there is not much choice on the market when it comes to high-quality binos with no rolling ball effect, I´d now try the Swaro SLC. The focus mechanism isn\'t nearly as pleasant, but maybe the rest is more solid.

Cons: I\'ve had several problems with this bino. The dioptry adjustment was changing when focussing and when adjusting the bino from small to wider for my eyes. The rubber padding / coating was comming off the bino. And 3 times the rubber of the eyepiece was comming loose. From the 4 years the bino has been at least been 1/2 a year in service with Nikon in several occassions. One time it has been send to Japan and it took more the 3 months to get it back. And maybe that is the biggest point, for a small thing like an rubber eyepiece ring you have to send it to Nikon, and it takes at least 14 days before you get it back.

Pros: Very nice optical performance. Smaller the the Swarovski 8.5 x 42 Very good grip and pleasant rubber coating. Very smooth focussing, much nicer then a Swaro. Lighter in weight then the Swaro. For me no rolling ball effect when panning. I have that a little with the Swaro.

Summary: If you use this bino heavily on a daily base like I do it wont\' last. If you only use it in the weekends it is a superb bino. Especcialy when you can buy it for the right price compared to the Swaro. I\'ve switched to the Swaro with pain in my heart because when it functions it is a very nice bino and I like the mark Nikon. If the Swaro fails within the same time as this Nikon I will update it here. That seems fair to me.

Cons: ... have yet to find out

Pros: excellent optics. lovely grip, focus wheel still works perfectly mooth and soft after near daily use for 7 years

Summary: Still my first chioce on the market

Cons: There are none, in my opinion.

Pros: Optics/image quality, focus mechanism, build quality and materials.

Summary: This binocular is optical and ergonomic perfection. The term "razor sharp" is overused, but in this case it's deserved. The image quality is truly stunning. Handling is superb. Nothing but superlatives for this bin. Feels just right in your hands. I knew these would be very good, but they have exceeded my expectations in every way. Highest recommendation.