Nikon Monarch HG (1 Viewer)

[ceasar]

Tract Toric, per its website, is in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, just outside of Hershey, PA not far east of Harrisburg, the State Capitol. They list a toll free number. They sell 2 lines of "Hunting Binoculars:" Toric and Tekoa in 8x42 and 10x42 configurations. The former, which cost around $675.00 have magnesium alloy frames and the latter which cost around $475.00 are made of fiberglass reinforced polycarbonate.

I did not see any indication where they are manufactured but I could have missed it.

More info here:

https://www.tractoptics.com/products/binoculars/toric-10x42

There is a Frozen Food Co at the same address.

There are no optical companies there AFAIK.

Bob

 

[Chosun Juan]

Yo CJ,

Help me clear this all up if you don't mind:

HD stands for high definition in TV's , but I read HD in optics stands for
High Density which I always figured is just fancy acronym for thick, heavy glass translating to higher quality.

So is this still just marketing mumbo jumbo? It would assume so if we don't know where the line is drawn; meaning what thickness makes a lense ' high density'.

Your thoughts on "high density" ?

Hey GG,

I haven't seen that reference to HD, and since different glass types have different material composition, and widely different densities, I'm not sure what any marketer would be trying to get at with that???

Every reference I can remember (in gaga land at this time of night! :bounce: ) has been to "High Definition" --- a completely meaningless term in Binoworld :h?: Just marketers of ordinary product trying to sound super-dooper! :king:

The whole HD thing came about as a distinguishing standard for Digital Television - HD refers to 720p (720 rows of pixels scanned progressively one row after another down the screen - some of the Olympics is broadcast here at that definition on select channels), which is superior to Standard Definition Digital (still the majority broadcast format here) 576p which also corresponds with DVD's. Full HD is 1080p and the Blu-Ray standard - my phone has a screen capable of displaying that. Next up the line is QHD (Quad HD - bizarrely twice as good), and the current champ is UHD (Ultra High Definition - 3840 pixels across X 2160 down, commonly just 2160p or 4K). Content is pretty academic in practical terms still - it's mostly user content, with slow (and expensive) commercialisation. I use my UHD display for watching 3D Blu-Ray discs which display at FHD for each eye! and duck and weave like a boxer at things launching out to scon you! :eek!: :-O

There is even some uber 8K standard being haggled over, experimented on, and demonstration displays - I believe a Japanese company is doing limited 8K broadcasts of the Olympics which they display on their screens set up in various public venues ..... https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/8K_resolution

So the whole HD, UHD, thing is cynically trying to cash in on that. In fact if these porpoises knew what they were talking about, they certainly wouldn't want their products being given limited to a mere 2 - 4- 8K resolution ......

There are "Higher Quality" glass grades available which have lower inclusions (tiny tiny bubbles), higher Abbe number lower dispersion glass, and higher transmitting (HT) glass, etc ..... Far better to cut the marketers and use their wages saved to just bung that good stuff in the bins then let them sell themselves :t:


Chosun :gh:

 

[Troubador]

You guys can slight the name UHD all you want to, as it matters not to me. After 5 minutes of viewing through one that would change to something like "Oh, wow"......... just as you do with a SLC HD, only for 1/3 the cost.

Steady on there feller.

Speaking for myself I was teasing the proliferation of HD and related initials across all brands including Zeiss with Conquest HD. No slight was meant to the Toric which I would love to have a look through.

It reminds me of when turbo-charged cars were just storming into the market and alll manner of products were suddenly branded turbo. My razor blades are still branded turbo...........

Lee

 

[A2GG]

Hey GG,

I haven't seen that reference to HD, and since different glass types have different material composition, and widely different densities, I'm not sure what any marketer would be trying to get at with that???

Every reference I can remember (in gaga land at this time of night! :bounce: ) has been to "High Definition" --- a completely meaningless term in Binoworld :h?: Just marketers of ordinary product trying to sound super-dooper! :king:




Chosun :gh:

Thanks CJ. I've seen high density referenced a bunch of times in online reviews and I think even in brand marketing. Maybe it's more American marketing terminology, I don't know. I wonder if anyone else noticed this too. If I come across it again somewhere I'll try to remember to post it here.

 

[Binastro]

A person can be dense.
Several meanings.

 

[Troubador]

Thanks CJ. I've seen high density referenced a bunch of times in online reviews and I think even in brand marketing. Maybe it's more American marketing terminology, I don't know. I wonder if anyone else noticed this too. If I come across it again somewhere I'll try to remember to post it here.

In the UK HD is high definition and its been applied to all sorts of stuff. The only use of it to mean high density (glass) that I have heard of is in the USA.

Lee

 

[A2GG]

A person can be dense.
Several meanings.

good point !

 

[A2GG]

I found an example:

http://www.vortexoptics.com/category/viper_hd_binoculars

 

[Binastro]

HD tyres.
I thought this meant Heavy Duty such as Continental HD tyres (tires).
But HD tires are also Harley Davidson tires.

Maybe these are Harley Davidson binoculars.

 

[jgraider]

Tract Toric, per its website, is in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, just outside of Hershey, PA not far east of Harrisburg, the State Capitol. They list a toll free number. They sell 2 lines of "Hunting Binoculars:" Toric and Tekoa in 8x42 and 10x42 configurations. The former, which cost around $675.00 have magnesium alloy frames and the latter which cost around $475.00 are made of fiberglass reinforced polycarbonate.

I did not see any indication where they are manufactured but I could have missed it.

More info here:

https://www.tractoptics.com/products/binoculars/toric-10x42

There is a Frozen Food Co at the same address.

There are no optical companies there AFAIK.

Bob

Binoculars from Kamakura, scopes from LOW, both obviously Japan. You will have to spend $2k to find something better, and it won't be by much even then. I thought they were better than the Conquest HD, Meostar HD, and Razor HD, on par with SLC HD.

 

[NDhunter]

Binoculars from Kamakura, scopes from LOW, both obviously Japan. You will have to spend $2k to find something better, and it won't be by much even then. I thought they were better than the Conquest HD, Meostar HD, and Razor HD, on par with SLC HD.

That is impressive, and I trust your opinion.

You should start a new thread, and post some information we can
use like FOV. weight, etc.

Jerry

 

[jgraider]

I'm a terrible reviewer, but I may try.

 

[Chosun Juan]

I found an example:

http://www.vortexoptics.com/category/viper_hd_binoculars

Oh Deer! :eek!: ...... judging by the poor bambi in the picture at the bottom of the link, with the bins weirdly sitting atop their "kill" , maybe HD stands for "Highly Dead" ....... :-C

Thanks GG, hahaha, I must have seen that Vortex stuff hundreds of times - okay - back on the planet now o It's a bit of a 'shotgun' :gn: :-O approach to marketing, they've got everything in there - High Density, High Definition, Vivid High Definition Colours, ...... no HT glass though ------ only HunTers ....... :cat:

Here's some examples of HD usage within the script over at Vortex Nation ......


High Density, could also refer to flint glass containing various rare earth elements which would make sense to use at the eyepiece end, though the reference to 'extra low dispersion glass' indicates more objective end. It's hard to judge superiority unless you know the exact optical design and can measure the weight of the optical train within the context of the form factor achieved and the parameters (Fov, ER, CA, field characteristics, overall size, weight) and performance of the instrument as a whole. It's the whole optical train design and how the individual components match that counts though along with the materials and properties and specifications. At the end, really it's the view that counts :t:

You'd have to go through all the optical glass catalogues, but a quick look at this ready reckoner shows that Hoya equivalents to FPL-53 (what henry calls the 'gold standard' in ED glass) is actually of lower specific gravity than more garden varieties of ED glass such as FPL-51 equivalents ..... http://www.hoya-opticalworld.com/english/products/crossreference.html

So you might interpret the marketing as saying "look guys we're using the heavier glass which we know isn't the best ED glass available, but we're gonna chuck enough buzzwords around to obfuscate the issue - oh and don't dig too deeply into those either, since what we're really saying is that at best you're going to get broadcast standard HD or ~2Mp resolution which is well below the equivalent capability of your eye, but heck look at all the dead animals! - these things really work!" ..... LOL, and Bob's you're Uncle! :-O (no not you Ceasar - just one of my favourite sayings since I actually do have an Uncle called Bob! o

It will be interesting to see what approach Nikon takes ...... I think they will rightly trumpet the wide flat field and low weight. I hope to heck they nail the CA (regardless of what glass they use), go light on the fluff and let the binoculars do the talking for themselves.


Chosun :gh:

 

[Troubador]

I'm a terrible reviewer, but I may try.

Hey, we're all terrible on here but we do our best. Give it a shot JG.

Lee

 

[Steve O4B]

Thanks for this Steve, do your figures apply to birders only or across the whole market for binoculars?

Lee

The entire sport optics market. So, it includes binoculars, spotting scopes, monoculars, and riflescopes.

We're getting birders, hunters, nature viewers, people going on cruises or safaris, sport spectators, and theater-goers. Almost everyone is aware of Vortex, and hunters are well acquainted with their riflescopes.

 

[gandytron]

Not sure if the images in this link have already been posted (apologies if so). Price is Euro 1,099.

http://www.astroshop.eu/nikon-binoculars-monarch-hg-10x42/p,51486#tab_bar_1_select Click on the main image and other images come up, including one of the binos with objective covers attached.

 

[gandytron]

Also Clifton Cameras have one in stock, going for £839 https://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk/Nikon-Monarch-10x42-HG-Binoculars

 

[BruceH]

USA Availability

Since the Monarch HG is now out and about in Europe, as reported in another thread by Binastro, I thought I would check with Nikon USA to see what the status is on this side of the pond.

The sports optics lady who answered the phone call struck me as being unaware of this new model. I gave her the info and mentioned the press release, then said I had two questions. One was wanting to know if Nikon USA would be distributing the new Monarch HG in the US, and second, if they do carry it, when will it be available.

I was put on hold for about five minutes. She came back and told me she did not have an answer right at the moment and Nikon would get back with me.

I ultimately received a non answer answer.

Your guess is a good as mine if they will be available anytime soon in the US or if they will be available at all.

As a follow up question, I did ask about the status of the EDG and was told it is still listed as an active product.

 

[ceasar]

Since the Monarch HG is now out and about in Europe, as reported in another thread by Binastro, I thought I would check with Nikon USA to see what the status is on this side of the pond.

The sports optics lady who answered the phone call struck me as being unaware of this new model. I gave her the info and mentioned the press release, then said I had two questions. One was wanting to know if Nikon USA would be distributing the new Monarch HG in the US, and second, if they do carry it, when will it be available.

I was put on hold for about five minutes. She came back and told me she did not have an answer right at the moment and Nikon would get back with me.

I ultimately received a non answer answer.

Your guess is a good as mine if they will be available anytime soon in the US or if they will be available at all.

As a follow up question, I did ask about the status of the EDG and was told it is still listed as an active product.

The Kumamoto Earthquake has had an effect on Nikon's Camera production. That may be taking precedence over the production of the Monarch 7 HG at this time. It was originally announced for release on July 14.

Here is a comment about the problems caused by the Earthquake to the Camera industry:

http://www.imaging-resource.com/new...the-kumamoto-quake-devastated-camera-industry

http://www.nikon.com/news/

Note below the revised new release date of 2 new cameras: Coolpix A900 and Coolpix B700 until October.

http://www.nikon.com/news/2016/0624_cpx_01.htm


Bob

 

[BruceH]

Bob .... I understand your point and it would make sense to me if there were a staged introduction. However Nikon USA would not say if they were even going to carry the HG line.

The HG is a mainline product. I found their response disappointing because of its lack of specificity this late into the product introduction. The model is actually out in the market available for purchase in Europe. I am not sure what is going on at Nikon USA. It seems as though their sports optics marketing is becoming more of a sideline as time goes by.

If Nikon USA does not carry the line, then it could always be ordered overseas, but there would mean no US warranty.