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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BruceH" data-source="post: 3152909" data-attributes="member: 106398">I purchased a Nikon USA imported Monarch 7 8X30 from B & H Photo of New York about the first week of September, 2014 and the end cap over the focus knob says M711.  A picture is attached.  The serial number is 00042xx.In regards to the glare issues reported by some, I was concerned before the purchase.  I used it almost daily under varying light conditions on two extended backwoods trips in September and October, and also off and on before and since then.  Try as I might, I only had one bad glare occurrence.  That was a near total washout one morning when looking at the direction of the sun just as the sun was starting to break above a mountain ridge line.  What surprised me was when I held the palm of my left hand over the top of the objectives almost all of the glare went away and the view was quite clear.  Just to do a comparision, I went back to the truck and grabbed a Nikon EDG-II 10X42.  It took a few minutes to return to the same spot and by then the sun was above the ridge and looking at the same scene with  M7 8X30, the total washout was now gone.  Instead it was the overall type glare that would be expected from any binocular under those lighting conditions.  The same glare was also visible with the EDG, but to a lesser extent.  For the most part, I think the M7 I have handles overall glare as well as other non alpha binoculars I have.  The one exception I an not sure about is the total washout described above.  I am not sure how other models would have performed so one of these days I will try and recreate it.  A view down the objectives of mine look, as best I can tell, like the one evaluated by FrankD.  <a href="http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=2962034&postcount=38" target="_blank">http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=2962034&postcount=38</a>In my case so far, I found the glare concerns to be a non issue and the positives of the wide, sharp, bright view exceeding expectations.  My only complaint is the somewhat touchy eye placement, but that is to be expected with the less than 4 mm exit pupil and small (and somewhat short) eye cups.  I am now use to it and it is not a problem.  It is one binocular I would not want to give up.  I did try the M7 10X30 in the store last summer and concluded the 10X30 exit pupil is just to small and I doubt it would be as successful as the 8X30.  I suspect glare would be more of an issue and eye placement a problem.  Bob ... As I recall, you were considering the 8X30 a  while back.  Based on some of your previous posts, I think you would like it.  It is small and will fit in your jacket pocket, yet it comes close to having the advantages of a full size binocular.</blockquote>

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