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I hope with this comparison review to help you with a decision on your next purchase of quality Binoculars!
There are many ideas of what the best hunting binoculars are. And depending on your budget those ideas can be very wide-ranging ! There are many options in sport optics these days and choosing the right ones can be a chore. I have become a huge fan of Vortex optics over the past several years. Not just for the midrange pricing, but because you get a top of the line quality optic for a mid range price !
Today I present my comparison review of the
Vortex Diamondback Roof prism 10×42 Binocular.
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Vortex Diamonback Roof Prism 10×42 Binocular -$199.99
and the Nikon Monarch 7577 10×42 Binocular
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Nikon Monarch 7577 10×42 Binocular -$296.95
First Impressions of both
I had an older pair of Nikon Monarch Binoculars that were very high quality and the price I paid was unbeatable!. After all it’s hard to argue with free. Those binoculars were given to me several years ago, and I loved them ! The crystal clear sight picture was amazing! But as things sometimes happen, they were lost when caught in a storm on the lake. I tried and tried with no luck to recover them.
I saved back the money to replace my binoculars and when I went to the sporting goods store I shop at sometimes they had 3 different binoculars in the size and power I wanted. A pair of Bushnells, 1 pair of Nikon Monarchs in a lower power, and a pair of Vortex Diamonback Roof Prism 10×42 binoculars
At first, I decided to order my 10×42 Monarchs on Amazon and started browsing through the store. As I did so I was thinking about how impressed I had been with my Vortex Diamondback rifle scope I had purchased the year before. It is a fantastic scope with awesome glass and field of view!
The more I thought about it the more interested I became. So I went back and looked at the Vortex offering for about an hour. When I looked through the binoculars the sight picture was awesome, the field of view was good and the crispness of the images was fantastic so I purchased them. I was hoping all the way home that I didn’t make a mistake, and I would find out that I didn’t in short order!
I love the Vortex Diamondbacks! I have hunted with them for a year now and I really have nothing but good to say.I feel that they perform on par with the Nikon Monarch Binoculars with one major difference. They cost about $100 less.
My first impressions of the Vortex line of optics left me impressed!
And my impression of the Nikon Monarch Binoculars had sent me looking for another pair when mine were lost.! So my field testing part of this comparison ends up a tie in everything but price and I think the Nikons are a little nicer cosmetically in my opinion. But that wasn’t exactly one of my criteria. The flip down lens caps are a nice touch over the Vortex, but there are some not so great reviews and complaints on the lens caps.
The Comparison
Vortex Diamonback Roof Prism 10×42
- 10x magnification and 42mm objective lenses, these Diamondback binoculars are the workhorse of Vortex lineup; known for impressive optical quality and durability.
- Dielectric, fully multi-coated lenses transmit more light and clearer, brighter images. A field of view that is one of the largest in its class helps you efficiently glass your surroundings and identify your target.
- A sleek, short hinge design with rubber armor and thumb indents leaves more room for your hands creating an easier, secure, non-slip grip.
- Multi-position eye cups twist up for adjustable eye relief. A right eye diopter accomodates for focal differences in your eyes.
- Argon purging and rubber armor provide enhanced waterproof and fogproof performance in extreme weather conditions.
- Warranty – Unconditional lifetime V.I.P. warranty. No proof needed and transferable.
- Weight 1.34 lbs
- What’s in the box?Rainguard Eyepiece Cover, Tethered Objective Lens Covers, Comfort Neckstrap, Deluxe Molded Carrycase.
- All MONARCH 5 binoculars are now built with Nikon’s premium ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) Glass for a sharper, clearer and more brilliant field of view.
- Almost an ounce lighter than its predecessor, the new MONARCH 5 is even easier to bring along on your next adventure.
- Fully Multicoated Eco-Glass Lenses provide a high light transmittance across the entire visible light spectrum.
- It is equipped with user-friendly features such as Turn-and-Slide Rubber Eyecups, a Smooth Central Focus Knob and Flip Down Lens Caps.
- Warranty – Lifetime
- It is equipped with user-friendly features such as Turn-and-Slide Rubber Eyecups, a Smooth Central Focus Knob and Flip Down Lens Caps.
- Weight 1.35 lbs
- What’s in the box? Qty1 Nikon Monarch 7577 10×42 Binocular – Flip down lens caps
Differences between the Vortex and Nikon
The differences between the Vortex and Nikon offerings are small in nature. I really like the caps on the Nikons but they have gotten a few less than good reviews. I like the styling of the Nikon Monarchs, but that wasn’t a big issue for me. If that is an issue with you, you may want to consider the Nikon Binos. My biggest concern other than glass and clarity at all ranges is that the ones I purchase have a rubberized (or quiet) coating. And that is true of both. That was important to me for those accidental times when your range finder or grunt tube bumps against your binoculars when in the field. And I believe both are great in that department.
The controls Feel great on both pair. I will note that the Vortex Binoculars controls are a little tighter than the Nikon controls, but I actually like that. And they may not be much of a difference considering my Nikons were a couple of years old when I got them.
And my suggestion on the best binocular is…
The best binocular in this review has 2 very closely matched offerings that perform very well ! I loved my Nikons and one of the guys I know really loves his. But I love the new Vortex binoculars that are about a year and a half old now too. If I had to pick one difference other than the cosmetics,I would say that it would be the size. The Vortex binoculars are just a tiny bit smaller. If that is a big deal for you, you might want to take that into consideration. .
I would give the Vortex Diamondback Roof prism 10×42 Binoculars the nod. Since all things are pretty much equal, I’ll base this solely on the price difference. Since the fancier styling isn’t a concern for me, I can do other things with an extra $100.
Conclusion
Thank you for checking my comparison review ! These are my opinions and like anything else, opinions may vary. But I don’t see enough difference in the function, clarity, reliability and warranty to warrant an extra $100 on the Monarchs. They are both very, very good products and in fact it would have been easier to have picked a couple of other brands, because Nikon and Vortex both make an excellent product.
If you have any further questions or comments, I would appreciate it if you would leave them below in the comments section.
Have a great day !
Mike
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Very wonderful contrast, I also like the outdoor binocular very much. The most common way I use them is when my friends drive and we can better observe nature. One thing that impressed me was that we went to Yellowstone Park together to see the colored lake. A binocular we scrambled to use. It’s really fun. Once I was careless, I threw the telescope to my brother. He didn’t catch it and it fell to the ground. The front lens fell out. We have never used it again. So I plan to get a new one, but not too expensive. Thank you for sharing. I think I would like to choose Nikon.
Not a bad choice at allRaino!
These binoculars are actually pretty closely matched with the performance edge . The Vortex Binos are the better price, but it’s hard to go wrong with either!
Thanks for your comment!
Mike
Nikon is a brand that has proven itself over the years when it comes to lenses and optics. There’s no doubt that they also make some kickass binoculars.
But Vortex is also a pretty decent item and it can provide you all the optical needs you demand in hunt. If you have the money and you’re willing to invest in a good binocular, I would advise going with Nikon. If you want to pay less but STILL achieve great quality, then you can always buy a Vortex.
Everyone will always have their favorites for whatever reason, and theres nothing wrong with that!
Mike