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Nikon Monarch 7 new 8x30 and 10x30 (1 Viewer)

dalat said:
Hi, do you remember how they were called? Any info on these available yet?

Thanks,
Click to expand...

I can't tell you much more than that at the moment. I was just talking to someone on the stand about new models I'd seen at the fair and when I mentioned the Nikon they appeared a little shocked they were on the stand, admittedly very discretely. Kite's pre-production samples were still in transit and hadn't made it to the show. Doesn't sound like they will be far behind Nikon though.

David
 
Those little samples were sharper than the production x42 Monarch 7s. It's a different factory so lets hope it stay's that way.

David
 
Typo,

If I understand you, the Nikon Monarch 7 8x30 and 10x30 were co-developed with Kite in Belgium? They are made in China but not the Nikon Monarch 7 8x42/10x42 factory?

Kite only imports their own labeled equipment from subcontractors in China, they are not optical designers in the class of Nikon.
A very well established Japanese company teamed up with the Kite company in Belgium?

Nikon Vision Co., Ltd., Tokyo is the division that is responsible for Sports Optics. All of their optical designs originate in this location.

The only possible connection could be the subcontractor factory in China is making some of the components for both the new Nikon Monarch 7 and Kite binoculars. These components would not be interchangeable or identical designs. I would be very surprised if Nikon did no have a dedicated Nikon factory in China for final assembly and QC inspection.

Nikon Corporation, with approx. 30,000 employed, is a division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and has to export via the MITI required trading company which is Mitsubishi Corporation.

Regards,
FK
 
Last edited:
Torview said:
Can`t wait to try the 8x30, looks like a CL to me, perfect serious wet weather compliment to an SE ?
Click to expand...

I agree that this new Nikon looks much like the CL, so it is small and
should handle very nicely.

I detect a lot of interest in this new one. For those on this site, Nikon
may sell more of the new Monarch 30's, than the 42's. It seems the 30-32mm
bins are the rage right now, and should be as a nice, lightweight travel
companion.

Jerry
 
FK

It was Nikon who told me they had used another manufacturing company for the x30 Monarch 7s. I don't know the current level of staffing but when the Nikon was reorganised to create the Nikon Vision Company it had 45 employees. There was no indication if there was any designers in that number but they were looking after a lot of avenues of business.
http://www.nikon.com/news/2001/nikonvision_e_01.htm

It is a closely guarded secret in the industry who makes what for who, but it would be surprising if Nikon didn't contract third parties for the design, tooling and manufacture of their binoculars. We might speculate that they might also choose to develop and market designs from elsewhere. I really don't know how they operate or what they did in this case.

It was Kite that told me they had jointly developed the 8x30 with Nikon. They would not furnish any more details than that, other than they believed their final specification was slightly different to Nikon's as I said. Kite have worked with Japanese OEMS since 1984 to produce their product range. Of course I would not have any idea what deals were done regarding this model.

David

PS. As far as I can determine Nikon has two operations involved in making cameras and one making microscopes in China but there is not one listed for making sports optics.
 
Last edited:
fkrow said:
Kite only imports their own labeled equipment from subcontractors in China, they are not optical designers in the class of Nikon.
A very well established Japanese company teamed up with the Kite company in Belgium?
Click to expand...

Actually Kite has used Japanese sub-contract manufacturing more or less from day one. A number of its binocular and scope models come from Kamakura, for example.

Nikon sub-contracted more or less all of its "entry" to mid-range products in bins and scopes some time ago either to China or Japan. For example, the decision to end one of the field scope ranges was because the sub-contractor did not want to carry on making the line, not because Nikon wanted to.

Cheers, Pete
 
I cannot agree with the above statements.

My career was with an international corporation one division of which is in Tokyo. It was owned 10% by Hitachi now Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. They do not subcontract the entire design development to a company outside of Nikon. Components are manufactured to Nikon design and standards. Nikon has strict quality control standards or the components are rejected. I doubt that the ED optical elements are not from Nikon along with the special multi coating, these are very guarded processes and not shared outside to subcontractors. It is well known many of the Nikon cameras and lens are manuf. outside of Japan,,, these are in Nikon owned and operated facilities for final assembly and inspection for quality control. Many of the components are subcontracted to other companies.

If one subcontractor decides not to manufacture a Nikon assembly,, many other sources would be located for the work. Nikon dropped some of their Fieldscope products to introduce new updated models.

The concept that Nikon would co-design and develop a product to compete in their own market is just not possible in a large corporation. A senior manager of a Nikon division would not consider a partnership with a competing company, he would be fired for even proposing it to corporate.

Kamakura has been a subcontractor of optical elements for many Japanese companies for many years. Just because they make components for both Kite and Nikon does not imply a partnership. When I subcontracted to outside vendors,, my designs an parts were not available or visible to any other companies also using the same vendor.

Regards,
FK
 
fkrow said:
I cannot agree with the above statements.

My career was with an international corporation one division of which is in Tokyo. It was owned 10% by Hitachi now Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. They do not subcontract the entire design development to a company outside of Nikon. Components are manufactured to Nikon design and standards. Nikon has strict quality control standards or the components are rejected. I doubt that the ED optical elements are not from Nikon along with the special multi coating, these are very guarded processes and not shared outside to subcontractors. It is well known many of the Nikon cameras and lens are manuf. outside of Japan,,, these are in Nikon owned and operated facilities for final assembly and inspection for quality control. Many of the components are subcontracted to other companies.

If one subcontractor decides not to manufacture a Nikon assembly,, many other sources would be located for the work. Nikon dropped some of their Fieldscope products to introduce new updated models.

The concept that Nikon would co-design and develop a product to compete in their own market is just not possible in a large corporation. A senior manager of a Nikon division would not consider a partnership with a competing company, he would be fired for even proposing it to corporate.

Kamakura has been a subcontractor of optical elements for many Japanese companies for many years. Just because they make components for both Kite and Nikon does not imply a partnership. When I subcontracted to outside vendors,, my designs an parts were not available or visible to any other companies also using the same vendor.

Regards,
FK
Click to expand...

FK:

It is very good for you to post. Nikon does things at a very high level, and
that includes manufacture and design.

I am thinking they have control over the whole process, no matter where they are made, Japan or China.

This does matter a lot, especially when buying a binocular made in China.

Jerry
 
NDhunter said:
I agree that this new Nikon looks much like the CL, so it is small and
should handle very nicely.

I detect a lot of interest in this new one. For those on this site, Nikon
may sell more of the new Monarch 30's, than the 42's. It seems the 30-32mm
bins are the rage right now, and should be as a nice, lightweight travel
companion.

Jerry
Click to expand...

This is a different approach and a simple and brilliant first foray by Nikon into the medium cost 30/32mm Roof Prism world!:t:

Previously Nikon never made Roof Prisms smaller than the 8 and10 x 36mm ATBs which cost under $300.00. (In the 1980's there was a 7 x 26 and a 9 x 31 which were expensive for their day. I believe they were called "Executive.")

It sets them apart from all the others. They are the Monarch versions of 8 x 32 and 10 x 32.

Bob
 
Last edited:
NDhunter said:
FK:

It is very good for you to post. Nikon does things at a very high level, and
that includes manufacture and design.

I am thinking they have control over the whole process, no matter where they are made, Japan or China.

This does matter a lot, especially when buying a binocular made in China.

Jerry
Click to expand...

We very much appreciate the comments made by FK and followed up by Jerry. These are absolutely true. I have preached this for years, but seems overly biased coming from a Nikon employee. Well stated, FK.

I haven't seen the 30s yet, but Jerry might be onto something. These might sell well over the full-sized models. I will let you all know my thoughts after spending time with them. Take care all!

All the best,
Mike Freiberg
Nikon Birding Market Specialist
 
New Nikon Monarch 7

On the Nikon uk website they are advertised as coming soon prices are quoted as £319 for 8x30 and £349 for the 10x30.

My query is will they be suitable for spec wearers as eye relief quoted is 15.1
For the 8x30 .
My old Monarchs were about 18 mm anyone know if they are measured the same way as the older models as that seems a bit low for spec wearers or am i
reading things wrong. Harold
 
Harold,

I think that figure is right, certainly shorter than the other Monarchs I've tried. They were OK with my glasses but I suspect some would have problems.

David
 
Thanks David will try to test a pair , I have them on my shortlist along with Opticron Countryman BGA HD 8x32 .
At the moment it looks as though it will be one or the other.
Harold
 
At Birdfair Nikon said they expected to start shipping them to retailers in September. Clifton Cameras, for example, currently say expected mid-October.

David
 
typo said:
At Birdfair Nikon said they expected to start shipping them to retailers in September. Clifton Cameras, for example, currently say expected mid-October.

David
Click to expand...
I don't get the excitement for the Monarch 7 8x30's. They won't be as good optically as the Nikon Monarch 7 8x42's and the 42's are not that great. I thought they were at first until I started comparing them to the Nikon SE, EII and especially the Swarovski SV 8x32. They are not that sharp on-axis. They are not worth the $400 to $500 that they are asking. There are better values out there.
 
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