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Vortex Optics Solo R/T 8×36
The Vortex Optics Solo 8×36 is an affordable, high-performance monocular useful for hunters, bird watchers and more.
Overall Winner
The Vortex Solo Recon Tactical Monocular offers 8x magnification with a 36mm lens for observation and range estimation. Features include multi-coated lenses, a large focus wheel, and a convenient utility clip. Waterproof and fogproof with a lifetime warranty.
Best High-End Option
The Zeiss Conquest is an impressive high-end monocular, and one couldn’t go wrong with it if you can afford it. We expect the same high-quality design that we’ve come to expect from Zeiss.
Budget Choice
While our overall winner is also not what one would consider an expensive scope. The Roxant monocular is an extremely affordable device that has become a favorite for many consumers looking for an entry-level product that’s capable of competing with some of the bigger brands.
The 7 Best Monoculars
This list comprises affordable beginner monoculars and high-end options for experienced hunters, birders, and outdoor enthusiasts. We’ve specified essential criteria like magnification, lens diameter and eye relief on each listing.
1. Vortex Optics Solo R/T 8×36
The Vortex Optics Solo R/T monocular is priced closer to the budget options than the midrange but is still high-quality. It sports a thick rubberized grip that offers plenty of shock absorption should you drop it.
The eyepiece has two rings. The larger one is the focus ring, and the second ring, towards the back, is for the reticle focus or diopter adjustment. Even though there’s a generous eye relief of 18mm, you can still adjust the reticle if you leave your glasses at home.
The Solo R/T is waterproof and sealed with O-rings and nitrogen purged, making it fog-resistant. It has fully multicoated lenses with a fixed magnification of 8x36mm. This results in a field of view of 393 feet at 1000 yards. The minimum focusing distance is only 16.4 feet.
Pros
Cons
2. Bushnell Legend Ultra 10×42
The Bushnell Legend Ultra is a mid-range binocular with a grippy surface on all areas you’re likely to need to use. It is completely waterproof and fogproof. The Legend Ultra has a Picatinny rail which allows you to attach accessories like an IR illuminator if you want to use it during the night. There’s a carry clip, so you can attach it to almost anything. The conveniently placed centered focus knob lets you adjust the focus with the same hand you hold the monocular.
The Bushnell Legend Ultra has a BAK4 prism and fully multicoated lenses. The prism has a PC-3 phase correction coating for added sharpness and clarity. The glass used throughout the monocular is ED (extra-low dispersion) glass. ED glass compensates for color fringing and is especially noticeable at high magnifications.
The 10x42mm configuration is versatile with plenty of magnification while maintaining a wide field of view. The 42mm objective lens diameter will let in plenty of light.
Pros
Cons
3. ROXANT Grip 6×30
The ROXANT Grip is priced well below anything else on our list, yet it manages to check the basic boxes and is a good option for a beginner’s monocular. The focus knob is on the eyepiece and requires two hands for focusing. This is a minor gripe, though. The knob is smooth and accurate, and you can operate it very well, even with gloves on.
The eyecup is retractable, which gives you a bit more eye relief. It also lets you use the monocular with glasses since there is no diopter adjustment. The monocular is not water or weather-resistant and doesn’t have a tripod mount. The lack of waterproofing and fogproofing is a major downside.
The Grip comes in a 6×30 configuration, which makes it so compact but does somewhat limit it in terms of usability. What’s impressive and not expected on a monocular that costs this much is the optics. You get a BAK4 prism, as well as fully multicoated optics. The combination produces a sharp image, just as you would expect from a midrange monocular.
Pros
Cons
4. Carl Zeiss Mono 10×25 T
The Zeiss Mono 10×25 T weighs 2.7 oz making it an excellent candidate for carrying in a pocket if you’d rather leave your backpack at home. The size shouldn’t fool you, though. It’s a very impressive monocular.
On the body is a focus ring that will require your second hand for operation, as well as the diopter adjustment and a 15mm eye relief. The minimum focusing distance is about 15 feet, which is excellent considering the magnification.
The Zeiss Mono T is completely weather and water-resistant. Zeiss’s opted for an Achromat lens and a Schmidt-Pechan prism system. This is a smaller version of a roof prism.
The prism gets some help from Zeiss’ T* coating, which is one of the best anti-reflective coatings you can find on glass nowadays. The lenses are multicoated and the 10x25mm configuration is fairly standard in a small monocular like this.
Pros
Cons
5. Xgazer Optics 8×42 Point View
The Xgazer Point View monocular is available in a few configurations (8×42, 10×42, 10×50, and 12×50).
It is also completely waterproof and fog-resistant, meaning you can use it in whatever weather you want. The focus knob is made for one-hand operation and is smooth and accurate lending it well to making small, precise adjustments. Close focus is 6.5 feet, which is excellent. There’s also a diopter adjustment on the eyepiece, which goes from -4 to +4. It lacks a tripod mount
The Point View has fully multicoated optics and a BAK4 prism.
The 8x42mm we tested let in plenty of light, assisted by the anti-reflective lens coatings. The combination results in a very impressive 393 feet field of view at 1000 yards.
Pros
Cons
6. Gosky Titan 12×50
The Gosky Titan is a budget-oriented monocular covering all the basics. It has a plastic body with a rubberized coating for a comfortable grip, shock resistance, and durability. On the bottom is an extra grippy surface for even more grip and a tripod mount.
Water and weather resistance is excellent. You get a fully waterproof design, and it’s also shockproof and dust-resistant. The Gosky Titan has a phone mount in the box. The phone mount is compatible with a host of smartphones. It lets you put your phone right next to the monocular and take a photo or video of what you’re looking at.
It has a BAK4 prism and fully multicoated lenses. The 12×50 configuration is somewhat limiting, with a field of view of 289 feet at 1000 yards. It might not work for sports events or concerts, but it is absolutely great for outdoor activities such as bird watching or hunting.
Pros
Cons
7. Orion 10-25×42
The Orion has two rings outside the body. One adjusts the focus, as expected, but the other is a zoom adjustment ring. You have a completely waterproof design for weather and water resistance. There’s no mention of fog resistance.
On the inside, things aren’t exactly impressive. There is no mention of coating, so it’s safe to assume there isn’t any, and optical performance isn’t mentioned anywhere. We did find that it gave us satisfactory results when we were closer to 10x. However, as you go closer to 25x, you will notice image quality loss, especially around the edges.
If given a choice between this and a good, fixed magnification monocular, we would advise getting the fixed one, simply due to the optical performance. The only situation where the Orion is a good choice is if you don’t intend on going past 20x. The adjustments are infinite so that you can stop anywhere between 10 and 25x. You’ll want to avoid anything past 20x, and image quality drops significantly.
Pros
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Monocular Buyers Guide
Now that you know your options, it’s time to look at that buyers’ guide we mentioned initially. There are plenty of terms when we’re discussing monoculars – things such as “magnification power,” “lens diameter,” “eye relief,” and “field of view” may not be crystal clear, and you might end up making the wrong decision. Let’s look at what those terms mean and how to approach them best to ensure that doesn’t happen.
Magnification and lens diameter
The first thing you’ll notice with a monocular’s name is that it has a set of numbers, such as 3×14, 5×20, etc. The first number is the magnification factor, whereas the second is the objective lens diameter. Both of them are critical factors, so let’s discuss them both.
A simple explanation for magnification is that the magnification number tells you how many times bigger the object you’re looking at appears or how much closer it is. For example, if you have a 3×14 monocular, and you’re looking at a rock that’s 30 feet away, it will seem like it’s only 10 feet away. When discussing magnification, it’s not just a matter of “get a bigger magnification factor.”
This completely depends on what you’ll be using your monocular for. Getting a monocular with a magnification factor that is too large will restrict you from seeing close objects. A larger magnification factor also requires more light to show you a good image, so don’t get more than you need.
The objective lens diameter is the second number. On a monocular, the objective lens is at the front, which gathers light to see what’s on the other end. The lens and the diameter have a direct impact on how bright and sharp that image is. If you have a larger lens, it lets in more light. However, it also means your monocular is larger, bulkier, and heavier.
In terms of the combination, you’d be best off if you chose a combination that allows you to get close enough to the objects you’re looking at without it being too large to carry. If you aren’t sure what magnification you’ll need, a good option is to get a variable one. We did include one such monocular on our list, so that might be a viable option.
Field of view and eye relief
These two might not be a huge deal for everyone, but for people who wear glasses, they undoubtedly are. Eye relief is a bit more important, but let’s take them one at a time.
Field of view is a fairly simple thing to explain. Let’s say you have a fence that is 1000 yards away. If you have a monocular with a field of view of 350 feet at 1000 yards, you would only be able to see 350 feet of that fence without needing to move. The field of view is usually dictated by the magnification and optics inside. A thing to remember is that a larger magnification always results in a smaller field of view. If your requirements demand a wide field of view, you’ll want to get something that doesn’t have a big magnification.
Then, we have eye relief. Eye relief is the distance at which your eye can be from the eyepiece while still seeing the complete field of view. You’ll find in the spec sheet of a monocular, expressed in millimeters. For people who don’t wear glasses, this might not be too important. However, if you do wear glasses, you’ll need to account for them, too, and they do add quite a bit. A general rule of thumb is to stick to 14mm or more if you wear glasses. Magnification also impacts eye relief, just like the field of view.
This is another combination that you need to choose as per your specific use scenarios. Depending on what you’ll use the monocular for, you pick the field of view. Unless you’re using it for hunting and only need to see your target, you should be better off with a wide field of view. Eye relief, as we mentioned, is important if you wear glasses. If not, you can get by with less eye relief.
Lens coatings
Lens coatings are a major factor in terms of image quality, as well as brightness, sharpness, and contrast. You will find that most monoculars have some anti-reflective coating, but not all of them are created equal. It’s usually the best monocular options that have good coatings, as well as the appropriate amount of them. Let’s take a look at the options.
The cheapest monocular will come with just a “coated” lens. This is the lowest-end option, and using such a monocular indirect light is a recipe for disaster. You’ll find there’s too much glare, and it will be pretty much useless. The next step up is “fully coated” lenses, which have all lenses covered with at least one coating layer.
This kind of lens is still affected by sunlight and glare but to a much lesser degree than just a “coated” lens. Then, we have “multicoated” lenses. In this case, lenses have multiple anti-glare coatings. Even though this isn’t up to par with the highest-end option, it is still a good alternative. The crème de la crème are “fully multicoated” lenses. All sides of all lenses have multiple layers of anti-glare coating, and this is as good as it gets. You won’t have any issues with glare or direct sunlight. This makes your monocular usable in any light condition.
The better coating options will always result in a better image, so if you can afford it, by all means, get the best possible coating option. However, for those high-end ones, be prepared to spend a pretty penny.
Minimum focus distance
Most of the monoculars you’ll come across can focus to infinity. But how many of them can focus close? Depending on your use, the close focus might be crucial in how good the monocular is and how it fits your needs and requirements.
Close focus with the best monocular options is measured in inches, not feet or yards. If you’re using them indoors, this can be crucial. Objects only a few feet away from you can only be seen clearly if you have a good close focus distance. Even if you use them outdoors, there’s nothing as impressive as looking at a butterfly that’s only a few feet away and being able to distinguish all the tiny details.
Build Quality and Weather Resistance
The fact that they’re so low on our list doesn’t make build quality and water resistance any less important. A monocular, especially one used outside often, should withstand a few bumps and resist the weather to some degree.
Build quality is something that you will undoubtedly get if you’re looking at some of the best monocular options at the high end. Rubberized grip surface, quality materials, and no loose parts or play indicate a well-made monocular. However, this is where cheaper options cut corners. You’ll notice flimsy plastic, seam edges, and other indicators that the materials aren’t high quality. Even if you are careful with your monocular, chances are you’ll hit it against something at some point. When that moment comes, a rugged, well-built monocular will withstand it much better.
Weather resistance is significant, too. Even though there are no electronics (unless you have a monocular that records photos and videos), any water or moisture inside the lens system can impact the image. Internal fogging is next to impossible to solve, and water inside can degrade the quality of your image. To ensure this doesn’t happen, you’ll want a fully waterproof, O-ring-sealed binocular. To make sure you don’t have any internal fogging as well, the monocular you’re buying should be either argon or nitrogen purged. A combination of both is best, but that’s often only seen with the best monocular options, only in the high-end market.
Wrapping things up
To sum up, even though there are plenty of choices on the market, you can easily pick the best monoculars once you’ve narrowed down your use cases and decided on a budget. As we mentioned earlier, not all monoculars are great for everything, so the most important thing is to get one that works for you and your needs.
Once you have your priorities and a budget in mind, you can go through our list and see which one suits you best. Do you get something entry-level and budget-oriented, such as the Wingspan Explorer or the Xgazer Optics monocular? Should you invest more and get something like the Vortex Solo or the Bushnell Legend? Or, maybe you should go all out and get the Zeiss T Monocular or the Leica Monovid. Those decisions are up to you. Now that you know what the terms and numbers mean, you can easily make an informed buying decision before you order. Happy shopping!
Vortex Optics Solo R/T 8×36
The Vortex Optics Solo 8×36 is an affordable, high-performance monocular that is useful for hunters, bird watchers, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best magnification for a monocular?
There isn’t a best magnification, so to speak. There are benefits and drawbacks to all magnification types. Magnification ranges of 4x – 6x offer a broader field of view but doesn’t provide as much detail of the target, these are considered low magnification. Monoculars with a magnification of 8x – 10x can be considered a moderate range and offer a balance in the field of view and magnification. For distant targets, high magnification ranges of 10x+ are best.
How many eyepieces does a monocular microscope have?
Monoculars have one eye-piece, and an objective lens.
What are the numbers specified in monoculars?
Monoculars are frequently associated with two numbers and an x between them (eg: 10×42). The first number represents the magnification while the second number indicates the lens diameter.
Can I use a monocular at night?
Monoculars offer limited capabilities at night, for the best results in dark environments a night vision monocular is a better option.
