Nikon Monarch M5 8x42 review: ED glass and long eye relief for the money
Our verdict: 4.5/5. The Monarch M5 8x42 is Nikon's value ED-glass binocular, and its standout is comfort: 19.5 mm of eye relief, class-leading for a 42 mm and more than the pricier Monarch M7, which makes it one of the best 8x42s for eyeglass wearers. Nikon ED glass with dielectric and phase-corrected coatings delivers bright, true-color images, and it is fully waterproof and fogproof at a light 22.2 oz. It is our best-glass pick in our birding guide. The honest catches are a narrower 335-foot field of view than some rivals, an average 8.2-foot close focus, and a thin review record.
One owner rates it 5.0/5 on OpticsPlanet, a limited record we flag honestly. Price and stock verified August 18, 2026: around $340 , in stock; confirm the current price on the retailer page.
How we reviewed it: a research-based review built from retailer specifications, the Monarch M5 line record and the verified owner-review record, with a live comparison to the step-up Monarch M7. We have not bench-tested this unit ourselves; the score is our editorial opinion, and owner ratings are shown attributed to their source. See how we evaluate.
What it is
The Monarch M5 is Nikon's mid-tier value binocular, and the 8x42 is its most versatile configuration: the widest view in the M5 series, built around Nikon's legendary ED (extra-low dispersion) glass to cut chromatic aberration, with dielectric high-reflective and phase-correction prism coatings for bright, natural-color, high-resolution images. It is fully rubber-armored, waterproof and nitrogen-purged fogproof, with turn-and-slide eyecups and flip-down objective covers. The name Monarch has been Nikon's birding and hunting standard for years, and the M5 is the accessible way into it.
The glass and the eye relief
Two things define the M5 8x42. First, the ED glass: owners and the wider Monarch reputation both point to color fidelity and resolution above its price, the reason to pick a Nikon over a cheaper non-ED binocular. Second, and more distinctive, is the eye relief. At 19.5 mm it is class-leading for a 42 mm binocular and, notably, longer than the step-up Monarch M7 (17.1 mm), so eyeglass wearers get the full field with the eyecups twisted down. Its 5.3 mm exit pupil (42 divided by 8) also gives a bright, forgiving image in low light at dawn and dusk.
The honest trade-offs
The M5 is not without compromises, and we would rather you know them. Its 335-foot field of view at 1000 yards is on the narrow side: an 8x42 like the Vortex Diamondback HD (393 feet) shows noticeably more, which matters for finding and tracking birds. Its 8.2-foot close focus is only average, longer than the best close-focusing birding glass. And on OpticsPlanet its review record is thin, a single 5.0-star owner review at the time of writing, so there is less crowd-sourced feedback to lean on than for higher-volume rivals. The Monarch line's reputation is strong; the OpticsPlanet sample size for this specific model is small.
What one owner says (1 verified review, 5.0/5 on OpticsPlanet)
“Excellent short-range binoculars… we previously used our Tasco 10x50 to watch wildlife on our small lake from 10 to 75 yards and always had trouble focusing. The excellent discussion of different ranges led us to the Nikon.”
Ken, verified owner, 2 of 2 found helpful
One review is a thin record, so we weight it lightly and lean on the verified specifications and the Monarch line's long track record instead.
Monarch M5 vs M7 8x42: which should you buy?
Nikon sells the M5 and the step-up M7 side by side, both 8x42, both ED glass, and the gap is smaller than the price suggests. The M7's headline advantage is a much wider 435-foot field of view (versus 335 feet), which is a real benefit for birding and fast-moving subjects; it also adds a locking diopter and an oil and water repellent lens coating. The M5's counter is value: it costs about $200 less, weighs slightly less (22.2 vs 23.6 oz), and actually offers a touch more eye relief (19.5 vs 17.1 mm). Buy the M7 for the wider view and the extra features; buy the M5 to keep the ED glass and long eye relief for less.
| Monarch M5 8x42 | Monarch M7 8x42 | |
|---|---|---|
| Street price | around $340 | around $540 |
| Owner rating | 5.0/5, 1 review | 5.0/5, 3 reviews |
| Field of view | 335 ft at 1000 yds | 435 ft at 1000 yds |
| Eye relief | 19.5 mm | 17.1 mm |
| Exit pupil | 5.3 mm | 5.3 mm |
| Close focus | 8.2 ft | 8.2 ft |
| Weight | 22.2 oz | 23.6 oz |
| Diopter | Standard | Locking |
| Repellent lens coating | No | Oil and water repellent |
| Glass | Nikon ED, dielectric + phase | Nikon ED, dielectric + phase |
| Check M5 price | Check M7 price |
Prices and stock verified August 18, 2026 (M5 in stock at around $340 ; M7 in stock at around $540 ). Confirm both on the retailer page.
Key specifications
| Magnification | 8x |
|---|---|
| Objective lens | 42 mm |
| Prism | Roof, phase-corrected + dielectric |
| Glass | Nikon ED (extra-low dispersion), fully multi-coated |
| Eye relief | 19.5 mm (class-leading) |
| Exit pupil | 5.3 mm |
| Field of view | 335 ft at 1000 yds (6.4 deg) |
| Close focus | 8.2 ft |
| Weight / length | 22.2 oz / 5.7 in |
| Diopter | Standard (non-locking) |
| Sealing | Waterproof (1 m/10 min), nitrogen-purged fogproof, rubber-armored |
| In the box | Binocular (Nikon retail box adds case, strap and covers) |
| Warranty | Nikon limited warranty |
Should you buy it, and what else to consider
- Buy it if you want Nikon ED glass and class-leading eye relief for eyeglasses at around $340 , and can accept a narrower field of view.
- Want a wider field? Step up to the Nikon Monarch M7 8x42 (435-foot field, locking diopter) or, for the widest field at the best value, see the Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42 in our birding guide.
- Comparing 8x42s? See our best 8x42 binoculars roundup and 8x42 vs 10x42.
- New to the specs? Start with what the numbers mean and how to choose binoculars.
FAQ
Is the Nikon Monarch M5 8x42 a good binocular?
Yes. It is a genuine ED-glass binocular at a mid-price, and its 19.5 mm of eye relief is class-leading, making it one of the most comfortable 42 mm binoculars for eyeglass wearers. Nikon ED glass, dielectric and phase-corrected coatings give bright, true-color, high-resolution images, and it is fully waterproof and fogproof at 22.2 oz. Its honest limits are a narrower 335-foot field of view than some rivals, an 8.2-foot close focus that is only average, and a thin review record on OpticsPlanet.
Nikon Monarch M5 or M7: which should I buy?
Buy the Monarch M5 8x42, under $400, for the best value: the same ED glass and 5.3 mm exit pupil, actually slightly more eye relief (19.5 mm vs 17.1 mm) and a lighter 22.2 oz body. Step up to the Monarch M7 8x42, under $600, for a much wider field of view (435 vs 335 feet at 1000 yards), a locking diopter and an oil and water repellent lens coating. The M7 is the wider, more feature-rich glass; the M5 is the value pick that keeps the ED glass and the long eye relief.
Is the Nikon Monarch M5 8x42 good for eyeglass wearers?
Yes, it is one of the best in its class for glasses. Its 19.5 mm of eye relief is generous, more than the step-up Monarch M7 (17.1 mm) and more than most 42 mm rivals, so with the turn-and-slide eyecups down you get the full field of view while wearing eyeglasses. Owners who wear glasses single out the clarity.
Is the Monarch M5 8x42 good for birding?
It is a capable birding glass, especially if you value ED-glass color fidelity and long eye relief, and it is our best-glass pick in our birding guide. The caveats for dedicated birders are its 335-foot field of view, which is narrower than an 8x42 like the Vortex Diamondback HD (393 feet) that is easier to find and track birds with, and an 8.2-foot close focus that is longer than the best close-focusing birding binoculars.
Not sure where the M5 sits in Nikon's range? Our Nikon binocular line decoder maps the whole ProStaff and Monarch ladder, including what replaced the ProStaff 3S and 7S. More binoculars: best binoculars for birding · best 8x42 binoculars · best binoculars for hunting.