Written By John VanDerLaan
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In this review of the Nikon Monarch M5 binoculars I will share with you my findings as I put these optics through a multitude of tests in different hunting situations to see how they stand up to their competitors.
I tested both, the 8X42 and 10X42 models.
The Nikon name is synonymous with high quality cameras and they have taken that optical innovation and expertise and applied it to their binoculars, much to the benefit of hunters everywhere.
My favorite hunting binoculars for the past few years have been the Nikon Monarch M7 Binoculars, so I was concerned that my perception would be clouded by the much more expensive M7.
Let me just say that I am very impressed with the quality of the M5 given the price point of under $300.
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Here is a great video review of the Nikon Monarch M5 Binoculars by our friends at Ochocos Outdoors, showing the features of these optics.
My Experience Using The M5s
I tested these binos over a full season of bowhunting whitetails. My hunting journal shows over 60 hunts in either a tree stand or ground blind.
I used them in all sorts of conditions, from bright sunlight to pouring rain. I used them in the heat of the early season and the frigid cold of the late season.
For every hunt, I took 2 sets of binos with me and compared one with the other. The M5s performed very well in the testing.
I tested them against the much more expensive M7s, the Zeiss Terra Ed, the Stealth Vision binos, the Vortex Vipers, the Leupold Bx-4s, the Vortex Diamondbacks and the Burris Droptines.
During these comparisons over the course of the season, I made notes in my journal regarding the performance of each of these binoculars compared to each other.
As you can probably guess, the more expensive binoculars performed better, but the M5s were very impressive, given their price point.
Some of the things that I really like about the M5 are their compact size and light weight, which fits great in my hand and makes it very easy to access the center focus knob.
I also like the locking diopter. I can't tell you how many times a good pair of binos get out of focus because you accidently change the diopter adjustment.
The optical performance is very good, with good light gathering capability for low light conditions and good image quality, although not as good when compared to the higher priced models.
They have a very generous eye relief, which is great for eyeglass wearers.
I also like the tethered objective lens covers and the rain guard protection on the lenses.
I did notice a slight amount of chromatic aberration(color fringing) under certain conditions, but it was minimal.
Also, the M5 has a narrow field of view compared to other binoculars at this price point. For instance, the Vortex Diamondback binos have a field of view of 330 feet, compared to inly 293 feet for the M5.
Overall, I enjoyed using the M5s and they are a great choice if your budget maxes out at $300, but they are definitely a step down from my M7s, my Stealth Visions, my Terra Eds and my Vortex Vipers.
Key Features
Let's take a look at the features of the Nikon M5 Binoculars and see why we chose them as one of our top picks for Hunting Binoculars.
- The Nikon Monarch M5 features the same legendary extra-low dispersion (ED) glass as its more expensive big brother, but at a much lower price. The ED glass is responsible for Nikon's superior contrast and brighter, vivid images.
- They also feature Fully Multi Coated Eco Glass lenses. This minimizes the amount of light lost to reflection, resulting in clearer, brighter images and superior low light performance.
- The Monarch 5 also features Dielectric High-Reflective Multilayer Prism Coating, which allows the binoculars to achieve virtually the same brightness as can be seen with the naked eye, providing vividly clear images in sharp focus.
- They are nitrogen purged and o-ring sealed for complete waterproof and fog proof performance.
- They are some of the lightest weight binoculars in their class with the 8x42 weighing in at just 20.8 ounces and the 10x42 at 22.6 ounces.
- The Field of View is not quite as good as their counterparts, but still acceptable at 330 feet in the 8x42 and 293 feet in the 10x42.
- They feature a durable rubber armor coated body built to withstand extreme use in any environment.
- The Nikon Monarch M5 features a smooth center focus wheel for quick, easy focus adjustments.
- They also feature fully adjustable eye relief with the turn and slide rubber eye cups.
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One of the best features of these optics is the No Fault Lifetime Repair/Replacement Warranty.
Nikon will repair or replace your binoculars at no charge, regardless of the cause of the damage.
Nikon Monarch M5 10x42 Specs
- Size: 5.7"x5.1"
- Weight: 22.6 oz.
- Eye Relief: 18.4mm
- Angular Field of View: 5.6°
- Field of View @ 1000 Yards: 293'
- Close Focus: 8.2'
Pros and Cons of the M5 Binos
As you can see, the Nikon M5 are a feature rich set of binoculars, now let's take a look at the pros and cons.
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Pros
- Nikon has really set the bar high with the premium HD glass and Fully Multi Coated lenses. The Monarch 5 has superior light transmission and the vivid colors are stunning.
- 100% waterproof and fog proof thanks to being o-ring sealed and nitrogen filled.
- Extremely lightweight making them perfect for all day hunts.
- Rubber armor coated body for the extreme durability that hunters require.
- Fully adjustable eye relief, making them perfect for hunters that wear eyeglasses or sunglasses.
- One of the highest quality binoculars we tested under $300.
- Nikon's No Fault Lifetime Repair/Replacement Policy.
Cons
- At this price point, you do sacrifice some of the quality that you get in the more expensive hunting binoculars, but these are extremely high quality binoculars for the money.
- No harness included.
Final Verdict
The Nikon Monarch M5 binoculars are excellent optics, but they do have some shortcomings when compared to premium models.
The field of view is not as good as others. There was slight color fringing in some lighting conditions.
After testing them over a a full season of hunting, I can confidently recommend them to anyone with a budget of under $300.
If you can afford more than that, there are definitely options out there that will provide a wide field of view and better image quality.
As I have stated before, you should buy the best hunting binoculars that you can afford.
If your budget is $300 or less, you will not find better binoculars than the Nikon M5, in my opinion.
Please leave your comments Below.
Just to highlight that the no fault warranty is not applicable in many countries, so its something to consider depending where one lives
Hey Darren,
Thanks for sharing this! We are in the United States and just assumed that the warranty applied everywhere across the globe.
Thanks again for contributing valuable information!
Best,
John
I have a Nikon m511 10×42. What do I need for more distance?
Hi Pete,
When choosing binoculars, the first number is the magnification. So 10×42 is 10x magnification. Nikon also makes a 12×42. Instead of magnifying the image 10 times, they magnify the image 12 times. 12×42 may be better for you at long distances.
Hope this helps!
John