Nikon Monarch HG (1 Viewer)

[BruceH]

Bruce,

The diopter ring on my MHG doesnot have a click position like yours does nor does it make a clicking sound when I push it down. Neither does the one on my old 10x32 LXL; but the diopter ring on my old 8x32 LXL does make a clicking sound when I push it down.

My MHG has a low SN: #00007xx. What is the SN on yours?

Bob

Here is what I think is going on in regards to the "click" sound or snapping into place.

I noticed that if I rotate the diopter ring just a little bit, the resistance decreases and the snap or click is less pronounced. I suspect there are groves or splines that align when the ring is in the locked position to keep the ring from rotating. The resistance and snap is more noticeable when all is not perfectly aligned when pushing the ring down into the locked position.

Even though the resistance is a little less noticeable in some positions, there still is no slippage and the ring remains in the locked position. The sound made when it snaps into the locked position is more noticeable when everything is not quite lined up.

The serial number of my Nikon Monarch 8X42 HG is in the 0001070 series.

Here are some photos showing the three different positions .........

Fully extended in the unlocked position:



At the position where resistance is first encountered when pushing down:



Position when fully retracted in the down locked position:

 

[NDhunter]

Bruce:

Mine is 10x42, an earlier ser.#, 100020x. I can feel a bit of a click when pushing down on the
ring, but it has very little resistance coming back up. The diopter works fine, and there is no slack
in the adjustment.

I would have preferred a simple friction style without any games.

Jerry

 

[NDhunter]

Bob mentioned the Nikon LX model, and how it compares.

I also have one, and it has a lock down diopter lock, but it works with precision and perfectly.

It is like comparing a Cadillac to a Kia.

Jerry

 

[[email protected]]

Bob mentioned the Nikon LX model, and how it compares.

I also have one, and it has a lock down diopter lock, but it works with precision and perfectly.

It is like comparing a Cadillac to a Kia.

Jerry

"It is like comparing a Cadillac to a Kia." The Nikon MHG 8x42's didn't work for me optically but quality wise I would agree they are a definite notch below both the Nikon LX or EDG.

http://www.jdpower.com/cars/awards/initial-quality-study

 

[ceasar]

Bob mentioned the Nikon LX model, and how it compares.

I also have one, and it has a lock down diopter lock, but it works with precision and perfectly.

It is like comparing a Cadillac to a Kia.

Jerry

I have two 32mm LXLs Jerry, which I used for many years. An 8x and a 10x. The 8x locks with a snap. The 10x does not. In all that time I never noticed that difference until now when the issue came up. I think it isn't important but it might bear watching for a while with a new binocular.

Bob

 

[chill6x6]

I messed around with mine a little bit more... The same results....but really nothing I'd comment about. Most binoculars don't even HAVE a lock.

My impression about the binocular has not changed one bit. It's a fine binocular..

 

[pbjosh]

I got a chance to use a friend's HG 8x42. Optically excellent but had a moderately loose hinge and the diopter adjustment was very prone to slide up out of locked position. As well the diopter setting seemed to wander and required different settings at different times to achieve equal diopter for both barrels.

In short I though the optics were stellar for the price but was left questioning the construction. One person, one sample and all...

 

[dries1]

Mhg 8x42

Well after long hours of work I finally have had a chance for my evaluation of the MHG 8X42. Now I have not looked a zeiss SF 8X42 like Chuck, but I now agree with him, it is a very good bino.
I have not had trouble with any of it's mechanicals discussed, once I figured everything out, and after using the HGs with the quick focus- the SE and EII with the ease to lock on a target, I finally was able to achieve the optical sweet spot quickly (getting used to the focus travel), I am really impressed and bought one for a family member which I know they will appreciate.

For the money, I am really impressed, and to me since it is so light and portable (and I will say it again, with a very wide field of view), it is almost like having a 8X32 but with better viewing at dusk or my favorite the early hours of the day.

So it is a keeper for me along with the HGs, SE and of course the EII.

Andy W.

 

[[email protected]]

When I had my Nikon 8x42 MHG it also had a moderately loose hinge and the diopter adjustment would slide out of the locked position. It was kind of like it was never totally positively locked.

 

[BruceH]

I got a chance to use a friend's HG 8x42. ...... As well the diopter setting seemed to wander and required different settings at different times to achieve equal diopter for both barrels.
...

Sounds like that particular binocular is defective and needs to be returned or exchanged with the seller or sent to Nikon for service. I have no idea how service is handled in your part of the Nikon world. I thought read recently that Nikon was pulling out of some areas in your region. I hope your friend can get it resolved without to much trouble.

There was a review posted on Cabela's for the Nikon Monarch HG were the buyer's unit (a 10X) had diopter drift. He exchanged it and the replacement had the same issue. Nikon may of had a production issue for a period and some flawed units got out.

Click on the Reviews tab to see the review.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/NIKON-MONARCH-HG-BINOCULAR/2524330.uts?slotId=0

 

[ceasar]

The hinge on my Monarch 8x42 HG is rather stiff. Stiffer than the ones on my LXLs and EDG which after years of use still work fine. I have no problem with the hinge on the HG as it works fine. Some hinges are looser and some are stiffer. Things like this are within the normal ranges of binocular operation.

Diopters have to be watched more closely.


Bob

 

[jgraider]

Sounds like the same sort of problem the EDG I was plagued with.

 

[ceasar]

There are 2 different diopters on the EDGs and the HGs so they can't be having the "same sort of problem."

The EDGs diopter is integrated with the focus wheel. I used an EDG I for four years after it was discontinued and I did not have a diopter problem with it. What eventually happened was that the corrugated rubber ring around the focus wheel stretched and interfered with the focusing. Nikon replaced my EDG I with the current EDG II free of charge and it has been working perfectly for 3 years.

The diopter on the new Monarch HG is on the right eyepiece just like the ones on the original Nikon HG/HGLs. I have never heard of Nikon's original HG/HGLs having a diopter problem but there are rumors that another Japanese binocular company other than Nikon is making the new Monarch HG for Nikon so there could be some problems there.

Bob

 

[jgraider]

They're having the same "sort" of problem because the EDG I had diopter issues, and so does the HG apparently. Easy enough?

Obviously the diopters are in different locations for each respective glass. I thought that was obvious.

 

[ceasar]

They're having the same "sort" of problem because the EDG I had diopter issues, and so does the HG apparently. Easy enough?

Obviously the diopters are in different locations for each respective glass. I thought that was obvious.

Not everybody who reads these comments (or will read them in the future) knows that the diopters on the EDG and Monarch HG are in different locations nor do they know that the diopter on the focus wheel is more complicated than one on the objective tubes. Which is why the problems are a different "sort" of problem when it comes to quality control issues. That is why clarifications of blanket statements are often necessary.

 

[Troubador]

Not everybody who reads these comments (or will read them in the future) knows that the diopters on the EDG and Monarch HG are in different locations nor do they know that the diopter on the focus wheel is more complicated than one on the objective tubes. Which is why the problems are a different "sort" of problem when it comes to quality control issues. That is why clarifications of blanket statements are often necessary.

Thanks for clarifying about these diopters Bob, not being familiar with Nikon binos, your description was helpful.

Lee

 

[dries1]

What do you think the % of the overall cost for a high-end bino having the diopter on the focus wheel is, just curious. I myself think the less moving parts the better, placement of the diopter on the Objective tube below the occular eyepiece is the most practical design IMHO.
By the way, really enjoyed stargazing with the MHG 8X42 last night, and it performs flawlessly.

The HG LX 8X32 also performed very well with no blurring at the edge (7.8 degrees FOV), and stars showed more brightness than the EII (8.8 degrees FOV). The SE 8X32 (7.5 degrees FOV) was up there with the MHG for clarity about the same as the HG.

Andy W.

 

[Troubador]

What do you think the % of the overall cost for a high-end bino having the diopter on the focus wheel is, just curious. I myself think the less moving parts the better, placement of the diopter on the Objective tube below the occular eyepiece is the most practical design IMHO.

Andy W.

Its a good question Andy. I have no idea how diopter adjusters work but in principle it seems to me that having the diopter centrally placed/co-axial with the focuser need not necessarily mean more components.

Somehow the focuser in the right-hand tube has to be adjusted to be out of synch with the one on the left-hand side and whether this happens in the RH tube or on the drive going from the centre to the RH side, would seem to not be that much different.

I would be really happy for any member to put me right on that especially if pics or drawings can be attached.

Lee

 

[ceasar]

Its a good question Andy. I have no idea how diopter adjusters work but in principle it seems to me that having the diopter centrally placed/co-axial with the focuser need not necessarily mean more components.

Somehow the focuser in the right-hand tube has to be adjusted to be out of synch with the one on the left-hand side and whether this happens in the RH tube or on the drive going from the centre to the RH side, would seem to not be that much different.

I would be really happy for any member to put me right on that especially if pics or drawings can be attached.

Lee

Lee

Nikon's first use of a diopter integrated with the central focus knob was in the EDG I (1st Version) which only was sold in North America from about 2007 into 2010. It also had a double hinged design.

There were long discussions in Bird Forum where it was stated that said diopter in this EDG I was prone to "drifting." Nikon is noted for keeping things close to its vest so we never did know how bad a problem this was. I know my 10x32 which I used for 4 years was not affected (or "infected" ) with it.

After 4 years or so this EDG 1st Version was discontinued in North America and replaced by the current version which was already being sold in Europe and that one apparently did not have problems with a "drifting diopter." It was introduced into Europe later than the 1st version was introduced into America and we can assume that any diopter problem the first one may have been prone to was resolved in the 2nd version.

If a big "drifting" problem existed in the EDG I it had to be a QC problem and it is fair to assume that those problems are different from QC problems that might occur in diopters located on the right (or left, as the case may be) eye pieces and it may be more difficult to correct them.

It is also safe to assume that the ones located in the focus wheel may also be better and more expensive to make because they are, for the most part, limited to use in top of the line binoculars. Swarovski uses them in many versions and as we know here they also get many complaints about them.

Note that Leica changed the position of the diopter in the first version of their 2nd line Trinovids from the focus wheel to the right eye piece in the second version and lowered the price of the binocular along with it.

Bob

PS, I forgot to mention that the diopters on the center focus knobs of the "Alpha" binoculars all seem to work differently from each others. That leaves me to assume (correctly or not) that the separate manufacturers have proprietary rights in their workings.

 

[Troubador]

Thanks Bob.

Lee