I have been looking for another pair of binoculars.
I currently have Bushnell Natureview 8x42 which have been pretty good (view is usually pretty good, etc.) but I would like to upgrade to something with a faster focus, brighter in lower light, etc.
I have seen alot of good reviews of the Nikon Monarch ATB 8x42 (some even that say it is their binocular of choice even though they have more expensive pairs).
There are many good reviews of the Vortex Viper as well.
I recently read a fantastic review of the Leupold Golden Ring bins at betterviewdesired which says that they are about the best binoculars you can
buy.
How do the Nikon Monarch ATB 8x42 compare with the Vortex Viper?
Is it worth the extra $250?
How do those two compare with the Leupold Golden Ring (which would be about $500 more expensive than the Nikon Monarchs)?
Also I am open to other suggestions in my price range (preferably under $500).
I do not wear glasses so eye relief is not a concern.
Thanks!!
The Leupold gold rings are too heavy for my tastes. 33 ounces. I am eagerly awaiting the Leupold switch power 7-12 x 32 binoculars though; they are just over 20 ounces and are supposed to be out next month.
I like my vipers and they are quite bright and sharp and good in low light. But at least with my pair, I find the focus wheel to be a bit stiffer than I prefer. I think the monarchs might be better in that regard, though I have not tried them myself.
My two cents,
Jim
I have both Viper and Monarch binoculars. While the Monarch is a very good glass at its price point, eventually came to the conclusion that its image was a bit soft at the outer ranges of reasonable 8x expectations. The search for an affordable upgrade led me to get both a Swift Eaglet 7x36 (the Eaglet 8x42was not yet available at this point) and a Viper 8x42. Both are easily better than the Monarch, but not by a totally huge margin. There is enough obvious difference that you do not need a side by side to know it exists. I had the Viper and Eaglet for a couple of weeks trying mostly in vain to find something that would seperate them optically one from the other. I tried every sort of a test I could think of and they always tied. So I kept the Eaglet because I figured maybe it said something that, at 7x, it stood up toe to toe to a very good 8x. Also it is a very small and compact glass, sized much like the more common 8x32 genre of binoculars. Also it was a heck of a lot better than any similar priced 32 mm glass that I had ever tried. So, I sent the Viper back and tried a 10x42 Viper from the same dealer (Eagle Optics in this case). Well I liked them well enough I ket them too. The smaller 7x and a full size 10x make a good 1-2 combination. They cover about anything. However the Eaglet would be, hands down, my choice if I were to limit myself to one binocular. So, in my experience, you can improve on the Monarch with the Eaglet series, the Vipers, the Pentax SP, and the Leupold Pinnacle.
I may be sort of a lone voice, but if you choose to reach way up the optics ladder, there is, to me at least, no better optics available at any price than the Leupold Gold Ring HD. Since it is now in the $750-800 range, you will not beat it for the price. I include the offerings of the mighty teutonic trio in this assement. A lot of folks will adamantly tell you that this is simply not the case, but keep in mind, everybodys eyes are different, and there will likely be something that you find that you will really like. At that point all that maters is how well you like it. They are a litle heavy, but totally manageable with a harness and if the binocular is your main tool on your hike. Or unless you are of a very small stature or have some limitation. Fo a different ergonomic package at that price point the Vortex Razors and Meopta Meostars are worth a lok as well.
Or if you want to really experience a true optical bargin, spend less than a hundred bucks on a Leupold Yosemite. They will astonish you. They come in both 6x30and 8x30. Mine are 6x and I would choose them for one binocular over the 8x42 Monarch.