Too many times, while enjoying the great outdoors in Scotland, I have heard the roar of a red deer during the rutting season or been suddenly alerted to the sound of a mystery bird yet I have been unable to spot any wildlife presence. With the naked eye it can be very difficult to make out an animal or bird, especially when nature designs wildlife to be disguised against the landscape.
On other occasions, it’s great to be able to zoom in on walkers or runners taking part in a group hike or sports events. For example, this weekend we spent a lot of time looking up at the Scottish mountains trying to see where the runners were in the Glencoe Skyline.
If you like to spot wildlife (or humans) as you walk or run, a pair of binoculars is a useful asset. I don’t want to carry any items that are unnecessarily heavy or bulky, yet I do want them to be good quality and useful.
The new Nikon Monarch HG binoculars offer a host of features for spotting wildlife, as well as being great for outdoors fans.
Nikon Monarch HG features:
Good views
The binoculars have High Optical Performance, which means they feature a wide field of view plus a Field Flattener Lens System that gives “sharp and clear views all the way to the edge”.
Clear views
Extra-low dispersion (ED) glass corrects chromatic aberration to give images that are rich in contrast and high in resolution.
Smart design
The binoculars are lightweight and compact so they can be easily carried in a rucksack. They are also made of tough magnesium alloy and have a scratch-resistant lens coating.
In addition, the binoculars are safe in water to a depth of five metres and for as long as 10 minutes thanks to a nitrogen- filled body.
Internal fogging is not a problem, even in low-pressure environments up to an altitude of 5000 metres.
Use with glasses
A problem I have with binoculars is that I wear glasses for short sightedness. Nikon have come up with a clever solution. The Monarch HGs feature “long eye relief” to ensure a clear field of view even if you’re wearing glasses, while the turn-and-slide rubber eyecups make it easy to position your eyes at the correct eye point.
Use with a tripod
The binoculars have an optional adapter that allows the user to attach the device to a tripod for more comfortable viewing over longer periods.
Are they any good?
The Nikon Monarch HG binoculars have been given the thumbs up by a top bird watcher
To find out more see Nikon.
- This post has been sponsored by Nikon but all the thoughts are my own.