Nikon 8x20
HG L Review
I owned two
pairs of the original 8x20 HGs, which look very similar to these. The first
pair developed a fault with the dioptre adjustment after a knock and the second
got left behind when we moved back from abroad.
So a few
years ago, just before a holiday where I knew I would need some small binos, I went off looking to replace them (again). The two
pairs of original 8x20 HGs had been Ok, but not up to the level of the larger Binos in the HG line, so I thought I would buy the best,
really treat myself and get a pair of the latest Leica 8x20s instead.
So, with
time to spare, I went into my local photo store and tried out the Leicas. They were bright and elegant and nicely made, small
and light too. I was sold. I was already waving my credit card when the sales
assistant said, “Don’t you want to try out the competition?”
So out of
the display cabinet came a pair of Swarovskis (not
the latest design now). This was easy. Even the quickest look said they weren’t
a match for the Leicas: dimmer and less sharp, with a
faintly yellow cast to the view. “You should try the new Nikon HGLs.” said the
guy. Well, I didn’t have anything else to do ...
When he
handed me the Nikons, I realised that they were slightly different from the
original HGs. When I looked through them ... well the view was just plain
better; better than my previous pairs, just slightly better even than the Leicas. They were cheaper too and come with a nice leather
case. I was soon the proud owner of yet another pair of Nikons 8x20s.
At A Glance
|
Magnification |
8x |
|
Objective Size |
20mm |
|
Eye Relief |
15mm (~13mm measured) |
|
Actual Field of View |
6.8° |
|
Apparent field of view |
~55° |
|
Close focus |
2.4m |
|
Transmissivity |
~88% (estimated) |
|
Length |
96mm |
|
Weight |
270g |
Data from Nikon/Me.
Design and
Build
These HGLs
look very similar to the original HGs, However, there are physical differences.
For one thing, I think are slightly shorter and the body has a little flare
that wasn’t there before. The only other difference I can see is the focuser
knob, which is larger and smoother operating.
The 10x25s
are identical, but with larger objectives units stuck onto the tube ends. Both
models are made in Japan.
These are
tiny, jewel-like binoculars weighing just 270g. They measure 96 mm long and
65mm wide when folded (106mm when opened right out). Only Leica’s Trinovid and Ultravid 8x20s are
smaller and lighter; all the other premium competition are larger.
They fold
up super-small and fit in a very small case for travelling or walking. The eye
cups are the twist-up type that are especially convenient if you share with
people who don’t wear spec’s.
Body
These
smaller designs are completely different from the bigger HGs and HGLs, having
the kind of double-hinged body common to most compact roofs. Unlike Leica, Nikon
don’t give you the option of rubber armour: these come in a sort of bronze
anodising and leatherette that is attractive, but may not be as hard wearing as
rubber and doesn’t protect them as well from shocks.
Basic fit
and finish is the very finest, again in keeping with larger HG models.
Note 2020:
In fact, the leatherette has held up well, but the anodising has picked up a
few chips and tiny signs of corrosion around the strap lugs.
Focuser
The
focuser knob is an odd position at the front of the bridge, but its action is
super smooth and accurate. Snap is absolute in both barrels. Close focus is
just under 3m and getting from there to infinity takes slightly more than one
turn.
The
dioptre adjustment is at the other end of the bridge where the focuser usually
is, but its effective and easier to set than the eyepiece ring type.
Optics – Prisms
Like the majority of modern binoculars, these employ Schmidt-Pechan (a.k.a. Roof) prisms with phase coatings and silver
(not dielectric I believe) mirrors.
Optics – Objectives
The
multi-coatings look identical to the larger HGs (i.e. they are first rate) with
greenish tint.
Coatings
and internal baffling are good.
Eye cups
have just one twist-out position.
Optics – Eyepieces
Optically,
they have a similar design of wide-field, high eye relief eyepieces as the
bigger Nikon HGs. However, the eye relief is slightly tighter at 15mm claimed
and ~13mm measured. The field a little less at 6.8 degrees than most larger 8x
roofs, but typical of all pocket bino’s except Zeiss’
latest and very expensive 8x25s.
The eye
cups are the twist up variety, but they only have one out position for use
without spec’s. Blackouts are not a problem with these eyepieces.
Accessories
The pocket
HGLs come with one of the nicest leather cases you’ll find this side of Leica’s
expensive BL version of their 8x20 Ultravids, but
only individual caps for the eyepieces. I bought a separate protective case.
In Use – Daytime
Ergonomics and Handling
As one
of the very smallest binoculars you can buy, these are fiddly to hold, even for
my smallish hands, but that’s inevitable.
Some
have criticised the position of the focuser wheel and it is in an unusual place
at the front of the bridge. But it just means focusing naturally falls to the 3rd
finger rather than the index and I don’t find it a problem.
For
miniature binoculars, eyepiece comfort is quite good with just about enough eye
relief to see the whole field with my glasses on.
Of all
the pocket bino’s out there, these have the most
elegant looks for me, apart from Leica’s gorgeous-but-pricey, leather-covered Ultravid BLs. However, my experiences with the earlier pair
suggest gentle handling is advised since these don’t have rubber to protect
them from knocks.
The View
These are a
small binocular, limited by the size of objectives and eyepieces. Even so, the
view is good. Not as wide as the larger HGs’, it is nonetheless very flat and
extremely sharp with minimal chromatic aberration. For such a small objective,
the view is also surprisingly bright and they work well, though in low light –
dusk or a very dull day - they show a flatter, dimmer image than larger pair of
similar quality. Resolution, however, is as good as it gets.
In brighter
daylight conditions, the detail in the view makes them able to pick out details
in birds and landscape features that leave you with little need for a larger
pair. Focusing is smooth and very accurate, with that real “snap” that fine
optics have. Colour rendition is vivid and faithful. I can watch my local flock
of Goldfinches on high branches with perfect clarity.
The only
nit-pick I can find is that the eye relief is just slightly less than the
larger HGs’ and a bit less than I would prefer for maximum spec’s-on comfort.
That and the small eye lenses and narrow field do make them feel a bit
‘cramped’ and claustrophobic.
Flat field?
The field
is quite narrow but extremely flat and sharp to the edge; these doubtless
employ field flatteners like the larger HGLs. Fields this flat are very rare –
mostly limited to a few Swarovski models.
Chromatic Aberration
No HD
optics, unlike the latest Zeiss 8x25s, but they just don’t need it – false
colour is very well controlled at this tiny aperture and modest magnification.
In line with the flat field, lateral colour from the eyepieces is minimal too.
In Use – Dusk
I reckon
these give a similar low light and dusk view to the naked eye in terms of ability
to penetrate dense shadows and to pick detail out of the gloom. In other words,
they don’t have the “light intensifying” quality of larger binoculars. That and
the cramped view are their only serious limitations.
In Use – The Night Sky
Basic
night-time characteristics are good, with good suppression of ghosting and
flare.
You
wouldn’t expect these to be of any use for astronomy with their tiny objectives
and it’s true they won’t reveal more than the brightest DSOs and clusters. 30mm
objectives gather more than double the light. BUT... the 8x20 HGLs do give
really excellent detail on the Moon!
The very
high optical quality and sharpness makes it easy to pick out the main craters
and features, even in bright daylight; the contrast delivery is that good.
There is none of the softness and CA and ghosting that besets many binoculars
when pointed at Luna.
Because I
hike a lot, I often get opportunities to look at the Moon, especially early in
a cycle, that I wouldn’t otherwise. By the time I get home, the clouds have
rolled in again, or it’s already too low to get onto with a telescope. So this
feature is important to me.
I recall
many early evenings in Switzerland, whilst out snow shoeing or hiking, with
sublime views of the Moon nestling amongst the mountains. I remember one
especially lovely evening in late Autumn, yomping down from Sonloup
into Les Avants to catch the train home. With a frost
in the air, leaves crunching under foot and the peak of Rocher de Naye gradually darkening ahead, I stopped every hundred
metres or so to enjoy the Moon with the 8X20s, which added hugely to the beauty
and enjoyment of the walk.
Winter
walks can offer great opportunities to enjoy Luna with compact binos like Nikon’s 8x20 HGLs.
Summary
For the
last few years, these binos have been with me on
every holiday and many walks too. I’ve used them to watch snow banners off
mount Ritter from the Pacific Crest Trail; a seal playing in the surf off Vik
in Iceland; Plumes of steam rising from Avacha
Volcano in Kamchatka; vistas of Florence from the top of the Duomo; and of
course countless deer, buzzards and Egrets nearer home. They are so much
lighter and smaller, even than my Zeiss 8x32s, that in practice I rarely hike
with anything else. I have even used them at the opera, where their small size
and elegant looks don’t seem out of place.
I can find little
to criticise, apart from the slightly tight eye relief (compared to other
Nikons, but perfectly generous by Leica, Swaro, Zeiss
standards), slightly narrow field and the low-light limitations of any small
binocular. Their finish, whilst attractive, will also be less protective and
robust than rubber armour.
My
experience of other pocket binoculars is that only the Zeiss Victorys offer a better view, but for a higher price.
The Nikon 8x20 HGLs are recommended, but their lack
of armour does mean you’ll need to take extra care of them.