Optic Tips

Binocular Tips

Tip #1 While Nikon binoculars are some of the most user-friendly models on the planet, we want to offer a couple of quick tips to help you get the most enjoyment possible. If you haven’t already done it, make sure you set the diopter for your eyes. Most people have one eye that is a little stronger than the other and by carefully making this adjustment you’ll enjoy better viewing with no eyestrain.

Here’s how to do it:

First cover your right eye while looking through the binocular. You can do that by covering your right eye or the right end (objective lens) of the binocular.
Pick out an object about 100 yards away and focus the binocular using the center focus wheel.
Next, cover your left eye, making sure your right eye is clear, and adjust the right side using the diopter adjustment located below the eyecup. Make sure you are looking at the same object as before. Note the diopter setting.
From now on just use the center focus wheel when focusing and you’ll enjoy crystal clear viewing.

Tip #2 Many Nikon binoculars—including all Nikon ATB (All Terrain Binoculars)—are completely waterproof and fogproof on the interior, however, cold, damp weather can sometimes cause condensation on the exterior of the lenses. (Even non-waterproof binoculars may fog on the exterior lenses without affecting the interior lenses.) An effective remedy for this is to use Nikon’s Fog Eliminator anti-fog cloth on the lenses of your optics prior to leaving for a hunt. The reusable cloth utilizes a dry compound that stops condensation from forming on lens surfaces—including eyeglasses!

Tip #3 To help ensure the life of your binoculars be sure to clean your optics appropriately after each and every use. Here are a few tips to cleaning your binoculars:

When you are not in the field keep your binoculars in their case with the lens covers in place. This will help keep dirt off the lenses.
If you do notice some dirt that needs to be removed first try blowing it off with either your breath or a puff bottle designed for the purpose.
If you must touch the lenses do so very carefully and only with a Nikon Lens Pen, Nikon Lens Wipe or other Nikon Lens Cleaning products.

Tip #4 Binoculars can be the key to finding game and making the stalk. If you only use a binocular to look at something you’ve already seen, you will be using only 10% of a binocular’s potential. Instead, use the binocular to glass for animals you haven’t seen--yet. In order to do this stop, sit or lie down and then glass both the conspicuous and inconspicuous areas around you.Binoculars also help in thick timber, Eastern or Western. Whether hunting from a stand or still-hunting whitetails, use an 8x or 10x binocular and you’ll likely see twice the deer as with the naked eye—even at distances less than 100 yards.

Once you learn to really look with binoculars, instead of ‘glassing’ only when a white tail flicks away through the oaks, you feel almost helpless without them.

Tip #5 Your primary binocular—or alpha binocular--should be an all-around glass, at least medium-sized, and full-sized is even better. A good compact binocular is okay as a secondary glass, but isn’t suitable as your primary hunting binocular and are no match for larger objective lens models for dawn and dusk viewing.

Larger binoculars have three big advantages over smaller binoculars: brightness, sharpness and steadiness. The diameter of the front (‘objective’) lenses affects all three. Bigger objective lenses affect how much light enters the binocular (light gathering ability.) Hold any binocular at arm’s length, and observe the little dot of light in each rear lens. This is the ‘exit pupil,’ and its size is controlled by the binocular’s magnification and the size of its objective lenses. As an example, let’s look at the Nikon Monarch ATB 8x36. Here 8 is the magnification, and 36 is the diameter of the objective lenses in millimeters.

To find the diameter of the exit pupil of the 8x36, we divide 36mm by 8, resulting in 4.5mm. This number is significant, because an exit pupil over 4mm is about the minimum size needed for serious glassing—especially at first and last daylight.

Any smaller and we run into problems with brightness, sharpness and steadiness.

Riflescope Tips

Tip #1 Make sure your riflescope is zeroed before you take it into the field:

Be sure that you recheck the zero in your Riflescope at the start of every season.
If this is the first time you are shooting this rifle and scope combo begin by shooting your firearm into the target at a close distance.
Then move out to 100 yards.
To save yourself some time, shoot a three-shot group and then lock your rifle into the rest. Carefully aim it at the bulls-eye, and then adjust the scope without moving the rifle until the reticle centers on your three-shot group. Fire another group and you might be surprised to find it sighted in!

Tip #2 Extend your effective hunting shot range with this unique bullet drop compensating reticle, Nikon’s patented BDC (bullet drop compensating) reticle allows accurate and ethical shot placement at longer ranges. This trajectory compensating reticle is calibrated for trajectories common to centerfire standard and magnum hunting rounds and integrates unique, easy to see “ballistic circles” that provide instant aiming points to take the guesswork out of holdover at longer ranges.

Tip #3 To help you get the most out of your Riflescope, here are some basic maintenance tips:

If you are not in the field or on the range keep your scope covers in place. This keeps dirt and dust off the lens.
If you do notice some dirt that needs to be removed first try blowing it off with either your breath or a puff bottle designed for the purpose.
If you must touch the lens do so very carefully and only with a Nikon Lens Pen, Nikon Lens Wipe or other Nikon Lens Cleaning products.

Tip #4 A quality riflescope brand such as Nikon is completely waterproof and fogproof on the interior, however, cold, damp weather can sometimes cause condensation on the exterior of the lenses. An effective remedy for this is to use Nikon’s Fog Eliminator anti-fog cloth on the lenses of your optics prior to leaving for a hunt. The reusable cloth utilizes a dry compound that stops condensation from forming on lens surfaces—including eyeglasses!

Rangefinder Tips

Tip #1 Rangefinders are key to accurate shot placement with gun or bow—and are an indispensable piece of gear for using our new Nikon BDC riflescope reticle. To get the most out of your rangefinder—and to make sure it works when you need it to—here are a couple of quick tips:

First replace the battery at the beginning of each season. Your Nikon rangefinder offers extremely long battery life, but it’s always better to be prepared.
Also, treat the lens on your rangefinder with as much care as you would those on your binocular or riflescope. It is just as important. You can use Nikon’s Lens Maintenance items to keep them at their peak.

Tip #2 Here are a few more tips to make the use of your rangefinder quick and easy:

If you are hunting from a tree stand or blind, it is helpful to range a few different items at different locations around your area. That way, when game walks into your area you are already prepared and can estimate the distance of the game based on your previously ranged marks.
If you are hunting using a spot and stalk method, it is helpful to range your game and then range a bush or rock that you are planning to use for cover. If you subtract the distance between your game and the distance to the cover area you will know your shot distance ahead of time.

Spotting Scopes

A lot of people think spotting scopes are just extra weight to carry and not worth the trouble. Don’t let that common misconception cost you some great viewing opportunities.

Spotting scopes are generally bigger and heavier than your binocular but they do have their place. When ultra high magnification is needed a spotter is what you should turn to. Plus they can save you miles and time no matter if you are spotting on foot or from a vehicle.

Tip #1 Transporting your spotting scope can be the biggest hassle of all but Nikon’s new Field Recon Optics Pack solves that problem. The Optics Pack lets you carry your spotting scope, binocular and rangefinder in one specially designed pack. Each component is protected and easy to access. You can even transport your tripod on the side of the pack plus there are plenty of pockets for the rest of your gear.

Tip #2 Comfort is the key to getting the most out of your Nikon Fieldscope or spotter. Try to set up in a manner that allows you to glass without a lot of bending or twisting on your part. Some people find it easier to look through a scope for long periods of time if they use an eye patch on the opposite eye. A cushion to sit on can make a big difference as well. Sometimes an angled scope is easier to use especially if you are forced to use a short tripod.

Tip #3 Finding game with a spotting scope is a little different than using your binocular. The best scenario is to use your binocular to locate animals and then closely check them out with the spotter. If you are glassing with the scope, use it on a lower power setting (if possible) and then crank it up when you find your trophy.

Tip #4 If you are a backpack hunter who worries about saving ounces, check out the Nikon ED 50. It’s a super lightweight spotting scope with Nikon’s ultra sharp ED glass. With an eyepiece, the ED 50 barely tips the scale at 19-oz. A sheep hunters dream!

Tip #5 To help you get the most out of your Fieldscope or other Nikon Spotter here are some basic maintenance tips.

Never wipe the lens with your shirt, as tempting as that is, it can damage the lens coatings
If you notice some dust or dirt on the lens, try to remove it with your breath or a puff bottle
If you have to touch the lens do so carefully and only enough to remove the debris. Lubricating the lens with a lens cleaning solution helps clean as well
Purchase and keep a high quality lens cleaning kit like those offered by Nikon. It has everything in it you will need to maintain your lens
When you are not using your scope keep it in the protective soft case to cut down on dust and dirt

Tip #6 A quality spotting scope such as Nikon’s Fieldscope, or ProStaff Spotter are completely waterproof and fogproof on the interior. However, cold, damp weather can sometimes cause condensation on the exterior of the lenses. An effective remedy for this is to use Nikon’s Fog Eliminator anti-fog cloth on the lenses of your optics prior to leaving for a hunt. The reusable cloth utilizes a dry compound that stops condensation from forming on lens surfaces—including eyeglasses!

Tip #7 Enjoy your Fieldscope all season long by trying Digiscoping. Nikon pioneered this fun hobby and it uses a lot of equipment you already have. Simply put, Digiscoping is using your spotting scope as a camera lens. Nikon makes adapters for almost any of their COOLPIX or other Nikon cameras. You simply need to replace your current eyepiece with a Digiscoping one and purchase a camera bracket to secure your camera to the back of the scope. Then by using a remote or cable shutter release, start taking some amazing photos. Wildlife never looked so close!

Tip#8 Ever struggled to see if that black mark on the target was a bullet hole or just a shadow?? Well next time you’re heading to the range to check a rifle’s zero or mount a new scope, don’t leave your spotting scope behind. It can save you a lot of trips down range and perhaps eliminate wasted ammo. Just make sure you put up enough targets on your first trip downrange.