Monarch 7 8x30 fix (10 Viewers)

[BinoBoy]

dougrz,

I think you need to shine the light from the objective end and also look from the objective end. If you shine the light through the eyepieces as in your photos, it may just look bright because the light is much brighter on the directly illuminated areas than in the shadowed areas.

If the contrast seems low, you probably have the problem, though.

Mark

 

[henry link]

Looking into the front of a binocular is not a good way to see what is causing glare. A binocular that looks nicely blackened and baffled from the front may still show bright internal reflections from the eyepiece end where it counts. Ironically, the light you see reflecting back at you through the front is the relatively benign stuff; you can see it because it's harmlessly escaping through the objective lens. The glancing obtuse reflections with angles that send all the light toward the eyepiece end, and are quite invisible from the front, are what do the damage.

 

[OPTIC_NUT]

I suspect there was a film or residue on the prisms.
The Monarch 5's I tried in the shop had awesome contrast, although you could see
parts shining up front. The design did a pretty good job clearing off the stray light.
I'm a big fan of extra dark suppression up front, but I'd agree that this isn't
a good indicator for a particular model. Especially when the contrast is really bad.
In old binocs, that's been nicotine, mold, or cleaner residue, and in newer ones I
found fingerprints or a very pale grease smear.

 

[BruceH]

My bins came back from Nikon yesterday. They repaired and returned my pair. The "pale colors" problem is fixed now.

I'm impressed by the speed of their service.

BinoBoy ... Have you had a chance to check out the review of the Monarch 7 8X30 posted by TRT45?

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=278630

In that thread Henry posted a picture from AllBino's showing a halo like white ring around the edge of the exit pupil when pointing the objectives toward a light source (post 25). Does your recently repaired binocular show that halo ring or is it now black?

Thanks!

 

[BinoBoy]

I've got company visiting until Tuesday, so I'll try to check this Wednesday.

Would the best approach be to focus the exit pupil onto a piece of paper?

 

[BinoBoy]

Well, I checked it out as well as I could today and found no problems.

I looked down the objectives illuminated from the objective and then from the eyepiece. There is no unblackened metal now, nor halo around the field stop when viewed through the objectives.

I looked at a light fixture and saw no halo around the field stop. I also tried focusing the exit pupil onto a black surface and saw no halo.

 

[Sam42]

As part of my search for a new pair of light binoculars, I picked up an M7 10x30 from Amazon, which arrived today. Serial number 30014xx.

So far I am pleased with the image but have noticed a grey haze across the view when looking in the shadows of the trees under an overcast sky. I did not notice the same haze with my previous binoculars (Talon 8x42), nor with the Swaro 8x25 I am also demoing at the moment.

After reading about uncoated internal components (a topic I am not well versed in) I had a look and see what I think is a 'shiny' part. The attached photo shows the objective end of the M7 10x30 while I am shining a flashlight, trying to catch the 'shiny' part (yellow arrow)

For those in the know, is this the uncoated ring others have seen?

 

[Sam42]

Update - I tested the bins again today - they sky is brighter. I see a 'halo' around the edge of the viewable image and washing out of the colours. Might be my eye placement, but I have not seen this ugliness before in other bins.

I did call Nikon service, but they tell me there are no known issues with M7 x30s, and that I can send it in for repair (at my own cost, of course). I even confirmed with a customer service manager, who told me there are no known service advisories. Interestingly, when I mentioned BinoBoy's incident number, the service manager told me that was for a different issue.

It's frustrating to read that a few people on here have had issues, but that Nikon doesn't track them internally. I did email Mike F and hope to hear back. I really want to give these a fair shake but don't want to sacrifice my 30-day return window in the process

 

[brocknroller]

Update - I tested the bins again today - they sky is brighter. I see a 'halo' around the edge of the viewable image and washing out of the colours. Might be my eye placement, but I have not seen this ugliness before in other bins.

I did call Nikon service, but they tell me there are no known issues with M7 x30s, and that I can send it in for repair (at my own cost, of course). I even confirmed with a customer service manager, who told me there are no known service advisories. Interestingly, when I mentioned BinoBoy's incident number, the service manager told me that was for a different issue.

It's frustrating to read that a few people on here have had issues, but that Nikon doesn't track them internally. I did email Mike F and hope to hear back. I really want to give these a fair shake but don't want to sacrifice my 30-day return window in the process

They are either BSing you or one hand doesn't know what the other is doing at Nikon. Either way, I don't like the sound of this, particularly because I would like to buy an 8x30 M7 down the line, but if they are going to deny the problem exists and make me pay out-of-pocket (it that's what you're saying, I'm not clear about that), then fagetaboutit!

I'm interested in what Mike has to say about this. The 8x30 M7 sample I tried did not have any issues with veiling glare or bare metal parts. So it's either a batch problem, or they did find the problem and corrected it.

Brock

 

[SteveTS]

Might be my eye placement

Highly likely.

I have a couple of Nikon bins with which it is very easy to induce glare with incorrect ER and eye placement. With correct ER there is no issue.

I am not going to mention which models simply to save some binotic nitpicker from misquoting that there are 'glare issues' when plainly there are not.

Hope that you get to work it out.

Best wishes,

 

[NDhunter]

They are either BSing you or one hand doesn't know what the other is doing at Nikon. Either way, I don't like the sound of this, particularly because I would like to buy an 8x30 M7 down the line, but if they are going to deny the problem exists and make me pay out-of-pocket (it that's what you're saying, I'm not clear about that), then fagetaboutit!

I'm interested in what Mike has to say about this. The 8x30 M7 sample I tried did not have any issues with veiling glare or bare metal parts. So it's either a batch problem, or they did find the problem and corrected it.

Brock

Brock:

Mikefreiburg has told me he is now off the forum, and has moved along.

There may be another Nikon rep. watching the forum, I would expect, so keep posting.

Jerry

 

[Sam42]

They are either BSing you or one hand doesn't know what the other is doing at Nikon. Either way, I don't like the sound of this, particularly because I would like to buy an 8x30 M7 down the line, but if they are going to deny the problem exists and make me pay out-of-pocket (it that's what you're saying, I'm not clear about that), then fagetaboutit!

I'm interested in what Mike has to say about this. The 8x30 M7 sample I tried did not have any issues with veiling glare or bare metal parts. So it's either a batch problem, or they did find the problem and corrected it.

Brock

Hi Brock,

To clarify, Nikon told me that I would have to pay the cost of the shipping to their facility. If they found a problem, both the repair and return shipping would be covered under warranty.

I must say, that when I am able to get a nice image out of the M7s, it is a very nice image at that - sharp across much of the frame and pleasing to the eye.

Perhaps Samandag is right and one issue is eye placement - I do notice that I have to push up on the binocular (akin perhaps to MOLCET) often. In other times, I find that the glare/flare is quite strong no matter how I position the binocular. I'm hoping for some nicer weather on the weekend to know for sure.

Sam

 

[brocknroller]

Hi Brock,

To clarify, Nikon told me that I would have to pay the cost of the shipping to their facility. If they found a problem, both the repair and return shipping would be covered under warranty.

I must say, that when I am able to get a nice image out of the M7s, it is a very nice image at that - sharp across much of the frame and pleasing to the eye.

Perhaps Samandag is right and one issue is eye placement - I do notice that I have to push up on the binocular (akin perhaps to MOLCET) often. In other times, I find that the glare/flare is quite strong no matter how I position the binocular. I'm hoping for some nicer weather on the weekend to know for sure.

Sam

I used my sample under different lighting conditions, and aside from pointing in the trees right under the sun, I didn't experience any glare/flare. I also checked down the tubes and the rings that Frank D. showed where unpainted in his sample were painted in the one I had.

So while eye placement can play a role, particularly when your entrance pupils and the bins' exit pupils are closely matched since that will put you at the edge of the exit pupil where the nasties can be easily seen, there is a known issue with these binoculars and you may have a defective one.

If you think you see bare metal (hard to tell from the photo since flashes often create the impression of bare metal), I'd send it back. It will only cost you shipping. Trying to keep your eyes placed "just so" to avoid veiling glare can be tedious. I know from the ZR 7x36 ED2.

The easier a bin is to use, the more you will use it.

Brock

 

[brocknroller]

Brock:

Mikefreiburg has told me he is now off the forum, and has moved along.

There may be another Nikon rep. watching the forum, I would expect, so keep posting.

Jerry

Thanks, Jerry. Hopefully, the new rep will pop by soon. Maybe he can bring us up to date as to where Nikon is with fixing the bare metal/veiling glare issue with the 30mm M7, and also answer my question to Mike about whether or not the Nikon EII is still EXTANT.

Brock

 

[BruceH]

Brock:

Mikefreiburg has told me he is now off the forum, and has moved along.

There may be another Nikon rep. watching the forum, I would expect, so keep posting.

Jerry

Does this mean Mike F. is no longer with Nikon or if his role with Nikon has changed?

 

[perterra]

Does this mean Mike F. is no longer with Nikon or if his role with Nikon has changed?

I think his role changed.

 

[perterra]

Thanks, Jerry. Hopefully, the new rep will pop by soon. Maybe he can bring us up to date as to where Nikon is with fixing the bare metal/veiling glare issue with the 30mm M7, and also answer my question to Mike about whether or not the Nikon EII is still EXTANT.

Brock

A rep without the authority to make command decisions getting involved in these forums is a losing proposition.

Jensen can do it because he has the authority to make things happen, and the ability to decline to answer some of the questions and people respect it. But for the average sales rep getting involved here could be like committing suicide by forum.

 

[brocknroller]

A rep without the authority to make command decisions getting involved in these forums is a losing proposition.

Jensen can do it because he has the authority to make things happen, and the ability to decline to answer some of the questions and people respect it. But for the average sales rep getting involved here could be like committing suicide by forum.

William,

Like a lamb to the slaughter. :eat:

Harry

 

[perterra]

William,

Like a lamb to the slaughter. :eat:

Harry

Word,

Hezekiah

 

[brocknroller]

Word,

Hezekiah

Hezekiah received the envoys and showed them all that was in his storehouses—the Silverline Ultravids, the Leupold Gold Rings, the spicy Swaro SLC-HDs, and the fine Nikon Superior Es—most coveted among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.

Isaiah spake: The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to China.

Jeremiah