Nikon Monarch 7 8x42 or Nikon Monarch HG 8x42 if the price difference is $750 CAD ?

[pfillion666]

Hello everyone,

I have purchased the Nikon Monarch 7 8x42 recently and I really like them but I'm wondering if I should
return them to Amazon and purchase the Monarch HG instead.

I have paid $600 for the M7 and the best price that I have found in Canada for the MHG is $1350 with the shipping and the taxes included.

I don't want to have the temptation to upgrade the M7 every year so that's the reason why I'm asking if it's worth paying more money to get the MHG 8x42?

Thanks in advance.

Pat

 

[menhaden_man]

I’ve had the M7 for maybe 4 or 5 years (10x42) and have no desire for anything else. My eyeballs love em for hours on end. Wouldn’t even buy a set of Swaros for half off if I could.

Personally I’d spend that extra dough on some other goodies.

 

[AkMtnRunner]

I own both. When I have tested them both on a ridge overlooking a valley, I found that the HG's had slightly less distortion (maybe due to field flattener?) and barely noticeable better fine detail resolving ability. I would have to go back and forth several times to see the difference. I concluded there would be no difference in hunting usefulness. I would be able to find the same animals with either. Would I buy them again after learning this? No, I'd put those funds to other kinds of optics. However, now that I own them, I won't sell the HG's as I just enjoy nice things

Looking at this another way, I think the 7's make a lot more sense than the HG's in the 8x realm because fine detail really isn't that important in that role. Going up to higher magnification is where that higher quality would really matter.

 

[Spiral Horn]

Since this is already weighing on your mind it will continue to be an issue and you’ll upgrade eventually anyway.

The Monarch HG is a noticeable step up from the Monarch 7. The big differences are:
- The HGs are made in Japan and the 7s in China = quality control
- Optical quality HGs have higher quality components = ex, Premium Schmidt-Pechan Prisms vs BAK4s in the 7s. I‘ve looked through both and the difference in detail is certainly there (primary purpose of binocular).
- Build quality. The HGs have a full magnesium frame and premium eye cups & the 7s have many more plastic components and lesser eye cups

Personally, I’m not anywhere near as “wow’d” when I look through and handle the 7s as I am the HGs. If money is super-tight the 7s will do, otherwise I’d bet that one would never regret sending the 7s back and getting the HGs. Know I’ve never regretted buying what I wanted in the first place, and always ended up replacing the item I “settled-for.”

Tip: Would recommend staying away from Amazon for Optics and Electronics. Have had a few orders where I was sent gray-market or discovered the item was refurbished and sold as new. Optics stores are best - and we can try before we buy.

 

[pfillion666]

I own both. When I have tested them both on a ridge overlooking a valley, I found that the HG's had slightly less distortion (maybe due to field flattener?) and barely noticeable better fine detail resolving ability. I would have to go back and forth several times to see the difference. I concluded there would be no difference in hunting usefulness. I would be able to find the same animals with either. Would I buy them again after learning this? No, I'd put those funds to other kinds of optics. However, now that I own them, I won't sell the HG's as I just enjoy nice things

Looking at this another way, I think the 7's make a lot more sense than the HG's in the 8x realm because fine detail really isn't that important in that role. Going up to higher magnification is where that higher quality would really matter.

Thanks, you convinced me to keep the M7

 

[NevadaZielmeister]

I have a pair of the Monarch 7's (10x42) and I would not dump a bunch of money into binoculars. I use a Swarovski for spotting scope if I need to get that detailed, and very few binoculars will keep up with that. Save your money for a really good spotting scope and you will be happier.