Just puzzled.......Who at Nikon decided on a x30 size and why ? Why not say upgrade EII to ED glass as is also 30mm in size and also why the M7 x30 are not more compact ? Last question was x32mm size even considered ?
You have a good idea, but it seems that will not happen. The EII and
the SE do not need ED glass, in my opinion, as they perform as well as many of the top roofs. So the new Monarch is the new mid range, that can accomplish that. It is interesting that Nikon has the EDG in the upper
range, $2000. and then just the older mid models, Premier, and the
SE's and EII's are still available. And now the newest introduction of
the Monarch 7. China made with all the tricks, ED glass, di-electric
prism coatings. The $500.00 class is very competitive, so this is a
good place to place a design effort.
Roofs are where it is at, and to go along with the Monarch 7, 42's,
a good move to bring out the 30's. It looks like the effort was to
bring out a nice small compact binocular. And so the 8x30 should be
a good choice. If you want bigger, and better light gathering
go big, 42mm.
Jerry