Nikon Monarch 7 ATB 8×42 appears as a top-of-mind product when thinking of medium price binoculars. What could make this go beyond the expectations of so many people? This full review would tell you.
Overview of Nikon Monarch 7 ATB 8×42
Despite representing an affordable-price segment, Nikon Monarch 7 ATB 8×42 shows amazing performance in almost every basic standard when choosing binoculars. Nikon optimized efficiently in the category of optics quality, product endurance, user-friendliness and even eco-friendliness.
Actually, Nikon is the master of balancing product performance and cost reduction. This line also doesn’t stand out of the feature.
Discussing function-effectiveness, statistics would speak louder than words. In this article, we will present the specifications of the two brothers Nikon Monarch 7 ATB 8×42 (model 7548) and Nikon Monarch 7 ATB 10×42 (model 7549) taken from Nikon optics homepage.
| Tech specs | Monarch 7 ATB 8×42 | Monarch 7 ATB 10×42 |
| Focusing system | CF (Central Focusing) | CF (Central Focusing) |
| Magnification | 8 | 10 |
| Objective diameter | 42mm | 42mm |
| Angular Field of view real | 8 degree | 6.7 degree |
| Field of view @ 1000 yards | 420 ft | 351 ft |
| Close focus distance | 8.2 ft | 8.2 ft |
| Exit pupil | 5.3 mm | 4.2 mm |
| Eye relief | 17.1 mm | 16.4 mm |
| Size (L&W) | 5.6*5.1 (inch) | 5.6*5.1 (inch) |
| Weight | 22.9 oz | 23.6 oz |
| Waterproof | Yes | Yes |
| Fogproof | Yes | Yes |
| Prism system | Roof prism | Roof prism |
| Optics quality | Prism & prism coating: BAK-4 prism; precision-aligned for all optics
Lens coating: fully multi-coated lenses |
Prism & prism coating: BAK-4 prism; precision-aligned for all optics
Lens coating: fully multi-coated lenses |
| Uses | Birdwatching, outdoor sports watching, safari and travel, hunting | Birdwatching, outdoor sports, safari and travel, hunting |
| Prism Coating | Dielectric | Dielectric |
| Gas field | Nitrogen filled, O ring sealed | Nitrogen filled, O ring sealed |
| Brand | Nikon | Nikon |
Above are the technical measures of the two model Nikon Monarch 7 ATB 8×42 and Nikon Monarch 7 ATB 10×42. In this article, we will focus on the 8×42 model, as it seems to be more favorite to users.
In fact, any product would have unique strengths and weaknesses, those are also how we want to present about in this product. These assessments may make up your mind whether this product worths your payment/ using purpose or not.
Nikon Monarch 7 ATB 8×42 – Strengths vs weaknesses
High-quality image
Naked eyes optic quality is the most prominent feature when speaking of this binoculars. The Dielectric Multilayer Prism Coatings technique ensures this to happen, by providing intelligence light transmittance process. Therefore, the brightness, contrast of images are delivered accurately.
The phase-corrected, coated, precision aligned Bak-4 prism allows not only crisp clear image with true color experience, but also strain-preventing on your eyes. Moreover, the fully multicoated lenses guarantee for bright, clear images even in not ideal/ low light conditions.
In general, the Nikon Monarch 7 ATb 8×42 could not only help viewing in ultimate brightness and clearance, but also leave the images in the most natural way. One more plus is the surprisingly great adaptation in many not ideal conditions.
Compact and durable
Look into the table of information above, one special point of Nikon Monarch 7 ATB 8×42 is the weight. This product is among the lightest binoculars, just 22.9 oz. In comparison, the ZEISS Victory SF 8×42 – one of the lightest 8×42 binoculars products, weighs at 27.8ozs, and costs a lot more.
Being lightweight, however, these binoculars are not fragile at all. The rubber-armored coating ensures a comfortable grip, great level of shock resistance. Moreover, the waterproof, fogproof features also contribute to longer lifetime use.
Defined as a go-to product for outdoor activities, it is effortless to carry, but still durable through many trips.
User-friendliness
The twist-up eyecups give 17.1mm of eye relief, which gives comfortable experience for those wearing eyeglasses.
The 42mm effective objective lens diameter and wide field of view (420 feets at 1000 yards) provide a comfortable broad viewing angle even at large targets. On the other hand, the large central focus knob rolls bring smoothness to everytime switching focus from one to another.
Eco-friendliness
These binoculars are made with lead and arsenic-free Eco-Glass (TM), which is an eco-friendly factor.
What need to improve?
The product has quite poor quality lens caps, you could somehow find it easy to fall off. Plus, the neck strap might be difficult to install.
Nikon Monarch 7 ATB 8×42 vs LEICA ULTRAVID HD-PLUS 8×42
In order to have more objective assessments, we put Nikon Monarch ATB 8×42 in a really tough battle: against LEICA ULTRAVID HD-PLUS 8×42. First of all, let’s take a look at the facts and figures:
| Tech specs | Nikon Monarch 7 ATB 8×42 | LEICA ULTRAVID HD-PLUS 8×42 |
| Focusing system | Central focusing | internal focusing via central focusing device |
| Magnification | 8 | 8 |
| Objective diameter | 42 mm | 42 mm |
| Weight | 22.9 oz (~650 g) | 27.9 oz (~790 g) |
| Size (L&W) | 5.6*5.1 (inch) | 4.57*4.57 (inch) |
| Angular Field of view real | 8 degree | 7.4 degree |
| Field of view @1000 yards | 420 feet | 389 feet |
| Eye relief | 17.1 mm | 15.5 mm |
| Exit pupil | 5.3 mm | 5.3 mm |
| Close focusing distance | 8.2 feet | 9.8 feet |
| Relative brightness | 28.1 | 27.56 |
| Prism system | Roof prism | Roof prism |
| Optics quality | Prism & prism coating: BAK-4 prism; precision-aligned for all optics
Lens coating: fully multi-coated lenses |
Roof prism with phase correcting coating P40 and HighLux-System HLS™
Coating: HDC™ multicoating and Leica AquaDura™ lens coating |
| Waterproof | Yes | Yes |
Besides, we also bring comparisons for specific real using experience of binoculars (from the binoculars review community). These may help assessing which is more suitable to you:
| Feature | Nikon Monarch 7 ATB 8×42 | LEICA ULTRAVID HD-PLUS 8×42 |
| Real magnification | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| Transmission | 12.5/15 | 12/15 |
| Focusing | 4.5/5 | 5/5 |
| Prism quality | 8/8 | 8/8 |
| Blurring at the edge of the FOV | 4/10 | 8/10 |
| Darkening at the edge of the FOV | 3.6/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Whiteness of the image | 4.2/5 | 4/5 |
| Astigmatism | 6.4/10 | 8.7/10 |
| Distortion | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Field of view | 7/8 | 6/8 |
Observing technical specifications and using experience tables, we could see how they define themselves. In general, they both have wonderful optics quality.
The Nikon Monarch 7 ATB 8×42 focuses on showing images from both large and close distance with clear, natural visuals. These binoculars have a larger field of view, while the close focus distance is better. The clearance statistics of boths seem to have a tiny amount of differentiation (both are great).
However, the LEICA ULTRAVID HD-PLUS 8×42 turns things from good to great. Not only delivering such crisp images, but effects at the edge (blurring, darkening) are surprisingly awesome. Moreover, the astigmatism score is very impressive.
They are both lightweight and durable with rubber-armored. Nevertheless, the Nikon one is surprisingly better. Also, the better eye relief of Nikon Monarch 7 ATB 8×42 brings a more comfortable experience for those wearing eyeglasses.
Combining the price (around $450 for Nikon’s product and $2250 for Leica’s), we could see how the producers conceptualize the products. The Nikon one is like a “great product with good price”, while the Leica one could be defined as “top class”.
As for the sum up of reviews in the community, LEICA ULTRAVID HD-PLUS 8×42 took the lead. But the distance is quite close – 80.2% vs 74.1% (of 180 people being asked if they would recommend the brand). If you find the extra money worth for even the slightest details that give complete experience, the Leica one is the choice. However, The Nikon one is also amazing for all basic requirements of binoculars. Plus, the price is much more affordable.
Our verdict for Nikon Monarch 7 ATB 8×42
To summarize, Nikon Monarch 7 ATB 8×42 does exactly what they say “mid priced – high quality ”. It is specialized for outdoor purposes like birdwatching, safari and travel, hunting,… It is lightweight yet enduring, delivering clear images, mostly easy to use for everyone.
Despite doing great at all basic requirements, there is such distance to make it a really high-end product. If you have specific strict requirements for the viewing experience of binoculars, other options should be considered. Please check the comparison verses LEICA ULTRAVID HD-PLUS 8×42 above as reference.
If you have any other suggestion or question about this Nikon Monarch 7 ATB 8×42, please leave a comment. We will answer in a really quick time.
List of nikon binoculars reviews
- Nikon monarch 5
- Nikon monarch 7
- Nikon Prostaff 3s
- Nikon Prosatff 5
- Nikon Prostaff 7s
- Nikon Aculon
- Nikon Monarch ATB