Nikon Monarch HG (1 Viewer)

[ceasar]

The last 2 Nikon Premiers have been removed from the Nikon USA Website.

As you know, these were also known as LX/L in the USA and HG/L in the rest of the world. Specifically the 2 remaining binoculars were the the 10x42 Premier and the 8x32 Premier and they had been listed under "Specialty Binoculars." They can now be found in the "Archived Specialty Binoculars" section.

Let us hope that means the the new Monarch HGs will be arriving for sale in North America soon.:t:

Bob

 

[Canip]

I recently bought the Nikon Monarch HG 8x42 and have had a couple of days to field test them in both bright and dull conditions. Previously I’d been using Zeiss 8x32 FLs for 8 years but wanted something brighter for birding in low light conditions so I was looking for a pair of 8x42s. However I still wanted something light and compact, preferably less than 700g. I also wanted a good field of view (FoV) and a close focus of 2m for insects and small animals. I narrowed my choice down to the Nikon Monarch HG 8x42 at £800 ($1,060) and the Vortex Razor HD 8x42 at £1,000 ($1,325).
I bought the Nikon Monarch HG 8x42 which weigh 660g, are compact with similar dimensions to the Leica Ultravid, have a FoV of 145m and a close focus of 2m. The rubber armour is a very thin black faux leatherette style which covers most of the barrels excluding the inner portion and a thin section at the top and bottom. It feels less robust than the more substantial armouring on other models, but the build quality still feels very good. Perhaps I will be a bit more careful with them than with a well armoured model but that may not be a bad thing! One oddity is that it comes fitted with rubber lens caps attached to rubber rings at the end of the barrels. I tried these for a few days and found one tended to flop open and I also forgot when I’d closed them and when I hadn’t. After three days I changed them for the supplied rubber rings which fit the ends of the barrels; I expect many owners will do likewise. The eyecups have two intermediate positions and although I wear glasses, I raise them to look through binoculars, so I use binoculars with eyecups fully extended. The eye relief is 17.8mm so they should be OK for those who keep their spectacles on. One physical feature which is really excellent is the focus wheel. It is very precise and smooth with just the right amount of resistance. It is probably the best focusing wheel of any binocular I have ever tried.
In terms of optical quality my first comparison was to my Zeiss 8x32 FL. The Nikon Monarch HG 8x42s are significantly better. OK I’m comparing a 32mm against a 42mm lens which equates to about a 60% increase in light gathering. However the gain in image quality is not just due to brightness, the colour saturation and contrast combine to give the Nikon a superb clarity which just has more ‘Pop’ than the Zeiss 8x32 FL. I was amazed at just how much better the Nikons were compared to my Zeiss 8x32.
I compared the Nikon to the Vortex Razor HD in a shop with outdoor viewing on an overcast day with light rain, focussing both close and middle distance. The two binoculars are similar in terms of physical properties with the Vortex Razor HD being only 5mm longer and 20g heavier. It also has thin, but plain green rubber armour which is more extensive giving it a slightly more durable feel.
Optically there are two obvious differences between the Nikon and the Vortex. The Vortex has a brighter image than the Nikon but it has a smaller FoV of 129m against 145m for the Nikon. Also the Nikon has field flattener lens which mean that a greater proportion of the image is sharp with only the extreme edge on the very periphery of your vision being soft. The Vortex, without field flattener technology has a wider margin which is soft and this is more noticeable due to the smaller image circle. Some people have a problem with the rolling-ball effect that some field flattener lenses produce when panning. I’m not familiar with this but did notice a very subtle effect when panning but it’s not an issue for me.
In terms of sharpness I couldn’t tell a difference when standing hand holding normally. However supporting myself against the door frame I think the Razor might just have the edge. In terms of colour saturation and contrast I thought the Nikon was definitely better. As with the Zeiss FL the Nikon just has a greater clarity and ‘Pop’ than the Vortex. I also compared them against the Leica Ultravid HD plus for reference. This was slightly better than both, with a significantly brighter image than the Nikon and more clarity than the Vortex. However the difference was not huge and the poor minimum focus of 3m discounted it.
I had chosen the Nikons after a seven hour journey in heavy traffic and rain on a Saturday. Later when I got to my holiday cottage I wondered if I had been two hasty in my choice and whether brightness or field of view should be my priority. I also thought I might have been a bit prejudiced against the Vortex as I had read a couple of views which mentioned its’ performance into direct sunlight as a weakness. So I went back to the shop on the Monday (still overcast with light rain) and tested them against the Vortex again and also other models. Against the Vortex it confirmed my view that although the Vortex was brighter, the greater colour saturation, contrast and clarity of the Nikon coupled with the better field of view made it preferable. The Vortex image looked slightly washed out by comparison to the Nikon.
I also compared the Nikons to the Zeiss Conquest HD which is very good but in my view not quite as good as the Nikon. It’s also heavier with a smaller FoV and lacks a locking dioptre adjustment. I finally tried the Nikon against the Zeiss SF, widely regarded as the best birding binocular. The Zeiss SF were better, being brighter and slightly sharper but a lot bulkier. They also weigh 120g more (similar to the Ultravids) but feel surprising light. The Nikon Monarch HGs gave a warmer colour balance than the Zeiss SF and I prefer the Nikons in that respect. The Zeiss SF are more than double the price of the Nikon Monarch HGs – a whole £1,000 ($1,325) more! For my money I did not think the difference was worth anywhere near £1,000. So I left the shop with the same pair of Nikons in my hand, happy that I had made the right choice for my needs. I have since tested the Nikons into late afternoon low direct sunlight and the performance is excellent, no issues at all. In the few days of use in the field I have been delighted with the superb clarity of the image and wonderful precise focussing.
I haven’t compared the Nikon Monarch HG to the Nikon EDG so I can’t comment on any difference in optical quality. However the EDG are 220g heavier, have a smaller FoV and cost £600 more. I also prefer the simple elegant styling of the Monarch HG which reminds me of the 1970’s Leica Trinovids as opposed to the flashier styling of the EDG which one reviewer described as looking like a Batman binocular. I think Nikon have realised that they have not succeeded in breaking into the top of the range big three market and decided to target the next level down with an excellent binocular at a very competitive price.
Everyone’s eyesight and priorities regarding the optical and physical properties of binoculars, as well as budgets are different. For me the Nikon Monarch HG 8x42 are ideal because of their combination of superb optical quality, wide field, precise and close focus, light weight, compactness and value for money. Other users may appreciate subtleties between different models which I have missed and may find other models are better suited to them. That’s fine, but if you’re in the market for a pair of binoculars in the £500-£1,000 category, you should definitely try the Nikon Monarch HG before you buy anything else. Even if you’re looking at the big three top of the range / second tier £1,200 - £2,000, I recommend comparing them against the Nikon Monarch HGs.

Thank you for this nice review. I concur with almost everything you say (I got my 8x42 a few days ago and have since tested it under various lighting conditions). I do also have an EDG and can say that the sharpness, esp. at the periphery of the image, maybe just a notch better in the EDG, but the EDG is more than double the price and larger and heavier than the Monarch HG. I think Nikon got a winner with their new glass.
Canip

 

[typo]

RT,

Congratulations on the purchase and many thanks for the well considered comparison. They are pretty much in line with my impressions when I tried them at BirdFair. Did you note the relative CA performance?

David

 

[The-Wanderer]

The warranty in the UK

http://www.europe-nikon.com/en_GB/service_support/repair_centre/warranty.page

and the quality of my local Nikon dealership's self-professed expert staff, plus past experience, do not encourage me to buy Nikon.

 

[Chosun Juan]

I recently bought the Nikon Monarch HG 8x42 and have had a couple of days to field test them ......

Thanks for the review RT :t:
Interesting that you didn't find the MHG's as bright as the Razor HD's, though the colour saturation and glare handling sound encouraging. As David asked, how did you find the CA handling in the centre of the field? How did that compare to the little FL, the Razor and Conquest HD's, and the UVHD+ and the SF for you?


Chosun :gh:

 

[[email protected]]

"Optically there are two obvious differences between the Nikon and the Vortex. The Vortex has a brighter image than the Nikon."

Thanks. Rock. That is what I wanted to know. Very helpful.

 

[ceasar]

The day the HGs appear in the Nikon Sport Optics, USA website will be the day they will be available in the USA.

http://www.nikonsportoptics.com/en/nikon-products/binoculars/all-binoculars/index.page

See, that wasn't too hard to predict!:king:

Currently the Nikon USA site lists 82 binoculars. 52 of them cost under $200.00. The next biggest grouping is from $1000.00 to $2000.00: There are 7 in that group. The next largest group over $2000.00 are the 5 EDGs. All of the rest are between $200.00 and $1000.00.

http://www.nikonsportoptics.com/en/nikon-products/binoculars/all-binoculars/index.page






Bob

As of today, September 17th, 2016 Nikon USA now lists 68 binoculars. 14 have gone since August 12th.

http://www.nikonsportoptics.com/en/nikon-products/binoculars/all-binoculars/index.page

Bob

 

[tommybj]

I recently at Falsterbo Bird Show tried both Monarch HG 8x42, Conquest HD 8x42 and Vortex Razor 8x42 and and to me there were a lot more CA in the HG and Conquest than in Razor. The only binocular that gave me a WOW experience was the Razor. But I'm CA sensitive and wear glassses.

 

[PeterPS]

MHG 10x42

I had the Razor in both 10x42 and 10x50---did not keep either as their glare control was rather poor; they also had many specks of dust, grease etc inside the tubes. The MHG has very good glare control, similar to the EDG's and SE's, and also the interior of the tubes is very clean. It feels good in the hand, and has a smooth focuser (just a bit of stiction at infinity)---similar to the Razor. (I have only two minor complaints about the MHG ergos: the plastic cap of the tripod adapter slot has sharp edges that dig into your fingers, and the rubber eyecups collect lots of dust and skin cells; btw, the eyecups cannot be removed). Here is the bad about the MHG: on axis it is sharp (almost SV/SF sharp) and the CA is well controlled, but just off axis the CA becomes visible and the image starts to soften; in the last 25% the CA is excessive, and the image is very soft (does it really have a field flattener?). Additionally the DoF is poor: it focuses almost on a 2D surface (no 3D). A rough measurement showed that the IPD=objective separation, which explains the lack of 3Dality. Another consequence of this fact is that the apparent magnification is larger than what one would expect for a 10x (almost like for a reverse porro).
Bottom line: If you're not sensitive to CA and soft edges, you will be happy with the MHG. In my opinion the MHG is a very usable set for birding, and in fact a good one under 900$ (right now the best price in the EU is about 830$). But if you're a "purist" then the MHG is not for you.

Peter.

 

[troysufus]

Totally agree about poor glare control with the 10x42 Razor HD.

 

[SuperDuty]

Thanks for that summary, you saved me a lot of wasted time.

Here is the bad about the MHG: on axis it is sharp (almost SV/SF sharp) and the CA is well controlled, but just off axis the CA becomes visible and the image starts to soften; in the last 25% the CA is excessive, and the image is very soft (does it really have a field flattener?). Additionally the DoF is poor: it focuses almost on a 2D surface (no 3D). A rough measurement showed that the IPD=objective separation, which explains the lack of 3Dality. Another consequence of this fact is that the apparent magnification is larger than what one would expect for a 10x (almost like for a reverse porro).
Bottom line: If you're not sensitive to CA and soft edges, you will be happy with the MHG. In my opinion the MHG is a very usable set for birding, and in fact a good one under 900$ (right now the best price in the EU is about 830$). But if you're a "purist" then the MHG is not for you.

Peter.

 

[PeterPS]

Thanks for that summary, you saved me a lot of wasted time.

You're welcome, Robert. Nikon must do something to correct the CA in the MHG, there is too much of it (at least in my 10x42). If they will do that, and also extend the sweet spot a bit by tweaking the field flattener, then they might have a winner.

Peter.

 

[The-Wanderer]

I find it incredible that a company with the resources of Nikon would bring to the market a bin with such flaws that a member of the public can readily identify.

Perhaps it deserves to be a flop.

 

[Canip]

I find it incredible that a company with the resources of Nikon would bring to the market a bin with such flaws that a member of the public can readily identify.

Perhaps it deserves to be a flop.

I think you should look at the glass yourself before judging Nikon. My Monarch HG 8x42 exhibits extremely little CA, so I suspect that less than perfect alignment of eyes and exit pupils may be a cause for excessive CA, and not a flaw in the binocular.

 

[The-Wanderer]

I live within a couple of miles or so of possibly the largest main Nikon dealership in Sussex and possibly in the south east. It boasts "our knowledgeable staff receive regular training to ensure that the buying advice and technical assistance we can offer is second to none ".

However, when I contacted them when these bins had already been sold elsewhere, they knew nothing of them. I asked them to contact me when they were in stock: they still are not in stock.

This does not help me to try them. In any event they are very reluctant for customers to try equipment outside.

I have posted on this before. When I last checked, Curry's did not stock them.

As the old saying goes, Nikon 'needs to pull its socks up'.

Any other ideas Canip?

 

[In Focus]

I live within a couple of miles or so of possibly the largest main Nikon dealership in Sussex.

This does not help me to try them. In any event they are very reluctant for customers to try equipment outside.

You could try the HG at one of our field events. If I assume you mean you are near Burgess Hill then WWT Arundel would be the closest location - next event is tomorrow but we're back there on Sunday 9th October.

Alternatively, there's an event at Rye Harbour on October 16th although that is a bit of a distance!

Best to call before hand to make sure we'll have the item on hand - 01727 827799.

HTH

Bruce & The Team @ In Focus

 

[ceasar]

I live within a couple of miles or so of possibly the largest main Nikon dealership in Sussex and possibly in the south east. It boasts "our knowledgeable staff receive regular training to ensure that the buying advice and technical assistance we can offer is second to none ".

However, when I contacted them when these bins had already been sold elsewhere, they knew nothing of them. I asked them to contact me when they were in stock: they still are not in stock.

This does not help me to try them. In any event they are very reluctant for customers to try equipment outside.

I have posted on this before. When I last checked, Curry's did not stock them.

As the old saying goes, Nikon 'needs to pull its socks up'.

Any other ideas Canip?

What other brands does the Sussex Dealership carry?

It isn't too difficult for them to find out what Nikon is coming out with. Nikon has a website for that information.

http://www.nikon.com/news/2001/nikonvision_e_01.htm

Just click on the year 2016 to see what new items have been introduced. You can even subdivide it into Consumer Products like Optics and Cameras etc.

After they find out from the website that the Nikon Monarch HG is out (It came out in July.) and they are interested in selling it they can call Nikon's HQ in Europe and get more info about it.

Bob

 

[The-Wanderer]

Bruce and the team infocus

I frequently visit wwt Arundel (we are members) and see Keith there. However, the journey is becoming long for us and we now have only have the one car. She has another engagement for tomorrow.

 

[PeterPS]

I think you should look at the glass yourself before judging Nikon. My Monarch HG 8x42 exhibits extremely little CA, so I suspect that less than perfect alignment of eyes and exit pupils may be a cause for excessive CA, and not a flaw in the binocular.

I always carefully set the IPD of my bins by using a ruler. Without any doubt my MHG 10x42 example has too much CA. Color fringing is very conspicuous in difficult cases, such as black branches against a cloudy sky, but also in regular use of the bins: if the bird is just a bit off axis it gets the well-known green/pink halo. Fortunately birders put the bird in the center (!), which is why I suggested that MHG is quite usable for bird watching.

I am happy to hear that your MHG 8x42 has almost no CA. It is usually the case that the CA issues are exacerbated by an increase of the magnification. How about the size of the sweet spot of the 8x42: is it sharp to the edge?

Peter.

 

[The-Wanderer]

Ceasar,

It is a big dealership, for the Uk, with many brands, mostly photographic but they have only a limited stock of bins.

Quote
It isn't too difficult for them to find out what Nikon is coming out with. Nikon has a website for that information.
Unquote

Indeed so, but I don't think they are interested.

Nikon must be able to provide encouragement, but I see no signs of it.