BirdForum Reviews - Monarch 8 x 36 - Powered by ReviewPost

Click here to go to the home page and find out more. | Click here to join.

Welcome to BirdForum.

BirdForum is the net's largest birding community, dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE! You are most welcome to register for an account, which allows you to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Home · Search · Member List · Register

Home » Medium & Compact Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 8 x 36

Reviews	Views	Date of last review
3	35105	Sun January 22, 2012

Recommended By	Average Price	Average Rating
100% of reviewers	$205.00	9.0

Description:

Nikon Monarch 8 x 36 DCF Binoculars. Sometimes seen as Nikon Monarch 8 x 36 ATB

Purchased in the UK from Tecno.co.uk for the incredibly low price of £127.51

Specifications

Magnification:: 8x
Objective Diameter (mm): 36
Angular Field of view (Real): 7
Angular Field of view (Apparent): 56.0
FOV @ 1000yds : 122yds
Close Focus Distance (ft.): 8.2, 2.5 (mtrs)
Exit Pupil (mm): 4.5
Relative Brightness: 20.3
Eye Relief (mm): 17.0
Interpupilliary distanc adjustment (mm): 56-72
Size (L&W) Inches: 4.9x5.1
Size (L&W) MM: 124x129
Weight (oz/g): 19.8/570

Waterproof 1.5 metres for five minutes. "O"rings sealed and Nitrogen purged.
Environmrnt friendly body materials. Lead & Arsenic free "Eco" glass.
Phase Correction coated Roof prisms.
High reflective & Mirroe coated prism.
All Prisms and lenses are multilayer coated.

Whats in the box

Nikon Monarch Product Guide ( Foldout leaflet in 6 languages )
Instruction Manual (in 6 languages )
10 Year warranty voucher. UK.
Service sites sheet
Binoculars
Neck Strap
Soft case
Eyepiece Lens caps
Objective lens caps.

My observations
Physical
These binoculars seem small, but fit comfortably in my ( man size ) hands. The focus knob is a nice size ( just under 1.25”/5cm diameter ) where I have come to expect it and it rotates smoothly and easily. Just over a full rotation from close focus to infinity.
Diopter adjustment is very stiff ( as it should be ).
Eyecups are twist up type and from down to up is about 1cm ( just under half an inch ). With 2 positive click stops between fully out and fully in.
Optical
These are bright, much brighter than my cheap 10x42’s, so much brighter that I initially thought there was blue tint to them. After using these for a week I now think that the colour is neutral. They are bright enough for peering into a reedbed until dark. I have not observed and CA as yet, but it is winter, dull with little sun so far.
The image looks flat, which to me was initially a little disconcerting ( but I’ve got used to it ) and stays sharp from edge to edge.
Depth of field is excellent.
Advertised close focus is 2.5 metre but mine are nearer 2metres, about 6’6”, which is fantastic.

Bad things
Not many!.
The eyecups all too easily move down, which is a niggle.
Objective lens caps are totally useless unless being used inside the soft case!.
The Eyepiece Lens cap too easily slips off, I’m always worried they have slipped off and have rain in them.

Other than these little niggles, they are fantastic bins and probably worth more than twice what I paid for them.
I had a look through a pair of new Swarovski 8 x 32’s which were heavier, and I was disappointed with the view, which seemed much dimmer and less clear. Their owner was also disappointed at apparently wasting so much money after looking through the Monarchs.

Keywords:

Nikon Monarch 8 x 36 roof prism

Author

mports

Registered User

Registered: January 2007
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 71

Review Date: Fri June 8, 2007

Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 9

Pros:	Price, build quality, image quality, close focus ability
Cons:	Object lens caps are totally useless

For £127 you're not going to find a better set of binoculars - Simply superb value for money.

Click here to Send this user a Private Message

Hunsletlad

Ageing novice watcher

Registered: July 2010
Location: Leeds
Posts: 61

Review Date: Fri September 3, 2010

Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 9

Pros:	Price, build quality, image quality
Cons:	lens caps are totally useless

Well made pair of binos

jblackfish

Registered User

Registered: January 2012
Location: Little Rock, AR
Posts: 30

Review Date: Sun January 22, 2012

Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $205.00 | Rating: 9

Pros:	weight, ease of use, very good optics in this price range
Cons:	Lens caps - the most useless I've seen.

These have evidently been around for a while. I just ordered a pair based on the review - 'hoping for a great value.

UPDATE: just to the 8x36's yesterday, which was a constant day of rain - today is totally fogged in so far. Therefore, my comments will not be based on my use on a bright, sunny day involving long distances.

On the surface the 8x36's are a good weight for mid-sized binoculars and seem comfortable to handle, quick and easy to focus and quite accommodating to the eye whether wearing glasses or not. The focus knob turns clockwise from close up to infinity moving about (rough guess) 370 degrees, lock to lock. The eye cups adjust from fully retracted to fully extended via 2 positive clicks between the fully "in" and fully "out" positions. The diopter adjustment is firm and remains where it's set.

I MUST mention the lens caps - the eye cap is a 1-piece unit and a very loose fit. The objective caps - my pair only had ONE in the package - are more loose. The caps have the usual tether loops for connections, they would only stay on the binoculars if they were in the case. Positively worthless if you wanted to use them in the field! I don't know why Nikon produces such a fine quality product and lets the quality control fail in area of protecting the optics with it's covers!

This model represents a very good value in its price range for an occasional user (which I am.) I have ordered, and will compare these to the Sightron SII Blue Sky 8x32's when get them. All I can compare them to currently is an old, cheap pair of porro's (I won't mention the brand) that I've had for over 40 years and a Leitz 10x22c Triovid - comparing to either would be apples to oranges or worse, old stuff to new. I used to have Swarovski 10x42 SLC but but who can compare to what's not on hand?

Search the net with ask.com

BirdForum

The net's largest birding community, dedicated to wild birds