Product test
Nikon 12x25 S: The smallest stabilised binoculars tested
by Michael Restin
Bright and light: the Nikon Monarch M5 10×50
14.4.2026
Translation: Megan Cornish
Pictures: Michael Restin
It gathers a lot of light, is lightweight and has hardly any weaknesses. The Nikon Monarch M5 10×50 is a mid-range set of binoculars that satisfies even the highest of demands – if you have a steady hand.
You can’t tell a pair of binoculars’ capabilities just by looking at them. Brand-name binoculars have a number of features that make them better and more expensive. Is it worth it? It all depends on what you’ve used before and what you intend to use them for. Buying the cheapest option is rarely a good idea. On the other hand, top-of-the-line models cost a lot for subtle details that are mainly only noticed by professionals. We’re interested in the mid-price range. That’s where you’ll find the Nikon Monarch M5 10×50, for around 500 Swiss francs or euros. They’re very lightweight roof prism binoculars for their class.
The Monarch M5’s available in various versions from 8×42 to 12×50. I’m testing the 10x magnification with a 50 mm objective lens diameter. This promises maximum light gathering for someone like me who loves a bit of stargazing. The 10×50 model’s new to the series and it and the 12×50 have been available since February 2026.
Specifications and what’s included
Weighing in at just 640 grammes, these binoculars are so light that – according to the manufacturer – they’re the lightest in their class. This is mainly due to Nikon’s fibreglass-reinforced polycarbonate instead of metal. The binoculars come with a strap for carrying and a simple, padded case. The lenses and eyepieces are also protected with covers.
The M5’s waterproof (up to 10 minutes and a depth of one metre) and its nitrogen filling means it won’t fog up internally. 4.5 metres is the closest minimum focus distance. The actual field of view is 6°, so you can see an area of 105 metres at a distance of 1,000 metres. The exit pupil – the beam of light that reaches your eye – has a diameter of 5 millimetres. Brightness of 25 and a twilight factor of 22.36 promise good performance when day becomes night – this is what makes these binoculars so appealing.
First impressions and expectations
I’m looking for binoculars whose brightness doesn’t cause excessive shaky hand movements or make stars appear to dance too much in the night sky. Besides evening activities, I also use them to look at the landscape when I’m out and about. Plants, animals – the usual. Previously, I used two stabilised models – the Canon 18×50 IS and the Nikon Stabilised 12×25 S, which cost twice as much and can stabilise the image at the touch of a button. It’s a luxury I’ve grown accustomed to all too quickly, but one that comes at a price. They’re both expensive and heavy to lug around.
I’m pleasantly surprised by how comfortably the Monarch M5 10×50 hangs around my neck despite its size. Verdict: perfect for hiking. Yet I’m slightly disappointed at first because something in me automatically equates weight with quality. Aside from the Nikon logo, there’s nothing to indicate its pedigree. However, I quickly realise that the grippy rubber armouring makes it very comfortable to hold. However, it also seems to attract dust like a magnet. Set it down or take your eyes off it, and it’s everywhere. A bit annoying, but not a big deal as long as the lenses are protected.
The lens caps aren’t pretty, but they’re practical. They’re easy to open and close – even with gloves on – and are attached to the body via a rubber ring, so they won’t get lost.
The moving parts have a pleasantly firm feel, with the focus wheel offering more resistance than I’m used to. It’s not twitchy, nor do you have to turn it excessively far to switch from close-up to infinity – it takes just one good turn. This feels balanced and consistent. However, to achieve perfect focus, you have to make very fine adjustments due to the shallow depth of field of the fast lens.
Looks are subjective
The more binoculars I try out, the more I realise that quality’s somewhat subjective. If you’re used to a cheap model, you’ll quickly be impressed by the sharpness and colour reproduction in a higher price range. You can even see some difference between the M5 and the less expensive, handy Olympus 10×25 WP II in a phone snapshot through the eyepiece.
What might have seemed perfectly fine to me recently now looks washed out, blurry and colourless. If you’re used to better binoculars, you’ll likely experience the opposite effect. I’ll try my best to describe what makes the M5 stand out for me. This is from the perspective of an interested user who’s tried various binoculars but isn’t familiar with high-end models.
The first thing that strikes me about the M5 is its excellent colour fidelity. The image looks vibrant, crisp and natural right to the edges. The M5’s apparent field of view is a well-balanced 55.3°. A wider apparent field of view draws you more into the action, while a narrower one makes you feel like you’re looking into a tube. Wide-angle binoculars have 60° or more; for example, the sister model to this one – the Monarch M5 12×50 – has 60.8°. You do miss a bit of a panoramic view, but I’m getting used to it and, in return, I appreciate the edge-to-edge sharpness. Then I start looking for colour shifts at high-contrast edges.
ED glass = virtually flawless
When light’s refracted through lenses, the different wavelengths can sometimes play tricks on you: they don’t converge at the same focal point. This results in coloured fringes (chromatic aberration), which make the edges of light-dark transitions appear blurred and slightly out of focus. You can find an example of this in my review of this entry-level telescope.
To prevent similar issues, higher-quality binoculars such as the Monarch M5 10×50 use ED glass. ED stands for extra-low dispersion, meaning it doesn’t scatter light as much. Genuine ED glass is relatively expensive and complex to manufacture. However, you get a real leap in quality in the mid-range category where you find the M5. There’s practically nothing to criticise. Only very rarely do you get the impression that there might be minimal colour shifts at the edges.
Maybe it’d be different if I had experience with high-end devices that squeeze out those last few per cent with even higher-quality glass. But that wouldn’t change the fact that you already get a lot for your money in the M5’s price range.
My bias in this test stems from the fact that I’m used to the comfort of stabilised binoculars – and I’m constantly annoyed by my shaky hands. Holding a 10×50 steady enough is challenging at longer distances and feels like it reduces the sharpness somewhat.
With a separate adapter and the corresponding tripod, you could stabilise the Monarch M5 10×50. It’s definitely an interesting option, but then you lose the advantage of the lightweight, always-with-you binoculars. In daylight, I’d still prefer to use the small Stabilised 12×25 S.
Eyes in focus
The Monarch’s well-suited to glasses wearers like me. To have the full field of view, the eye relief (distance between the eyepiece and the eye) has to be correct. At 19.3 millimetres, the M5’s very generous. 17 millimetres and above is considered comfortable. This leaves some leeway, so you don’t have to press right up against the binoculars.
Nevertheless, I prefer to look through the M5 without glasses. The comfortably rubberised eyepieces are adjustable in three positions, and the diopter adjustment is stepless within a range of +/- 3. The rotating ring doesn’t have a locking function, but it’s stiff enough that you won’t accidentally adjust it during everyday use. Once adjusted, it should stay put.
Twilight and night sky
I was particularly looking forward to using it in the evening. None of the models I’ve used before gather nearly as much light as the Nikon M5 10×50. It captures approximately 40 per cent more light than the significantly cheaper Nikon Monarch M5 10×42. But the extra cost’s only worth it if you actually use it and regularly go out at dusk or observe the night sky.
To ensure that as much light as possible reaches the eye, the prisms have a dielectric, highly reflective multi-layer coating. This minimises light loss due to internal reflections, resulting in a bright, colour-accurate image, and phase correction ensures sharpness.
This makes the M5 powerful in twilight. You can gaze at the landscape for a long time until night gradually swallows all the colours and light. The image quality’s fantastic, but without a tripod, stargazing becomes a bit of a challenge and you can’t fully exploit its optical capabilities.
In a nutshell
Light and bright – specialist binoculars
The Monarch M5 10×50’s worth the money if light transmission and low weight are particularly important to you. ED glass and high-quality prism coating give it a brilliance and colour fidelity that you won’t find in less expensive models. And a particularly low weight of 640 grammes makes these 50 mm binoculars suitable for longer excursions. The rubber armouring provides good grip but, it does attract dust. And the mechanics are a bit stiff, but they’re precise.
The M5 10×50’s light-gathering power truly shines in twilight and under the night sky. Generous eye relief also makes it suitable for glasses wearers. However, a high-quality carrying case isn’t included, and a tripod adapter is a recommended extra for longer stationary sessions. At this magnification, you’ll notice even the slightest tremor.
Pro
- ED glass
- Brightness
- Extremely light
- Comfortable to wear with glasses (eye relief 19.3 mm)
- Waterproof
Contra
- Attracts dirt
- Cheap bag
- Requires a steady hand (or tripod)
Michael Restin
Senior Editor
Michael.Restin@digitecgalaxus.chSimple writer and dad of two who likes to be on the move, wading through everyday family life. Juggling several balls, I'll occasionally drop one. It could be a ball, or a remark. Or both.
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