The Nikon Monarch M7 8x42 meets
the Nikon Monarch M5 8x42
A wide-view 8x42 with ED glass and a locking diopter, ranked first by Switchback Travel. We tested it head-to-head against the Nikon Monarch M5 8x42 across 6 key dimensions.
Nikon Monarch M7 8x42
“A wide-view 8x42 with ED glass and a locking diopter, ranked first by Switchback Travel”
Nikon Monarch M5 8x42
“An ED-glass 8x42 with 19.5 mm of eye relief, from the line that won Outdoor Life's 2026 Editor's Choice”
Head-to-Head Breakdown
Strengths & Weaknesses
Nikon Monarch M7 8x42
- Switchback Travel's top binocular, and "the most comfortable pair of binoculars we tested"
- Finished half a point behind the $1,799 Zeiss SFL in Field & Stream's resolution, creek-soak and deep-freeze tests
- Its 435-foot view is the widest here, and a locking diopter holds your eye setting
- Switchback found it dimmer than some rivals at dawn and dusk, and Field & Stream lists low light as its one con
- Live Science found the focus wheel stiff
- Costs $200 more than the Monarch M5, which also uses ED glass
Nikon Monarch M5 8x42
- Its 10x50 sibling won Outdoor Life's 2026 Editor's Choice, beating 14 other new binoculars
- GearJunkie's best binocular for birdwatching, with "crisp, clear imagery in all lighting conditions"
- Glasses wearers get 19.5 mm of eye relief, more than any other binocular we recommend
- A 335-foot field of view, about a quarter narrower than the M7's
- Outdoor Life says the square eyecups don't fit all faces and calls the close focus disappointing
- No locking diopter, so the right-eye setting can get bumped
The Verdict
Our Bottom Line
Five of the nine guides we analyzed rank the Nikon Monarch M7, more than any other binocular. Switchback Travel makes it their top pick after weeks of birding, hiking and backpacking, saying it offers "the best value in the lineup while delivering consistently excellent performance." OutdoorGearLab gave it an Editors' Choice award at 73 out of 100. At Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 75 birders ran 280 head-to-head comparisons across 30 full-size 8x42 models without knowing brands or prices, and the M7 tied for second.
Nikon Monarch M7 8x42
Five of the nine guides we analyzed rank the Nikon Monarch M7, more than any other binocular. Switchback Travel makes it their top pick after weeks of birding, hiking and backpacking, saying it offers "the best value in the lineup while delivering consistently excellent performance." OutdoorGearLab gave it an Editors' Choice award at 73 out of 100. At Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 75 birders ran 280 head-to-head comparisons across 30 full-size 8x42 models without knowing brands or prices, and the M7 tied for second.
- Birders who need a wide view to follow birds through branches
- Hikers and hunters whose binoculars get rained on
- First-time buyers who want one pair to last for decades
- Travelers heading on a safari or a national park road trip
- Anyone who finds heavier binoculars tiring to hold
Nikon Monarch M5 8x42
Outdoor Life's Andrew McKean and his team read a 1951 Air Force resolution chart through every new binocular, then tested each one at 200 yards from twilight into darkness on at least three nights. "Nikon topped 14 other new binoculars to take our top award," they wrote, naming the Monarch M5 Editor's Choice in both their main and budget guides. GearJunkie named the 8x42 its best binocular for birdwatching at 8.0 out of 10 and calls it "legendary in the binocular world." Nikon lists it at $339.95, $200 less than the M7.
- New birders who want ED glass without paying $500
- Glasses wearers who need long eye relief
- Backyard and feeder watchers
- Hikers who want a light full-size pair
- Gift buyers who want a name birders trust