Nikon Monarch ATB: Reference Value Binos, Part 2

[thatswhatshesaid1]

Check out Vortex Diamondback 10X42 from all reports they're the best buy out there.

[FuckingMirrors]

Saying BAK-4 terminology is useless isn't a correct statement. All better quality bino's use BAK-4 prisms or better (like ED glass in the top segment). If you shop in the cheap segment however it's important to keep in mind that BAK-4 is always better then BK-7.

Keep up the good work of making informative vids like these ;)

[pumile0812]

@FuckingMirrors

I actually read, that also the Nikon Monarch ATB has BAK-4 prisms, so nutn shouldn't be thaaat harsh against them. It just seems to be difficult to find out what type of glass is in the bino, actually! I would like to see some more transparency from the manufacturers!!

[Clipster15]

@nutnfancy I bought these binos about a week ago, and they really have great optics. The only problem (more so annoyance) that I have is the outer rubber coating. It seems to be a little bit loosely fit. When I'm gripping them and naturally changing gripping pressure through use the rubber will make noises as it "sticks" to the inner metal structure, the barrels. Are your monarchs this way?

[stephen25uk]

I can´t deal with too much technobabble. Cornell University (ornithology dept.) tested and reviewed every binocular out there and Nikon Monarchs came out top of the mid price range, out-performing many of the high end optics. I can´t afford Svarovski or Zeiss so Nikons were the best option.

[Mahartinba]

Dude you have provided me with so much info that I think I should not fail this xmas with nice pair of binos for my dad.

[cdh121212]

some of cabelas optics are made by barksa  :(

[cdh121212]

some of cabelas optics are made by barksa :(

[urkingod]

what do you think of monarch X copre to ATB ? 

[BernhardOelreich]

I think you're a great teacher, nutn. The level of the information is excellent. Think you'd make an outstanding pedagogue. :-)

Only problem is that a pair of Nikon Monarch cost $500+ here. :-(

[BeySchaefer]

I was just out with my 12.5x50 Pentax DCF SP. Wow those are some clear glass and the distance is amazing. That said I always loved my Monarch ATB. They're almost like a 10.5 they reach so well. I'm curios about the new dielectric ones.

[lilcrazyaznboy]

I can only afford the ATB trailblazer.. Should I go for it? What's the difference between the two besides price?

[CantTakeMeHome]

Hey Nutn:

I don't want to slam your data points, but after emailing several manufacturers I got feedback from Nikon on the Monarch series, and keep in mind that this is direct from Nikon, they use BAK-4 prisms. With BAK 4 prisms in the Monarch series, you are probably wanting to concentrate on other aspects of the optics layout for the quality of image.

[dvamateur]

I don't like the fit and finish of the Monarchs. Don't get me wrong, I like Nikon binos, but it'll be the ProStar for me. When it comes to roof prism, I chose Pentax DCF-SP, because of the fit and finish that suited my taste and feel in my hands.

[paguy3006]

Its not pronounced BACK 4 you say each letter BaK-4. lol they are the prisms used and are top quality. Zeiss uses Abbe-Khonig another very good type. There are so many things that make up a good bino. Ther is a big difference between coated, multi-coated and fully multi coated. but I had to chuckle when you said BaK-4 prisms are wal-mart quality. Do a search next time.

[Michkuty]

@paguy3006

lol well i kind of agree, BaK-4 prisms are good quality, but compare top guality BaK-4 vs top quality Roof prism....

ye theyre shit vs roof prisms

but bak-4 are good choice for first timers, they're quite cheap(as roof prisms are much more expensive), so i'd say if you gonna go under 200-300$, bak-4 is the way to go, anything above 300$ is roof prism teritory(lol unless you get svaro bak-4 ones)

[twiho]

Zeiss is [:cais:].

[myprshe]

Bueller...lol

[pb4y22]

Lots of good info. Its hard to watch TV when nutnfancys on the PC. LOL. That is what I am trying to do but I cannot get away from this review.

Take Care ;-)

[colorsoluble]

Agreed. I stopped watch TV like a year ago because of all the BS. But youtube is hard to give up with quality channels like this one.

[500Banshee]

i got some old bino's 7x35 there the porro prisum binos or what ever and it says fully coated optics on them but they dont have the green tent its like a blue color, the name brand is tasco zip focus they work ok but i have only used 1 other set of binos and they were some hightec spy stuff with hugh massive lenses like as big as telescope lenses, so thats not a good comparison

[jeepnicc]

Awesome. lots of good info!

[scoobydoo6906]

first off I make glasses for a living so I know what I am talking about. alignment is critical with any optic so much so if its not done right you can not see right. the coatings on the glass are more important. after a certain point the quality of glass is overkill your eyes can not tell the difference because the eye has a certain level of distortion in itself. if the glass in the bino's has a abbe value of 45+ its overkill. the eye's abbe is about 43.

[JERMBUGS]

Just wanted to let you know that I DON"T find the math and spec's boring. I have been wanting know about all of this stuff for a very long time, but I have always been intimidated to ask someone at the store. I think this is because anytime I ask a question at a store they look at me like I'm stupid "what you don't know, were have you been". I get the same thing at gun stores, I feel like I am wasting there valuable time. I wish I could just walk into a store and ask a million questions.

[1022JB]

hey buddie I can relate to that. just remember, the customer is ALWAYS right haha.

[clap5]

Don't be afraid to ask. It's what they are there for. I just walked into a local survival gear store yesterday. Asked to hold some guns, had him show me some shooting gloves, walk over to the backpacks and he explained everthing about them. We were all over the place. At the end I said "thank you" and I walked right out the door without buying one item. I wasn't being a prick. But if your trying to sell me something. Give me a reason why. So ask everything you want next time.