Nikon Monarch 7 10×42 Review : Battle of Monarch 7 vs 5

New Model Product Update Note — November 2021

New Nikon Monarch M7 10×42- Model Update

On Sept. 22, 2021, Nikon Inc. unveiled the Monarch M7 and M5 binoculars, the next generation of the popular MONARCH 7 ATB and Monarch 5 ATB family of binoculars.

These models are successors to the popular MONARCH 7  and Monarch 5 series binoculars known for their optical excellence, robust build quality and decent performance that’s ready for an adventure in even rough terrains also

The ATB stood for All Terrain Binoculars, which meant they were fog resistant, water resistant, and had a shockproof rubberised coating, but now Nikon offers this across all their Monarch binocular models, so they’ve dropped the ATB from the title. 

Here we will discuss Monarch M7 10×42 binoculars. Also, we will see, What you get with the upgrade and the difference between the older model and the newer model.

As with the previous models the Monarch M7 binoculars use Nikon’s proprietary ED glass for reduced distortion and chromatic aberration.

The M7 10×42’s field of view has been increased to 362′ at 1000 yards, and close focus remains at 8.2’.

Let me Give My Perspective Of The Nikon Monarch M7 10×42 binoculars.

New Nikon Monarch M7 10×42 Review

I tried a pair of the new M7s in 10×42 briefly yesterday. I Was impressed by the optics and build quality. Let me tell you my findings below

Improved Design & Construction

Nikon’s black 10×42 Monarch M7 10×42 Binoculars have improved design features compared to the previous Monarch 7.

The traditional gold lettering which was a hallmark of the earlier binoculars has been replaced with silver for the M7.

The M series has a more comfortable streamlined body and improved rubber armouring to protect against wear and tear in rough terrains. 

Also, Both the M7 and M5 come with fibreglass-reinforced polycarbonate resin bodies.

Fog Proof and Waterproof

As with all Nikon Monarchs, the M7 10x42s are waterproof down to 3.3′ for 10 minutes, and nitrogen purged for fog-free performance.

Weight

These improvements come at the cost of a slight weight increase to 24 ounces.

Performance

Here comes the main findings;

As the brand Nikon commands quality. The new M7 comes up to the expectations. 

The Monarch M7 10×42 extra-low dispersion glass elements with anti-reflection fully multicoated optics and highly reflective dielectric-coated, phase-corrected roof prisms.

I was amazed by the Monarch M7’s bright and clear high-contrast images with true-to-life colour and minimal colour fringing. The light gathering is excellent and the image is extremely clear. There’s no noticeable ghosting, chromatic aberration or artefacts of any kind.

I was also impressed by the extremely high apparent angle of view. I found the M7 Binoculars bright enough for night use and contrasty enough in cloudy weather. The locking diopter also works great once you get used to it

I tested the binoculars for close focus and found it to be very easy to focus at any distance beyond about 6 feet.

Nikon Monarch 7 10×42 ATB Binoculars Vs Nikon Monarch M7 10×42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch M7 10×42 Binoculars replace the Monarch 7 10×42 with some upgraded features. 

• Field of View in feet: 445ft in the 8×42 model vs 335ft in the M5 8×42 model. The new M7 is optimized for those spotting birds and other wildlife, with a wide angular apparent field of view (60.3˚ for 8×42, 62.2˚ for 10×42, 60.3˚ for 8×30, 60.7˚ for 10×30) that offers spectacular viewing and subject acquisition. 
• Compared to the older Monarch 5 and 7 models, the M5 and M7 both have better resolution
• The new monarch M7 10×42 has Oil and water-repellent coating applied to the objective lens and eyepieces allowing moisture and smudges like fingerprints to be easily wiped off. This makes the binoculars easier to use in wet weather and more difficult for dirt to stick. 
• The new Monarch M7 10×42 features a locking diopter adjustment control which prevents unintentional rotation. The locking diopter dial prevents the diopter from drifting when it rubs against your clothing or other objects.
• Monarch M7 has a wider field of view than the 7 (362/1000 vs 351/1000).

Sale

Nikon MONARCH M7 10x42 Binocular |Waterproof, fogproof, rubber-armored Full-Size Binocular with ED glass & wide field of view, oil & water repellent coating & locking diopter |Official Nikon USA Model

• Sophisticated rubber armored exterior design provides shock resistance and a firm comfortable grip
• Locking diopter control maintains your personal setting
• Oil/Water repellent coating - applied to both eyepiece and objective lens surfaces

$499.95 −$105.00

Buy on Amazon

Included In The Box- Monarch M7 10×42 Binoculars

 The Monarch M7 10×42 Binoculars are supplied with a soft case, rainguard, detachable objective covers and a nice ‘soft-to-the-touch’ neck strap which is emblazoned with the Nikon logo.

Specification:

Conclusion- New Nikon Monarch M7 10×42 Review

The most noticeable thing is the field of view – it is huge and gorgeous as compared to the previous monarch 7.  You can see so much, it is so bright, and clear, and finding animals in the field is a total pleasure compared to anything else we had.

Now For those asking if you should go with 8x or 10x, I find that with this big field of view, 10x is a good bet. A bigger magnification allows you to enjoy your Safari and wildlife viewing to the fullest extent.

If you are looking for binoculars under 500, I don’t think you can go wrong with the M7.