
Binoculars continue to advance with the introduction of the Nikon 8252 Aculon A211 10-22x 50 Binoculars.
Designed for the nature lover looking to have the power of a telescope in a much smarter looking, durable and portable packing, the 8252s bring an adjustable scale of magnification to the table.
Ranging from 10x to 22x magnification, and anywhere in between, there is no doubting the power and the flexibility that these binoculars have to offer.
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They take versatility to a whole new level, and set a benchmark for flexibility in a product.
However, are they worth all of the hype? Do they deliver at each and every step of the magnification spectrum, or do they suffer from blurring throughout?
We look to answer these questions and more in the coming review, to help you decide whether this portable telescope is worth parting with your hard earned cash for.
Nikon Aculon 10-22×50 Video Review – Watch Below

Nikon Aculon Binoculars Specifications
Nikon Aculon 10x50 | Nikon Aculon 10-22x50 | Nikon Aculon 16x50 |
---|---|---|
Size10x50 | Size10-22x50 | Size16x50 |
Lens CoatingFully Multi-Coated | Lens CoatingFully Multi-Coated | Lens CoatingFully Multi-Coated |
Field of View341 ft. | Field of View199 ft. | Field of View220 ft. |
Close Focus23 ft | Close Focus49.2@10x ft | Close Focus29.5 ft. |
Eye Relief11.8 mm | Eye Relief8.6mm @ 10x | Eye Relief12.6 mm |
Weight31.7 oz | Weight33.9 oz | Weight32.6 oz |
Dimensions4.25 x 4.25 x 8.6 inches | Dimensions4.45 x 4.6 x 1.69 inches | Dimensions5.75 x 4.96 x 2.08 inches |
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Main Usage
With it’s built-in variable zoom, these Nikon binoculars really are the multipurpose binoculars.
The changeable scope for viewing means they are the ideal binocular for the person who wants a pair of binoculars to use for everything. They can tackle anything from a nebula, to a constellation, and all the way down to a cluster of stars.
They can move effortlessly between a landscape and focal point of interest, making them the ideal companion for those long hikes and mountain climbs.
The most effective way to think of these binoculars, is like having a telescope that is light and portable enough to be carried around your neck or thrown in a rucksack. They really are remarkable.
As well as being able to change the zoom, these binoculars versatility is further increased by being tripod adaptable, as well as water and weather proof.
Being tripod adaptable makes them perfect for the early morning bird watching, or any kind of static viewing activity. With the 8252s, the possibilities are limitless.
Magnification
This offering from Nikon offers a relative new approach to magnification, by giving you the scope to zoom in on a target.
These binocs function at anywhere between 10x and 22x magnifications, over a 50mm objective lens. Adjustable by a simple fingertip zoom control you can transport yourself closer to the action than ever before, without having to change your equipment.
This makes this pair of binocs ideal for landscape viewing, but also getting close on the action at sports games or while bird watching.
Glass/Lens
When you buy a Nikon product, be a camera or a pair of binoculars, you know that you are entitled to expect a certain amount of quality when it comes to the lens.
In this department, these binoculars do not disappoint.
With fully multicoated optics over Nikon’s patented extra-low dispersion glass, combined with phase correcting prisms, these binoculars really set the bar for other manufacturers.
With anti-reflective coatings in all the right places, unwanted light is excluded, and with the corrective prisms within the binocs, light intensity is preserved delivering a well lit, clear and crisp image.
Image Quality
As these Nikon binoculars are both 10x and up to 22x magnifying, they are also neither. If that makes sense.
What I am trying to say is that they do not have the quality of image that just a 10x magnification pair of binoculars offers at that level, or the quality of what a 22x magnification binocular would offer at that zoom.
When at both extents of the zoom range, colour aberrations and image blurring is unfortunately fairly common, meaning they don’t carry the quality of other Nikon products.
Where the image quality is far from unviewable, the level of detail you have come to expect from Nikon products is unfortunately lacking.
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Eye Relief
Nikon advertise the 8252s eye relief as generous, which is a fairly valid assessment.
There is more than enough room for the glasses wearers among us to use these binoculars comfortably.
With a distance of 8.6mm as the eye relief, there is not as much space as you would find in other models, but it is more than adequate in terms of comfort and usability.
Pros
These binoculars really come into their own with the versatility provided by the zoom lenses.
Being able to magnify an image anywhere between 10 and 22 times, is really remarkable. It makes these binoculars some of the most versatile on the market, and well and truly multifunctional.
With this offering from Nikon, the possibilities really are endless.
Cons
Nikon has not created the perfect binocular, at least not this iteration anyway.
Where the zoom is one of the biggest benefits, it’s not couple by the usual fantastic optics that Nikon promise.
At the highest extents of the zoom, colour aberrations are not uncommon, and lines of usually sharply defined objects do become blurred.
As well as colour aberrations, weighing in at 960g, the 8252s aren’t exactly a lightweight piece of kit.
Conclusions
Whether to purchase a pair of Nikon 8252 ACULON Binoculars comes down to a very simple trade off.
If you prefer the added functionality of the built in zoom, rather than the fixed zoom quality of other binoculars, head for the checkout with your money at the ready.
However, if the zoom function is not top on your list of priorities, it may be worthwhile continuing your search to find a pair of binoculars that offer a higher degree of accuracy, albeit at a fixed level of magnification.
