As my title says. I originally started looking at the Nikon M5 8x42, but then I started reading about the M7 with its much wider FOV, was set on it, finding this forum, now looking at the Monarch HG! For a beginner who's looking at southern california birds like meadowlarks, sparrows, pipits, warblers, and goldfinches is the Monarch 7 good enough? I notice the light transmission is better with the M7 vs MHG, but the almost everything else on the HG is better: less CA, less distortion, Japan vs China made (I shoot Nikon full frame DSLRS and I can easily tell the difference between my Japan lenses vs China ones).
I'm a buy once, cry once kind of guy so I want one that will satisfy me for some time....
Also what about image stabilized binos? I like the VR feature on my Nikons...