Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Review

The Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 earned a high overall score in our testing, standing out for solid performance in its price range, and even rivaling some binoculars that cost considerably more.

Performance Comparison

Clarity

The Monarch 5 is exceptionally clear, earning it a high score in this metric. It's able to produce a crisp and striking image that really pops. In our testing, we could easily pick out inconspicuous identification marks on small birds and could even count individual pine needles at 100 feet. The Monarch 5 presents a slight bit of blurring around the extreme edges of the image, which makes it slightly less immersive than the images produced by the top-tier models. However, this feels like a very small sacrifice, considering how much more affordable these bins are.

Compared to other binoculars in this price range, the Monarch 5 is just as clear or clearer. For example, it is equally as clear as the Vortex Diamondback 8x42 and has much less edge blurring than the Athlon Midas G2 8x42.

Brightness

This is where the Monarch 5 separates itself from other binoculars in the same price range. Its impressive brightness earns it a solid score, and it outpaces its main competitors like the Vortex Diamondback 8x42 and Athlon Midas 8x42.

We think the Monarch 5 is one of the most affordable pairs of bins you'll find that can still produce truly good images at dawn on an overcast day. To get any better, you're going to have to spend a lot more money.

Ease of Adjustment

Here again, the Monarch 5 was towards the top of the scoreboard. Its focus knob is solid yet smooth, allowing for easy adjustment and the ability to quickly lock in on the perfect focus once you find it. The diopter knob is small and stiff, so it's very unlikely that you could move it inadvertently. However, when you do need to make a diopter adjustment, it moves smoothly after overcoming a bit of initial inertia. The eyecups twist in and out and have four distinct stopping points (one more than most models), so you'll easily be able to get the eyecups even and at an acceptable distance from the lenses.

Overall, the Monarch 5 checks pretty much all of the boxes in the ease of adjustment category, as do most models in this price range. The only thing that could make them better would be a locking diopter and possibly more eyecup settings.

Construction Quality

The Monarch 5 is generally well constructed. The rubber coating is high quality, and the hinge and all moving pieces feel solid and smooth. The materials feel slightly lesser quality than some of the more expensive models, but we certainly don't have any long-term durability concerns for these bins.

Comfort

The Monarch 5 binoculars feel very comfortable in hand, which mostly boils down to the rubber coating. This rubber is tacky enough that the grip feels very secure, but not so tacky that your hands are left feeling sticky when using the bins on a hot day. The rubber coating also gets thinner on the bottom of the barrels, providing some extra space for your thumbs. To boot, the Monarch 5 comes with a padded neoprene neck strap with a non-slip coating on the inside.

Overall, the Monarch 5 is comfortable to hold. The small thumb indents on the Vortex Diamondback 8x42 can't match the Monarch's ergonomic feel, and the Athlon Midas G2 feels a bit too small for those with larger hands.

Close Focus Range

This is one area where the Monarch 5 8x42 is slightly below average. The close focus range of 7.8 feet doesn't feel particularly limiting in day-to-day use, but it might cost you a fantastic look at an interesting bug that happens to land near you. It also doesn't quite live up to the close focus ranges of other similarly priced models.

Field of View

Here again, the Monarch 5 is slightly behind the competition. Its field of view at 1000 yards is 330 feet, well short of the 393 and 426-foot fields of view on the Vortex Diamondback 8x42 and the Athlon Midas 8x42. However, while these differences are noticeable when looking at far-away landscapes, they're almost indiscernible when looking at something a couple hundred feet away.

Should You Buy the Nikon Monarch 5 8x42?

The Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 is among the best pair of bins we've found in its price range. The Monarch provides solid all-around performance and super crisp images, whether the sun is shining or not.

These fall within a common budget for those looking to invest in a good pair of bins, and we think the Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 is a great way to spend that budget. Combining good construction, a nice focus knob, high-quality glass, and great low-light performance, the Monarch 5 will be able to keep up no matter where your adventures take you.

What Other Binoculars Should You Consider?