Monarch HG 8x42s, Again (1 Viewer)

[Kevin Conville]

The last few days I've been racking my brain looking for my missing Monarch HGs. I thought I had left them at a trail head or something and have been in a foul mood because of it. I found them this morning, and this goes a long way to improving my outlook on New Years Eve!
The point of this post however is about replacing them, as this has been on my mind.

I haven't followed field optics much in the last several years as I've been happy with what I have. So, looking around last night, thinking of possible options to another set of HGs, I came up with the realization I would buy another set of HG 8x42s. Nothing else I found really challenges them for their combination of features and was reminded why I bought them in the first place and how much I like them. In that size, I have to admit they are my favorite bins I've owned and that includes more expensive binoculars.

I did have my old Leica 8x32 BNs out yesterday, and it had been a while, and they still impress me greatly, after all these years. Cheers Leica! They are however, as heavy as the larger Nikons and generally function no better. I would put these two bins in the same category as being timeless classics.

 

[ArchStanton]

The last few days I've been racking my brain looking for my missing Monarch HGs. I thought I had left them at a trail head or something and have been in a foul mood because of it. I found them this morning, and this goes a long way to improving my outlook on New Years Eve!
The point of this post however is about replacing them, as this has been on my mind.

I haven't followed field optics much in the last several years as I've been happy with what I have. So, looking around last night, thinking of possible options to another set of HGs, I came up with the realization I would buy another set of HG 8x42s. Nothing else I found really challenges them for their combination of features and was reminded why I bought them in the first place and how much I like them. In that size, I have to admit they are my favorite bins I've owned and that includes more expensive binoculars.

I did have my old Leica 8x32 BNs out yesterday, and it had been a while, and they still impress me greatly, after all these years. Cheers Leica! They are however, as heavy as the larger Nikons and generally function no better. I would put these two bins in the same category as being timeless classics.

I’m considering buying a pair of Nikon Monarch HG 8x42’s. I’ve been wanting to upgrade from my Opticron Oregon 8x42’s and have ordered and returned a number of binoculars. Most recently I tried the Opticron Aurora and Zeiss Conquest 8x42’s. The Leica Trinovid and Nikon Monarch HG 8x42’s are last on my list to try in 1k price range. What impressed you about the HG’s that you would buy them again? If your in the UK, I’m watching the London New Year’s Day Parade as I write this post. Best of luck in finding your MHG’s and happy new year!

 

[Kevin Conville]

I’m considering buying a pair of Nikon Monarch HG 8x42’s. I’ve been wanting to upgrade from my Opticron Oregon 8x42’s and have ordered and returned a number of binoculars. Most recently I tried the Opticron Aurora and Zeiss Conquest 8x42’s. The Leica Trinovid and Nikon Monarch HG 8x42’s are last on my list to try in 1k price range. What impressed you about the HG’s that you would buy them again? If your in the UK, I’m watching the London New Year’s Day Parade as I write this post. Best of luck in finding your MHG’s and happy new year!

I wrote in the first paragraph that I had found them, but thanks.
It's a combination of things that impress me and no single point.
They are lighter than most other 8x42s
They have a wider field than most 8x42s
They have a slim profile with just the right type and thickness of grippy material
They are forgiving in that their eye relief sweet spot is perfect for me
They are sharp and the whole field is usable
Great color rendition
Flare and glare are very low, almost not there
Focusing is quick and easy to attain

And last but not least they're about $1000 around here. That makes them a bargain, for me, as paying 2 or 3 times as much wouldn't improve performance for how I use field binoculars. I feel they are birding classics, much the way I felt about Leica Trinovids for a few decades.

 

[ArchStanton]

I wrote in the first paragraph that I had found them, but thanks.
It's a combination of things that impress me and no single point.
They are lighter than most other 8x42s
They have a wider field than most 8x42s
They have a slim profile with just the right type and thickness of grippy material
They are forgiving in that their eye relief sweet spot is perfect for me
They are sharp and the whole field is usable
Great color rendition
Flare and glare are very low, almost not there
Focusing is quick and easy to attain

And last but not least they're about $1000 around here. That makes them a bargain, for me, as paying 2 or 3 times as much wouldn't improve performance for how I use field binoculars. I feel they are birding classics, much the way I felt about Leica Trinovids for a few decades.

I appreciate the information from your experience with the MHG’s. It sounds like that they’re great all round birding binoculars. I’m looking forward to trying them. Cheers!