Hi everybody,
I have owned and carried monarch 7 8x42s for four and a half years. I think they are wonderful. Bright, clear, good color, compact, comfortable... they have showed me many beautiful things in their service. I identified my first bird with these baby’s (harlequin), I identified my first 200 birds with these compact and lightweight windows to the world. First pair of binoculars I owned and I couldn’t be more happy. They made an optics nerd out of me (nothing compared to the nerdiness and passion on these forums, but absolutely made me say ‘thank you Galileo, you genius.’) .
I carried them most of that time. I carry them in my hand, no strap, no lens covers, just binoculars in my hand, always. I beat the crap out of them. I broke an eye cup, I broke the housing near one of the objectives, I ripped off the armor, both the badges were lost years ago. I finally sent them in. Got a brand new pair in the mail today (thank you Nikon!).
I tried to upgrade them. I bought 10x42 SLCs - they were so good and genuinely improved my reach, but it happened right at the time that the field pro package came out, so shortly after I was able to trade in my SLCs for previous generation 8.5x42 ELs at no additional cost. ELs were too big. I always found them cumbersome. Also, I hated the flat field. Why do 3 dimensional objects appear as a poster on the wall? I returned them. Next came the 10x42 conquests. They were lovely and sharp and compact, but ultimately not better enough to justify the price compared to my Nikons. My search for the perfect view went cold and I didn’t bother to try again to replace my monarchs until recently.
I got the ultravid 7x42s about 3 months ago. Simply beautiful. Bright, punchy colors, sharp, compact, and the last of their kind. I kept them. They are so much more brilliant and sparkling than the monarchs. They did betray their own weakness the other day though. I was watching ravens circle above a building in a completely grey, but bright sky. Those poor ravens were encased in a green fog of chromatic aberration. Their speed still makes up for the chromatic deficit. They are so fast. The fastest target acquisition I have experienced. Greased lightning.
I will always own a pair of monarch 7 8x42s. Always. They have never betrayed a glaring weakness to me. They really are an exceptional 8x42 for the price. They don’t have it all, far from it. Their focus is a vaguely focused cloud compared to the precision of a sharply focused plane of their MUCH more expensive alpha counterparts. But, if you have never used binoculars, or want a spare pair that is exceptional, then these are highly regarded and cherished and and recommended by me.
-as you were, q
I have owned and carried monarch 7 8x42s for four and a half years. I think they are wonderful. Bright, clear, good color, compact, comfortable... they have showed me many beautiful things in their service. I identified my first bird with these baby’s (harlequin), I identified my first 200 birds with these compact and lightweight windows to the world. First pair of binoculars I owned and I couldn’t be more happy. They made an optics nerd out of me (nothing compared to the nerdiness and passion on these forums, but absolutely made me say ‘thank you Galileo, you genius.’) .
I carried them most of that time. I carry them in my hand, no strap, no lens covers, just binoculars in my hand, always. I beat the crap out of them. I broke an eye cup, I broke the housing near one of the objectives, I ripped off the armor, both the badges were lost years ago. I finally sent them in. Got a brand new pair in the mail today (thank you Nikon!).
I tried to upgrade them. I bought 10x42 SLCs - they were so good and genuinely improved my reach, but it happened right at the time that the field pro package came out, so shortly after I was able to trade in my SLCs for previous generation 8.5x42 ELs at no additional cost. ELs were too big. I always found them cumbersome. Also, I hated the flat field. Why do 3 dimensional objects appear as a poster on the wall? I returned them. Next came the 10x42 conquests. They were lovely and sharp and compact, but ultimately not better enough to justify the price compared to my Nikons. My search for the perfect view went cold and I didn’t bother to try again to replace my monarchs until recently.
I got the ultravid 7x42s about 3 months ago. Simply beautiful. Bright, punchy colors, sharp, compact, and the last of their kind. I kept them. They are so much more brilliant and sparkling than the monarchs. They did betray their own weakness the other day though. I was watching ravens circle above a building in a completely grey, but bright sky. Those poor ravens were encased in a green fog of chromatic aberration. Their speed still makes up for the chromatic deficit. They are so fast. The fastest target acquisition I have experienced. Greased lightning.
I will always own a pair of monarch 7 8x42s. Always. They have never betrayed a glaring weakness to me. They really are an exceptional 8x42 for the price. They don’t have it all, far from it. Their focus is a vaguely focused cloud compared to the precision of a sharply focused plane of their MUCH more expensive alpha counterparts. But, if you have never used binoculars, or want a spare pair that is exceptional, then these are highly regarded and cherished and and recommended by me.
-as you were, q
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