Field Evaluation - Monarch Binoculars by NIKON By Jason Balazs
Sep 26, 2007 - 9:03:43 AM
I don't know about you, but as I get older I have a harder time seeing things as clearly as I did when I was younger. Heck just in the last couple of years I have had to start wearing glasses while I am sitting at this computer writing reviews or working on my website. I have a strong fear that I will eventually need to wear glasses when I am hunting too. Still, there is one thing that I never leave behind when I am hunting even if I have to wear glasses and that is a good set of Binoculars.
Nikon Monarch 12X56x Binoculars
Last year for Jodi's and my elk hunt, I was sent a pair of 12X56 pair of Nikon Monarch binoculars for the hunt. When I was first told that I was getting a pair of 12 power binoculars, I thought that they were going to be huge and get in the way of my shooting. This was not the case. The Monarchs only measure 7.8x5.7 inches and when using the over-the-shoulder strap, they stay right against you. The added eye relief of 16.3 millimeters works great for when I am wearing my glasses because the click-stop turn-and-slide eyecups will adjust to accommodate even Pepsi Bottle glasses.
Another added benefit with the Monarchs is they are rubber coated. This not only makes them one of the most rugged binocular on the market, but very quiet in case you would bump something in the woods. To make sure you don't scratch the lenses, you can simply click the lens covers right back over them. This in combination with the rubber coating will make your Monarchs have 360 degrees of protection when you are in the field.
The clarity of these binoculars is magnificent and that can be accredited to the Fully Multicoated lenses. Looking through the Monarchs delivers a bright, crystal clear picture. How many times have you seen something and wanted to look it over when you are hunting, but when you pull up your binoculars you can't find the object you had originally seen? Since the optics of the Monarch are precision aligned, there is no guessing where you are looking. All you need to do is look in the direction you want, clear the picture with the central focus wheel on top, and bingo. A perfect picture of what you wanted to see, it is that simple.
During our elk hunt last year I would have been lost with out them. I don't know how many times we sat there and glassed for hours looking for a sign of an animal. One thing is true, out west you need a great pair of binoculars because there are countless hours spent looking through them. The last day of the elk hunt last year, Jodi and I were on in an area called "The Notch" at the top of this mountain.
I looked down into the alfalfa field, (which was farther than my 800 yard range finder could pick up) to see a herd of elk with a huge 6X6 bull in the lead. They were feeding away from us as I watched them through the Monarchs. I told Jodi we should take off after them, but that is when she told me to look with my bare eyes. They were very small dots out in the field, but the Monarchs made them look as if they were only a few hundred yards. By the time we would have gotten to the elk, they would have been long gone. I guess that is the only thing bad I could say about the Nikon Monarchs, they let you watch a lot of game that you will never get a chance to get at.
Conclusion:
Overall the Nikon Monarch's are the best set of binoculars that I have ever had. The clarity and ease of use, matched with the ruggedness makes for an unbeatable product. Since these Monarchs are 12-power, you are able to see very crisp and clean out to distances that are unimaginable.
They are 100% waterproof, fog proof and easy to adjust. The Binoculars are extremely light weight so they are nice to carry and when using the over-the-shoulder harness, you can hike to the highest peaks with no problem. In addition, the Monarch is tri-pod adaptable for the steadiest glassing possible.
If you are in the market for a great pair of binoculars I suggest you get you a pair of these. You won't believe your eyes and will never buy another pair of binoculars again! I know I will be carrying mine in a few weeks chasing elk and mule deer in Colorado and you will be able to follow that hunt right here! Technical Specifications:
