{"id":191,"date":"2020-06-01T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-01T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whatbirdsareinmybackyard.com\/best-mid-priced-birding-binoculars-nikon-monarch-7\/"},"modified":"2024-01-13T02:16:48","modified_gmt":"2024-01-13T02:16:48","slug":"nikon-monarch-7-8x42-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whatbirdsareinmybackyard.com\/nikon-monarch-7-8x42-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Nikon Monarch 7 8×42 Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is the Nikon Monarch 7 ATB 8×42 any good for bird watching? I’m going to start with the conclusion. <\/p>\n

Here is my opinion after owning and using this binocular for a full year and doing additional research:<\/p>\n

The Nikon Monarch 7 ATB 8×42 binocular is the best bird watching binocular under $500. In fact, it may match or have advantages over binoculars costing twice as much.<\/b><\/p>\n

For this reason, I believe these binoculars are also perhaps the best value for the money.<\/p>\n

A recent binocular review by Cornell’s All About Birds (source<\/a>) listed the Nikon Monarch M7 8×42 as one of their top 3 binoculars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\"Photo<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Here I am using my Nikon Monarch 7 8×42 binoculars. May 25, 2020.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/span>Binocular specs (the numbers that matter)<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n
Model<\/span>
\nSize<\/span><\/th>\n		Price<\/span>
\nMSRP<\/span><\/th>\n		FOV @<\/span>
\n1000 yds<\/span><\/th>\n		Close<\/span>
\nFocus<\/span><\/th>\n		Exit<\/span>
\nPupil<\/span><\/th>\n		Eye<\/span>
\nRelief<\/span><\/th>\n		Weight<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Nikon Monarch 7<\/span>
\n8×42<\/span><\/td>\n		$479.95<\/span><\/td>\n420 ft<\/span><\/td>\n8.2 ft<\/span><\/td>\n5.25 mm<\/span><\/td>\n17.1 mm<\/span><\/td>\n22.9 oz<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The table above shows the important specifications that need to be considered before you even look at a bird through a potential pair of binoculars. Binoculars with specs outside of certain ranges will not be good for bird watching, even if they are otherwise excellent binoculars.<\/p>\n

I realize that these terms and specs can be confusing. But they are important to understand when deciding which binocular to purchase.<\/p>\n

The magnification of 8x<\/b> and the objective lens size of 42 mm<\/b> is ideal. Dividing the magnification into the lens size gives the value of 5.25 mm exit pupil<\/b>. This is great for a bright view in low light conditions. It is also more than enough in bright conditions. Increasing the magnification to 10x would reduce the exit pupil and makes them less bright at dawn and dusk or cloudy days. So this 8×42 size is best for bird watching in dim or shadowed conditions.<\/b><\/p>\n

The 420 feet field of view (FOV) at 1000 yards is amazing!<\/b> Not many binoculars do better. I have an older pair of binoculars that only have 330 feet FOV. In comparison, they are like looking through a straw! I was looking at a nearby brick wall yesterday to compare the two. With the older pair of binoculars I could only see 5-1\/2 cap bricks across the top width of the wall. With the Monarch 7’s I could see almost 8 bricks wide! <\/p>\n

Okay, so what does this mean for birding? It means you will be able to follow the warbler hopping from branch to branch in the tree top. With less field of view the bird may hop out of view. You’ll have to put your binoculars down to re-spot the bird with your eyes. Wide field of view is very important for woodland birding. <\/b>It is also beneficial for scanning in open country or viewing out to sea from shore. More magnification reduces field of view, this is why 8x is better than 10x.<\/p>\n

The close focus of 8.2 feet is good<\/b>, but not great. You should be able to focus on birds close to you in the bushes without having to back up. However, if you do butterfly watching you may want a binocular with closer focus–perhaps down to 5 feet.<\/p>\n

The eye relief of 17.1 mm is just adequate for eyeglass wearers<\/b>. To see all of that huge field of view I actually push my binoculars against my eyeglasses a bit sliding them closer to my eyes. Otherwise, if the eye relief is 15.5-16.5 mm the view may vignette–you won’t see the entire field edge-to-edge. <\/p>\n

Eye relief on some binoculars goes all the way up to 20 mm–more than enough for all eyeglass wearers. Binoculars with eye relief of less than 15.5, perhaps all the way down to 14 mm or even 12 mm are unusable if you wear eyeglasses.<\/p>\n

These are very light-weight binoculars <\/b>for their size, at 22.9 ounces<\/b>. That is due to their construction. They will put less strain on your neck and arms using them all day in the field.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/span>The optical and physical binocular properties<\/span><\/h2>\n

No other group demands more of its binoculars than do birders. What do bird watchers want in a binocular?<\/p>\n