So many Monarch models ~ (1 Viewer)

[diverdude1]

How to keep them straight? Big price difference too, I've seen from 1690-4690! (CNY) I suppose I should go for the latest iteration, but I bet that'll carry the highest price tag too. So, any advice on one to seek?

 

[PeterPS]

My suggestion: buy a used EDG (not a Monarch though), you should be able to find a pair at a reasonable price, or a Monarch HG.

 

[John A Roberts]

Hi diverdude1,

Nikon’s 2019 Sport Optics catalogue includes a useful table that helps makes sense of the various features on the different roof prism models . . .
The 24 page 5.3 MB catalogue can still be found at: 2019 General Catalog | Nikon Sport Optics


John

 

[PYRTLE]

There are two excellent examples of a Monarch 7 ( x 10 ) and an 8 x 32 HG....... both from the USA and complete. Look in the Sales Forum. Have you decided on a specification yet?

 

[diverdude1]

There are two excellent examples of a Monarch 7 ( x 10 ) and an 8 x 32 HG....... both from the USA and complete. Look in the Sales Forum. Have you decided on a specification yet?

Not specs really,,, other than I know for me I feel 8x30 up to 10x40/42 feels right (50 too big; 25 too small). I have to be a bit money conscious, really don't want to go over about 2500¥. maybe 350usd. Nikon is easy to get here and everything points to them being authentic and value for money. I'd rather Zeiss or Leica, but they get real expensive real fast.

 

[diverdude1]

My suggestion: buy a used EDG (not a Monarch though), you should be able to find a pair at a reasonable price, or a Monarch HG.

Really hard to find used gear here, but let me look. I see Monarch HG plenty, but wow, 8500¥ plus. maybe 1150usd or so.

 

[PYRTLE]

The Nikon 8 x 32 HG for sale on BF is about $500 US? and in mint condition.

 

[dries1]

The Monarch 5 is likely the best bet in 8X42 or 10X42 in your budget of $350, and if the Monarch 5 is over that, then try the Prostaff 7 series. There are others like Celestron etc. although I am not sure what brands are available where you are. Warranty coverage will likely be important, (If available) since you don't have access to binocular repair/service.

 

[PeterPS]

Not specs really,,, other than I know for me I feel 8x30 up to 10x40/42 feels right (50 too big; 25 too small). I have to be a bit money conscious, really don't want to go over about 2500¥. maybe 350usd. Nikon is easy to get here and everything points to them being authentic and value for money. I'd rather Zeiss or Leica, but they get real expensive real fast.

With your budget you can buy a new pair of Monarch 7 8x30 (price around 350$ on ebay) or a mint pair of Monarch 7 10x42
(price around 300$, see e.g. the link below)
MINT Nikon Monarch 7 10 x 42 REDUCED - CN Classifieds - Cloudy Nights

 

[qwerty5]

Not specs really,,, other than I know for me I feel 8x30 up to 10x40/42 feels right (50 too big; 25 too small). I have to be a bit money conscious, really don't want to go over about 2500¥. maybe 350usd. Nikon is easy to get here and everything points to them being authentic and value for money. I'd rather Zeiss or Leica, but they get real expensive real fast.

For $300 you could get a new Monarch 5 8x42 or 10x42. The Monarch 5 FOV is pretty tiny (330 ft for the 8x42). I would suggest a Vortex Diamondback for $250. The 10x42 Diamondback FOV (330 ft) is the same as the 8x42 Monarch 5. I don't know if Vortex is available in your area though

 

[diverdude1]

The Monarch 5 is likely the best bet in 8X42 or 10X42 in your budget of $350, and if the Monarch 5 is over that, then try the Prostaff 7 series. There are others like Celestron etc. although I am not sure what brands are available where you are. Warranty coverage will likely be important, (If available) since you don't have access to binocular repair/service.

I pretty much settled on the Monarch 5, nice to hear decision affirmed. xiexie

 

[diverdude1]

With your budget you can buy a new pair of Monarch 7 8x30 (price around 350$ on ebay) or a mint pair of Monarch 7 10x42
(price around 300$, see e.g. the link below)
MINT Nikon Monarch 7 10 x 42 REDUCED - CN Classifieds - Cloudy Nights

That surprised me @ first, that the 7's are cheaper than the 5's (same here). I guess I just expected higher Model # to be more feature-rich and thus priced higher.

 

[diverdude1]

For $300 you could get a new Monarch 5 8x42 or 10x42. The Monarch 5 FOV is pretty tiny (330 ft for the 8x42). I would suggest a Vortex Diamondback for $250. The 10x42 Diamondback FOV (330 ft) is the same as the 8x42 Monarch 5. I don't know if Vortex is available in your area though

I saw the Vortex Viper here for like 4600¥. I'll see if I can find a Diamondback. From what I see Vortex is a US company, but MIC. I like the way they print MIC on bottom of bins and not try to hide it.

 

[PeterPS]

That surprised me @ first, that the 7's are cheaper than the 5's (same here). I guess I just expected higher Model # to be more feature-rich and thus priced higher.

M7 is better than the older model M5, imo. In particular M7 has a much wider FoV. See, for example,
Nikon's Monarch 5 vs 7. Which to choose?
If you can find M7 at a lower price than M5's I think buying the M7 should be a no-brainer.

 

[dorubird]

From my direct experience with Monarch 5 ED 10x42 and Monarch 7 ED 10x42 I can say that they are almost identical except for the larger field of view and a resistant coating on the external lenses of the M7. The resolution in the center was identical! I really was surprised by the light transmission of the M5 model (I thought it was even little better than the M7) - This was confirmed by some transmission tests that I saw in the past on the web (pdf format), where the M5 had light transmission about 92% and the M7 had about 89%.

 

[diverdude1]

For $300 you could get a new Monarch 5 8x42 or 10x42. The Monarch 5 FOV is pretty tiny (330 ft for the 8x42). I would suggest a Vortex Diamondback for $250. The 10x42 Diamondback FOV (330 ft) is the same as the 8x42 Monarch 5. I don't know if Vortex is available in your area though

I found a couple of retailers for Diamondback. Good looking and very affordable, like a notch below the Monarchs, but seems reviews of Diamonback are generally mediocre. I guess have to move up to Viper, but those are pushing the lo-price Zeiss price.

 

[diverdude1]

I guess the only competition for the mid-priced Monarchs are the Vortex. I just got used to considering the Nikon name and hi-quality to go together. So, if I don't spring for the Zeiss, Monarchs here I come! (Still making the mistake of looking at the Leica though

 

[qwerty5]

I found a couple of retailers for Diamondback. Good looking and very affordable, like a notch below the Monarchs, but seems reviews of Diamonback are generally mediocre. I guess have to move up to Viper, but those are pushing the lo-price Zeiss price.

The Diamondbacks are very good for the price. I do think the optics of the Monarch 5s are slightly better than the DBs, but the DBs are $50 less and the Monarchs have a paper towel tube field of view. I just can't recommend the Monarch 5s to you because of the tiny FOV: 10x42 is 288 ft, 8x42 is 330 ft. 330 ft is an average FOV for a 10x42 bin. As far as Viper vs Monarch 7, here is a good review: Vortex Viper HD vs Nikon Monarch 7 vs Maven C.1: Battle of the HD binoculars - Baxter Bowman

 

[qwerty5]

The Vipers and Monarch 7s are close to the $1000 bins (Zeiss Conquest) optically, but are half the price. The Vipers do have a slight edge optically over the Monarchs. However, if you can get the Monarch 7s for under $400, it really is a no-brainer, buy them.

 

[diverdude1]

The Vipers and Monarch 7s are close to the $1000 bins (Zeiss Conquest) optically, but are half the price. The Vipers do have a slight edge optically over the Monarchs. However, if you can get the Monarch 7s for under $400, it really is a no-brainer, buy them.

Monarch 7s, let's say 3000¥. I'm going to have a look...