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Nikon SE 8x32 for Elk hunt in Rockies?

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Big Dave View Drop Down
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    Posted: July/12/2013 at 16:27
Hi All,

I like my SE. I know it's not waterproof and not the best choice for hunting. But, that's what I have. I read somewhere that these can be problematic when going from a heated house into cold weather.
Should I be concerned about bringing them on a hunt in the Rockies in Nov?

Thanks,
Dave

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PhilR. View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote PhilR. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/12/2013 at 16:49
I tend to find that taking a bin from a cool house into hot/humid outdoors will tend to fog the outside of the lenses, but I've not ever had the opposite happen during cold weather. Then again, it doesn't get as cold here in Texas as it can get in the Rockies, so I would think that it is a possibility that the water vapor inside the warmed binos could condense on the inside of the oculars or objective lenses once these cool down enough. Perhaps you could leave your SE's in a place where they will stay cooler than the inside of the hunting lodge? That way, you wouldn't have to worry about it.

I would be more worried about the action of the focus knob however. Porro knobs can get hard to work when it gets cold enough to worry about internal condensation. I don't own an SE so I can't tell you if they are known to do this, but this type of thing is well-known. You might do some additional research on this, if no one addresses it here.

At any rate, you only have one set of bins (and a really nice set at that), so you might as well take them and deal with anything that arises as best as possible. Personally though, if I were in your hunting boots, I would buy a decent but inexpensive bins for the trip, and then not have to worry about this whole situation. I would have no reservation whatsoever using something like a Sightron Blue Sky or Bushnell Legend or Leupold Acadias for a hunting trip. Heck, a set of Sightron Blue Sky 8x32 weighs only about 17oz and costs less than $165, so you could get one as a backup, and still carry your SE's too.
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PhilR. View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote PhilR. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/12/2013 at 16:53
By the way - I noticed that you are at Kaneohe. By any chance, are you stationed at the Marine Corps base there? I spent many an hour trying to drown myself at the beach on the Marine base.
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Bird Watcher View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bird Watcher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/12/2013 at 19:53
Originally posted by Big Dave Big Dave wrote:

I like my SE. I know it's not waterproof and not the best choice for hunting. But, that's what I have. I read somewhere that these can be problematic when going from a heated house into cold weather. 
Should I be concerned about bringing them on a hunt in the Rockies in Nov?

Thanks,
Dave

Dave,

Because the SE is not sealed as well as it could be they have a tendency to collect dust, internally, when used out in the field.

If you store yours, outdoors, in your backpack, you should have fewer problems with it fogging, due to temperature changes.

When it is not in use, some guys will put their binocular inside a zip lock freezer bag, just to protect it from the rain or snow. 
I prefer Porro prism binoculars especially those made in Japan. (i.e. Minox BD 10x44 BP) 8>)
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Big Dave View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Big Dave Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/12/2013 at 19:53
Thank you Phil. Maybe I'll leave the binos in the truck. I'll think about a backup.

Speaking of Kaneohe Bay, I live across from the Marine base. I paddle the bay a lot and surf (kayak) the waves off the beach (between Turtle rock and the crash boat channel).

In this early morning photo you can see the hangers. The runway is out of view on the left side. The guy in the canoe is my neighbor who was probably in his mid 70's at the time of the photo.



Thanks,
Dave
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Big Dave View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Big Dave Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/12/2013 at 20:09
Thanks Birdwatcher, sorry I saw your post after... Good idea about the plastic bag. The nice thing about the Nikon is their easy / long warranty that I've used a couple of times for their products.
Take care,
Dave
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bird Watcher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/12/2013 at 20:12
Originally posted by Big Dave Big Dave wrote:

Thanks Birdwatcher, sorry I saw your post after...
Take care,
Dave

Looks like we both posted at exactly the same time. 
I prefer Porro prism binoculars especially those made in Japan. (i.e. Minox BD 10x44 BP) 8>)
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PhilR. View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote PhilR. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/15/2013 at 18:33
Originally posted by Big Dave Big Dave wrote:

Thank you Phil. Maybe I'll leave the binos in the truck. I'll think about a backup.

Speaking of Kaneohe Bay, I live across from the Marine base. I paddle the bay a lot and surf (kayak) the waves off the beach (between Turtle rock and the crash boat channel).

In this early morning photo you can see the hangers. The runway is out of view on the left side. The guy in the canoe is my neighbor who was probably in his mid 70's at the time of the photo.



Thanks,
Dave


Hey Dave,

Sorry I didn't get back quickly. I was gone over the past weekend.

That is a great picture, taken from an angle that I've not seen before. It does bring back memories from when I used to fly in and out of Hickam on the C-5 Galaxy back in the late 80's and into the mid 90's. When we had a few days off, the crew would rent a car and go all over Oahu, and we would spend a lot of time on the beaches in the Kaneohe area. I miss those days terribly at times, but I do plan on taking the wife on a vacation in HI at some point in the near future.

Please be sure to let us know how the SE's work out, once your hunting trip is over.

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Big Dave View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Big Dave Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/15/2013 at 19:13
Glad you like the photo.

Speaking of optics and Kaneohe Bay...I like the Canon IS 15x50 for viewing across the bay. The only thing that still bothers me about those is when the image goes fuzzy. I find it gets worse when the batteries need to be changed.

I also have the image stabilized Fuji 14x40...which work much better on the stabilized image...but the FOV not as good and they are darker.

Take care,
Dave
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PhilR. View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote PhilR. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/15/2013 at 19:22
I have always wondered about those Fuji IS bins. I have the 12x Canon IS, and I think it is an amazing binocular. If the Fuji is even better at stabilization, then they must be awesome!

If I didn't already have a 10x Vortex Razor HD, I would probably get the 10x Canon with the L-series lenses too......

regards,
Phil
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Big Dave View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Big Dave Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/15/2013 at 19:38
The Fuji's seem more solid. If they had a bigger objective they would be the winner.
Take care,
Dave
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