The company was first established in the 1900’s in Japan and developed their first pair of binoculars around 1917 (called the Atom 6 x 15).
Since then, Nikon has had an excellent reputation and quest to produce the best binoculars at the most reasonable prices imaginable.
Click here for more reviews of Nikon Binoculars
Nikon begun creating optics for cameras and other devices, and from then on, they became one of the most reliable brands for binoculars on the market.
Nikon offers nine different models of binoculars:
Here is a brief description of the different kinds of binoculars that Nikon offers. You can click on them to be brought straight to the part of this review that talks about that line.
Nikon Full Sized Prostaff Binoculars:
Made for multiple different uses, these traditional Nikon binoculars have higher magnification levels for various uses.
Nikon Compact Binoculars:
These types of binoculars have lower magnifications and are easier for binocular enthusiasts to carry with them, without sacrificing quality and visibility.
Nikon Aculon Binoculars:
These types of models are designed to support any outdoor activity with a preference to aperture to provide the most light and contrast in every situation.
Nikon Monarch Binoculars
Monarch binoculars are specially designed for any outdoor activity- specifically birdwatching or hunting because of their amazing build quality. They're also very rugged and slim, to fit any activity.
Nikon EDG Binoculars
The EDG is simply the best optics out there. They aren't as rugged as other varieties, but you simply can't beat the view.
Nikon Premier Binoculars
Nikon Premier was engineered to push binocular usage to the max with the utmost ruggedness out of any model there is. Plus, they're easy to use, highly waterproof, dust-proof and even element proof to provide the most extreme usability out there.
Nikon Action Extreme
Nikon Action Extreme is designed with a durable and protective rubber-armored coating that provides a sure grip. It's body design, waterproof, and very durable.
Nikon also has a penchant for quality, with a 25 year warranty on every single one of their binoculars, and each and every pair is handcrafted for quality, completely fog-proof and weather proof, and rugged enough to withstand even the most brutal lifestyle.
What's great about Nikon is that you're buying a quality symbol of American craftsmanship (since Nikon moved to the U.S. in the 1950's) that has amazing potential for your active lifestyle.
Perfect for travel, adventures, movies, theaters, spectator sports and everything in between, when you buy Nikon, you know you're getting the best.
Nikon Monarch Review
The Nikon Monarch line is one of the most popular binocular lines of all time.
Why?
Their reputation for quality and precision make them excellent for pretty much any endeavor you could imagine - hunting, fishing, bird watching, astronomy, nature walks, even golfers and sports fanatics find an excellent use for their Nikon binoculars.
The Nikon Monarch Binoculars come in 3 main lines - the Monarch 3, the Monarch 5, and the Monarch 7. As you may have guessed, the Monarch 3 is the entry level binoculars, the Monarch 7 is the top end, and the Monarch 5 falls somewhere in between.
Differences between the Monarch 3, 5, and 7
The Monarch 7 has a really big field of view but it also has the smallest dimensions. It's actually a little bit heavier than the Monarch 5, primarily because of the better lens and prisms that give it that wide field of view.
The Monarch 3 is the largest and weighs more than the other two options. Since it's an entry level product, they use the bulkier and less expensive innards of the binocular to keep the cost down.
The Monarch 3 also has the shortest field of view. The Monarch 7 has the widest, and the Monarch 5 once again rests somewhere in between the two.
Let's touch upon Nikon's high end Monarch 7 briefly.
Nikon Monarch 7 Specifications
| Nikon Monarch 7 ATB 8x42 | Nikon Monarch 7 10x30 | Nikon Monarch 7 ATB 10x42 |
|---|---|---|
Size8x42 | Size10x30 | Size10x42 |
Eye Relief17.1 mm | Eye Relief15.8 mm | Eye Relief16.4 mm |
Field of View420 ft/1000 yds | Field of View351 ft/1000 yds | Field of View351 ft/1000 yds |
Close Focus8.2 ft | Close Focus7.8 ft | Close Focus8.2 ft |
LensesDielectric Multicoated Roof Prisms | LensesDielectric Multicoated Roof Prisms | LensesDielectric Multicoated Roof Prisms |
Weight22.9 oz | Weight15.5 oz | Weight23.6 oz |
Dimensions5.6 x 5.1 | Dimensions4.6 x 4.8 | Dimensions5.6 x 5.1 |
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Our Initial Impressions on Nikon Monarch 7 Binoculars
The Monarch 7 is truly an amazing product at a reasonable price compared to what features you're getting.
Lenses and Prisms
Their lens and prism coatings go far beyond what you're used to seeing in this price range. They have their quality dielectric multilayer prism coating. It is applied to every surface of the lenses or prisms, while many other binoculars have it on one or more, but not usually all surfaces.
Because of this, it has great brightness because more light can transfer through. It gives it almost the same appearance and brightness as the regular eye.
Nikon also gives these binoculars their Extra Low dispersion glass and they phase correction coated the prisms to give it vibrant true color look in high resolution.
Rubber-Armor
They have an option to add the rubber-armor coating which is also non-slip.
With this rubber-armor, Nikon designates the binoculars as "all-terrain binoculars" and they get the ATB classification. These binos can handle the bumps and bounces that come with banging them around in your truck, bouncing off rocks and trees in the woods, or just falling out of your hands when they are wet.
More In Depth Nikon Binocular Review
We have a far more thorough review of the Nikon Monarch Binoculars where we compare the Monarch 3 vs Monarch 5 vs Monarch 7. So go check it out if you want to go into more detail.
Nikon ACULON A211 Video Review – Watch Below
Nikon Aculon A211 Binoculars Specifications
| Nikon Aculon A211 7x35 | Nikon Aculon A211 8x42 | Nikon Aculon A211 10x42 | Nikon Aculon A211 10x50 |
|---|---|---|---|
Size7x35 | Size8x42 | Size10x42 | Size10x50 |
Lens CoatingFully Multi-Coated | Lens CoatingFully Multi-Coated | Lens CoatingFully Multi-Coated | Lens CoatingFully Multi-Coated |
Field of View488 ft | Field of View420 ft. | Field of View314 ft. | Field of View341 ft. |
Close Focus15 ft | Close Focus16.4 ft. | Close Focus16.4 ft. | Close Focus23 ft. |
Eye Relief11.8 mm | Eye Relief12 mm | Eye Relief11.6 mm | Eye Relief11.8 mm |
Weight24.2 oz | Weight26.8 oz | Weight26.8 oz | Weight31.7 oz |
Dimensions4.65 x 7.28 in | Dimensions4.13 x 4.13 x 8.07 in | Dimensions4.13 x 4.13 x 8.1 in | Dimensions4.25 x 4.25 x 8.6 in |
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As well as free standing binoculars, Nikon also produces products called StailEyes, to support fast-moving targets with reduced magnifications, and Travelite models with reverse lens variations than most models (that use roof prisms) to prevent light distortion in practically any environment, with the lightest weight of any viewing device out there.
All in all, Nikon provides a lot of quality in sleek, refined, streamlined packages built for any use you might need them for.
You’ll never be worried to take your Nikon out into the world, because these days they’re packaged in extraordinarily light Magnesium to add durability without weighing you down.
Additionally, most model’s lenses are among the best out there for converting light without huge lenses.
We’re very pleased with the build of Nikon products, and we think you will be too.
Nikon Binocular Model Range
Nikon offers a huge amount of binoculars, but most models are roof prism models, aside from the travelite set.
These types of roof prisms typically are highly durable compared to porro prisms, and they’re more compact and harder to break.
Typically speaking, roof prisms aren’t the best for binoculars, because they limit your range of vision and only see in a straight line.
Fortunately, as the times evolved, Nikon learned that the easiest way to repair these sorts of problem is to coat the insides with a layer of silver, and add extra coating to enhance the quality of vision from roof prisms.
Nikon Action Ex Extreme Video Review – Watch Below
Nikon Action Ex Extreme Binoculars Specifications
| Nikon Action Ex Extreme 8x40 | Nikon Action Ex Extreme 10x50 | Nikon Action Ex Extreme 16x50 | |
|---|---|---|---|
Size | 8x40 | 10x50 | 16x50 |
Eye Relief | 17.2 mm | 17.2 mm | 17.8 mm |
Field of View | 430 ft/1000 yds | 341 ft/1000 yds | 183 ft/1000 yds |
Close Focus | 16.4 ft | 23 ft | 23 ft |
Lenses | Dielectric High-Reflective Multilayer | Dielectric High-Reflective Multilayer | Dielectric High-Reflective Multilayer |
Weight | 30.2 oz | 36 oz | 36.7 oz |
Dimensions | 5.4 x 7.4 | 7 x 7.7 | 7 x 7.7 |
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In doing so, the quality of roof prisms is right up there with porro prisms, but lower grades of porro prisms are usually equivalent to these powerful lenses, but much less durable, and a lot bigger, simply because there are a lot more parts involved.
Typically, porro prisms jet out of binoculars and create eye-pieces that are awkward for people with glasses.
Nikon binoculars, on the other hand, provide excellent lens relief for anyone with eye problems, and the images project further from the binoculars than most pairs out there, and they’re also much easier to use.
While most Nikon models don’t have particularly noticeable eyepieces, if you’re inclined to need them, there are a wide variety you can supplement with on the internet.
In general, the eyepieces on these models are non-existent, or very sleek and discreet because of the roof prism design.
Various other companies offer similar eyepieces that can cover in a pinch, however.
Focusing with Nikon Binoculars
The diopter on these models is readily apparent, and in general, most of the models that Nikon offers auto-focus automatically.
This is especially useful if you’re looking to simply get out there and get in the game, take your binoculars with you and go.
Various higher models of Nikon binoculars do offer single lens focusing abilities by simply turning knobs or adjusting various features.
When it comes down to it, there are few brands out there that offer the focus, clarity and precision that Nikon products do.
Additionally, Nikon binoculars have unmatched clarity. Double coated to promote the very best vision out there, these lenses are pretty much perfect in no-light or twilight situations.
The reflective coating also means that bright situations, like if you’re birdwatching in the Caribbean for example, the sun isn’t going to keep you from using your amazing binoculars.
Durable Binoculars From A Durable Brand
In the end, there are no more rugged binoculars out there, built for any situation. They’re fog proof, weather proof and rain proof.
Most models are also highly resistant to dust, and never break. If they do, they’re completely covered by the warranty- and it’s never your fault.
Nikon is a very quality brand. There’s nothing else out there that matches the quality, power, dependability, and overall value that Nikon provides each single customer.
There’s very few binoculars out there that are built as well as these varieties for the price that you’re going to pay- and no other company out there gives you a brand new pair of binoculars if you happen to break yours.
So don’t wait! Pick up a quality pair of Nikon binoculars today!
Download My FULL Excel Sheet with over 200 Binoculars
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Click HERE to download the Excel file.