Stet
Well-known member
I got the Nikon Monarch HG 10x30's back in April after a lot of research and trial. When I originally tried them at Euro-Optics I loved the view but passed on them because I was plagued with blackout flashes whenever I moved. I use my binoculars without glasses for reference. I then found them on sale with a 30 day return period and I got them with the idea that I would come up with a solution to the blackouts and if I couldn't I'd send them back. These are the three solution I came up with.
1. I bought the Field Optics winged eye shields. I installed them all the way to the edge of the eye cup, which in effect made the eye cup a larger diameter and changed where they rested in my eye socket. They rested further away from my eye. This worked but I could not find a rain guard that would fit over the folded down eye shields.
2. The Nikons come with an alternate objective rubber end piece for those who do not like the flip down objective covers. You can remove the flip down objective covers and install these rubber end pieces in there place. These just happen to fit over the eye cups snuggly and stay in place. I put them on, but then had to turn the eye cups down a few notches in order to see the full field of view. This worked for blackouts but I was not satisfied with where the notch landed. I could not see the full field of view. It was usable and looked fine but I missed the big field of view that I like.
3. Last thing I tried, which turned out to be my favorite, is to buy a 26x1.75 bicycle tube and cut it to the size of the eye cups. I stretched it over the eye cups and it worked brilliantly. You can even add another one stretched over the first one to layer on until you get the desired eye relief. I then ordered a 40-42mm rain guard which fit over it perfectly. This rain guard also worked for option 2.
1. I bought the Field Optics winged eye shields. I installed them all the way to the edge of the eye cup, which in effect made the eye cup a larger diameter and changed where they rested in my eye socket. They rested further away from my eye. This worked but I could not find a rain guard that would fit over the folded down eye shields.
2. The Nikons come with an alternate objective rubber end piece for those who do not like the flip down objective covers. You can remove the flip down objective covers and install these rubber end pieces in there place. These just happen to fit over the eye cups snuggly and stay in place. I put them on, but then had to turn the eye cups down a few notches in order to see the full field of view. This worked for blackouts but I was not satisfied with where the notch landed. I could not see the full field of view. It was usable and looked fine but I missed the big field of view that I like.
3. Last thing I tried, which turned out to be my favorite, is to buy a 26x1.75 bicycle tube and cut it to the size of the eye cups. I stretched it over the eye cups and it worked brilliantly. You can even add another one stretched over the first one to layer on until you get the desired eye relief. I then ordered a 40-42mm rain guard which fit over it perfectly. This rain guard also worked for option 2.
