Nikon Monarch HG review: the 10x42, and when the 8x42, 8x30 or 10x30 is the better pick

By the OpticVerdict Editorial Team.
Research-based review · Updated 2026-10-07

How we reviewed it: a research-based review built from the retailer's listings for the four Monarch HG sizes, every owner review those listings show (1 for the 10x42, 1 for the 8x42, 2 for the 8x30, none for the 10x30), Nikon's product pages for the 42 mm and 30 mm models and for the Monarch M7, Nikon's launch releases from 2016 and 2018, Nikon's warranty page and design awards page, three Allbinos lab tests (10x42, 8x30 and a four-way 10x30 comparison) and the Bird Watching (UK) review of the 8x30. Where the retailer's specification table disagrees with Nikon, we print Nikon's figure and say so. Third-party research leads we could not confirm on a primary source were left out. We have not field-tested these binoculars; the score is our editorial opinion and owner ratings are shown attributed to their source. See how we evaluate.

What the Monarch HG line is

Nikon announced the Monarch HG 8x42 and 10x42 on 14 July 2016 and called them “the most advanced models in the history of MONARCH binoculars”. The 8x30 and 10x30 followed in a release dated 28 June 2018. Both releases say the binoculars are made in Japan, and Nikon's global site lists all four sizes. OpticsPlanet has a separate listing for each size, all black: this page reviews the 10x42 and covers the other three in their own sections.

Nikon gives all four sizes the same recipe: ED glass, multilayer coatings on every lens and prism, a dielectric high-reflective coating and a phase-correction coating on the roof prisms, a scratch-resistant coating on the outer lens surfaces, lead- and arsenic-free glass, a magnesium alloy body, a locking diopter ring and a nitrogen-filled body waterproof to 5 m (16.4 ft) for 10 minutes. Nikon says the Field Flattener Lens System “assures a sharp and clear view all the way to the lens periphery”. That is Nikon's claim; the lab results further down show it holds better on some sizes than others.

Monarch HG vs Monarch M7: what the HG adds

In 2017 Allbinos called the 10x42's 6.9 degree field a record value in the 10x42 class. Today Nikon lists exactly the same field for its Monarch M7 10x42. Nikon's own figures show where the two 10x42s actually differ:

Both use ED glass with dielectric and phase-correction prism coatings, per Nikon. Allbinos also compared scores in one size, against Nikon's Monarch 7 8x30 (the model name in its 2019 review and in Nikon's 2016 brochure, not the current M7): it scored the Monarch HG 8x30 “merely 4 points more than the Monarch 7 8x30” and credited the HG with superior build quality and better materials. Our Nikon Monarch M7 8x42 review covers the M7 in its 8x42 size.

What the lab measured

We used three tests by Allbinos, an optics test site, that include Monarch HG models. Each finding below is that lab's result for the size it tested, not a figure for the whole line.

• Light transmission. 10x42 (review dated 28 February 2017): 88.3 percent, plus or minus 1 percent. 8x30 (25 March 2019): 90.1 percent, plus or minus 1 percent; the lab wrote that the 8x30 does not reach the promised 92 percent but comes near 91 percent at 600 nm. Nikon's claim is “up to 92% or higher”. We found no measurement for the 8x42 or the 10x30.
• Edges on the 10x42. Blur starts at 84.5 percent of the way from the centre of the field, distortion scored 10 out of 10, and chromatic aberration 6.1 out of 10, “Visible on the edge and a bit higher than medium”. On the wide field the lab wrote: “Correcting such a large field of view is very difficult but Nikon managed it just fine.” Its list of cons: chromatic aberration at the very edge and “truncated exit pupils”. Overall score: 82.5 percent, and the summary calls the 10x42 “a real joy to use”.
• Edges on the 8x30. Here the lab measured blur from 74 percent of the way out and was blunt: the Field Flattener inscription “seems to be just a joke of the producer”. It also found shiny parts near the prisms and said performance against bright light leaves a bit to be desired.
• The 10x30 in 2026. In a four-way test of 10x30 binoculars dated 18 August 2026, Arkadiusz Olech placed the Monarch HG 10x30 second with 26.5 points, behind the Zeiss SFL 10x30 (29.5) and ahead of the Swarovski CL Companion III 10x30 (20.0) and the Kite Lynx HD+ 10x30 (14.0). The Nikon came first for image sharpness, edge sharpness included, and first in the build category, where its 5 m waterproof rating led the four. The tester notes that the Nikon was provided by the Beafoto.pl store, and that in a small side-by-side shootout nearly two years earlier they had judged the HG 10x30 the weakest of three; they put the change down to sample variation or a possible quiet update by Nikon, without knowing which.
• Close focus. Nikon lists 2.0 m for every size. Allbinos measured 1.65 m on the 10x42 and 1.45 m on the 8x30 and on the 10x30 it tested in 2026.

Read together: the Field Flattener result depends on the size. If edge sharpness is the reason you are buying, the lab data favours the 10x42 and the 10x30, not the 8x30.

What the one 10x42 owner says

The 10x42 listing shows 1 review and we read it. It carries five stars and the Verified Owner tag, and was posted in April 2026 by a reviewer from CT, United States, who has their own way of checking glass:

“My tests are to read the newspaper at 50 yards (resolution) and look at a white fence on a sunny day (chromatic aberration).”

snaffle (CT), verified owner, via OpticsPlanet

They compare it with a Minox HG 10x43 BR they bought 20 years ago and find the two close, “with the Nikon being just a tad brighter”. That is one owner's eyes, not a measurement. They keep their own caveat, and so do we:

“Perhaps there is better out there but, for the price I am satisfied.”

snaffle (CT), verified owner, via OpticsPlanet

The same owner has a tip for the ocular dust caps: “Ocular dust caps would not stay on till I figured out that you put them on and press the center of the cap to create a vacuum.” One review is one opinion, so the weight of this page rests on Nikon's figures and the lab results.

Trade-offs, plainly

• The 6.9 degree, 362 ft field is the same as Nikon's Monarch M7 10x42 lists at the same weight; the HG's extras are the magnesium body, 5 m waterproofing, 2.0 m close focus, 0.5 mm more eye relief and the Field Flattener.
• Measured transmission on the 10x42 (88.3 percent, Allbinos) sits below Nikon's up-to-92-percent claim.
• Allbinos found chromatic aberration a bit higher than medium at the edge of the 10x42 and slightly truncated exit pupils.
• Edge sharpness is not uniform across the line: a strong result on the 10x42 and the 2026 10x30, a weak one on the 8x30.
• The owner record is 4 reviews across four listings, and the 8x30's two reviews disagree (one four-star, one one-star).
• The retailer's spec tables carry several figures that do not match Nikon's (details in the size sections below).

Which Monarch HG: 10x42, 8x42, 8x30 or 10x30

The four sizes are separate retailer listings with their own part numbers. Optical and size figures are Nikon's (global product pages, imperial figures from Nikon USA where shown); rating and price come from each size's own listing. Exit pupil is checked by arithmetic (objective divided by magnification).

All four share, per Nikon: roof prisms, ED glass, the same coatings, a magnesium alloy body, a locking diopter, the Field Flattener Lens System and waterproofing to 5 m for 10 minutes. On its 42 mm page Nikon notes that its apparent field figures (60.3° on the 8x models, 62.2° on the 10x models) are calculated to ISO 14132-1:2002. The retailer's 10x42 table gives a length of 6.22 in where Nikon gives 145 mm (5.7 in); we use Nikon's figure.

Monarch HG 8x42

The 8x42 (part 16027) uses the same 145 x 131 x 56 mm body as the 10x42 in Nikon's data and trades 2x of magnification for a 5.3 mm exit pupil (42 / 8 = 5.25), a wider 435 ft field and 17.8 mm of eye relief, at 665 g (23.5 oz). Its relative brightness, 28.1 in Nikon's table against 17.6 for the 10x42, matches the square of the exit pupil (our arithmetic; Nikon does not give the formula). The retailer shows the same photo for this listing as for the 10x42, so we do not repeat it.

Watch the retailer's 8x42 spec table: it lists a weight of 41.09 oz, an exit pupil of 5.6 mm and a length of 6.22 in. Nikon's figures are 665 g (23.5 oz), 5.3 mm and 145 mm (5.7 in). Use Nikon's numbers.

Its owner record is a single five-star review from April 2019, posted from Australia without the Verified Owner tag. The reviewer writes “Built and balance much better than monarc7 series” and recommends a tripod to get the most from it. One review from 2019 is one opinion. For the format in general, see our best 8x42 binoculars guide and 8x42 vs 10x42.

Monarch HG 8x30

The 8x30 (part 16575) is the compact: 450 g (15.9 oz) and 119 mm long in Nikon's data, with the same 435 ft field as the 8x42, a 3.8 mm exit pupil (30 / 8 = 3.75) and 16.2 mm of eye relief. Nikon's 2018 release says the 30 mm models come with a neck strap and a semi-hard case. The retailer's table prints the interpupillary range as “56-47”; Nikon gives 56 to 74 mm.

The outside reviews split. Allbinos measured the higher of its two HG transmission figures here (90.1 percent) but the weakest edges (see the lab section above). David Chandler, reviewing it for Bird Watching (UK), found “a very good, very wide view”, measured the close focus at about 1.6 m, and warned about vignetting, which improved when they rested the binocular against the brow and pulled it closer to the eyes.

Its owner record is 2 reviews, both from 2018, so about eight years old, and they disagree. The four-star reviewer, a Verified Owner from Buenos Aires who wears glasses, writes “For me the eye relief works perfectly”, finds the centre sharp, and adds that “the edge of the field does go soft”. The one-star reviewer, from CO, United States, and without the Verified Owner tag, returned theirs:

“The eye cups are too short for the eye relief creating blackouts.”

Dennis (CO), reviewer, via OpticsPlanet

Both reviews talk about eye relief and eye position, with opposite results. If you can, try the eyecups at your own eye distance before you commit, and see our best compact binoculars guide for smaller options.

Monarch HG 10x30

The 10x30 (part 16576) shares the 8x30's 450 g (15.9 oz), 119 mm body in Nikon's data and narrows the view to the 10x42's 362 ft, with a 3.0 mm exit pupil (30 / 10 = 3.0) and the shortest eye relief of the four at 15.2 mm. Our reading of that small exit pupil (relative brightness 9.0 in Nikon's table): the least suited of the four to dusk, and the reach-in-a-pocket option. The retailer's 10x30 photo is near-identical to the 8x30 photo above, so we do not repeat it.

It has the most recent outside result in the line, and a strong one: second of four high-end 10x30s in the Allbinos test of August 2026, first for sharpness (on a unit the Beafoto.pl store provided, as noted above). It has no owner reviews on OpticsPlanet, so there is no owner opinion to report.

Key specifications: 10x42 (part 16028)

Figures are Nikon's global product page for the Monarch HG 8x42/10x42 unless marked as Nikon USA, a Nikon release or the retailer listing. Nikon's page lists a soft neck strap and integrated objective lens caps, plus interchangeable objective rubber rings without caps, which Nikon says can be switched according to use.

Warranty and awards

Warranty (United States). Nikon's Lifetime Limited Warranty covers the optical system components, and a Seven Year Limited Warranty covers the non-optical components, for the original consumer purchaser who bought from a Nikon Authorized Dealer. Keep the dated receipt. The retailer's listing describes it as a Limited Lifetime Warranty; Nikon's own terms are the ones above. Confirm with Nikon before you buy.

Awards. Nikon's design awards page lists the Monarch HG for a Good Design Award and Good Design Best 100 in 2016 and a Red Dot Award: Product Design in 2017, and the Monarch HG 8x30/10x30 for a Good Design Award in 2018 (source: Nikon). These are design awards, not optical tests.

Should you buy it, and what else to consider

• Buy the 10x42 if you want the magnesium body, 5 m waterproofing and a wide field that the Allbinos lab found well corrected. Skip it if the wide view is the only reason: Nikon lists the same field for the Monarch M7 10x42.
• Buy the 8x42 if you watch birds or hunt in woods and low light; it has the largest exit pupil of the four and, with the 8x30, the widest field.
• Buy the 10x30 if you want the HG glass in a pocket size and mostly use it in daylight; it placed second of four high-end 10x30s, and first for sharpness, in the most recent Allbinos test (on a unit the Beafoto.pl store provided).
• Think twice about the 8x30 if edge sharpness matters to you, and try the eyecups first if you wear glasses; its two owner reviews disagree on exactly that.
• Comparing the field? Our Nikon Monarch M7 8x42 review covers the M7, whose 8x42 Nikon lists with the same 435 ft field as the HG 8x42. Our Zeiss Conquest HDX review covers another magnesium-bodied 10x42 for which Zeiss lists 90 % light transmission. For birding picks, see best binoculars for birding, and for the whole Nikon range, the Nikon binoculars guide.
• Ready to spend more? Our Zeiss Victory SF review and Leica Noctivid review cover two higher-priced premium 10x42s.

FAQ

More binoculars: Nikon binoculars guide · best binoculars for hunting · Nikon Monarch M5 8x42 review · Nikon Monarch M7 8x42 review · roof prism vs porro prism.