Written By John VanDerLaan
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First let me say that conducting the research and tests for this Nikon Monarch M7 binoculars review was truly a pleasure.
I have always been a fan of the Nikon Monarch Series, so I was very excited to review the M7 when I saw that Nikon has introduced it as the "Greatest Monarch Ever".
The Nikon Monarch M7 is available in both 8x42 and 10x42 models, as well as others, but I will focus on the 10x42 as that is the model that I tested for this review.
My Experience Using The Nikon Monarch M7 10X42 Binoculars
I have been testing and reviewing binoculars for DeerHuntingGuide.net for more than 8 years and when I first got to test the M7 from Nikon, I knew I had something special.
I used these binoculars for more than 50 hunts for whitetail deer. These were my go-to bowhunting optics and each time I went, I took another set of binos to compare with the M7s.
I compared them all in real hunting situations, from low light conditions to open field glassing, hot weather, frigid cold and even pouring rain.
I kept track of the comparisons in my hunting journal, where I also recorded what I liked and didn't like about each binocular.
These are the binoculars that I compared to the M7s in real hunting conditions:
There were many others that I brought into the field to compare, but quickly returned them to my pack, because they were not in the same class as the M7 and were not even close to comparable.
By the end of the season, this gave me a great amount of data to look back on and create these reviews.
That data showed me that the Nikon M7s were my favorite binos for bow hunting and are still in my bow hunting pack today.
These binos feel great in your hands. They are the perfect size and weight and the rubber armour coating is very comfortable to grip.
The focus wheel is incredibly smooth and ergonomically placed, enduring quick, accurate focusing.
I found the optical performance to be phenomenal, even compared to more expensive options. The light transmission is excellent and they perform flawlessly in low light conditions, both before sunrise and after sunset, which is imperative for deer hunting during the last minutes of shooting light.
There was absolutely no chromatic aberration(color fringing), thanks to ED glass, which is used in most premium models of Nikon binoculars..
I bought my M7s when they first came out three years ago and have used them hundreds of times since. They are extremely durable. I have used them in the pouring rain and it hasn't bothered them a bit. I never had a problem with them fogging up and they have been banged around while climbing into tree stands or navigating through thick brush.
Key Features
Let's take a look at the features of the Nikon Monarch M7 and see why they are being touted as the Greatest Monarch Ever.
- What really sets the Nikon Monarch M7 apart from the rest of the field is that it combines the use of the extra-low dispersion (ED) glass with Nikon’s special coatings for its prisms and lenses. These include the Dielectric Multilayer Coatings for lens and prism surfaces, so that in effect it’s like seeing things brighter than you would with your naked eye. You also get phase-correction coatings on the prisms so that you get a sharp resolution and contrast while colors are rendered accurately without any chromatic aberration. The hydrophobic lens coatings repel water and dirt, making them very effective in wet conditions.
- The M7 is also extremely durable, as it has rubber armor coating to protect the binoculars from shock and impact. The armor coating is also very comfortable to hold in your hands.
- The Monarch 7 is also completely waterproof and fogproof.
- Wide Field of View - The FOV at 1000 yards is an impressive 420 feet in the 8x42 and 362 feet in the 10x42.
- The close focus distance is also impressive at 8.2 feet for both the 8x42 and 10x42 models
- The exit pupil is 5.3mm in the 8x42 and 4.2mm in the 10x42.
- The M7 features an ergonomically designed, smooth central focus knob.
- They also feature two intermediate positions, click eye cups for custom eye relief. This is extremely important if you wear glasses or sunglasses while hunting.
- They are sized to fit well in your hand and lightweight, with the 8x42 weighing in at 22.9 ounces and the 10x42 weighing in at 24 ounces.
- They come with tethered objective lens covers. No more losing your lens covers!
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One of the most important factors in choosing binoculars today is the quality of the manufacturer's warranty and Nikon has hit it out of the park with their "No Fault Repair/Replacement Policy"
Nikon will repair or replace your Monarch M7 Binoculars if they ever become damaged or broken regardless of the cause.
Nikon Monarch M7 10x42 Specs
- Size: 5.6"x5.1"
- Weight: 24 oz.
- Eye Relief: 16.6 mm
- Angular Field of View: 6.9°
- Field of View @ 1000 Yards: 362'
- Close Focus: 8.2'
Pros and Cons of the Nikon Monarch M7
Now that we have looked at the key features of the Nikon Monarch 7 Binoculars, let's take a look at the pros and cons.
Pros
- The image quality is simply breathtaking. The sharpness is incredible, and the color rendition is phenomenal. With the high quality glass and fully multi-coated lenses.
- Best in class field of view for quick acquisition of your target.
- I love the locking diopter. Once you get the diopter setting right, it never moves.
- The build quality is excellent. My pair is more than 7 years old and used almost daily. They are extremely durable.
- 100% Waterproof, Fogproof and shock resistant
- Perfectly sized and some of the lightest hunting binoculars in their class.
- They perform extremely well in the low light conditions that we face as deer hunters.
- Multi click adjustable eye relief for hunters that wear eyeglasses or sunglasses.
- Includes a carry case, neck strap and lens covers.
- Rock solid, No Fault Warranty.
Cons
- They are fairly expensive at around $500. However, you are getting premium quality optics.
Check out the this video showing the features plus pros and cons of the Nikon M7.
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Final Verdict
I have to say, I love the Monarch M7. These are the hunting binoculars that I use on a daily basis and I couldn't be happier with them.
You are going to be extremely impressed by the brightness and clarity.
The overall image quality is really stunning when you see it for the first time. It is like seeing through binoculars in HD!
Don't fall into the trap of buying cheap binoculars. You should buy the highest quality optics that you can afford. If your budget goes up to $500, then I would highly recommend the Nikon Monarch M7 Binoculars.
Do yourself a favor and pick up the Nikon Monarch M7 today and see why Nikon has called them "The Greatest Monarch Ever".
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