Nikon Action 8x42 specs and field of view
The Action 8x42 shows calculated relative brightness of 27.6 on a 5.3 mm exit pupil, and its 420 ft field of view is 21st of 75 in the 8x42 size.
- Field of view
- 420 ftat 1,000 yd
- Eye relief
- 17.3 mm
- Close focus
- 16.4 ft
- Weight
- 27.9 oz
- Exit pupil
- 5.3 mmcalculated
Why pick it
- 420 ft view, wider than the typical 393 ft
- 17.3 mm eye relief, enough for glasses
- Takes a tripod adapter
Who the Action 8x42 suits
Dusk and dawn viewing suit it, with 17.3 mm eye relief for eyeglass wearers. The maker list price band is $100 to $200, and it adapts to a tripod.
At 27.9 oz it is heavier than the 24.2 oz size median, and the 16.4 ft close focus is long.
Action 8x42 is one choice among many, and the top binoculars compared covers the most popular ones. Action 8x42 is one of 75 models in the 8x42 binoculars comparison. Nikon lists it in the $100 to $200 price band, alongside the models in best binoculars under $200.
Action 8x42 specifications
Action 8x42 figures as Nikon prints them; rows marked * are calculated from the 8x42 size.
| Magnification | 8x |
|---|---|
| Objective lens | 42 mm |
| Prism type | Porro |
| Field of view | 420 ft at 1,000 yd (140 m at 1,000 m) |
| Angular field of view | 8° |
| Apparent field of view | 58.4° |
| Eye relief | 17.3 mm |
| Close focus | 16.4 ft (5 m) |
| Eye spacing range | 56 to 72 mm |
| Weight | 27.9 oz (790 g) |
| Length | 5.9 in (149 mm) |
| Width | 7.6 in (193 mm) |
| Tripod adaptable | Yes |
| Focus system | Center focus |
| Maker list price | $100 to $200 |
| Exit pupil | 5.3 mm * |
| Twilight factor | 18.3 * |
| Relative brightness | 27.6 * |
* Calculated from the size, not printed by the maker.
Action 8x42 against other 8x42 binoculars
Action 8x42 shows 420 ft at 1,000 yd, at or above the 393 ft median of the 75 8x42 models in the chart. At 27.9 oz it is heavier than the 24.2 oz median for the size.
Action 8x42 and its nearest rivals
Action 8x42 next to the 8x42 models closest to it in maker list price, with the best figure in each column in bold.
| Model | Field of view | Eye relief | Close focus | Weight | Exit pupil | Maker list price | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikon Action 8x42 | 420 ft | 17.3 mm | 16.4 ft | 27.9 oz | 5.3 mm | $100 to $200 | |
| Athlon Neos G2 HD 8x42 | 367 ft | 17 mm | 13.1 ft | 21 oz | 5.3 mm | $100 to $200 | Check price on Amazon |
| Bushnell R3 8x42 | 325 ft | 21 mm | 21.3 oz | 5.3 mm | $100 to $200 | ||
| Celestron Ultima 8x42 | 393 ft | 18 mm | 13.1 ft | 21.9 oz | 5.3 mm | $100 to $200 |
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Other sizes of the Action
Nikon makes the Action in 7 sizes; a larger front lens adds brightness and weight, and more magnification narrows the view.
| Model | Size | Field of view | Eye relief | Close focus | Weight | Exit pupil |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikon Action 8x42 | 8x42 | 420 ft | 17.3 mm | 16.4 ft | 27.9 oz | 5.3 mm |
| Nikon Action 10x42 | 10x42 | 356 ft | 16.1 mm | 16.4 ft | 27.9 oz | 4.2 mm |
| Nikon Action 7x50 | 7x50 | 335 ft | 19.6 mm | 26.2 ft | 33 oz | 7.1 mm |
| Nikon Action 10x50 | 10x50 | 335 ft | 17.3 mm | 23 ft | 33 oz | 5 mm |
| Nikon Action Zoom 10-22x50 | 10-22x50 | 204 ft | 16.3 mm | 26.2 ft | 33.5 oz | 5 mm |
| Nikon Action 12x50 | 12x50 | 293 ft | 16.1 mm | 26.2 ft | 33.3 oz | 4.2 mm |
| Nikon Action 16x50 | 16x50 | 220 ft | 13 mm | 26.2 ft | 33.2 oz | 3.1 mm |
Nikon binoculars
Action 8x42 questions
Action 8x42: does it work with glasses?
Action 8x42 has 17.3 mm of eye relief, which meets the 16 mm the RSPB advises for people who wear glasses.
Action 8x42: what does 8x42 mean?
Action 8x42 magnifies 8 times through 42 mm front lenses, which works out to an exit pupil of 5.3 mm, the width of the beam of light that reaches each eye.
Action 8x42: how wide is the view?
Action 8x42 shows a view 420 ft wide at 1,000 yd, at or above the 393 ft median of the 75 8x42 models in the chart.
Action 8x42: can it go on a tripod?
Action 8x42 is tripod adaptable according to Nikon, so it accepts a binocular tripod adapter.