Nikon Monarch M5 Binocular Kit | 12x42 Binoculars with Topo Hat, Lens Pen & Gritr Microfiber | Waterproof Fogproof High-Resolution Optics for Birdwatching, Wildlife & Outdoor Adventures

I have owned these binoculars for a few years and my only complaint has been the field of view is a bit narrow. I also own a Nikon Prostaff P3 10x42 and Nikon HG 8x30. I have tried out many other binoculars such as Zeiss, Leica, and Swarovski that my friends own, and compared many binoculars in stores. I think the Monarch M5 is the best affordable pair of binoculars that I have tried. I only bought the Prostaff P3 because I forgot my M5s at home on a multi-week trip and found them for $100 on sale, but I can tell you the Monarch M5 is significantly better in terms of optics. The P3s are fine if you're not comparing them to anything, but side-by-side you immediately notice the M5 glass is way better. I have also compared the M5 to the M7 in store and I think the M7 is not worth the extra price unless you NEED wide field of view. The M5 is sharp edge to edge, whereas the M7 is sharp basically out to the point where the M5 field of view ends - I guess probably sharpness on the edge doesn't really matter for most people, but just something to consider. My Monarch HG 8x30 is a bit sharper, and with significantly wider FOV which is also sharp edge-to-edge, and performs the same in low-light at a fraction of the size... but it is also 3-4x the price. The difference in image quality between the M5 and HG is not a night and day difference, but the difference between the M5 and Prostaff P3 is. In the hand the M5 feels quite sturdy and pleasant to use and the eyecups feel sturdy and have a nice tactile click when you twist them in and out. The objective lens covers are nice and generally stay in place quite well, but feel kinda weird trying to push them in. The Prostaff line objective covers are pieces of junk in my opinion. I still own my M5s because even after I bought my HGs, I decided it's nice to still have a nice secondary pair of bins in case I go out with a friend or something. In the end it's up to you if you want to dip your toes into mid-range binoculars like the Monarch series, but I can assure you the optical quality is WAY better than anything below it, and is still fairly close to that of significantly more expensive models. TL;DR - you will not find a better pair of binoculars under $300 - they are optically great, and feel nice to use. The only sacrifice for the low price is the field of view is not very wide, but I don't think that's really a big deal. If you care a lot about FOV specifically, then you can go for the M7, but it's more expensive and feels almost exactly the same besides the wider FOV.

Excellent optics with crystal clear viewing even it low-light conditions. They were a gift to a family member who was stunned to be able to clearly see the shadows of the moon’s craters.

Incredible entry level binoculars. Great value, easy to use, nice form factor.

Perfect for boating. Don’t need to place them right on your eye so they work well with sunglasses. The right mag. Any more you would need stabilization control for a good image which cost substantially more. Very easy to find your target and quickly zoom to clarity. Lens caps are teathered so no keeping track or losing them. No negatives.

The binoculars are awesome but the eye piece cap is extremely loose. I just purchased the product. The eyepiece cap constantly falls off. I suspect the cap will be gone quickly. Otherwise it's a quality product with a clear picture and easy to focus. The issue with the eye piece cap is why it's not getting 5 stars.

These are nice lookers with clarity.

These are the best binoculars if you are bird watching. I’m pretty new at it, but I ended up buying another pair so i can leave them on different floors in my house in case i see something out the window!

Fantastic binoculars for the money. Nice weight and feel in hand. We wear glasses and the eye re-relief works great. Started using it more often with weather improving. Took a shot at some of the trees in backyard with leaves blooming. The vision was striking-almost akin to viewing the tress branches in shot in very professional video camera in a nature documentary. Can not wait to start watching some birds. I just wish it came with tripod mount. This would be a great feature to add. I would probably rate this binocular 4.5/5 for this reason, otherwise it is a 5 all the way. Never tried any other binocular except a small Tesco years ago. I have some to belief you get what you pay for. Very happy with purchase. This one goes with us on every trip going forward.

Really impressed with these binoculars. The image is sharp and bright, even in lower light. They feel solid but not too heavy, and the grip is good. Focus is smooth and easy to adjust. Great for wildlife and general outdoor use. Very happy with them.

Works great! The weight is nice and it is very clear. Nice set Worth the money

Super nice quality Would definitely buy again

Just a basic binocular ,similar to the previous version but with a slimmer body , redesigned diopter knob and neck strap, that,s longer, narrower, thicker with a contoured shape to fit around the neck, a slight improvement on the FOV (6ft). Images are bright and sharp with ED glass and all adjustments work well, one star removed as the finish is a bit basic but that,s a personal view.

Excellent performance and value. Bought the Nikon Monarch M5 8x42 on sale. Very well made. Clarity is much better than another pair purchased from a top 5 brand.