When it comes to HD quality hunting binoculars three names come up time and time again. Thanks to my friend Josh, we were able to do a deep dive comparison of the Vortex Viper HD vs Nikon Monarch 7 vs Maven C.1 so you don’t have to wonder which is the best any longer. Here’s what we found.
But first, why these three binoculars? With literally thousands of options from $10-$3500, binos seem pretty confusing to the average hunter. To make things easier, there are roughly five categories of binoculars in my opinion:
- Budget binoculars ($10-150)
- They function, but are not really suitable for hunting (low light) purposes
- Mass market binoculars ($150-$350)
- Standard glass & construction, work fine but have noticeable limitations
- Mid tier ($350-$650)
- HD glass, 80-90% as good as alpha glass for a fraction of the price
- Premium ($650-$1800)
- Top quality transmission/brightness without edge to edge clarity
- Alpha ($1800-$3500+)
- The best money can buy. Edge to Edge clarity and stunning brightness
It’s no surprise that these three binos are so popular since they’re the lowest priced HD glass options on the market. All three are in the mid tier which, in my opinion, is where you get the most value for your dollar. Show them to almost anyone and you’re guaranteed to get a “wow, that’s clear”. While ~$450 isn’t cheap, these are in the “buy once, cry once” realm where you won’t feel like you need to upgrade your binos in a few seasons.
With that background, let’s get into the Vortex Viper HD vs Nikon Monarch 7 vs Maven C.1 review.
Overview & Specs: Vortex Viper HD vs Nikon Monarch 7 vs Maven C.1
There are a ton of binocular specifications floating around but not all of them really matter. Here’s a quick comparison of the key numbers for each bino so you can take a look at them side by side:
| Vortex Viper HD (2018 version) | Nikon Monarch 7 | Maven C.1 | |
| Model | 8×42 | 8×42 | 8×42 |
| MSRP | $639.99 | $469.95 | $350 |
| Actual Price | $489.99 | $446.95 | $350 |
| Field of View (@1000yds) | 409 feet (7.8 degrees) | 420 feet (8 degrees) | 341 feet (6.5 degrees) |
| Weight | 24.5 oz | 22.9 oz | 24 oz |
| Dimensions | 5.6 x 4.9 inches | 5.6 x 5.1 inches | 5 x 5.7 inches |
| HD/ED glass | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | No fault / lifetime | Limited lifetime | No fault / lifetime |
I excluded a lot of things from that list that you can take for granted at this price point (all three binos have them): waterproof/fogproof, multicoated lenses, dielectric coatings / phase corrections, rubber armor, adjustable eyecups, and tripod compatibility. Other stats like interpupillary distance (distance between eyes) and near focus are very similar and don’t matter to the majority of hunters.
So why 8x and not 10x?
Well, that’s an entirely different (and very long) post but I’ll sum it up as: larger field of view, brightness, and stability (less shaky). All three of those factors will always be better in the same brand 8x bino vs the 10x version. Remember, it’s a personal choice, and this comparison is specific to archery elk hunting, so your criteria might be different. The good news is that the relative differences between these three binoculars would be identical if you compared all three of the 10x versions, so read on.
What’s the big deal with HD/ED glass?
To keep it (very) simple, as you magnify light it tends to disperse, or come apart, across the spectrum. That leads to chromatic aberration which is that funky multicolor outline you see around things in low quality binos. HD/ED glass is a fancy marketing term for “extra low dispersion” glass which is usually made with a high concentration of fluorite. It’s far more expensive to make but it also makes a big difference in the image quality.
Practically speaking, the extra care used to make those lenses also means you’ll get a much crisper and clearer image. Even the $2800 binos use fluorite “HD” glass, so you’re getting stuff that’s in the same ballpark for a fraction of the price.
2018 version of the Vortex Viper HD?
Vortex made a very significant update to the Viper HD binos in 2018 that increased the FOV, reduced the physical size, and boosted the quality across the board. Vortex didn’t change the name (or the price) of the binocular so it’s easy to confuse the two versions. Remember that if your buddy has a pair it might be the old version so it’s not a great comparison (and you you beware of buying used).
My thoughts: Vortex Viper vs Nikon Monarch 7 vs Maven C.1
Alright, that’s enough on the overview. It’s time to take a look at these binos side by side and see which is best:
Field of view (FOV)
To me, this is the single most important comparison between binoculars assuming everything else (clarity, brightness, etc) is similar. Field of view means what it says: it’s how much area can you see in the “circle” of the bino. To make things confusing, it’s measured across the diameter (or side-to-side) of that circle (for example, 420 feet @ 1000 yards). Field of view is so critical for hunting because it greatly increases the area for you to locate animals, which is the main use of binoculars.
Remember, FOV is measured in diameter, so a 400ft+ wide bino has almost twice the viewing area of a standard bino in the low 300s (think pie R squared), which is a massive difference. The Nikon Monarch 7 used to dominate FOV but the 2018 version of the Vortex Viper HD is almost identical now (420 vs 409 feet). Both the Nikon Monarch 7 and Vortex Viper HD had fantastic FOV when we tested them.
Unfortunately this is where we disqualified the Maven C.1 as an option. With a FOV of 341 feet @ 1000 yds, it was really clear it wasn’t in the same league as the others. Looking through the Maven gave the claustrophobic effect of looking through a narrow tube when you compared it side by side with the others (see photos below). That alone disqualifies them since it doesn’t matter how clear glass is if you can’t find animals.
Winner: Nikon Monarch 7 and Vortex Viper HD. Maven C.1 is disqualified.
Clarity
It doesn’t matter if you have a great field of view if most of it is blurry or unclear. Since all three binos have HD glass, it would be hard to tell a difference in their crystal clarity at the center of the lens. A slight difference starts to emerge when you look at the “sweet spot” across the lens.
Starting from the center of the lens, all binos (other than $3000 “field flattener” binos) will have a point at which the focus starts to blur along the edges. Only 50% of the lens might stay in focus on cheap binos, which obviously isn’t ideal. It’s really apparent when you compare two binos since one will look clear all the way across and the other will only have a small area around the center of the lens.
Both the Monarch 7 and Viper HD had great clarity but the Viper seemed to have a slightly larger sweet spot (and less coma, or distortion) in our opinion. If we had to put numbers on it, I’d say 75% for the Monarch and 85% for the Vortex. That’s not a huge difference but it’s there.
Winner: Viper HD, but the monarch was close
Weight
Tote a pair of these up and down the elk mountains and you’ll realize just how important weight is. One option is to go down to a 32mm objective binocular but I’ve found those never have quite enough light for my liking (and the vast majority of hunters agree with me on this one).
The Monarch 7 was 1.6 ounces lighter than the Vortex Vipers which might not seem like much. That said, if you’re paying an extra $100 to save that weight on your knife it feels pretty stupid to carry it around in your binos.
Winner: Nikon Monarch 7, but only by 1.6 oz.
Other details
Like brightness, look and feel is subjective but there are some differences between the two finalists. We found the locking diopter ring on the Vortex to be really nice to “set and forget” once you get them adjusted to your eyes. The eyecups were also slightly better quality and made the lenses easier to clean on the Viper as well. We thought the Monarchs felt best in hand but that was clearly personal preference.
Most guys will go for an aftermarket binocular harness but the Vortex Viper HD does come with a basic one in the box. Whether that’s a benefit is up to you but it certainly doesn’t hurt.
Winner: Vortex Viper HD with locking diopter, slightly better eyecups, and a free harness.
Warranty
Both Vortex and Maven have great warranties. Drop them off a cliff, roll over them with your truck, whatever… they’ll get them fixed for you, usually for free. That’s great peace of mind when you invest this much money in something that is quite literally made of glass.
Nikon’s warranty only covers manufacturing defects so if it’s your fault, you’ll have to pay. I’ve damaged a pair of Nikons and to their credit they covered it anyway (and repairs didn’t cost that much). However, that’s the exception, not the rule, so if you’re hard on gear it’s something to factor in.
Winner: Vortex and Maven
Price
While the Nikon Monarch 7s and Vortex Viper HDs have a different MSRP their real world price tends to be very close. The Monarch might be $20-30 cheaper but that’s rounding error at this price point.
While the Maven C.1 is about $100 cheaper, I really don’t think that makes up for it’s shortcomings vs the other two options. There is nothing more expensive than buying a cheaper option just to go buy the more expensive one later.
Winner: The Monarch might be a few dollars less, but it’s effectively tied with the Viper.
Extra photos
Summary: Vortex Viper HD vs Nikon Monarch 7 vs Maven C.1
It’s neck and neck for the Monarch 7s and Viper HDs, but when you add everything up the Vortex Viper HD (2018 model) is our winner. They have a phenomenal field of view, slightly better edge to edge clarity, are brighter, and have a better warranty than the Nikons (even if they’re slightly heavier). The Viper HD is an astoundingly good binocular for the price and probably is the best value on the market bar none. Just make sure to get the 2018 version since the old version is very different! Josh ended up spending his own hard earned money on the Vipers after comparing the three options for a long time.
The Nikons are fantastic binos which is even more impressive considering they’ve been on the market since 2012. My first quality binocular was a Nikon Monarch 7 since at the time they were far better than the old version Vipers. My wife uses the Monarch 7 now and loves them, even compared to my fancier glass. If you find a good used pair of the Monarch 7s (or a great deal on a new pair), grab them! They’re that close to the current Vipers.
It was pretty easy to eliminate the Maven’s due to a very narrow field of view compared to the other options. Even though their street price is about $100 cheaper, I don’t think they’re in the same ballpark as the other two options. That’s a shame since Maven is a great company but I’m sure they’ll have other versions as they continue to grow.
Have a different experience or want more info? Drop me a comment below!
I like your choice of 8x power. It’s less shaky than 10X and allows for a little better low light ability not to mention better FOV than 10X.
As to the Nikon 7’s, Nikon doesn’t advertise the Nikon 7 as a HD binocular. That said I’m not sure if there is areal distinction as they do have ED quality glass and for sure they are clear and sharp to the eye. They are made in China.
For what it’s worth I think the Meotopa brand is worth checking out too, especially the Meopro 8X42 HD. They cost a bit more at around 500 but they have exceptional glass.
Meotopa USA Optics is actually not just US based but actually made in the US. Not trying to fly the US flag but they are exceptional quality for the price and from what I understand carry a transferable warranty. Check out this review:
https://www.chuckhawks.com/meopta_meopro-hd_8x42.html
I have a set of 8X42 Nikon Monarch 511’s and a pair of Vortex Viper 8X28. I don’t believe either are HD but the ED glass is very clear and bright on both. The Vortex Vipers are of course pretty small and on the plus side very handy and get used the most. On the negative side, they don’t have best low light capability with the 28 mm objectives. The vipers are made in Japan and I’ve for a long time respected Japanese products for their quality. I assumed the Nikon’s were made in Japan as well but a closer look revealed mine are made in China but the quality is there for the price and they are very light in weight. However they don’t have the field of view of the Monarch 7’s.
I normally carry them with one of the chest straps that keep them tight to my chest so they don’t bang around and get in the way but are always right there when I need them.
First I want to say, thank you for the review. I want to comment that the Maven’s really were not reviewed and shouldn’t have been apart of this article. I came here to read what you had to say about the Maven’s but after you commented on the FOV being smaller, they weren’t really discussed or compared to the others after that which was disappointing.
I have not owned any of these binoculars so I have no real world experience, but I want to make the comment that for the picture you showed of the Maven’s vs the Vortex, the Maven’s are zoomed in closer on the tree than the Vortex, which doesn’t seem to be a fair comparison. I get it that the published specs are what they are, but based on the photo evidence you provided in this review, it appears that the Maven’s are actually zoomed in closer than the Vortex. Can you comment on that? Were the pictures taken in the same place? It would appear that the Maven’s magnification is superior…
Hi Garet! Appreciate the comment. To clarify: all binoculars were 8x fixed zoom, so it’s not possible to “zoom in”. Those photos were taken from the same location, and what you’re seeing is the massive difference in FOV (field of view). That difference is why we stopped reviewing the mavens… it was more than enough to disqualify them in my opinion. The glass was decent, not quite as good as the viper if you are curious. If you’re looking for something at that price point I’d compare to a monarch 5 (similar fov) or better yet a vortex diamondback HD (393 vs 341 fov). Lmk if that makes sense
I understand the specs on all the binoculars and maybe my confusion comes from the way the camera took the pictures for both, but when I look at the photos I see the distance between edge to edge (FOV) for the Mavens is smaller, BUT at the same time in the photo I can see an estimation of 50% higher detail (image appears closer) within that FOV vs the Vortex, why is that? Is it just the way the camera took the picture?
I have been looking at the Maven’s, the C.3 12×50’s to be exact vs the Leupold Alpine 12×52’s. I looked at both the Vortex & the Nikons in comparable price ranges and at the time didn’t notice much looking through them in the store. I really liked the way the Leopold’s fit my face and overall construction of those binoculars. I haven’t been able to see the build quality of the Maven’s yet, but read good things. How would you compare overall general quality feel of the Mavens vs. the other two? Some complaints I have seen with the Mavens were that the eye cups were pretty loose?
Thank you for taking the time to respond.
Sorry for delay Garet! Not sure why that’s the case, I thought those were taken from the same spot but perhaps not. Either way they definitely are true to what it feels like to look through them.
As for testing binos, I’d always go outside during the last 15 mins of light. The spectrum of light (esp color temperatures) are very uniform coming from the LED overhead lighting in the store. You can usually leave an ID or credit card and they let you do that. Coatings in each company leave a slightly different tint (ex: Zeiss tends to be more “blue”) that can be individual preference. You’ll really notice the difference in that low light, and on a tripod if you can.
Maven build quality was good, but honestly all three were fine and there wasn’t enough of a difference to set them apart.
Have you had the chance to review Leupold BX-4’s? They’re in the same price range, and I’m curious the comparison between them and the Vipers
I haven’t, but a few buddies have and didn’t think they quite measured up to the Monarch/Viper, which is why we didn’t buy to compare. Easily could be wrong through, they’re certainly not going to be bad glass given Leupold’s reputation
Seems like a few other reviewers say that the sharpness fall off from the center happens earlier on the Viper HD than the Monarch contrary to your observation.
Make sure they’re comparing the current Viper HP (2019+) to the Monarch 7 (not HG). That was definitely true with the old version, but I didn’t find it to be true with the new ones (and I own the monarch 7’s, so I’m definitely not biased on that one!). As always, YMMV and appreciate you giving it a read Tim!
Guys. Great review really appreciate the honesty, I have a number of pairs of binoculars, Leopold gold ring 2 pairs,Steiner 2 pairs, ( I was a Steiner dealer and the Razors kill them ) Vortex razors in 10 and 12 x and I am super impressed with the Vortex …. my wife has canned her Leupold 10 x 42 Gold ring and taken permanent possession of my Razor 10 x 42 due to clarity and lighter weight, I need a lighter weight glass for still hunting and willsettle for a pair of 8 x42 Vipers. 2019 model.
I have read a bunch of reviews and this was a sealer for me .
Regards from Tasmania
Thanks Wayne! Josh has been using his pair for the last year or so and loves it. Really a dynamite pair of binos for the price.