Zeiss Terra ED, Nikon Monarch 5 and Vortex Diamondback binoculars in a head to head comparison

[@gpod70]

After doing online research, I went to the store to get the Vortex Diamondback. After trying them out, I left with the Nikon Prostaff 7S 8X30 which offered far superior views. The Vortex showed significant color fringing at the edge of the FOV and mysterious grayed out circles right in the centre FOV noticeable only when looking at a clear background such as the blue sky. Also, the focuser was hard to turn but, according to the sales person, it should get looser with usage. The Nikons were perfect out of the box so it was an easy decision. My heart was really set out on the Vortex because of the no-fault lifetime warranty but I just couldn't overlook such significant flaws. I use the Nikon Prostaff 7S for bird watching and the images are spectacular

[@josephgrn2818]

I had the same experience, but with the Vortex Viper and Nikon M7. Viper was $50 cheaper too. I kept the Nikon M7. Good thing I found out that the warranty is actually really cheap. If it runs out after 25 years, a lot of people account for paying only $10 to have it repaired.

[@tomchupick9450]

I compared the three 8x42 Vortex Viper vs Nikon Monarch 7 vs Zeiss Terra ED. The Vortex may have had sharper center, and the best guarantee, but were hard to turn the focus and hurt my eyes. The Nikons were bright and consistent across but were the least sharp of the 3 and had too long 2.5 m min focus and bad chromatic aberration when zooming with the cell phone. Zeiss felt the least solid, and were a little less bright, but were much sharper. With the cell phone zoomed I could read the fine print on garbage can stickers 30m away. I ended up buying the Zeiss.

[@MoonayMultipliar]

I doubt the center was sharper. You will likely have felt like that bcs they were so bad off center in comparison

[@stansalmon3091]

My monarch 5 eye cup adjustments developed a fault I phoned nikon uk they emailed me a pre paid mail label I sent them to nikon with in 1 week nikon repaired and returned them courier free, the nikon warranty is excellent, really brilliant...

[@wrektum]

Nikon totally wins! I love it when a company stands behind its products.

[@markg6484]

Sorry but you must be kidding. Just went for a quick deer hunt in Australia and we had the Zeiss and Vortex carried by a couple of our friends. The Diamondbacks lost out by a big margin as regards sharpness and light input to the Zeiss, abberation was worse in the Vortex too. Maybe the world looks different in the USA. The Nikons are significantly better than the Vortex as well. I would rate the Nikons and Terras just about equal.

[@MoonayMultipliar]

Well everything else would be surprising. The zeiss have the much superior glass on paper. I have a pair and i had been very skeptic before i used them bcs i just thought they are cheap, mass marketed and meant to do the same that nikon does. Get the lower end buyers to buy the product bcs of the brand. They are surprisingly good. When im using them, i think it is not worth it anymore buying the 30 years old zeiss then top of the line glasses. I have the 8x32 and they are so compact and light and superior to x20/x22/x25 that i prefer to carry them now. For hunting and low light conditions i would choose different binoculars however. Older docter 8x56 nobilems or newer docter 8x56, older zeiss 7x42 or 8x56 can be had for low prices and in the T*P* configuration will not be beaten by many modern binoculars. Especially not in terms of build quality. Steiner 8x56, ddoptics 8x56 are often used here in germany by budget orientated hunters. In australia you might find a steal ok docter binoculars bcs they are very unknown

[@GregFliesVR]

Just bought the Nikon Monarch 5s and looked up some reviews anyway. These things are CRYSTAL Clear and i could tell real contrast and depth with these things.

[@rickyeng56]

suggest you to also do a side-by-side size comparison, follow by eye-relief and optical quality. finally wrap up with a table for the spec and highlight the strength of each.

[@catherineelliott9204]

wrektum, would you recommend 8x or 10x for antarctica? Of course, light is a concern and sharpness for different distances, and weight also factors in. Thanks!

[@wrektum]

I like the 8x because it's a little easier to hold without a noticable shake. You will get a more steady image with the 8x.

[@billpeet5556]

It depends what your trying to look at, Sheep hunting the 10 is better to see at longer distance. The 8 is good for most viewing.

[@moonlightspark3402]

Heyyyy you just blow my ears off..

[@wallabing]

Too me, the Nikon monarch 5 10x42 had the best image, it was also the brightest. The Vortex diamondback I tried didn't even come close.

[@charlieharper9718]

I really didn't see any difference in the Vortex Diamondback or the Nikon Monarch when l was making my purchase at Cabelas, both were 8x42. I bought the Vortex and l'm glad l did. I dropped them while on vacation and cracked a lense. Called Vortex and sent them in. The next week l had a factory sealed pair sent to me. That easy.

[@makaninalu1]

@@charlieharper9718 , I sure did find a difference from the Votex and /monarch 5,the monarch 5 was 2x brighter than the Vortex,so I bought the Nikon 10x42mm.....

[@charlieharper9718]

@@makaninalu1 great, glad you liked them! I bought the 8x42 Vortex over a year ago now and so far l liked them. I do have a Nikon 10x50 that are over 6 yrs old. I like them also.

[@pulpmysteryfan]

I saw that there are two versions of the Diamondback -- the newer one is Diamondback HD. Did you compare the Monarch's to the HD, or to the earlier model?

[@bngr_bngr]

@@pulpmysteryfan the Monarch 5 also has been upgraded. The Nikons still have a significantly large eye relief than the Vortex, 18.4mm vs 15mm.

[@BC_Hunter]

I’m watching other reviews on the Tera Ed’s and they’re saying they have lifetime warranty?

[@Mr1Alex91]

Nice Seiko monster 👌🏼

[@wrektum]

Good catch. That watch served me well until I sold it. Now my friend flashes it every time I see him.

[@alexabadi7458]

I don't think the Nikon warranty will work for "accidents", I think Nikon will repair your binoculars only if they don't focus anymore or something get loose inside but not if you drop your binoculars.

[@samgab]

Yeah, Nikon no longer have a lifetime "no fault" warranty. They discontinued that in 2019.

[@MM-pw3wb]

Great review, thank you

[@ryanmallory8687]

Thanks for the movie. You helped my decision. Nice seiko by the way.

[@wrektum]

Hey Ryan! What was your decision?

[@ryanmallory8687]

@@wrektumI went with a pair of monarch 7 8x30s. They are really nice. I was about to pull the trigger on a pair of zeiss, but after hearing your thoughts on them I rethought the decision. Thanks again

[@trident8872]

Which is the best?

[@wrektum]

That is a tough decision. Let me start by telling you the Zeiss is gone! The Nikon and Vortex both feel well constructed and provide a clear image. If I could only keep one it would be the Nikon just because I have used the Nikon warranty in the past and they have been fantastic.

[@novatech2]

Nikon for the money and customer service on their warranty...….

[@sergeyvasilishin5761]

I don't think Nikon warranty will cover falls of your binoculars, they will say it's a negligence on your part.

[@bkind5766]

They are covered my friend, believe me the warranty is as good as anyone’s out there. No Fault means it does not matter, as long as you have physical product. Go online at nikonsportoptics.com and you can do it all from there. Very simple to do. We have the lowest return rate in the business, but just in case you are good!

[@novatech2]

Nikon will repair them with no question ask...…..and no charge...….

[@spacecatboy2962]

dang, why does Nikon charge 100 more of 12 power than 10 power

[@novatech2]

more glass built in the binoculars.

[@bsdstrat]

Review seems like it’s geared to beginners or idiots. Almost every review I’ve seen compares the Zeiss to the Nikon maonarch 7. I love Vortex by the way but the Diamondbacks do not have ED glass or BaK4 prisms.

[@nature1dpalma]

This is selling Vortex... as he said Obviously.

[@MDeJo27603]

Um... the Diamondback HD's actually do have ED glass. Their HD line is replacing the regular line.

[@halfglassfull]

@@MDeJo27603 nowhere in the manufacturer's literature could I find anything stating ED glass. Step up to the Vipers if you want ED.

[@StevenYoungcaptual]

Thanks-Nice info.!

[@엘티-f4p]

Hi...i like your this showing from you sir

[@wrektum]

So nice of you

[@inland85]

Vortex is junk i have a pair of Diamondback in 10x42 they have a lot of CA when you look through them Nikon is Waaaaay better !!!

[@bighands69]

You probably just dislike the cultural aspect of them.

[@inland85]

@@bighands69 i dislike them because they are not what Vortex says they are and anybody that would give them anymore than a 2 star rating dose not know what a good pair of Binoculars are !!!

[@BadKarma.-]

@@inland85 shouldn't so contact vortex and get you a new pair

[@novatech2]

The Nikon Monarchs are way way better and priced right, they are built better than Vortex and have a better warranty than the others, go check their reviews, I really love them over any cheaper or more expensive binoculars on the market, they are 2x brighter than Vortex......and SHARPER and built touch.........

[@Nick-cs9dt]

So why this review? To be honest this review did sound as though this guy was doing some promotion for Vortex.

[@alicevonkannon1033]

You're right about the Zeiss - I spent a thousand on some Zeiss for astronomy night viewing, and they're spectacular. Went back to the same shop to get some binocs for camping, birding and wildlife viewing, and tried the Zeiss made in China. Absolute crap in comparison, not only to the German made Zeiss, but to the other wildlife 10 X 42s.

[@MrJusmobile]

Zeiss made in China are fantastic

[@VWet]

For anyone with so much prejudice against something, you will only miss many good things in the world

[@outdooralpin3084]

Problem is, that most glass from zeiss is crafted today in china...no joke

[@ZhangJingxi]

When i hear the hey... At 0:01.. close this video

[@wrektum]

Do you feel good now? Is that what it takes to make you feel like a valuable person? To insult others?

[@ZhangJingxi]

@@wrektum LOL that is not an insult. I am annoyed by the way you start your video. You hurt my ear. And I am pointing that out.

[@ZhangJingxi]

@@wrektum look at the top rated comment. talking about the same thing, you should know your start is causing discomfort to viewers

[@Nick-cs9dt]

If this is causing you hurt may I suggest that you stay off youtube, maybe buy some earplugs or better still get out in the real world so you can experience hurt and then come back and realise how pathetic this comment is.

[@kurtwilhelm3823]

I will NEVER buy a Nikon product again. terrible service. I now love my Leupolds. And they gave me free replacement when I dropped a pair out of a tree stand on a rock.

[@MM-pw3wb]

And funny too!

[@wrektum]

Very kind!

[@malsamalsa3576]

You are a man of experience I want to know what the difference between a binoculars x10 like lica or sios Whose price is expensive up 800$ and between binocular x10 gosky or selestron Low price of 100$ www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072QWD8GB/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=AHQ6VCR020F8X&psc=1

[@Jonas-ly1rb]

Diamondback HD is best than monarch 5

[@nature1dpalma]

After 2 years vortex have fall apart and Nikon well..

[@brianbauer7196]

Dennis Al Palma E unlimited lifetime warranty

[@nature1dpalma]

bauer not here in Costa Rica, here is different warranty sadly.. I know well...

[@sufficetosay]

I own more binoculars than I care to admit. I collected so many I had to start giving them away to family members and friends. I have the latest Swarovski El's as my ultimate reference. I have a pair of Zeiss Terra binoculars 8x42 which look good on my charts but outdoors do absolutely nothing for me as the focus is horrible. Mind you I also own several rifle scopes Terra and Conquests and I like them all. These Chinese Zeiss are made to a very low quality point imo. There is no feeling of precision or quality for that matter anywhere. I am getting ready to purchase a 8x42 Monarch 7 I hope it's a good one...

[@makaninalu1]

Good Choice......

[@brandon.karnes]

Do you like the Nikon Monarch 5 better than the Zeiss Terra ED?

[@chelovekfrege7550]

May I ask, why were you interested in getting yet another pair of binos? Is it because the ones you own, though good, are older and you wanted to see if the technology had improved or something like that?

[@VWet]

this review is so obviously sponsored

[@wrektum]

Oh super obviously sponsored. That's why it was two years after posting that I linked to Amazon and linked ALL binoculars. Or maybe Coca Cola sponsored me. Yeah that's it, I'm wearing a Coca Cola hat so they must be the sponsor.