Nikon Monarch 5 12×42 Binoculars – Fogproof/Waterproof – Black

I own wonderful Eagle Optics 8×42 and 10×42 binoculars, but wanted better views of gulls and ducks at far distances; these 12×42 binoculars definitely provide that, and I’m extremely pleased with them. The first advice given to new birders buying binoculars is usually to get 8x42s or, at most, 10x42s, on the grounds that these levels of magnification provide more brightness and a steadier view. After having tried these 12x42s, however, I’m wondering if that advice isn’t a little outdated as technology has progressed. While these 12x42s are indeed a little less bright than 8s, they are still noticeably bright, and I’ve had no trouble keeping them steady at all (and I’m old and uncoordinated, so you don’t need to be an athlete to use these.) Plus the extra magnification these 12s provide is fantastic. So glad I bought these: a distant western grebe — a lifer bird for me — popped out in vivid detail, and at a favorite local lake the far shore was well in view. Yesterday I was able to identify a perched bald eagle that to the naked eye was a mysterious dark dot on the horizon. I’m thrilled with this purchase.That said, a couple of caveats. Caveat one: if you are a new birder or otherwise new to binoculars, you will indeed find it easier to locate distant objects with 8x42s, because they have a wider field of view. That is, if you’re looking at something a thousand yards away, a pair of Nikon’s 8s will show you a circle that’s 330 feet wide, while these 12s will show you a circle that’s 262 feet wide. The wider that circle, the more likely it is that your bird will be in it. On the other hand, your bird, once located, will look smaller through a pair of 8s or 10s. If the bird is, say, a warbler that might barely reach five inches in platform shoes, you could find yourself wishing for more magnification. My personal feeling is that there’s a learning curve with binoculars as there is with everything else: that with time it becomes easier to find distant objects. If you start with 8s that learning curve will be gentler; if you start with 12s the learning curve will be steeper — but you’ll still adjust eventually, and find that bird.Caveat two: yes, it’s true that these 12s are somewhat less bright than eights would be. In my opinion this does not matter much when you are scanning for birds during the day on open water or in open fields. There are, however, circumstances when it would matter a lot: birding in the dark. If you know that owling will be an important part of your life, then you’d be well advised to stick with 8s. In the dark, a good pair of 8s can seem to manufacture usable light out of one or two stray photons. These 12s perform well in low light — yesterday I got very nice views of sandhill cranes about twenty minutes after sunset. But I’ll bring my 8s along to bird by moonlight.An ergonomics note: I did not have the problem with the focus knob that other reviewers report; in my pair the focus knob operates smoothly. All in all I’m delighted with these binoculars.

As a former shooter, I am biased toward higher powered binoculars. I like these especially because they 1) are light and fairly small, 2) have short eye relief so I can steady them by shoving the oculars into my eyes and bracing them against my inner ocular brow ridge, and 3) they are sharp. bright and clear in a large center area, with a good apparent field of view, given the way I use them.They lack the depth of field of my heavier Swarovski 10×42’s, but so does almost everything else. Also they are not as sharp toward the edge as those by any means, but I always place what I am looking at in the center. Contrast is realistic– very high in bright sunlight, but flatter in shadows and at dusk, but always focusable and good. Depth of field is very minimal but the focusing adjustment to sharpness is usually slight and quick.This light, steady, 12x, and wide field of view binocular, with excellent center sharpness and contrast, is truly a delight to me. They gather visual information very well, if used as I do. I pick out stuff at distance that others don’t with heavier, bigger and more expensive glasses or lesser powered binoculars. And I am quicker to get a fix on bird ID’s, too. These are among my favorites of the many binoculars I own. They do lack the WOW factor of my Bushnell Elite 12.5 x 50’s — tops in that regard, but out of production — but those binoculars are much bigger, heavier and much harder to hold steady with their longer eye relief. A bit tiring to use.Nikon has not produced a Nikon Monarch 7 12×42 better than these at any price increment. I suspect they went to the mat with additional dialectic mirror coatings and phase correction on these and threw in the towel on any 12×42 7’s, but I don’t know that.

Purchased 2 of these for holiday In Wyoming Grand Tetons & Yellowstone Nat’l Park during week of Total Solar Eclipse.. will be taking upper and lower loop tours, hoping to see wonderful wildlife. I purchased harness-style straps so no tugging on neck for long periods as we will be having it on us all day for the tours. We had been taking it for walks around the neighborhood as we have hills and cows as far as the eye can see, we love these.. great optics, better than a Canon ISII bino with image stabilization ..one does not necessarily need IS if the optics are great and with this, easier to find subject then zero in with the magnification factor of 12.BTW also purchased solar eye shades and a solar filter for camera so I can set it to time lapse for total eclipse!

Just like the headline, if you want 12×42 which I did for whales and bird and wildlife, for hiking and kayaking, then these are great as long as you understand that they are slightly heavier than 10x and there is a tiny bit of hand shake at 12x. But overall I’m 90% happy. They are waterproof and have a nice rubber grip. One thing that is horrible are the covers of the eye cups. The covers for the front of the lenses are great, sturdy, rubber. The covers for the back of the lenses where your eyes touch are the crappiest flimsiest plastic Nikon could come up with. They fall off by themselves before you put them back in the storage case. That last line is no exaggeration. There is no friction at all on the eye cup covers. So that’s why I’m 90% happy. I would probably buy these again if I lost them, but I would do more research on weights, price, and function (lens covers).

Love them

Nice optics & quality