Pros: Compact, quality construction, excellent image quality, solid adjustment control
Cons: Only if you're unfamiliar with zoom binos or high-power optics. Otherwise, none.
The Bottom Line: Rugged. Sharp. Excellent choice for a wide range of power in a light, small piece of quality gear. Other options are better suited for dim or lengthy surveillance. Superb choice.
ncooty's Full Review: Nikon Travelite V (8-24x25) Binocular
Nikon is an excellent choice for any optical gear. These binos are solidly built. The focus, diopter, zoom, and eye-span adjustments all have an appropriate level of resistance (not too loose or too stiff). The image is free of appreciable spherical aberrations at all magnifications and is crisp to the edge. Light transmission is as expected for that much glass (i.e., less than a fixed-power pair of binos). If you really know optics, you can tell that the Japanese glass characteristically favors a slightly softer image picking up more green and blue hues than does German glass (like Swarovski, Zeiss, or Steiner, which tend to transmit ultra-sharp images favoring reds and yellows... partly attributable to lens coatings).
I bought my pair used from a gentleman who had used them for archery competitions. I am a Marine sniper and was a hunting guide for several years, so I tend to prefer multi-purpose, light-weight equipment that does not fail. I have used these binos for the past year (along with other optical equipment) in harsh field environments for surveillance. They are far handier than my spotting scope is (though, of course, the spotting scope has its own advantages) and have performed flawlessly.
If you can spare the weight (i.e., you don't intend to travel long distances on foot with your optical gear) or if light transmission is a concern (e.g., dawn and dusk), I would suggest sticking with a larger-framed pair of binos with a larger objective lens or a spotting scope. (In case you don't know, if you divide the objective diameter - here: 25 mm - by the magnification, you get the diameter of the exit pupil. The human eye dilates between appx. 2 and 6 or 7 mm. If the exit pupil is smaller than 6 mm, the optics are transmitting less light than the human eye can gather. If the exit pupil is larger than 6 mm, the optics are transmitting more light than the human eye can gather, which is a good thing.)
Also keep in mind that 24x translates to a LOT of shaking through the lens, so you'll have to rest the binos on something at that magnification. Thus, if you can spare the weight and space, a spotting scope might be better. If you don't need the magnification, the lower fixed-power Travelites are excellent.
If you are comparison shopping, I would also suggest looking at Pentax and Leupold (and their Wind River line) - both fine choices. If you want to go cheaper, Bushnell makes good optics for the money, but you will be sacrificing image quality. (I used their 10x50 InstaFocus model for several years while guiding with the sole complaint that the eye-cups fog easily in cold weather.) I have never had luck with Simmons and have had marginal luck with Tasco (even with their recent push for quality).
If you want to go higher, look at the aforementioned Zeiss, Swarovski, and Steiner. Of the three, I prefer Swarovski. You might even look at Swarovski's less expensive affiliate, Kahles.
Finally, you should absolutely, positively look through any piece of optical gear you consider purchasing. I will vouch for the quality of these binoculars, but optical preferences are strangely subjective.
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