What roof binoc would you get?

[elkhorn98]

I want a lightweight roof prism, waterproof, fogproof, nitrogen purged, phase corrected, fully multicoated mid priced binoc. Here is what I like

Swift HHS 828 8.5x44 $299
Audubon Equinox HP 8x42 $250
Nikon Monarch ATB 8x42 $250
Alpen Apex 8x42 $299

What would you get and why? I want a binoc for general uses like birding, lake fishing, hiking, camping, etc.

[Otto McDiesel]

I want a lightweight roof prism, waterproof, fogproof, nitrogen purged, phase corrected, fully multicoated mid priced binoc. Here is what I like

Swift HHS 828 8.5x44 $299
Audubon Equinox HP 8x42 $250
Nikon Monarch ATB 8x42 $250
Alpen Apex 8x42 $299

What would you get and why? I want a binoc for general uses like birding, lake fishing, hiking, camping, etc.

I recently tried the Swift, the Monarch, and the Apex. I liked the Swift, and did not care much for the rest. Your mileage may vary, so try them. Can you go up $150? The Celestrons Regal at $400-450 are quite good, visibly better than the $250 bunch. A new Celestron Regal, the LX, with aspheric lenses is out, and i hear it is very very good.

[Bruce Webb]

One thing you can do to compare any four binoculars like your choices is to put them through the Optic4Birding Scorecard.

http://www.optics4birding.com/scorecardintro.aspx

Once you put them in, you weigh in with your personal preferences, such as whether close focus or weight are important to you, (and if you wear eyeglasses) and the scorecard will generate a final score based on the manufactuer's specifications. Aside from the preferred way of looking through those optics -- the Scorecard is another way to find individual shortcomings and help you look deeper to reach a decision.

Bruce Webb
Optics4Birding.com

[Jacamar]

Thanks for pointing that out, Bruce. It is very helpful.
If you are looking for suggestions, it would be helpful to have the prices included in the scorecard so one doesn't have to go to each individual page to find it.
Cheers,

[elkhorn98]

Anyone else?

[Bill Atwood]

You might wanna check out the Celestron Noble 8x42s also. The recent ones have phase coating and were very close in sharpness to my Leica 8x42 Ultravids.

Personally if I was looking for a bin in that bunch I would also really want to check out the new phase-coated Nikon Monarchs also.

[elkhorn98]

You might wanna check out the Celestron Noble 8x42s also. The recent ones have phase coating and were very close in sharpness to my Leica 8x42 Ultravids.

Personally if I was looking for a bin in that bunch I would also really want to check out the new phase-coated Nikon Monarchs also.

I have been looking at the phase coated Nikon Monarchs and they are on my short list. But I have not seen the Celestron Nobles. Online they look to have what I am looking for but I can't find them around here. I want to try whatever I buy. Thanks for the input.

[Andy1]

I have been looking at the phase coated Nikon Monarchs and they are on my short list. But I have not seen the Celestron Nobles. Online they look to have what I am looking for but I can't find them around here. I want to try whatever I buy. Thanks for the input.

FYI - The recent Living Bird magazine review of binoculars conducted by Cornell Lab of Ornithology gave the following results for image quality (the binos were also rated for other factors, but this is probably the most important to you).:

Celestron Noble 8x32: 3.2
Celestron Noble 8x42: 3.8
Nikon Monarch 8x42: 4.3

The maximum score possible is a 5.0 which was given to some binocular models made by Zeiss, Leica & Swarovoski.

[elkhorn98]

Andy,

Did that magazine rate the swift, audubon , or Alpen? Thanks.

[Andy1]

Andy,

Did that magazine rate the swift, audubon , or Alpen? Thanks.

No binoculars manufactured by Alpen were included in the review.

The Audubon Equinox 8x42 was rated a 3.1 for image quality. The overall score placed this model at about the middle of the pack for the mid-priced ($200 - $500) binoculars ranking it 18th out of 27 submitted for the review. Looking at only the image quality scores however, only 3 models scored worse and the Fujinon BFL 8x42 tied it at 3.1.

The only Swift model reviewed was the Swift Audubon (RP) [roof prism?] 8.5x44. I don't know if this is the same model you are looking at. It was placed in the Top Affordable ($500 - $1,000) category with a manufacturers suggested retail price of $629. It was rated as having an image quality score of 3.8. It was ranked 9th out of 14 binoculars in this price category.

To give you an idea of the range in image quality scores for the mid-priced category: The top ranked binocular was the Leupold Wind River 6x32 rated at 4.5. Next, and tops for any full size binocular, was the 4.3 awarded to the Nikon Monarch 8x42. At the bottom of the price category was Fujinon BFL 10x42 which scored a 2.4. Second to last was the Steiner Merlin 8x32 with a score of 2.9. The Steiner was particularly interesting since I see their very prominent advertisements on the inside covers of birding magazines. - Don't believe the hype I guess!

[marcus]

Andy, I have that LIVING BIRD magazine too. I've read the binocular review in it several times already. I probably look at it every day, but I still decided to 'be bad' and just order an Audubon Equinox.
I really wanted to spend a little less money and get the #1 budget one. I have the #2 budget one already, ( I know in that review that there are 2 #2's. I have the Eagle Optics 7x35 Denali. I really like them.).

[fender]

I want a lightweight roof prism, waterproof, fogproof, nitrogen purged, phase corrected, fully multicoated mid priced binoc. Here is what I like

Swift HHS 828 8.5x44 $299
Audubon Equinox HP 8x42 $250
Nikon Monarch ATB 8x42 $250
Alpen Apex 8x42 $299

What would you get and why? I want a binoc for general uses like birding, lake fishing, hiking, camping, etc.

Hi, I have had a pair of Nikon Monarch's for almost a year now and find them to be excellent in all respects. i went where i was able to try-out a couple of dozen pairs at my leisure before buying and to me there was very little difference between them and top of the range Leica's or Swarovski's( the latter one's definately are not £500 or £600 better in my opinion. All the best Phil.

[Bradley B]

Swift HHS 828 8.5x44 $299
Audubon Equinox HP 8x42 $250
Nikon Monarch ATB 8x42 $250
Alpen Apex 8x42 $299



What reputable dealer has Monarch's for $250?

Thanks, Bradley

[elkhorn98]

What reputable dealer has Monarch's for $250?

Thanks, Bradley
digital photo club (http://www.digitalfotoclub.com/sc/from-shopping.asp?id=964584955&rf=dt)

Andy,

Did they review the 10x42 monarchs? I am now leaning toward 8x42. Could you tell if the 8 were much brighter than the 10s?

thanks.

[Andy1]

digital photo club (http://www.digitalfotoclub.com/sc/from-shopping.asp?id=964584955&rf=dt)

Andy,

Did they review the 10x42 monarchs? I am now leaning toward 8x42. Could you tell if the 8 were much brighter than the 10s?

thanks.

There is no specific score for image brightness. Presumably, they are somewhat less bright as would be the case with any 10x compared to an 8x with the same objectyive lens diameter. The 10x42 received an image quality score of 3.8. They were the top ranked 10x model in that price class and reveived an overall rank of 8th place. The next highest ranked 10x model was the Celestron Regal LS 10x42, ranked 14th.

Personally, I prefer 8x for the brightest image and the wider field of view. I do a fair amount of my birding in forest conditions watching beautiful warblers. The brightest possible image is really helpful to discern color when in a forest, looking up in the tree tops with a bright sky in the background. If the image is not bright in that situation, the bird will just appear as a silouhette. The wide field of view is beneficial to track birds moving through the canopy or in brushy areas with obstructed vision.

On the other hand, if you're birding in more open, long distance viewing environments, 10x might suit you better. One more thing though - 8x is easier to hold steady than 10x - especially if you're observing a bird for an extended period of time.

[ranburr]

Get the monarchs, if nothing else you can re-sale them. People will buy Nikon, most people have never even heard of Celestron.

ranburr

[streatham]

Hi elkhorn,

You could just stretch your budget and look at the Nikon Venturer LX 10x32 (of course maybe you don't like 10's - personally I prefer them). I'm not a binocular fetishist like some on BF so I can't go into detail but I just got mine today from Eagle Opics for $399 - reduced over half price and they are a great pair of bins for the money - sharp image, bright, nice feel in the hand. If you can't justify the expense of the high end european bins - I'd say these were a nice runner up in levels of quality.

Luke

[Robert Ellis]

Hi elkhorn,

You could just stretch your budget and look at the Nikon Venturer LX 10x32 (of course maybe you don't like 10's - personally I prefer them). I'm not a binocular fetishist like some on BF so I can't go into detail but I just got mine today from Eagle Opics for $399 - reduced over half price and they are a great pair of bins for the money - sharp image, bright, nice feel in the hand. If you can't justify the expense of the high end european bins - I'd say these were a nice runner up in levels of quality.

Luke

Looks like EO is sold out already. No surprise at that price.

[streatham]

Hi Rob,

I think they are still in stock but don't show up depending on how you do your search for some reason as I remember from doing this last week. If you go to the binoculars page and refine your search by picking $300-$500 and Nikon they show up as still in stock.

Luke

[elkhorn98]

Anyone else have comments on these?

Swift HHS 828 8.5x44 $299
Audubon Equinox HP 8x42 $250
Nikon Monarch ATB 8x42 $250
Alpen Apex 8x42 $299

I am leaning toward the swift or maybe the HPs.

[Atomic Chicken]

elkhorn,

I've evaluated all of the models you list except the Audubon Equinox model, and I'd rate them in this order:

#1 - Swift HHS 828
#2 - Nikon Monarch ATB
#3 - Alpen Apex

I can't comment on the Audubon Equinox model, no retailers for them in my area. I've owned the Nikon Monarch ATB, I ended up selling them to help raise money for some high-end Zeiss optics I had my eye on. Nothing at all wrong with them, I thought they were some of the best low-end optics I've ever looked through - just needed the cash at the time. I plan on purchasing a pair of the Swift HHS 828's later this year, I'm very impressed with them considering the price - they are easily the best of the models you listed.

Last bit of advice - don't buy cheap, get the best you can afford and you'll never be sorry.

Best wishes,
Bawko

[elkhorn98]

Atomic Chicken,

Thanks for the reply. The swift 828 hhs looks to be the best of these to me too. At $299 I think it is the best. I will wait until 5/1 when the HPs are available and try those out first.