Nikon Monarch HG (1 Viewer)

[Canip]

For glare testing try looking up at a steep angle on a sunny day. I found the toughest test for glare was looking at mountain goats high on craggy cliffs from a lower position in a canyon. Because of my Habicht 8x30 W's poor performance doing this I sold it.

I agree, that's a very good test. Another useful test can be performed when you observe the shady edge of a forest in the evening, when the sun has set but the sky above the forest is still quite bright (Holger Merlitz describes this in his book). This can lead to a sudden loss in contrast even in good binoculars where you would never expect it. As you mention, the (otherwise wonderful, I love it) Habicht does not do very well in this and other straylight / glare tests.

 

[Steve O4B]

Monarch HG Update

Even in the USA there aren't many like Camera Land, now located just outside of NYC. It is a big mail order Camera Dealer which also carries a big binocular inventory for mail order sales. They also stay active on websites that have Binocular forums. B&H and Adorama, which are huge, carry both but are really in competition with Amazon.

I expect that once the Monarch HG reaches the USA Camera Land and Cabelas (if they haven't been sold by then) and others like them will carry it for Mail Order. For some reason or other Nikon no longer does business with Eagle Optics.

Bob

We will have them at Optics4Birding once they start to ship.

To that end, I spoke with my Nikon sales rep today and got an update. The Monarch HGs were delayed in the US because the accessories were deemed unsatisfactory. I don't have the laundry list, but the poor fit of the rainguards was certainly one. Nikon USA considered bringing them out close to Christmas, but didn't think there would be enough lead time and product for the holidays. The official US introduction will be at the SHOT Show in January in Las Vegas. I don't know yet whether they will start shipping then or if there will be some more lead time as is often the case after product announcements.

 

[ceasar]

We will have them at Optics4Birding once they start to ship.

To that end, I spoke with my Nikon sales rep today and got an update. The Monarch HGs were delayed in the US because the accessories were deemed unsatisfactory. I don't have the laundry list, but the poor fit of the rainguards was certainly one. Nikon USA considered bringing them out close to Christmas, but didn't think there would be enough lead time and product for the holidays. The official US introduction will be at the SHOT Show in January in Las Vegas. I don't know yet whether they will start shipping then or if there will be some more lead time as is often the case after product announcements.

Thanks for the update. Here is a list of upcoming events that Nikon will attend in the USA in 2017.


Nikon Sport Optics Events:

http://www.nikonsportoptics.com/en/about-nikon/events.page

The recent earthquake in Japan also had an effect on the scheduled release of a couple of compact digital Cameras.

http://www.nikon.com/news/2016/0624_cpx_01.htm

Bob

 

[PhilR.]

We will have them at Optics4Birding once they start to ship.

To that end, I spoke with my Nikon sales rep today and got an update. The Monarch HGs were delayed in the US because the accessories were deemed unsatisfactory. I don't have the laundry list, but the poor fit of the rainguards was certainly one. Nikon USA considered bringing them out close to Christmas, but didn't think there would be enough lead time and product for the holidays. The official US introduction will be at the SHOT Show in January in Las Vegas. I don't know yet whether they will start shipping then or if there will be some more lead time as is often the case after product announcements.

Any idea as to US msrp?

thanks,

 

[Steve O4B]

Any idea as to US msrp?

thanks,

Based on prices posted on the Japanese Nikon site, I expect the US price to be around $1000 for the 10x and $20 - $50 less for the 8x. With Nikon, MSRP = MVP = MAP, so don't expect a selling price below MSRP.

 

[marinemaster]

Is Nikon going to make this in 8x32 ? Nikon ignores that format for whatever reason. They only offer the high end edg in the 8x32 not sure why as i don't know anyone who is using it. I have always been perplexed by Nikon. To me I think the 3 alpha run their business model in a European prestige and service style and Nikon on a US model where if it does not sell they absolutely don't care for it. That being said this model is more towards high end so I am curious to see if they offer it in 8x32.

 

[ceasar]

I want to see if Nikon will offer the 42mm Monarch HGs in the USA first. Then I'll worry about the 32mm models and I will be surprised if Nikon decides to make 32mm versions of the HG.

The new Monarch HG 42mm models weigh almost the same as the Nikon EDG 32mm models weigh. The EDGs weigh 650 and 655 grams and the HGs weigh 665 and 680 grams.

If you look back at Nikon's history; the only roof prism 32mm binoculars Nikon ever made prior to the EDGs were the HG/L models which at that time were Nikon's Alpha binoculars. During that period of time they also made economically priced Monarch 8x36 and 10x36 models which sold well but they never made any low or moderate priced 8 and 10x32 binoculars. When Nikon did come out with small economical roof prisms they were the 8 and 10x30 Monarch 7s.

Bob

 

[marinemaster]

Thats correct but the 8x36 model had issues with me out of collimation and such and the new Monarch 8x30 I get horrible blackout. I had high hopes for the 8x30 but unfortunately did not work for me. Otherwise is great pair of binos. Off topic I also tried the Swaro 8x30 CL and had same blackout issue. So hoping that yes it will be available in US and hoping that Nikon will make it in 8x32.

 

[ceasar]

Do you know why some binoculars cause blackouts when you use them? Is eye relief a factor because the 32mm Monarch HGs, if they are made, will very probably have shorter ER than the 42mm versions.


Bob

 

[marinemaster]

There was a well written technical discussing and explanation here few years back many pages as I recall regarding blackout. I still don't have my finger on it as of why but I had dozens of 8x32 brands/models and by now I know that given identical eye relief, one brand model is great and the other I get blackout. So it must be in the way they are designed. Also I read all the published factory specs but it does not help me as I cannot find a common reason that will kind of tell me that.

 

[ceasar]

I tend to agree with you on that. Getting the right ER is a personal thing. Sometimes the shape of the rubber ring on the eye cup makes a difference to me. I like them "squared off" rather than rounded. They are easier for me to brace up against my brow ridge which is how I hold my binoculars.

Bob

 

[Alexis Powell]

...If you look back at Nikon's history; the only roof prism 32mm binoculars Nikon ever made prior to the EDGs were the HG/L models which at that time were Nikon's Alpha binoculars...

I take your overall point, but you are forgetting the 8x32 Execulite II model. It was supposed to be a premium quality binocular (among Nikon's best roofs at the time) but it wasn't really very good.

--AP

 

[ceasar]

I take your overall point, but you are forgetting the 8x32 Execulite II model. It was supposed to be a premium quality binocular (among Nikon's best roofs at the time) but it wasn't really very good.

--AP

I should have said "recent history," going back to the late 1990's when the SE's and the EII's were brought out. The Execulites were before that and I'm not sure that they even had phase coatings. They were expensive for their time; over $300.00. There was also a 9x34 I believe. I don't believe it had phase coatings either. I purchased a Minolta Mariner 8x32 at that time in 1980 or so. It was priced around $150.00. I still have it. It wasn't very good but I managed with it for a few years.

Bob

 

[John Frink]

...you are forgetting the 8x32 Execulite II model. It was supposed to be a premium quality binocular...but it wasn't really very good. --AP

Respectfully, I beg to differ. I have one of those, and if I compare it to an HGL and an EDG II, I think it holds up pretty well. True angle 7.4 deg vs. 7.8 for the others, slight pincushion distortion, not quite as bright, but not bad at all for its time. Just my opinion.

 

[Alexis Powell]

I should have said "recent history," going back to the late 1990's when the SE's and the EII's were brought out. The Execulites were before that and I'm not sure that they even had phase coatings. They were expensive for their time; over $300.00. There was also a 9x34 I believe. I don't believe it had phase coatings either. I purchased a Minolta Mariner 8x32 at that time in 1980 or so. It was priced around $150.00. I still have it. It wasn't very good but I managed with it for a few years.
Bob

The Execulite II were introduced in 1984, same as my beloved 8x40 Classic Eagle. I'll have to check my old catalogs, but I think they were re-released with a different body design (same optics?) in the early 1990s. There was an 8x32 and a 10x40. They certainly lacked phase coating. The Venturer LX/HG was the first Nikon roof with phase coating.

Respectfully, I beg to differ. I have one of those, and if I compare it to an HGL and an EDG II, I think it holds up pretty well. True angle 7.4 deg vs. 7.8 for the others, slight pincushion distortion, not quite as bright, but not bad at all for its time. Just my opinion.

I didn't spend much time with them, so forgive my memory, but I didn't feel they compared well against my Nikon 8x40 Classic Eagle of the same era. As I recall, unlike the Classic Eagle, they didn't have a flat field and the eye-relief was not good enough for me to use them with glasses. Nowadays, even my Classic Eagle seems poor due to lack of phase and dielectric coatings. Maybe I'm confusing the Execulite II with another model.

--AP

 

[Steve O4B]

I want to see if Nikon will offer the 42mm Monarch HGs in the USA first. Then I'll worry about the 32mm models and I will be surprised if Nikon decides to make 32mm versions of the HG.

Look for a Nikon Monarch HG announcement on January 17 at the Shooting Hunting Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show. I know that Nikon will have demos of the Monarch HG there. We're not attending this year as none of the other major players have anything new to announce, so I won't see them until spring, when our Nikon rep gets his samples.

 

[Steve O4B]

Do you know why some binoculars cause blackouts when you use them? Is eye relief a factor because the 32mm Monarch HGs, if they are made, will very probably have shorter ER than the 42mm versions.


Bob

This is definitely an ER problem. We've seen it with the Zeiss Conquests and, just recently, the Leica Noctivids. The issue seems to occur when the eyecups are not long enough for the eye relief of the binocular, or when an eye glass wearer requires minimal eye relief. It can be solved for the latter by extending the eyecups a notch or two. Unfortunately, for those who don't wear eye glasses, the solution is holding the binocular farther away from the face - an unstable and uncomfortable position. Zeiss has extra-long eyecups for the Conquest HD. Leica has only recently discovered the issue with the Noctivids and is working on a solution.

 

[Steve O4B]

Is Nikon going to make this in 8x32 ? Nikon ignores that format for whatever reason. They only offer the high end edg in the 8x32 not sure why as i don't know anyone who is using it. I have always been perplexed by Nikon. To me I think the 3 alpha run their business model in a European prestige and service style and Nikon on a US model where if it does not sell they absolutely don't care for it. That being said this model is more towards high end so I am curious to see if they offer it in 8x32.

No 8x32 this year AFAIK. Over the past few years, we've seen Pentax and Vortex discontinue 32mm models, and the absence of 32mm models with the Leica Noctivids and both Zeiss Victory series (HT and SF). The latter may be due to the belief that if someone wants a high transmission binocular, the 32mm would be self defeating.

 

[NDhunter]

I want to see if Nikon will offer the 42mm Monarch HGs in the USA first. Then I'll worry about the 32mm models and I will be surprised if Nikon decides to make 32mm versions of the HG.

Look for a Nikon Monarch HG announcement on January 17 at the Shooting Hunting Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show. I know that Nikon will have demos of the Monarch HG there. We're not attending this year as none of the other major players have anything new to announce, so I won't see them until spring, when our Nikon rep gets his samples.

Steve:

Thanks for your updates and observations. What is clear with any binocular introduction, especially with the alphas, is the first one is 42mm, then the rest.

Any speculation about more, is just that.

I like Nikon optics, and am pleased they are introducing a new midrange model, with a flat field view.

That is unique to the market, and the reviews so far seem very good.

Jerry

 

[BruceH]

.............
Look for a Nikon Monarch HG announcement on January 17 at the Shooting Hunting Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show. I know that Nikon will have demos of the Monarch HG there. We're not attending this year as none of the other major players have anything new to announce, so I won't see them until spring, when our Nikon rep gets his samples.

Has anyone heard anything about Nikon USA announcing at the Shot Show yet. This is the end of second day and I have not been able to find anything about an announcement. Did it get delayed?