Nikon HG L 8x32 DCF
The HG series includes roof prism models with the following parameters: 8x20, 10x25, 8x32, 10x32, 8x42 and 10x42. Because of additional elements in eyepieces which flatten the field, the image is supposed to stay sharp to the very edge. Original multilayer coatings are to provide excellent transmission in the whole range of visible spectrum, damp down unwanted flares and give perfect colour rendition. Nikon is one of few producers honestly presenting the real transmission curve of its instrument. For blue light (420 nm) it amounts to about 70%, then it increases very quickly and its maximum is reached in the wide range from ca. 550 to 680 nm on the level significantly above 90%; for the red light the transmission decreases to about 87%. The Schmidt-Pechan prisms are phase correction coated and the reflection layer is powder-coated with silver. The HG series binoculars are produced in Japan; they are also waterproof up to a depth of 2 or 3 meters for 5 minutes and fog-proof because of sealing gaskets and nitrogen filling. They come with a 10-year guarantee.
| Magnification | Lens diameter | Angular field of view | Prisms | Eye relief | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 32 | 136/1000(7.8o) | BAK-4/roof | 16.8 mm | 695 g | 2799 PLN |
| Real front lens diameter |
Left: 32+/-
0.05 mm Right: 32+/- 0.05 mm |
8 / 8.0 pkt | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real magnification | 7.94+/- 0.05x | 3/3.0 | ||||
| Transmission | 92.2+/- 1.5% | 20/25.0 | ||||
| Chromatic aberration | Low in the centre, significant on the edge. | 6.6/10.0 | ||||
| Astigmatism | Low. | 8.1/10.0 | ||||
| Distortion | The distance between the first curved line and the field centre compared to the field of view radius: 54% +/- 3% | 6/10.0 | ||||
| Coma | Slight. | 6.9/10.0 | ||||
| Blurring at the edge of the FOV | Blur occurs in the distance 95% +/- 2% from the centre of the field of view. | 9/10.0 | ||||
| Darkening at the edge the FOV | Imperceptible. | 4.8/5.0 | ||||
| Whiteness of the image | A bit too weak transmission in the blue part of the spectrum. | 3.7/5.0 | ||||
| Collimation | Perfect. | 5/5.0 | ||||
| Internal reflections |
|
3.4/5.0 | ||||
| Housing | Big for this class of equipment but still very solid. Because a profiled widening of the barrel it is extremely comfortable to hold. Plastic eyecups with four click-stops. The rubber coating of good quality, porous, and well-fixed but it sticks out a bit near objectives. Small amounts of grease on the bridge. | 7.2/8.0 | ||||
| Focusing | Very comfortable central wheel which moves smoothly (full turn of 260 degrees). Big and comfortable individual focus ring on the right eyepiece . Outer evepiece lens moves slightly up and down during diopter adjustment. | 4.9/5.0 | ||||
| Tripod | No exit . In the 8x32 binoculars’ test we awarded all instruments the same, average value of 1.5 points in this category as a tripod exit is rarely used in this class of equipment. | 1.5/3.0 | ||||
| Interpupilary distance | from 55.2 to 78.6mm | 5/6.0 | ||||
| Closest focusing distance | 1.5 m. | 1.5/2.0 | ||||
| Eyepieces FOV | Apparent field of view of 63.1 deg (according to simple formula) and 57.8 deg (according to tangent formula). | 12.5/20.0 | ||||
| Field of view | Measured by us amounted to 7.95 +/- 0.03 degrees and it was noticeably wider than stated in specifications. Wide field of view for this class of parameters. | 6.5/8.0 | ||||
| Quality of the interior of the barrels | Black and matt bottom and inner tubes. Individual and rather small specks of dust on the prisms. “Heads” of the screws not blackened. | 4.5/5.0 | ||||
| Vignetting |
|
7.5/8.0 | ||||
| Prisms quality | Good quality BaK-4. | 8/8.0 | ||||
| Antireflection coatings | Greenish on objectives. Green- blue on prisms. Blue-purple on eyepieces. Medium intensity. | 4.5/5.0 | ||||
| Warranty [years] | 10 | 4.5/6.0 | ||||
| Final result | 80.3% | 152.6 / 190 pkt | ||||
| Econo result | 0pkt. |
Summary
Pros:
- solid casing which is comfortable to hold,
- very good transmission,
- slight chromatic aberration in the frame centre,
- low astigmatism,
- quite well-controlled coma,
- excellent sharpness even on the very edge of the field,
- imperceptible brightness loss on the edge of the field of view,
- good blackening of the binoculars inside inner tubes,
- almost perfectly circular exit pupils,
- good class of prisms, made of BaK-4 glass,
- high quality antireflection coatings.
Cons:
- chromatic aberration on the edge of the field of view could have been lower,
- the instrument is a bit too heavy.
 |
The Nikon HG 8x32 is a device I was hard-pressed to find any faults in. The problem with its weight was added a bit by force but it is true that the tested binoculars are a bit too big for the 8x32 class where the dimensions and the weight are rather important features. As was proven in the test of the Leica Ultravid 8x32, published not so long ago, you shouldn’t try too hard to decrease dimensions and weight of an optical instrument or you will have to pay with worse parameters or optical properties. Nikon didn’t decide to do such a thing and that’s why they offer an instrument which is optically and mechanically excellent but a bit heavier than its competitors.
The tested instrument is not perfect. It had several minor slip-ups. Among them you can count a bit too light area near exit pupils, a worse transmission result in the blue part of the spectrum (which is presented on the graph below) and too high chromatic aberration on the edge of the field.
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These slight errors shouldn’t overshadow the whole picture which is very positive by and large. The score of 140 points in our tests is no mean feat – it is a level reserved for a narrow group of really high-end binoculars and the Nikon, tested here, definitely should be considered as one of them.
