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Message: <blockquote data-quote="kabsetz" data-source="post: 3448742" data-attributes="member: 10167">The other day I got the first quick look of an 8x42 Monarch HG. Just one sample.The binocular looks very nice, with echoes of the 8x40 Nikon Classic Eagle in its design, and gives a decidedly higher-quality feel than the other Monarchs. It fits the hands very well and is comfortable to use. Focus is not as buttery smooth as in EDG:s, but fine compared to most models. Diopter adjustment is very well thought out. The ring locks in place positively, but even better, can be left in its unlocked position giving gradual fine adjustment possibilities, and has just the right amount of friction to stay where you set it but being easy to adjust anyway.Image is bright and colors neutral and vivid. Centrally, the image is sharp. Sweet spot is not very large, though, and as for a field-flattener, if there is one it did a remarkable job of not making itself seen. That is, edge performance was only marginally better than in most non-flattener designs, and when compared to Swarovski 8x42 SLC, in my view the non-flattener binocular with best edge correction and largest sweet spot, the Swarovski was clearly better in both sweet spot size and sharpness at the very edge.This sample of the Monarch HG had very good boosted central resolution, although there was somewhat too prominent prism edge line visible in the left tube. Viewing from the objective end, you can see that there is very little vignetting with prisms that are large enough and no undersized aperture stops. Coatings look very good.Perhaps due to the smallish sweet spot, viewing especially at shorter distances did not feel as easy and relaxed as with the Swaro SLC or the 8x42 EDG that I tried only very briefly. Outdoors, at longer distances, the view looked better. It is possible that the SA (of which there was the normal-for-binoculars excessive amount in shorter distance glitter point tests) diminishes enough at longer distances to improve the image markedly. More testing needed.As for CA, centrally there is perhaps somewhat more than in top-grade alphas, but the image does look purer than in most 300-800 € "HD" binoculars.Towards the end of the session I wanted to see what a really good binocular would show on a tripod with a booster, just to reference the Monarch HG, and I took out a Swaro SLC 10x56. I had looked through one a couple of weeks ago when there was the Finnish Birdfair in Helsinki, and had been very impressed. However, what I saw was not quite up to my expectations. After a moment's confusion, I noticed that what I had in my hands was actually not the SLC but the 10x50 SV. Well, there was also a 10x56 around, so I put away the SV and we put up the SLC. Boosted to 30x, it gave images very close to what a high-quality 60mm scope would at these magnifications, with superb contrast, first-rate sharpness and very little CA. Outdoors, easy, relaxed, absolutely sharp and clear views. My favorite Muggle binocular.Kimmo</blockquote>

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