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Dielectric Prism Coatings (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Al Catraz
- Start date
Everything else being equal get the one with the dielectric prisms. They really do make a difference in brightness. I can attest to that. I have the new Nikon 10 x 32 EDG with dielectric prisms and it is much brighter than my older silver coated prism Nikon 10 x 32 LX L which it replaced. You can readily tell the difference in twilight conditions and these binoculars have a small exit pupil compared to the ones you are inquiring about.
Bob
Bob
Ingle1970
Well-known member
mikefreiberg
Well-known member
Al Catraz,
How are you? Both the Monarch III and the Monarch X have dielectric coatings, but the Monarch X has a larger exit pupil which does bring in more light. I work with Nikon so feel free to ask any other questions. Also, just as an fyi, the dielectric coatings are applied in a gas chamber which helps the coatings reach all of the smaller corners of the prisms. These little corners would otherwise not be reachable by painting the coatings on. If you are interested in a further 10% discount through www.nikonprogear.com please do let me know and I would be happy to provide the promotional code which would gain you access.
Best,
Mike Freiberg
Nikon's Birding Market Specialist
How are you? Both the Monarch III and the Monarch X have dielectric coatings, but the Monarch X has a larger exit pupil which does bring in more light. I work with Nikon so feel free to ask any other questions. Also, just as an fyi, the dielectric coatings are applied in a gas chamber which helps the coatings reach all of the smaller corners of the prisms. These little corners would otherwise not be reachable by painting the coatings on. If you are interested in a further 10% discount through www.nikonprogear.com please do let me know and I would be happy to provide the promotional code which would gain you access.
Best,
Mike Freiberg
Nikon's Birding Market Specialist
John Dracon
John Dracon
Mike - I went to your web site, but couldn't find the SEs listed. How come?
John
John
mikefreiberg
Well-known member
John,
Also, the SE's are special order items now, so they won't be heavily advertised anywhere. Nevertheless, they are still available!
Cheers,
Mike
Also, the SE's are special order items now, so they won't be heavily advertised anywhere. Nevertheless, they are still available!
Cheers,
Mike
David Swain
Well-known member
Were they ever?
Alexis Powell
Natural history enthusiast
Yes, in the first several years after they were released, in the long hiatus during which Nikon had no phase-coated roof models (and released no new top-end roofs to replaced the by then "obsolete" 8x40 Classic Eagle), the SE were their flagship binoculars, and they were featured in full page adverts in all the birding and other outdoor magazines.
--AP
marktafler
New member
I would recommend getting one with di electric coating even if you spend a little extra you wont regret it on the long run . I have one and I really love it, i compared it to the old model with silver coating , But the new one really shines at twilight conditions and for skywatching
mikefreiberg
Well-known member
I spoke of the Monarch X earlier in the post when I realized the original question was between the Monarch II and Monarch III. It's a no brainer in my opinion. Since the retail prices are similar it would be wise to go with the dielectric coatings/Monarch III. The images are a bit brighter and all of the other specs remain the same!
Best,
Mike Freiberg
Nikon Birding Market Specialist
Best,
Mike Freiberg
Nikon Birding Market Specialist
fishinmonkey
Member
Sorry to bump up an old question, but I'm confused. I'm currently looking at picking up a set of 8x42 Monarch ATBs or the new Monarch 3s, which are slightly less costly. Nikon's website lists the ATBs as having a dielectric coating, but the 3s as having a silver coating. Are the Monarch 3s different from the Monarch III you are referring too?
The greater question, in my mind, is which coating is better...a subjective criterion perhaps. I am mostly concerned with clarity and light transmission as I hunt and depend on my binos at dawn and dusk. In my research, I'm coming up with conflicting info. On the one hand, I've read that dielectric coatings provide better light transmission than silver coatings. On the other hand, I've heard that silver coatings are "higher end" and I see that the Nikon Premier binos have a silver coating rather than dielectric.
Help?
FrankD
Well-known member
fishinmonkey,
All else being equal dielectric coatings give a higher light transmission value so they should, theoretically, provide a brighter performance.
That comment you referenced about silver prisms being "high end" is probably in comparison to aluminum coatings which are the next quality level down the list from silver.
The Premier HG/LXL/LX/Venturers utilize(d) silver prism coatings because silver was the highest grade option at the time. Since then dielectric coatings were introduced. Instead of updating the Premiers with dielectric coating Nikon chose to introduced an entirely new bino (EDG series) with dielectric coatings.
All else being equal dielectric coatings give a higher light transmission value so they should, theoretically, provide a brighter performance.
That comment you referenced about silver prisms being "high end" is probably in comparison to aluminum coatings which are the next quality level down the list from silver.
The Premier HG/LXL/LX/Venturers utilize(d) silver prism coatings because silver was the highest grade option at the time. Since then dielectric coatings were introduced. Instead of updating the Premiers with dielectric coating Nikon chose to introduced an entirely new bino (EDG series) with dielectric coatings.
I got a Cabela's Door Buster Flyer with a 6 page Nikon ad in it yesterday.
The Monarch X 8.5 x 45 and 10.5 x 45 Have Dielectric Prisms. $479.99 and $499.99 (Sale Prices) Save $100.00.
The new for 2012 Monarch 3 has Silver Alloy Prisms and Long Eye Relief and ATB performance. 8 x 42 and 10 x42 $229.99 and $249.99. (These are NOT sale prices.)
The prices for the NEW PROSTAFF 7 8 x 42 and 10 x 42 are $189.99 and $199.99. It does not say wht kind of prisms they have.
Apparently all of these binoculars plus the Trailblazers at $149.00 for 8x42 and 10x 42 and $179.99 for 10 x 50-- (None are on sale) are considered "All Terrain" binoculars too.
Also:
The Monarch ATB 42mm binoculars have Dielectric Prism Coatings. 8X, 10X and 12X--$249.00, $269.00, and $299.00. (Sale Prices.) Save $50.00.
Also sales on all the Actions and Action Extremes and all inexpensive compacts. $10.00 to $40.00 off.
Bob
The Monarch X 8.5 x 45 and 10.5 x 45 Have Dielectric Prisms. $479.99 and $499.99 (Sale Prices) Save $100.00.
The new for 2012 Monarch 3 has Silver Alloy Prisms and Long Eye Relief and ATB performance. 8 x 42 and 10 x42 $229.99 and $249.99. (These are NOT sale prices.)
The prices for the NEW PROSTAFF 7 8 x 42 and 10 x 42 are $189.99 and $199.99. It does not say wht kind of prisms they have.
Apparently all of these binoculars plus the Trailblazers at $149.00 for 8x42 and 10x 42 and $179.99 for 10 x 50-- (None are on sale) are considered "All Terrain" binoculars too.
Also:
The Monarch ATB 42mm binoculars have Dielectric Prism Coatings. 8X, 10X and 12X--$249.00, $269.00, and $299.00. (Sale Prices.) Save $50.00.
Also sales on all the Actions and Action Extremes and all inexpensive compacts. $10.00 to $40.00 off.
Bob
fishinmonkey
Member
Ya, I got the new add too, just after trying out the ATBs on the last day of an elk hunt, hence the research and questions.
brocknroller
porromaniac
Bob,
What does "ATB performance" mean? I know that ATB = All Terrain Binoculars but does that have any standardization attached to it such as operating over a certain range of temperatures (from Arctic to desert conditions) or WP down to 1 fathom or it can be tossed so many meters before breaking or is it merely marketing jargon?
I noticed that Nikon is now attaching this "ATB" moniker to the Monarch X and the Action EX series too.
In fact, Nikon is calling the "new" Monarch X ATB with "Extreme ATB Technology" "a binocular line that demonstrates the next level of Nikon ATB performance."
I'm still trying to figure out what does it mean to have the original level of "ATB performance"??? Unless I'm missing it, I don't see this term explained on their sports optics site.
Just found this on binoculars.com's Customer Q & A.
Q4: What does ATB mean?
A: ATB is Nikon's series of rugged binoculars. They would be a higher quality, more durable binocular.
What? The Trailblazer is a higher quality more durable binocular than the javelin toss proven EDG or the Hitchcock-wished-this-bin Venturer LX had been around in the 60s so he could have used it as a murder weapon in one of his films?
Higher quality than the SE? What's left in the Nikon line up that isn't ATB?
Sounds like marketing jargon.
Brock
Last edited:
NDhunter
Experienced observer
Brock: Bingo, its marketing, I would not try to find too much in the use, of ATB.
Jerry
