Nikon Monarch HG 10×42 Binoculars Review
We like the Nikon Monarch HG 10×42 binoculars because they are very comfortable and of good quality. Thanks to the prism design on the roof, these binoculars are narrow, so they can easily fit into a special case (or a large coat pocket). To achieve sharpness from the center of the image circle to the very edge, Nikon has developed a Field Flattener lens system and uses ultra-low dispersion (ED) glass to simultaneously prevent chromatic aberration. The binoculars are definitely aimed at a market where buyers have money to spare, but you’re not just getting quality binoculars at this price. All the other accessories look sleek and sophisticated, whether it’s a nice carrying case, comfortable lens caps or a soft cushioned neck strap.
They provide a reasonable reach for any bird watcher or wildlife hunter who prefers a wide field of view for tracking moving objects. Their 42mm objective lenses also absorb a lot of light, making them useful throughout the day as well as during rush hour. It should be noted that the Nikon Monarch HD 10×42 binoculars are completely waterproof. So whether it’s raining, sleeting, or snowing, you’ll be fine. Even if you release them into a lake or pond, they will be fine because they can withstand up to five meters of water for about ten minutes (yes, there is time to find a stick to catch them).
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Nikon Monarch HG 10×42 Binoculars Review
Nikon Monarch HG 10×42: Design
- A balanced feel when using binoculars
- Light and thin, which allows them to be easily transported
- Premium finish with gold badge
It seems that Nikon has not skimped on anything with the Monarch HG 10x42s. They are beautifully balanced in the hand, have soft but grippy rubberized armor on a lightweight magnesium alloy body, and every part of the binoculars is built to a high standard.
Technical characteristics
design: Roof prism
Outgoing student: 4.2 mm
Relief of the eyes: 17 mm
Weight: 680
Dimensions:145 x 131 x 56 mm
Increase: 10x
Objective lenses: 42 mm
Durability: Waterproof and anti-fog
The visors turn with a solid confident clatter. The lens caps fit snugly on the ends and hang in place (when removed for viewing), and the diopter ring even slides and locks once users adjust focus.
Look at the badges on the binoculars and even they are upgraded versions of the design of the slightly more budget models, thanks to the gold finish around the instrument. Even the carrying case has a nice metal emblem and a safety catch that secures the lid, preventing the monarch from falling out – something that is usually left to velcro on more affordable binocular cords.
Nikon Monarch HG 10×42: Performance
- Glass elements with very low dispersion (ED).
- Chromatic aberration is almost non-existent
- Clear views from edge to edge
The Monarch HG 10x42s has a lot of optical technology that many bino users don’t know about. For starters, Nikon’s attempt to maintain sharpness across the entire field of view (edge to edge) is successful thanks to the field smoothing system. Edge blur isn’t much of a problem because it’s hard to see straight through the edges in direct view due to the natural vignetting that occurs when the viewer looks away from the center. But it’s especially noticeable in peripheral vision, so sharp edges can help users look for small or camouflaged objects.
Surprisingly, we found almost zero chromatic aberration (color fringing) in these binoculars. Try as we might, it took the most contrasting edges (dark foliage against a brilliant bright sky) to notice the little purple and magenta outlines around those edges. However, we had to concentrate hard to spot them, and to the untrained eye we think it might be almost impossible to tell. If you have even the slightest vision problem that spoils your view with the naked eye, you’ll almost certainly never be able to tell. The lack of chromatic aberration is due to Nikon’s ultra-low dispersion (ED) glass elements.
Light transmission is also good because the 42mm lens is large enough to let in light even in the dark. Each glass element also contains a multi-layer coating that helps improve light transmission, which Nikon says is 92% or higher.
While 10x magnification doesn’t sound particularly groundbreaking, there are some advantages to this type of magnification. One is that the field of view remains relatively wide (121m at 1000m), making it much easier to spot moving wildlife when you’re tracking them around the terrain. This, plus the ability to hold the binoculars steady in the hand (partly contributed to the paltry 680g weight), means they won’t need to strap on a tripod, although there’s a tripod/adapter mount hidden beneath the Nikon badge on the front of the binoculars. .
Nikon Monarch HG 10×42: Functionality
- Solid, durable feel when working
- The only way to improve it would be to enable image stabilization
- A ring with diopters fixes and avoids accidental defocusing
Despite weighing just 680g, the Nikon Monarch HG 10x42s feels extremely sturdy. This lightweight magnesium alloy construction reinforces the tough rubberized armor that surrounds it, and while we wouldn’t want to test it, we’re confident it’ll withstand heavy impacts or even a brief drop to the ground. The grips are comfortable and we never felt like they were about to fall out of our hands like some other models do.
The main function when using binoculars is to drag the focus to see a given object. True to form, Nikon has given the Monarch a smooth focus wheel that provides enough friction to prevent the focus from accidentally shifting when placed in a carrying case or picked up. The focus wheel also has plenty of room to focus, giving users the ability to fine-tune focus so that even small subjects can be comfortably in focus.
This binocular is very difficult to get attached to, it is simply brilliant in everything. We could argue that since they don’t have image stabilization like, say, the Canon 10x32IS, they’re somehow inferior. But their superior optical clarity compensates for the lack of this electronic technique. We love stabilization though, and it would be great to see this pair get IS, or VR (Vibration Reduction) as Nikon likes to call it. If they included this, we’re pretty sure it would blow away any other binoculars we’ve reviewed. If they could do this without increasing the cost and weight too much, they would get full marks in this review.
An unusual feature that you don’t see on binoculars every day is the monarch ring with a diopter adjustment lock. When the ring is in the down position, the diopter adjustment is locked in place, preventing unwanted shocks from changing it. Pull it up, however, and the ring will rotate freely until users can match the focus through both lenses to account for the difference in vision. This is such a simple and elegant solution to a problem that exists in every diopter binocular.
Should I buy the Nikon Monarch HG 10×42 binoculars?
These binoculars are some of the best on the market, and that’s no surprise when you consider Nikon’s history in optical manufacturing (now spanning over 100 years). Everything they supply is made on a different level with a high degree of finish and polish. This premium package also comes at a high price and isn’t ideal for the novice binocular user unless you have deep pockets or a real passion for wildlife or a similar interest that you plan to pursue in the coming years.
If the Nikon Monarch HG 10×42 isn’t for you
Yes, the Nikon Monarch HG 10×42 is great. Optically, some of the best (if not the best) binoculars we’ve ever looked at, combined with a solid build and insane waterproofing (as well as anti-fog). We think they are absolutely fantastic. They even come with premium accessories which means the price is also higher.
For those willing to drop that kind of money but want a more stable view, the Canon 10x32IS binoculars are a good choice, but for some reason they lack nitrogen purging, so they fog up when moved between warm and cold areas.
Want to pay a tenth of the Monarchs price, but don’t want to sink to a tenth of the optical craftsmanship? Look at Nikon 10×50 Aculon A211 binoculars. They have larger objective lenses, which makes them more useful in low light, but they have a Pore prism design, which means they’re wider and bulkier, which may be a deal breaker for some.
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