Nikon Monarch 8x42mm Binoculars

Nikon 7430 Monarch 8x42mm All-Terrain Binoculars

When I was younger, my Dad and I would always use whatever cheaper set of binoculars we could find at our local discount stores. That was fine until a couple of years ago. I was on an elk hunt. It was COLD and rainy. Elk were around, but when I went to use my binoculars, I couldn't see though them. They had fogged up on the inside. I luckily could borrow a set from a friend or my hunt would have been rough.

As soon as I returned home, I decided to go ahead and pay for a quality set of binoculars. After a lot of research, I decided to buy a set of Nikon Monarch ATB Binoculars. I chose the 10x model for my hunting, but the 8x ones here are just as good. These binoculars really opened my eyes, and made me appreciate a good set of binoculars. Their lifetime warranty also helped to alleviate my worries. Get a set of these. You won't regret it.

Product Features

* Ultra rugged, rubber-armored, roof prism design
* Multicoated lenses for bright, clear images
* Precision aligned optics for extended viewing
* 100% Waterproof/Fogproof
* Extended eye relief and central focus for viewing convenience

Technical Details

* Focusing System: CF
* Magnification: 8x
* Objective Diameter: 40 mm
* Angular Field of View Real: 6.5
* Angular Field of View Apparent: 52
* FOV at 1000 yards: 340 feet
* Close Focus Distance: 8.2 feet
* Exit Pupil: 5 mm
* Relative Brightness: 25
* Eye Relief: 19.5 mm
* Size: 6.5 (L) x 5.1 (W) inches
* Weight: 26.3 ounces

Nikon 7430 Monarch 8x42mm All-Terrain Binoculars

1. 5.0 out of 5 stars Performance at a reasonable price.

I really like these binoculars. They are light, bright, work well with eyeglasses and I give five stars because they are excellent value. I bought these binoculars for a nature trip in the Amazon and I use them in the back yard, on hikes and occasionally at the symphony or opera. My sister, an ornithologist, told me to get the most expensive binoculars I could afford. To her binoculars are a professional tool but I really didn't want to afford a thousand bucks like she was suggesting. She also told me to try out binoculars in dim conditions and to get 8x42 rather than 10x42 because it is easier to find what you are looking for and easier to hold so that the view is not shaking.

In the store I compared these with the same power Leica. The Leica was nice but a lot heavier. I could tell the Leica was better, but not three times the price better. It was dusk, overcast and drizzling (ideal conditions for trying out binoculars). For example, I was looking at the brick work under the awning on a building about a block away from the store. I could see more detail in the brickwork and felt more `there' with the Leica. In brighter conditions the difference is less noticeable and I like the lighter weight of the Monarchs.

On the Amazon trip I has the opportunity to compare binoculars with other people. Most people had brought cheaper binoculars and I think as a result their wildlife watching experience was compromised. The only people who had brought comparable binoculars were avid bird watchers. They had Opticrons which are in the same price ballpark as the Leica. Again, they are excellent binoculars but not three times better.

I like the hard rubber-armor construction. It does not become slippery when wet. They feel solid but light. I am not so nervous about dropping the binoculars as I would be with the Leica or Opticrons. The firm turn-and slide eyecups (like the Lieca) are a huge improvement over the fussy soft foldable rubber eyecups found on many other binoculars.

Looking for binoculars is a lot like looking for Hifi speakers. As the price goes up, the quality improves. At a certain price point you can no longer tell the next price level is clearly better; it is mostly just different. That is a good place to buy, and is something of a personal judgement. Minolta has some binoculars that are priced between the Monarchs and the high end and I think the Monarchs are every bit as good.

2. 5.0 out of 5 stars Tack sharp, lightweight and well worth owning.

I did alot of research before deciding on this pair. As an experienced photographer, optical quality was my top priority.
I originally purchased them for hiking and long range mountain scanning in southern Oregon, and while initially perplexed between the 10X or 8X version; I found the extra sharpness of the 8X resolution negated the need for a 10X magnification, because they rendered so much detail.
With the 8X, I spotted a fire lookout station that I'd never seen before, on a mountain 15 miles out of town. Quite remarkable. Added to that, was the research at Cornell University's Ornithology Center on the web. Birdwatchers extraordinaire; who called them a steal. I concur. I never thought I'd be so happy paying this price for binoculars, but it was a no brainer. Tack sharp, lightweight and well worth owning.

3. 5.0 out of 5 stars Bargain of the century?

Bought these bins recently, they really are excellent, very easy to use, good feel, amazing light gathering and reproduction, and only 1 and 1/2 pounds. If you read Cornell Lab of Ornithology review, there is only 1 set of binoculars under 1000 dollars that beat these,(and they are 6x lenses not really suitable for general birding.)Everything about them feels and works like 1000 dollar lenses with two exceptions, the lens cap and raingaurd, the former in particular would be a disgrace on 50 dollar lenses, i am going to see if i can buy generic replacements. Lots of other web reviews also rave about them, and 98% of people would not tell the difference between these and top range Zeiss, Leica etc. And for 300 dollars you can take them anywhere and enjoy them.