Nikon Monarch ATB 8x42

Birding is considered the most demanding use for binoculars, so we found the best comparison tests of the Monarch ATB 8x42 binoculars at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, where teams of experienced birders compare it with 77 other models in various sizes and price ranges, using well-documented tests and precise ratings. Pete Dunne's review in Birder's World compares the Monarch ATB 8x42 with seven comparably priced binoculars, and the scorecard at Optics4Birding.com rates this model on eight different factors. We also found more than 40 owner-written reviews at Amazon.com and HuntingAndFishingGearReview.com.

Reviewers say the full-sized Nikon Monarch ATB 8x42 binoculars are the best binoculars in this price range - the "sweet spot" where you get the most for your money. Recommended for birding, hunting and butterfly watching, the Monarch ATB 8x42 binoculars can focus as close as 8.2 feet and provide a 300-foot field of view. With 19.6mm of eye relief, they're also comfortable for eyeglass wearers. They're roof-prism binoculars (the best type) and are both fogproof and waterproof. They have a tripod socket for use in low light, and carry a 25-year warranty for manufacturers' defects plus a "no-fault" warranty, which means that Nikon will repair accidental damage for a flat fee of $10. If closer focus is the priority, consider the Pentax Papilio 6.5x21 (*est. $130), which can focus as close as 18 inches.