Nikon Monarch M5 10x50 vs Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70
Quick take: The Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70 costs $110 less; the Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70 reaches farther (15x vs 10x); the Nikon Monarch M5 10x50 has a wider field of view (314 vs 231 ft @ 1000 yds).
Field of view, to scale
Top-down view · drawn to true scale — no exaggeration
Which one to buy
Stargazers looking at these two are really choosing between a dedicated sky instrument and a binocular that also does the sky. The Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70 is the first. Its 70mm objectives and 15x magnification show more of the faint stuff, it comes with a built-in tripod adapter and a removable rail for a red-dot finder, and it costs $110 less. It also weighs 51 oz and focuses no closer than 49.2 ft, so it is a tripod binocular for the night sky and long views, not something to carry on a walk.
The Nikon Monarch M5 10x50 is the second. Owners say its ED glass gives a sharp, color-true, fringe-free image, its 5mm exit pupil keeps that image bright at dawn, dusk and under the stars, and its 19.3mm of eye relief works with glasses. At 22.6 oz you can hand-hold it for short looks and use it for wildlife by day. Its owners also note a 314 ft field that is only average for sweeping the Milky Way, a 14.8 ft close focus, a longer body that hangs heavy on a neck strap, and less owner history than the 42mm M5s.
If the night sky is the main reason you are buying and you will mount it, the SkyMaster gives you more aperture and magnification for less money. If you want one binocular for twilight wildlife, travel and casual stargazing, the Monarch is the more useful buy.
Nikon Monarch M5 10x50
For a dual-purpose binocular that handles dawn hunts, wildlife and casual stargazing without a tripod, the Monarch is the better all-rounder.
Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70
Choose it if astronomy is the goal and you will use a tripod: more aperture and magnification for $110 less.
| Spec | Nikon Monarch M5 10x50 | Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$390 | ~$280 |
| Use case | Astronomy | Astronomy |
| Magnification | 10x | 15x |
| Objective | 50mm | 70mm |
| Exit pupil | 5.0mm | 4.6mm |
| Field of view | 314 ft @ 1000 yds | 231 ft @ 1000 yds |
| Eye relief | 19.3mm | 17mm |
| Close focus | 14.8 ft | 49.2 ft |
| Prism | Roof | Porro |
| Glass | ED | BaK-4 |
| Coating | Fully Multi-Coated | Fully Multi-Coated |
| Weight | 22.6 oz | 51 oz |
| Dimensions | 6.7 x 5.2 in | 10.9 x 8.7 in |
| Warranty | Limited Lifetime | Limited Lifetime |
Feature comparison
Nikon Monarch M5 10x50
- ✓ED Glass
- ✓Phase-Corrected
- ✓Dielectric Coating
- ✓Waterproof
- ✓Fogproof
- ✗Image Stabilized
- ✓Tripod Adaptable
- ✗Magnesium Body
- ✓Locking Diopter
Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70
- ✗ED Glass
- ✗Phase-Corrected
- ✗Dielectric Coating
- ✓Waterproof
- ✓Fogproof
- ✗Image Stabilized
- ✓Tripod Adaptable
- ✗Magnesium Body
- ✗Locking Diopter
What birders say
Nikon Monarch M5 10x50
- ✓The 5mm exit pupil is the reason this configuration exists - it keeps the ED-glass Monarch image bright into dawn, dusk, and twilight stargazing where the 10x42's 4.2mm pupil starts to fade
- ✓Same ED glass and dielectric prism coatings as the rest of the M5 line, which forum testers found sharper edge to edge than the Prostaff P7 and Vortex Diamondback HD tier
- ✓One of the cheapest ways to get a name-brand ED-glass 10x50 - at around $300 it undercuts most quality 50mm competitors by a wide margin
- ✓Has 19.3mm of eye relief, even more than the M5 10x42, so eyeglass wearers can actually use the full field - rare in big-objective binoculars
- ✓A legitimate dual-purpose wildlife-and-stargazing glass - the 50mm objectives and clean roof-prism image make it a natural casual astronomy pick, and it's tripod adaptable for exactly that
- ✓Locking diopter and waterproof, fogproof build carried over from the smaller M5s
- ✓Owners of the M5 line consistently praise the true-to-color, fringe-free image that ED glass delivers - traits that matter even more on bright stars and backlit wildlife
- ✓Fills a gap Nikon left open for years - forum members greeted the 50mm Monarch's introduction as the budget ED big-objective option the lineup was missing
- ✗The field is 314 ft at 1000 yards - wider than the M5 10x42's 293 ft, but still no wide-angle sky sweeper
- ✗Nikon lists it at 22.6 ounces, the same as the M5 10x42, but the longer barrels still hang heavier on the neck over a full day
- ✗Close focus of 14.8 feet is by far the worst in the M5 family and rules out close-range nature observation entirely
- ✗Still a relatively new addition to the line with limited third-party review coverage and forum discussion - buyers have less owner history to lean on than with the 42mm models
- ✗Handheld 10x through a heavy 50mm body shows shake - many users end up on a tripod for extended sessions
- ✗Nikon's limited lifetime warranty compares poorly with the unconditional coverage from Vortex and Maven at nearby prices
- ✗For dedicated astronomy, the narrow field works against it - classic wide-field 10x50 porros show far more sky for less money
- ✗The bulk pushes it into direct comparison with 50mm hunting glass like the Vortex Viper HD 10x50, where the competition is much stiffer than at the M5's usual price point
Nikon Monarch M5 10x50 vs Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70: common questions
Can I hand-hold the Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70 like the Nikon Monarch M5 10x50?▾
Not for long. At 51 oz and 15x it is built for a tripod, which is why it ships with a tripod adapter. The Monarch M5 10x50 weighs 22.6 oz, though its owners still recommend bracing or a tripod for extended sessions at 10x.
Is the Nikon Monarch M5 10x50 or Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70 better for astronomy?▾
The SkyMaster is the more dedicated sky instrument, with 70mm objectives, 15x and a finder rail. Monarch owners call the M5 10x50 a solid casual stargazing glass with fringe-free stars, but say its 314 ft field is only average for sweeping the sky.
Is the Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70 useful for daytime wildlife compared with the Monarch M5 10x50?▾
Only at long range from a fixed spot. It focuses no closer than 49.2 ft and weighs 51 oz. The Monarch focuses to 14.8 ft, weighs much less and uses ED glass, making it the better daytime binocular.