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How sharp should the view be for a Nikon Monarch M5 in 8x42? (1 Viewer)

G

greekgeek

Active member
United States
I recently picked up a Monarch M5 and have been using it for a few weeks. I feel like the fine focus should be sharper, especially in lower light. I am unsure if it is a defect or if my expectations are too high since this is on the inexpensive side of the Monarch line.

Does anyone have experience with the M5, and do you find it to have a very sharp focus capability, able to expose fine details?

I feel like mine constantly lands just outside.of a sharp resolution, just outside of revealing fine as I struggle to achieve that last bit of focus.

Trying to decide if I should send it in under warranty. I only have 90 days because it was a Nikon refurbished.
 
The only Nikon Monarch M5 I have used is the 12x42. A Celestron Granite 12x50 showed more detail than the Swaro. EL 10x42. Then bought this (new) thinking it too would show more detail than an "alpha" 10x. It showed less detail than the Leica Ultravid 10x25. (Immediately gave it away.)
 
greekgeek said:
I recently picked up a Monarch M5 and have been using it for a few weeks. I feel like the fine focus should be sharper, especially in lower light. I am unsure if it is a defect or if my expectations are too high since this is on the inexpensive side of the Monarch line.

Does anyone have experience with the M5, and do you find it to have a very sharp focus capability, able to expose fine details?

I feel like mine constantly lands just outside.of a sharp resolution, just outside of revealing fine as I struggle to achieve that last bit of focus.

Trying to decide if I should send it in under warranty. I only have 90 days because it was a Nikon refurbished.
Click to expand...
I had a Monarch M5 on trial for a while, after trying various binoculars and of all of them decided to get and keep the M7. The sharpness and focus of my sample were excellent, truly comparable not only to those of the M7, but also to other higher-end binoculars. The only real limitation I found for its cost was the narrow fov
 
adhoc said:
The only Nikon Monarch M5 I have used is the 12x42. A Celestron Granite 12x50 showed more detail than the Swaro. EL 10x42. Then bought this (new) thinking it too would show more detail than an "alpha" 10x. It showed less detail than the Leica Ultravid 10x25. (Immediately gave it away.)
Click to expand...
Interesting, thanks for sharing. Sounds similar to my situation, although I am questioning if my expectations are too high. I have compared it to a ~36 year old alpha in the non phase coated 8x42 B&L Elite. Sharpness and detail is hands down better than the M5, although the M5 outperforms in other areas notably brightness.

Davide_Videvitt said:
I had a Monarch M5 on trial for a while, after trying various binoculars and of all of them decided to get and keep the M7. The sharpness and focus of my sample were excellent, truly comparable not only to those of the M7, but also to other higher-end binoculars. The only real limitation I found for its cost was the narrow fov
Click to expand...
With this experience noted, I feel like something may in fact be defective in my pair. It has the narrow FOV, which I can love with and knew going in to the purchase. But the lack of sharpness is bothering me.

I will play with it a little more, also on the IPD but am leaning towards sending them in for a warranty service.
 
A warranty service may not help if the optics are at the lower end of quality control.

Binoculars vary depending on how good the optics actually are, more so if Chinese.

High speed polishing sometimes give poor results compared to traditional polishing.

The glass blanks may also have striations.

Regards,
B.
 
Binastro said:
A warranty service may not help if the optics are at the lower end of quality control.

Binoculars vary depending on how good the optics actually are, more so if Chinese.

High speed polishing sometimes give poor results compared to traditional polishing.

The glass blanks may also have striations.

Regards,
B.
Click to expand...
Interesting, I had not considered that. Might be a contributing factor.

However, I think I just found the primary problem- the diopter. It seems to be somehow defective. Something is "wandering" in it, maybe?

Not the ring itself, the ring is not moving. But I now need to move the ring waaaaay over to get the snappy focus.

Is that even possible?? I do not know how a diopter functions.

On all my other binoculars the diopter is at or close to neutral. Even with this pair, I had set it very close to neutral, it seemed pretty good. but now days later I was struggling with the fine focus and had to go quite a ways in the negative to get the image sharp.

Does this sound like a defect?

I guess I will play with it a little more but it seems strange to me that after setting it near to neutral, it now needs to go much further.

Pair in question:
1000020263.jpg

A different pair, adjusted at same time.
1000020262.jpg
 
Well, all boxed up and ready to go, planning to check back and update how the service goes.

I will say this in answer to my own original question: the M5 view can be very sharp indeed, so I will be happy to keep them if the wandering diopter is fixed.
 
The binoculars have been accepted for repair under the warranty. They communicated about them on the same day they arrived at the repair center. Very prompt service so far, and the status may be checked online.

1000020792.png
 
Service was completed on 5/15 and I received them today. It is the same pair but ran many checks and adjusted the diopter.

Wow, it is a night and day difference. I think they did a great job because the views are outstanding. My M5 is tack sharp now. The focuser feels significantly better and is silky smooth in both directions, with zero play.

The serial number is the same but these feel like a new pair of binoculars compared to when I was struggling with them at the start of this thread.

Time will tell if the diopter stays put but so far I am very impressed with the views. That sharp focus dials right in now, no more hunting.

A+ on the service and turn around time from Nikon.

A++ on the cost/value ratio for the views, I am thoroughly impressed.

Thanks again to those who replied on sending them in, great advice.
1000020935.jpg1000020934.jpg
 

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