Thank you for your great review of these 8x32 binoculars, John. Let me tell you why I am ordering the Opticron Travellers rather than the NIkon Monarch 7. I wear eyeglasses so it's all about the eye relief, and the 15.1 mm of the Nikons are just inadequate. I find that I need at least 17mm with my eyeglasses and the Opticrons have an excellent 19mm eye relief. Coupled with a 429 feet field of view that makes the Opticrons the best choice for me.
Absolutely highest level elite review style and delivery. This analysis approach can't be topped. The clear and logical decision structuring was as good as it gets! The amount of effort put into this presentation is much appreciated. THIS is how you do a detailed comparison review. You walk away feeling you have months of personal hands-on knowledge packaged into 45 minutes from a trusted expert that REALLY put these binoculars through their paces. Thanks a lot! 10+ out of 10.
Thank you, that was very helpful. I'm buying my first pair of binoculars and didn't have a clue what to go for so have been binge watching UA-cam videos to try to figure out what I should be going for. I want them for when out walking or cycling just for generally looking at wildlife or anything interesting in the distance. Your sheer enthusiasm was pushing me to go for the Nikon Monarch 7s but I can't really justify the cost (although Jessops currently have them on offer for £249) and found a pair of the next best, the Viking Merlins, for £160 so bought those. I'm very pleased with them.
Aweome job! I am in the market right now for a solid, high quality pair of this type of binoculars in these price points. I loves your honest ''I actually have experience with these'' type of review. There are so, so many videos out there where someone is basically just reading directly, word for word off of a product description that they cut and paste off the companies website. I really appreciate the hard work and long hours spent testing and breaking it all down. After watching I now have a truilly informed mindset to go out there and find what is best for me and what I am looking for. This isn't telling me what to buy or sell me anything. It's a real review based on experience. It's been super refreshing to come accross a video like this. I wish all reviews could be a 10 out of 10. Thanks a lot! :)
This appeared in my recommendations, no idea why (thanks UA-cam algorithm!) I’ve gone from not being interested in binoculars to searching t’internet for the best deal on monarchs 7s lol! Great review!
A rather long & comprehensive review of many binoculars, greatly appreciated. Have searched UA-cam on several occasions & not come across a review where a potential buyer got a lot of info. on what to look for in a good pair of binos. So congrats on attempting this not so easy task. I thought you compared & contrasted all the competing binos rather well. This was the class of binos I settled on for birding (primarily) but also great for quality images when travelling. I managed to check out the M7's in the shops & thought they were a quality pair though not able to view them outdoors. Because I wear glasses I needed a long eye relief as possible & so I settled on the GPO's Evolve 3x32's. Not had a chance to test them out in the field yet but hope they're at least the equal of the M7's. Look forward to your future reviews.
By the way, having gone through the process of choosing a pair of binoculars, the best advice I can give to others is: find a well-stocked store in your area and go there to try out as many pairs as you can. I visited a store in Sheffield (Harrisons) and tried many pairs of Viking and Opticron binoculars. Some I instantly disliked. In fact, some of the cheaper Opticron pairs felt like they'd dropped out of a Christmas cracker, they were awful. However, to be fair, some of the more expensive options were excellent. Another thing is, the size and weight difference between some 8 x 32 and 8 x 42 pairs is very slight in some cases (for example, the weight difference between Viking Peregrine 32s and 42s is only 81 grams!). Therefore, unless you're a keen hiker like myself and want very light binoculars, you may prefer the 42s. Also, you can see for yourself the difference between cheap, mid-range, and expensive binoculars. For example, trying out the £200 Viking Kestrels, £240 Viking Merlins and £320 Viking Peregrines was a revelation and I could really see what I would be paying for. In the end, I went for the 8 x 32 Viking Peregrines because they felt right for me. Please don't blindly buy a pair of binoculars online and hope for the best - definitely visit a store to make sure you get the right ones.
@@busman2050 A paper tube with a cheap toy inside. At Christmas, two British people will both pull on each end and one will win the toy. My above meaning is the binos looked cheap (i.e. like they fell out of a Christmas cracker)
Great video. As a birder, for me, if I was to go 8x32 I would want another pair of binoculars for low light conditions, ie. overcast, dust and dawn, and the woods, or worst any combination there of. Under bright light conditions the 8x32s are great, but I find they suffer otherwise.
Opticron Traveller BGA ED 8 x 32 all the way for me. I highly recommend auditioning one if you get the chance, you won't be disappointed. Appreciations for the comprehensive review.
Very comprehensive and insightful review. So much choice it was very confusing for a beginner. This review really helped me narrow down the models. Tested the Nikons and the Opticrons at a local shop. As mentioned in the video incredibly similar and both excellent. I wear glasses and the Nikons were perfectly usable even with the shorter eye relief but the Opticrons felt better and won out in the end. Thank you for making the video.
Love this size of these binoculars. They are light and super easy to carry. They are my go-to size for everyday walks and hikes. I have the Nikon 7 in 8x and love them. Thanks for the video.
Hello, after many binoculars (Leitz / Leica / Kern) I decided to buy a "Kowa BD II 6.5x32 XD" for ~ $300. These binoculars only have a magnification of 6.5 (more than 8 without a tripod is too much anyway) but a field of view of 10° (175 m) is simply great. I can use it for a very long time without getting tired.
It's a shame that John has disappeared from UA-cam following this truly excellent review. Most other binocular reviews on YT are basically just people reading out the specs of various pairs. Some, like 'Best Binocular Reviews' dress it all up with stylish videos but they just waffle and don't actually tell you anything pertinent. European company 'Optics Trade' release 'reviews' which are hilariously monotonous and boring! One exception is the American guy who runs the 'Optica Exotica' channel. He is good although as the name suggests, he tends to review generally high-end stuff. Italian channel 'Binomania' is also good, but obviously you'll need to speak the lingo, although he does caption some of his stuff in English. The trouble is, a lot of people who do these reviews are in the trade so they're compromised already & probably find it tricky to offer genuine criticisms as it may not go down too well.
Thank you, John, that was brilliant. Very comprehensive. I've been going round in circles this week trying to decide on a pair of 8 x 32s for my hiking and nature-loving partner (her first binoculars). I haven't decided between the Kestrels and the Monarchs. I would prefer to buy a UK made product but am also tempted by the better performance of the Monarch. Thanks again!
FYI, I visited a store and tried out 3 of the Viking 8 x 32 options - Kestrel, Merlin and Peregrine. All 3 were great binoculars. However, I finally bought the Peregrines as I thought the sharper image was worth the extra money.
Exactly the review vid that I was looking for. Well done. Have had a brilliant 10x42 Minox set for years and cheap olympus compacts for the pocket, but I'm looking for an 8x32 light weight set as a bit friendlier to the shoulders in the field than the >800g Minox. Although this is a few years old, the models are mostly still current. Saved me doing the spreadsheet myself !
@@Wolfgamer-dn3xk They are fantastic! Very nice colors and razorsharp. Compared to the Hawke Endurance ED, I would take the Kestrel. (The Kestrel has better colors and is dielectric coated.. means it is a touch better for low light)
That's a brilliant analysis John. I've been looking to buy binoculars and could see there is so much choice and wondered what would be the best ones for me. Your review helped me a lot. I'll probably save a bit more and go for the Nikon Monarch now. Thanks
A couple of very good manufacturers with fine examples in the price point are Athlon and Maven. I like 10x42 size but my favorites are 8x32 for the field of view and the ease of wearing around the neck for a walk. A 10x42 binocular gets uncomfortable real quick! Other than lens clarity from edge to edge and field of view, the depth of field is very important to me. I own over 20 pair of pretty decent binoculars from the high end to the mid range with a few cheaper outliers. I have gifted at least 10 pair because I had way too many. Using charts are how I used to judge them, now I just eyeball them and I can tell pretty quick if they are quality. I have new pair coming next week. I can't seem to stop buying the damn things, lol.
This video has got me in to trouble!! I think I've got a Mental obsesses disorder i haven't long bought the hawke ed 8x32 and the vortex diamondback HD 8x32 today i received my monarch 7 8x30 i tested them against the others and yes they are definitely better 👌I have promised my self im going to stop at the monarch 7 ...just like to say this guy is spot on with his review 👍
Thank you very much indeed for this amazing review! Your detailed research and clear explanations are to be truly commended and indeed served as an invaluable reference point in coming to my own decision! I’ve opted for the Vortex Diamond Back 8x42 (wear specs) as these will afford best ease of use. Also the Vortex warranty won me over in comparison with the Viking Kestrel bins as I wanted the reassurance when negotiating the often wet and rocky Scottish Highlands. Many thanks once again for the great review!!
4:34 Nice catch. I'm considering this range too but leaning towards cheaper given the expected amount of use even though I spent more on camera/lenses.
A great in-depth review, if only everyone went into this much detail. You can find bins of equivalent IQ of the Celestron nature for around £35 - £30 in what look like rebranded forms, at which price they become great value, almost as a disposable item. One question, why choose such a small objective lens? The difference in brightness of image at 42mm is worth the extra ££ if IQ is more important than weight / size. Personally I'd choose a 10x over 8x too, and live with a tiny bit of CA at £200, but then I have a bag full of Canon L glass so if I really wanted to grab a quality image I'd shoot it, but that's just my preference of course.
After watching this Review, I went and purchased the Nikon Monarch 7. Boy, what a disappointment. I could never get the Binoculars to adjust properly without seeing the dreaded black flashes on both sides while viewing. I tried adjusting the eye cups, diopter, etc.. never worked. I know you said it took you quite a while to get them to properly adjust. Well, this is a flaw. One should not need to fine tune these to get an impossible, ( in my situation), proper adjustment. Back they go. And even if I ever did get them adjusted, it would be hard to let anyone else use these I fear that I need to go through the process all over again. No thanks.
I had a similar experience considering the M7s two years ago. Optically lovely, but never could get them to line up properly in repeated in-store testing. Much worse on this front than the three other models I tried (including the Travellers). Ended up buying the Maven B3 8x30, slightly more expensive. I do not wear glasses while using binoculars.
I'd look for the GPO Passion ED 8x32 if your budget is up to $500! According to Optics Trend (here on UA-cam) it's made out of magnesium and has amazing optical quality. No other binoculars of this price range can keep up with the GPO Passion ED 8x32.
Trying to work out now if I can afford a pair of Opticron Travellers and a pair of bigger ones for astronomy (since 8x32 isn't a good size for stargazing).
You forgot the superior eye relief of the Opticron 19 mm compared to the Nikon’s 15.1. Nikon’s almost unusable for people with glasses but with the Opticron you would get the full field of view. Quite a big fact to leave out.
@@gta5modders829 If you have astigmatism then you have to wear your glasses. For slight near and far-sighted prescriptions, you can remove your glasses and adjust the eye cups
@@sfomann Same here. Unfortunately, this narrows the choice quite drastically. I am planning to get the Vanguard Endeavor ED II 10x42 with 18 mm of eye relief. I hope they'll live up to my high expectations. Eye relief between 15 and 17 mm on paper work in real life for some binoculars but not for others.
Very useful review set. I've been looking at 8x32s with the same budget range. The Opticron Traveller ED wins over the Nikon for me. The main reason is the minimum IPD of 51mm for the Opticron vs 56mm on the Nikon. It makes the former accessible to younger children and even some teen girls/women with smaller IPDs, an option you lose going bigger than 32s. It's otherwise very difficult to choose between the two!
Incredible review ! I would love to see an updated version of this now in '21. Thank you so much John for sharing. I'm currently researching 8x32's for our fire dept. and really need this great information. Where can I find your spreadsheet ?
I have the 8x32, 8x42 and 10x42 and they are really good quality nothing but good things to say.. the warranty is also the best I have had with any product ever with no hassles whatsoever....if you choose this model it will be worth every penny
I also was in debate for long period of time because I bought the 8x32 and 8x42 in November and Amazon had extended returns during Xmas last year so I had from November until end of January to see which ones I liked and I ended up keeping both pairs because they each had a niche for the activities we do.
@@bigsteve7857 I wound up doing the exact same thing ! I actually ordered three pair. Those two, plus the new version of the 8x42. I hated the new black version though. They were redesigned a bit and have a slick feel and are solid black. I returned those and kept the other two.
Hi John just ordered a pair of Avalon 10×42 PRO HD Binoculars before i watched your video have i made a mistake. i must admit I've not done as much research as i feel i should of done
Thank you for your review, John! Due to your recommendation I bought the NIKON Monarch M7 8x30 - and am VERY happy with it! All worked as described by you. However, your review video could be improved. Links to the binocs you reviewed. Video: on my screen you are often pointing to binocs in the foreground which are not visible to me…and lastly.. spreadsheet? what spreadsheet? 😊
Nice review of so many models. I’ve discovered that not all binos with super duper specs deliver in regard to glare and internal reflection management. Point them at a bright light source at night to look for internal relections, diffraction spikes and glare. Better still, turn on your iphone torch at its highest setting in a darkened room and focus the bins on the light. Compare the images they present. I’ll bet good money you’ll get some very surprising results. Glare in strongly backlit scenes is annoying and not all binoculars are not created equal in this regard. Good luck!
As an eye glass user, the FIRST thing I look at is eye relief value. The Nikons only offer 15mm which is pretty awful for my use. I really love Pentax 8X32 which offer 22mm eye relief. The Opitcron travelers is better than the Nikons at 19mm, but still not ideal. That is the one thing truly missing in your review which is otherwise excellent. Several of the ones you reviewed are actually not available here in the US.
What a video , thanks for all the effort , I was going to get the Hawke 8x32 but thought I would look at a few clips and reviews on UA-cam , I have now just purchased a pair of Nikon monarch 7 from Jessops with a 60pound discount , paid 259 with free postage , looking forward to using them , now going to try to get flip down shades
thank you for most comprehensive review on utube.would you be able to review any compact minox? there are many modern designs in various price ranges from this company with traditions.
Nikon no longer honors their lifetime warranty. They are currently 2 years or 7 years maximum and only with accompanying original dated proof of purchase receipt.
Great comparison! What do You think about Viking Azura 8x32? They have very wide field of view (142/1000m). Are they a good choice around £120 price point?
Hi, I’m a novice and looking to buy my first pair. I’m stuck between the viking kestrel 8x32 or the vortex diamondback 8x32 which would you recommend??? Thanks
I wear glasses but still the nikons for me as I never keep my glasses on when I look for the binoculars anyway I just focus and go from there the glasses just get in the way.
Hi, I really appreciate your work, one of the best reviews for this category of 30 / 32mm binoculars. I have had the Nikon M7 8 × 30 for a couple of years and consider it as exceptional, magnificent, extraordinary in every aspect. Now I would like to take a compact pair of binoculars for my daughter (10 years old) and I was thinking of the Vortex diamondback HD 8 × 32, but obviously I will also use it on certain occasions and I would not want to cry in comparison with the Monarch 7. And so marked the difference between the two in terms of sharpness, brightness, chromatism etc? I'd like to know your opinion, thank you
Excellent review John. I'm in the market for 8/10 x 42 - so if you fancy doing a repeat review for the larger objective lens - that would be great! ;-) As an aside - I'm curious: did you buy all those binos in order to make this review vid' and, if so, how will you recoup your outlay? I guess you can sell them on second hand, but you'll still be out of pocket, no?
thanks for a brilliant review. Is exactly what I was looking for and helped me to choose the nikons which I have just ordered as a result. Stay safe god bless
This was hands down the best review I have ever seen on any product comparison. Thank You for sharing.
This has to be the best review i have seen for binoculars, thanks for a great review
Thank you for your great review of these 8x32 binoculars, John. Let me tell you why I am ordering the Opticron Travellers rather than the NIkon Monarch 7. I wear eyeglasses so it's all about the eye relief, and the 15.1 mm of the Nikons are just inadequate. I find that I need at least 17mm with my eyeglasses and the Opticrons have an excellent 19mm eye relief. Coupled with a 429 feet field of view that makes the Opticrons the best choice for me.
FYI - Vortex upgraded the model tested here and designate the new model as the Diamondback HD.
And added an extra 100$
Absolutely highest level elite review style and delivery. This analysis approach can't be topped. The clear and logical decision structuring was as good as it gets! The amount of effort put into this presentation is much appreciated. THIS is how you do a detailed comparison review. You walk away feeling you have months of personal hands-on knowledge packaged into 45 minutes from a trusted expert that REALLY put these binoculars through their paces. Thanks a lot! 10+ out of 10.
I disagree 007. Video was poorly done, no closeup of the niños, he's too far away also
Also video was way too long
Very poor audio
Thank you, that was very helpful. I'm buying my first pair of binoculars and didn't have a clue what to go for so have been binge watching UA-cam videos to try to figure out what I should be going for. I want them for when out walking or cycling just for generally looking at wildlife or anything interesting in the distance. Your sheer enthusiasm was pushing me to go for the Nikon Monarch 7s but I can't really justify the cost (although Jessops currently have them on offer for £249) and found a pair of the next best, the Viking Merlins, for £160 so bought those. I'm very pleased with them.
Aweome job! I am in the market right now for a solid, high quality pair of this type of binoculars in these price points. I loves your honest ''I actually have experience with these'' type of review. There are so, so many videos out there where someone is basically just reading directly, word for word off of a product description that they cut and paste off the companies website. I really appreciate the hard work and long hours spent testing and breaking it all down. After watching I now have a truilly informed mindset to go out there and find what is best for me and what I am looking for. This isn't telling me what to buy or sell me anything. It's a real review based on experience. It's been super refreshing to come accross a video like this. I wish all reviews could be a 10 out of 10. Thanks a lot! :)
This appeared in my recommendations, no idea why (thanks UA-cam algorithm!) I’ve gone from not being interested in binoculars to searching t’internet for the best deal on monarchs 7s lol! Great review!
I was totally at a loss. Thanks for this very useful, clear, complete and sincere review.
A rather long & comprehensive review of many binoculars, greatly appreciated. Have searched UA-cam on several occasions & not come across a review where a potential buyer got a lot of info. on what to look for in a good pair of binos. So congrats on attempting this not so easy task. I thought you compared & contrasted all the competing binos rather well. This was the class of binos I settled on for birding (primarily) but also great for quality images when travelling. I managed to check out the M7's in the shops & thought they were a quality pair though not able to view them outdoors. Because I wear glasses I needed a long eye relief as possible & so I settled on the GPO's Evolve 3x32's. Not had a chance to test them out in the field yet but hope they're at least the equal of the M7's. Look forward to your future reviews.
Qaaaaaaæ+
Really helpful thank you, my brain is mid exploding trying to do all this research myself, so seeing what you have done is really useful thank you :)
By the way, having gone through the process of choosing a pair of binoculars, the best advice I can give to others is: find a well-stocked store in your area and go there to try out as many pairs as you can.
I visited a store in Sheffield (Harrisons) and tried many pairs of Viking and Opticron binoculars. Some I instantly disliked. In fact, some of the cheaper Opticron pairs felt like they'd dropped out of a Christmas cracker, they were awful. However, to be fair, some of the more expensive options were excellent.
Another thing is, the size and weight difference between some 8 x 32 and 8 x 42 pairs is very slight in some cases (for example, the weight difference between Viking Peregrine 32s and 42s is only 81 grams!). Therefore, unless you're a keen hiker like myself and want very light binoculars, you may prefer the 42s.
Also, you can see for yourself the difference between cheap, mid-range, and expensive binoculars. For example, trying out the £200 Viking Kestrels, £240 Viking Merlins and £320 Viking Peregrines was a revelation and I could really see what I would be paying for. In the end, I went for the 8 x 32 Viking Peregrines because they felt right for me.
Please don't blindly buy a pair of binoculars online and hope for the best - definitely visit a store to make sure you get the right ones.
What's a Christmas cracker?
@@busman2050 A paper tube with a cheap toy inside. At Christmas, two British people will both pull on each end and one will win the toy. My above meaning is the binos looked cheap (i.e. like they fell out of a Christmas cracker)
Really useful - your diligence and plain speaking is much appreciated
Binoculars in this video from high to low price (left to right):
1. Nikon Monarch 7 (Contains ED)
2. Opticron Traveller BGA ED
3. Viking Merlin (Contains ED)
4. Viking Kestrel (Contains ED)
5. Hawke Endurance ED
6. Vortex Diamondback
7. Celestron Traveller
8. Opticron Discovery
9. Celestron Nature DX
Great video. As a birder, for me, if I was to go 8x32 I would want another pair of binoculars for low light conditions, ie. overcast, dust and dawn, and the woods, or worst any combination there of. Under bright light conditions the 8x32s are great, but I find they suffer otherwise.
The alpha 32mms are amazing.
Opticron Traveller BGA ED 8 x 32 all the way for me. I highly recommend auditioning one if you get the chance, you won't be disappointed. Appreciations for the comprehensive review.
Very comprehensive and insightful review. So much choice it was very confusing for a beginner. This review really helped me narrow down the models. Tested the Nikons and the Opticrons at a local shop. As mentioned in the video incredibly similar and both excellent. I wear glasses and the Nikons were perfectly usable even with the shorter eye relief but the Opticrons felt better and won out in the end. Thank you for making the video.
Love this size of these binoculars. They are light and super easy to carry. They are my go-to size for everyday walks and hikes. I have the Nikon 7 in 8x and love them. Thanks for the video.
I plan to take a look on these binoculars next week. Have you read Michael Orcutt's comment about them? It seems that he had a strange problem...
Hello, after many binoculars (Leitz / Leica / Kern) I decided to buy a "Kowa BD II 6.5x32 XD" for ~ $300. These binoculars only have a magnification of 6.5 (more than 8 without a tripod is too much anyway) but a field of view of 10° (175 m) is simply great. I can use it for a very long time without getting tired.
Bought the M7 7 years ago. Nice to watch your review and get confirmation of that buy
Where is the spreadsheet I’d like to use it to compare
It's a shame that John has disappeared from UA-cam following this truly excellent review. Most other binocular reviews on YT are basically just people reading out the specs of various pairs. Some, like 'Best Binocular Reviews' dress it all up with stylish videos but they just waffle and don't actually tell you anything pertinent. European company 'Optics Trade' release 'reviews' which are hilariously monotonous and boring!
One exception is the American guy who runs the 'Optica Exotica' channel. He is good although as the name suggests, he tends to review generally high-end stuff. Italian channel 'Binomania' is also good, but obviously you'll need to speak the lingo, although he does caption some of his stuff in English.
The trouble is, a lot of people who do these reviews are in the trade so they're compromised already & probably find it tricky to offer genuine criticisms as it may not go down too well.
Yes, John seems to have disappeared from here. Hope he's ok! I'd love to have that spreadsheet.
Thank you, John, that was brilliant. Very comprehensive. I've been going round in circles this week trying to decide on a pair of 8 x 32s for my hiking and nature-loving partner (her first binoculars). I haven't decided between the Kestrels and the Monarchs. I would prefer to buy a UK made product but am also tempted by the better performance of the Monarch. Thanks again!
FYI, I visited a store and tried out 3 of the Viking 8 x 32 options - Kestrel, Merlin and Peregrine. All 3 were great binoculars. However, I finally bought the Peregrines as I thought the sharper image was worth the extra money.
Exactly the review vid that I was looking for. Well done. Have had a brilliant 10x42 Minox set for years and cheap olympus compacts for the pocket, but I'm looking for an 8x32 light weight set as a bit friendlier to the shoulders in the field than the >800g Minox. Although this is a few years old, the models are mostly still current. Saved me doing the spreadsheet myself !
I was for the Diamondback in the beginning. This is such an awsome Review, You helped me with my choice. I ordered the Kestrel. Many Thanks 👍
I'm of the same opinion, how did you find the viking kestrel binoculars?
@@Wolfgamer-dn3xk They are fantastic! Very nice colors and razorsharp.
Compared to the Hawke Endurance ED, I would take the Kestrel. (The Kestrel has better colors and is dielectric coated.. means it is a touch better for low light)
That's a brilliant analysis John. I've been looking to buy binoculars and could see there is so much choice and wondered what would be the best ones for me. Your review helped me a lot. I'll probably save a bit more and go for the Nikon Monarch now. Thanks
A couple of very good manufacturers with fine examples in the price point are Athlon and Maven. I like 10x42 size but my favorites are 8x32 for the field of view and the ease of wearing around the neck for a walk. A 10x42 binocular gets uncomfortable real quick! Other than lens clarity from edge to edge and field of view, the depth of field is very important to me. I own over 20 pair of pretty decent binoculars from the high end to the mid range with a few cheaper outliers. I have gifted at least 10 pair because I had way too many. Using charts are how I used to judge them, now I just eyeball them and I can tell pretty quick if they are quality. I have new pair coming next week. I can't seem to stop buying the damn things, lol.
This video has got me in to trouble!! I think I've got a Mental obsesses disorder i haven't long bought the hawke ed 8x32 and the vortex diamondback HD 8x32 today i received my monarch 7 8x30 i tested them against the others and yes they are definitely better 👌I have promised my self im going to stop at the monarch 7 ...just like to say this guy is spot on with his review 👍
A great review. I have been dithering about getting the Viking Merlin or Kestrels, and this made my mind up. Thank you.
Thank you very much indeed for this amazing review! Your detailed research and clear explanations are to be truly commended and indeed served as an invaluable reference point in coming to my own decision! I’ve opted for the Vortex Diamond Back 8x42 (wear specs) as these will afford best ease of use. Also the Vortex warranty won me over in comparison with the Viking Kestrel bins as I wanted the reassurance when negotiating the often wet and rocky Scottish Highlands. Many thanks once again for the great review!!
Brilliant review. Clear, easy to follow. Thanks!
4:34 Nice catch. I'm considering this range too but leaning towards cheaper given the expected amount of use even though I spent more on camera/lenses.
A great in-depth review, if only everyone went into this much detail. You can find bins of equivalent IQ of the Celestron nature for around £35 - £30 in what look like rebranded forms, at which price they become great value, almost as a disposable item.
One question, why choose such a small objective lens? The difference in brightness of image at 42mm is worth the extra ££ if IQ is more important than weight / size. Personally I'd choose a 10x over 8x too, and live with a tiny bit of CA at £200, but then I have a bag full of Canon L glass so if I really wanted to grab a quality image I'd shoot it, but that's just my preference of course.
After watching this Review, I went and purchased the Nikon Monarch 7. Boy, what a disappointment. I could never get the Binoculars to adjust properly without seeing the dreaded black flashes on both sides while viewing. I tried adjusting the eye cups, diopter, etc.. never worked. I know you said it took you quite a while to get them to properly adjust. Well, this is a flaw. One should not need to fine tune these to get an impossible, ( in my situation), proper adjustment. Back they go. And even if I ever did get them adjusted, it would be hard to let anyone else use these I fear that I need to go through the process all over again. No thanks.
I had a similar experience considering the M7s two years ago. Optically lovely, but never could get them to line up properly in repeated in-store testing. Much worse on this front than the three other models I tried (including the Travellers). Ended up buying the Maven B3 8x30, slightly more expensive. I do not wear glasses while using binoculars.
Just bought the Merlin’s so hope your right
Excellent, very helpful review! Much more useful than a bunch of review videos by supposed professionals in this field.
May I have the link to the spreadsheet?
I'd look for the GPO Passion ED 8x32 if your budget is up to $500! According to Optics Trend (here on UA-cam) it's made out of magnesium and has amazing optical quality. No other binoculars of this price range can keep up with the GPO Passion ED 8x32.
Trying to work out now if I can afford a pair of Opticron Travellers and a pair of bigger ones for astronomy (since 8x32 isn't a good size for stargazing).
Great and insightful review. Thanks a million!
What about Carson or Vanguard? Both ED, I'm thinking about purchasing one or the other...
I have a pair of Vanguard ED 8x42 and they are excellent binoculars. The EDii is supposed to be even better.
I do not find a link the the sreadsheet. is it still around?
Awesome review and a great help to me in picking out binoculars. Thank you very much!
Thank you Soo much for all your help and time you took in helping me decide...
It's either;
Monarchs 7
Diamondback
Or Vikings
I really want you to just continue with more expensive binoculars and say how much better they are haha
You forgot the superior eye relief of the Opticron 19 mm compared to the Nikon’s 15.1. Nikon’s almost unusable for people with glasses but with the Opticron you would get the full field of view. Quite a big fact to leave out.
Yes, I agree with you. I just posted the same comment.
Don't you remove your glasses when you use binoculars? I do.
If your eyes are quite bad then the focus of the binoculars isn't enough,that's why all binoculars have twist down eye cups.
@@gta5modders829 If you have astigmatism then you have to wear your glasses. For slight near and far-sighted prescriptions, you can remove your glasses and adjust the eye cups
@@sfomann Same here. Unfortunately, this narrows the choice quite drastically. I am planning to get the Vanguard Endeavor ED II 10x42 with 18 mm of eye relief. I hope they'll live up to my high expectations. Eye relief between 15 and 17 mm on paper work in real life for some binoculars but not for others.
Another review found that the Kestrel's focusing was a bit vague. What is your view?
How about some closeups of the binoculars?
Very useful review set. I've been looking at 8x32s with the same budget range.
The Opticron Traveller ED wins over the Nikon for me. The main reason is the minimum IPD of 51mm for the Opticron vs 56mm on the Nikon. It makes the former accessible to younger children and even some teen girls/women with smaller IPDs, an option you lose going bigger than 32s. It's otherwise very difficult to choose between the two!
How well do they do with glasses?
@@Williat1872 Opticron Traveller is better than Monarch 7. Eye relief for Opticron is 19mm
Where is that Google Doc? Could you add it to the description please?
Apparently it's hard to get Viking optics if you're in the US!
Incredible review ! I would love to see an updated version of this now in '21. Thank you so much John for sharing. I'm currently researching 8x32's for our fire dept. and really need this great information. Where can I find your spreadsheet ?
I have the 8x32, 8x42 and 10x42 and they are really good quality nothing but good things to say.. the warranty is also the best I have had with any product ever with no hassles whatsoever....if you choose this model it will be worth every penny
I also was in debate for long period of time because I bought the 8x32 and 8x42 in November and Amazon had extended returns during Xmas last year so I had from November until end of January to see which ones I liked and I ended up keeping both pairs because they each had a niche for the activities we do.
@@bigsteve7857 I wound up doing the exact same thing ! I actually ordered three pair. Those two, plus the new version of the 8x42. I hated the new black version though. They were redesigned a bit and have a slick feel and are solid black. I returned those and kept the other two.
@@randyporter3491 yes the pea green with rough texture is much better, glad you like them
Hi John just ordered a pair of Avalon 10×42 PRO HD Binoculars before i watched your video have i made a mistake. i must admit I've not done as much research as i feel i should of done
Thank you for your review, John! Due to your recommendation I bought the NIKON Monarch M7 8x30 - and am VERY happy with it! All worked as described by you. However, your review video could be improved. Links to the binocs you reviewed. Video: on my screen you are often pointing to binocs in the foreground which are not visible to me…and lastly.. spreadsheet? what spreadsheet?
😊
Would have been great to see you compare the Viking Peregrine with the Monarchs. That's where I'm at, and can't decide.
Nice review of so many models. I’ve discovered that not all binos with super duper specs deliver in regard to glare and internal reflection management. Point them at a bright light source at night to look for internal relections, diffraction spikes and glare. Better still, turn on your iphone torch at its highest setting in a darkened room and focus the bins on the light. Compare the images they present. I’ll bet good money you’ll get some very surprising results. Glare in strongly backlit scenes is annoying and not all binoculars are not created equal in this regard. Good luck!
Small correction: the vortex Diamondback do have tripod adapter. Great video anyway!
Great review, this helped a lot.
What do you think about Steiner Skyhawk 8x32?
Why some are sharp in the center but getting a little blurry in the edges ? I think this is depends of the company yes ? And its normal
Hello,those eyelids that you had on the Nikon Monarch .Where have you bought those?
Very professional review! Liked and SUBSCRIBED
Voice sounds just like the actor that played Nate in Ted Lasso.
Hi, how you find the nikon P3 prostaff 8x30 or the Eden 8x30 HD? Thanks.
Great review thanks, thinking of getting the viking Merlin with my budget.
What size eye shield do I need to buy??
Greatly appreciate your video! As a glasses wearer, my biggest concern is eye-relief. Which of these has the largest (or longest) eye-relief? Cheers.
As an eye glass user, the FIRST thing I look at is eye relief value. The Nikons only offer 15mm which is pretty awful for my use. I really love Pentax 8X32 which offer 22mm eye relief. The Opitcron travelers is better than the Nikons at 19mm, but still not ideal. That is the one thing truly missing in your review which is otherwise excellent. Several of the ones you reviewed are actually not available here in the US.
Thank you for such a good review, have just pushed the boat out and bought some Merlin's. I am really looking forward to using them
Fantastic review... Still out of my price range... I'm going to go for nikon 8x42 Pro staff.... I'm hoping they are good quality...
Did you buy the Prostaff binoculars?
I have a Swarovski NL Pure 8x42 and a Zeiss Victory Pocket 8x25.
Do i need a 10x30/32?
Or better go for 12x42?
Well done sir, you've sold me on the nikons
Outstanding review my man
What a video , thanks for all the effort , I was going to get the Hawke 8x32 but thought I would look at a few clips and reviews on UA-cam , I have now just purchased a pair of Nikon monarch 7 from Jessops with a 60pound discount , paid 259 with free postage , looking forward to using them , now going to try to get flip down shades
thank you for most comprehensive review on utube.would you be able to review any compact minox? there are many modern designs in various price ranges from this company with traditions.
Great review 👍🏻 do another one on £300 upwards ...
Nikon no longer honors their lifetime warranty. They are currently 2 years or 7 years maximum and only with accompanying original dated proof of purchase receipt.
I'd pick one of the Vikings out of all of these.
Are you ever tempted to sell them all and get some ELs? Or do you think they’re not worth the price?
Nice review! Are the Vortex Diamondback a HD model? As from other reviews that (recent?) upgrade changed the game a little...
Great comparison! What do You think about Viking Azura 8x32? They have very wide field of view (142/1000m). Are they a good choice around £120 price point?
Hi, I’m a novice and looking to buy my first pair. I’m stuck between the viking kestrel 8x32 or the vortex diamondback 8x32 which would you recommend???
Thanks
I wear glasses but still the nikons for me as I never keep my glasses on when I look for the binoculars anyway I just focus and go from there the glasses just get in the way.
why not the Wingspan 8x32 ?
Hi, I really appreciate your work, one of the best reviews for this category of 30 / 32mm binoculars.
I have had the Nikon M7 8 × 30 for a couple of years and consider it as exceptional, magnificent, extraordinary in every aspect. Now I would like to take a compact pair of binoculars for my daughter (10 years old) and I was thinking of the Vortex diamondback HD 8 × 32, but obviously I will also use it on certain occasions and I would not want to cry in comparison with the Monarch 7. And so marked the difference between the two in terms of sharpness, brightness, chromatism etc? I'd like to know your opinion, thank you
I think im gonna buy the merlin on amazon for £199. Hope i wont be disappointed. :-)
Hi there, what do you think of zeiss terra ed 8x32..
Fantastic review.. Very informative
Diamonbacks 8 x 42 have a tripod adapter. Not sure about the 8 x 32
Instead of going on this odesey and buying so many budget bins. Take the money at the start and buy a pair of Leica Trinovid 8x32 for about £630.
Excellent review John.
I'm in the market for 8/10 x 42 - so if you fancy doing a repeat review for the larger objective lens - that would be great! ;-) As an aside - I'm curious: did you buy all those binos in order to make this review vid' and, if so, how will you recoup your outlay? I guess you can sell them on second hand, but you'll still be out of pocket, no?
On the verge of buying Hawke Frontier EDX.... but now i have doubt in my mind..... Nikon M7 better?
The Hawke on the review is the mid-range Endurance not the more expensive Frontier.
Did you ever buy the Hawkes ? I'm thinking of buying the Hawke Frontier ED X 8x42 at £369
You buy all these yourself?????
Find a used Nikon 8x32 SE.....those roofers don't measure up in the view
thanks for a brilliant review. Is exactly what I was looking for and helped me to choose the nikons which I have just ordered as a result. Stay safe god bless
Thank you. I am impressed.
Super helpful review thank you! Is there is reason you have gone for 8x32 rather than 8x42?
Because the 32's are smaller and lighter when hiking in the woods
Tkank you for your help with comparing those binoculars, helped me a lot. 🙏God Bless You and May the Holy Mary protects You and Your Family🙏
Was looking for Leica
Leica is not a budget binocular.
not bad at all john... 😎👍
Where are the links?
Very food review.
Vortex now have Diamondback HD with ED glass, does that make the new model better than Hawke ? I am undecided between the two.
That's incorrect. Diamondback HDs do not have ED glass.