NIKON MONARCH ATB 8 X 42 BINOCULAR

Best Value in Birding Optics

Sports optics have made great strides since the 1990s, and the absolute proof is the Monarch ATB 8 x 42 binocular from Japanese optics giant Nikon. Its combination of superb optics; top-quality lens coatings; lightweight, ergonomic design; rugged construction; and affordability may make it the best binocular ever for birders looking for excellent value and top performance. The Monarch ATB 8 x 42 (that’s 8× magnification with 42 mm objective lenses) sports a lightweight, roof-prism design and weighs in at just over 21 ounces. Its field of view is 330 feet at 1,000 yards. It’s good for eyeglass wearers, with eye relief of almost 20mm. The “ATB” in the name stands for “all-terrain binocular,” and the Monarch lives up to the name: It’s waterproof and fogproof and has hard rubber armor to absorb shocks. The warranty is outstanding: 25 years, no-fault, repair or replacement, against defects or accidents of any kind, for a flat $10 fee. This is a perfect binocular for general bird-watching and wildlife viewing.

Nikon is a world leader in corporate social and environmental responsibility. It established its first antipollution corporate office in 1970 and in 1992 implemented a cutting-edge corporate environmental management policy. Nikon is an active participant in the UN’s Global Compact, which supports 10 basic principles of ethical behavior in human rights, labor, the environment, and anticorruption. And it has been an industry leader in the use of lead-free solders, hexavalent-chrome-free surface treatments, and Eco-Glass, the lead-free and arsenic-free optical glass that is used in the Monarch’s top quality optical lenses.