Nikon Monarch vs Zeiss Conquest 10 x 42 Binos

[stubear]

Hi all,

As per the title I'm weighing up these two sets of binos. I've got a birthday coming up at the end of next month and my old binos, whilst they have served me well for over a year, are older than an old thing and are well due for upgrade.

I'm looking at 10x42 binos, either the Zeiss Conquest (£800) or the Nikon Monarch (either the 5 or 7 series, between £250 - £400 depending on the series).

Has anyone tried both sets of binos and could weigh them up? I know the Zeiss will be better but will they be "twice-the-price" better?

 

[tozzybum]

Hi Stu ,dont forget the Leica,s about £600 to £700 gets you a nice set of quality optics like wot i got .And at the minute Uttings are giving free trailcams with their,s atb

 

[stubear]

Hi Stu ,dont forget the Leica,s about £600 to £700 gets you a nice set of quality optics like wot i got .And at the minute Uttings are giving free trailcams with their,s atb

True! I will have a look at those as well

 

[762Scot]

I have a set of 10x42 Nikon Monarch's. Got them in the US maybe 5 years ago for $299. I think they are great binoculars with good glass. I would recommend you try them before you buy to make sure they work for your eyes.
I have compared my binoculars to the high end ones costing way more and to be honest I cannot justify changing them. They were described to me as the best bang for your $$ when I bought them.

 

[thistledeyke]

I have a pair of zeiss terra 10x42 cost around £339 I like em.

 

[Biathlonjimmy]

Stu I bought a pair of Nikon Monarch 7 from Amazon for around £280.00 about 3 years ago. 8x42. They are, to my eyes, the best pair of non Swarovski bins I have looked through. For the money they are superb. The ED glass is very good. Ergonomically they are excellent. The eye cups are comfortable. The last light ability is excellent. I love being able to see what's around the highseat when stalking in well before sunrise.

 

[John Gryphon]

There are Nikon and then there are Zeiss!

 

[tarponhead]

Hi,

Have a look at Minox and Steiner (<£600), especially for low light. If you can get to the Shooting Show in Feb you can try them all out and possibly snag a bargain.

 

[Hales Smut]

The difference between £300 and £800 or £1500 pair of binoculars is mostly the last 2 or 3 minutes of the day. That's mostly when "it" happens. The difference between seeing a nice roebuck and not seeing him. Are they worth it ? If you want to see good those last 2 or 3 minutes, you need Zeiss, Swaro, Leica.

 

[Totsy]

I ordered 8 x 42 monarch 7 yesterday. I'll let you know what I think.

 

[terrier1]

There,s an old saying you only get what you pay for. All the people I have stalked with have said they started with this make and that make, But they have all now got one of top three. This should tell you something.

 

[stubear]

Thanks folks - sounds like "if you buy cheap you buy twice" is an applicable adage here!!

Think I'll look at Zeiss, Swarovski and Leica then, and just wince a bit when I pay for them haha!

 

[sikamalc]

Buy once only, the best will stay good for the rest of your life if looked after.

 

[TOMMO.B]

Buy once only, the best will stay good for the rest of your life if looked after.

Until the new ones come out

 

[NigelM]

Until the new ones come out

I went with a pair of second hand Swaro 10*42 EL's 15 years ago and they were fantastic...until last year. Fought off the urge to get some range finding ones for some time but it beat me last October. Got as much for the Swaro's in px as I paid for them originally so they served me well and will serve the next owner very well too.

 

[Kalahari]

Swaro do the Habicht 7 x 42 in the "old style" for around £600 new and they have really good write ups.

David.

 

[Kalahari]

McAvoy guns do them at just under £600

David.

 

[bman940]

Guy's, I have seen this thread 100's of times over the last 4 years. Nikon's MONARCH 7's are outstanding and even a respected U.S. writer who is known for favoring Euro bino's said he would put the MONARCH 7's up against bino's costing 4-5 times as much. You can pay more if you want to but do yourself a favor and take a look through a pair of 7's before you decide. Once I bought a pair of MONARCH 7's my Swarovski's 10x42's have been safe queens. For the past 7 years I have been doing freelance PR Shooting Event's for Nikon so I get to do a lot of product testing and even some abusing of the new stuff. I don't do any sales so nothing to be gained by me giving you my input. Just trying to help you guy's save some money. Take a look through a pair and then make your decision. Feel free to drop me a note with any question's. Definitely take a look at Nikon's warranty to, run over your bino's, guess what, covered!

 

[stubear]

Update - I ordered the Zeiss 10x42 Conquest

The only small snag now is talking my wife into letting me use them on the various upcoming stalking outings I have before the end of Feb haha! Wish me luck...