My pair of Nikon monarch binoculars were bought for me about four months ago by my wife, and straightaway I fell in love with them. I wanted a good pair to use for birdwatching. I've spent quite a bit of time researching different models to make sure my wife bought me the ones I really wanted. These binoculars have a really nice feel, they weighed only 699 g, and are extremely well-balanced. I've dropped them several times without damaging them.
I recently took them with me when I went on safari in Kenya. They were excellent for viewing animals at a distance from the safety of our jeep. Without these binoculars the trip would not have been half as good. The optic quality of the Nikon monarch binoculars is so good that I could pick out the features on people's faces in a distant village when I was looking into the sun.
My father-in-law, also an avid birdwatcher, thinks these are the best binoculars you can use. He has invited me along on almost all of his trips ever since I got them. The quality of these binoculars is fantastic for the small price you pay. If you want to the top class pair of Nikon binoculars you could easily expect to pay over $2000, but you would be heartbroken if you lost or damaged them. I would not lose any sleep if I lost my new Nikon monarchs as they are affordably replaceable.
You should keep in mind that technology is moving extremely fast, and the 2000 optics now will be down to $500 within a couple of years
I had the opportunity to use my Nikon monarch binoculars to look at a lunar eclipse last month, they gave me an excellent view of the moon in shadow. A group of friends got together to enjoy the occasion, between us we had three different pairs of binoculars, but my Nikon's were by far the best! Unfortunately for me this meant I had to share them all night.
One of the good points about buying a pair of Nikon's are the options that come standard on their binoculars. These include being waterproof and having fog prevention on their lenses, these are great qualities to have in any binoculars. There is also an extended eye relief option for people who will be wearing glasses, or using the binoculars for long periods of time.
I have to finish by saying that I don't anticipate ever switching to another model of binoculars. These have passed my tests, again and again, with flying colors. Highly recommended