I am in the market getting a binocular. I live in the US. I realized Nikon discounted Monarch 7 and I can get it for $350. The new M7 is close to $500. Is it worth getting the new one? In addition, what do you think about 8x42 vs 10x42? I live in the country side of Connecticut, and we will use it to look at the birds and other animals in our nature.
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Nikon Monarch 7 vs Nikon M7 & 8x42 vs 10x42 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter sozdamar
- Start date
Very unlikely the M7 is 50% better than the Monarch 7. If money is not a concern buy the new model, but the old model is surely better value for money.
8x42 - easier to hold steady, wider field of view
10x42 - more details IF you can hold it steady
Nobody can tell you what you prefer, you have to try for yourself.
8x vs 10x is a question as old as binoculars, I'm afraid 
If it's of any help, I once opened a thread on the subject, you can find it here:
www.birdforum.net
I'm a 7x/8x person (for an everyday pair). I don't see a lot of difference between 8x and 10x (hence the above thread). So much so, that after trying many 10x, I finally settled for an image-stabilised 12x, where I really can see a clear difference against a 8x. Basically, I feel IS 12x gives me what I hoped 10x would give me (and never did). I had the 10x42 Monarch 7 and was a bit underwhelmed, to be honest, being a big fan as I am of the 8x30 Monarch 7. I felt the 10x42 was somehow on a lower level compared to the 8x30, I found the latter sharper and with less chromatic aberration (the 10x42 surprised me there, for bad). It's probably easier to get a 8x right than to get a 10x right; the greater the magnification, the more difficult it is, it seems (yes, this is an oversimplification, but I hope you get what I mean). As BKoh wrote earlier, nothing compares to whatever you can read 1000 times. Whatever we say, it's only our preferences, and it can be as close or as far you yours as there are people in the world. So, if possible, try before you buy, otherwise choose a seller with a good return/exchange policy.
If it's of any help, I once opened a thread on the subject, you can find it here:
How much of x10 (over x8) is psychological?
I've seen this topic coming up regularly, mostly from beginners hesitating which magnification to choose for their first pair of binoculars, but I’ve searched the forum and have not seen a direct thread on this. Some background: I’ve always used x8. I think years ago someone knowledgeable told...
www.birdforum.net
I'm a 7x/8x person (for an everyday pair). I don't see a lot of difference between 8x and 10x (hence the above thread). So much so, that after trying many 10x, I finally settled for an image-stabilised 12x, where I really can see a clear difference against a 8x. Basically, I feel IS 12x gives me what I hoped 10x would give me (and never did). I had the 10x42 Monarch 7 and was a bit underwhelmed, to be honest, being a big fan as I am of the 8x30 Monarch 7. I felt the 10x42 was somehow on a lower level compared to the 8x30, I found the latter sharper and with less chromatic aberration (the 10x42 surprised me there, for bad). It's probably easier to get a 8x right than to get a 10x right; the greater the magnification, the more difficult it is, it seems (yes, this is an oversimplification, but I hope you get what I mean). As BKoh wrote earlier, nothing compares to whatever you can read 1000 times. Whatever we say, it's only our preferences, and it can be as close or as far you yours as there are people in the world. So, if possible, try before you buy, otherwise choose a seller with a good return/exchange policy.
