Nikon and Bushnell's riflescopes are designed to be mounted on rifles.
Nikon is an optics manufacturer best known for its cameras, but it also makes several lines of products geared for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts. Among these products is its Monarch lines of riflescopes and binoculars. These products put Nikon in direct competition with another company, Bushnell, that focuses on products geared for outdoor enthusiasts. The Bushnell Elite 4200, one of the company's lines of riflescopes, is comparable to the Nikon Monarch.
Size Comparison
Both the Nikon Monarch and Bushnell Elite 4200 lines offer dozens of product options; to get the best idea of how the two manufacturers stack up, compare two comparable models like the Bushnell Elite 4200 3-12x44 and the Nikon Monarch 3-12x42. The Bushnell model and the Nikon both have a magnification range of three to 12 times. The size of the objective diameter, which is the front lens of the scope, is slightly larger in the Elite -- 44 mm versus 42 mm for the Monarch. Both are similarly sized: the Monarch is 13.1 inches long while the Elite is slightly shorter at 13.0 inches. However, the Elite is considerably heavier at 24.4 oz. compared to just 18.7 oz. for the Monarch.
Seeing Images in the Field
The field of view of the Bushnell riflescope ranges from a width of 26 feet when used at the 3x magnification setting to just nine feet for the 12x magnification setting. In comparison, the Nikon riflescope has a wider field of view on its 3x magnification setting -- 33.6 feet. However, it has a more limited field of view at the higher end of its magnification range -- just 8.4 feet. The term "exit pupil" refers to the width of the scope's light column; the higher this number, the brighter the image. The exit pupil for the Bushnell Elite ranges from 3.6 to 7.6 mm, while the Nikon Monarch has a wider range -- 3.5 to 14.0mm -- and hence a brighter image at its higher end.
Using the Riflescope
A riflescope's eye relief describes the distance the scope can be held away from your eyes while still being able to accurately see the image upon which it is focusing. Both of these riflescopes have the same eye relief of 4.0 inches. The reticle -- which is the crosshair or other pattern used to help you focus on your target -- is an illuminated mildot for the Bushnell scope; this is a series of small dots placed in a cross pattern. The Nikon uses the NikoPlex reticle, which looks like a cross pattern with thicker lines on the edges and thinner lines where the lines cross.
Availability
As of the date of publication, Nikon still makes and markets its Monarch lines -- including the Monarch, Monarch X, Monarch Gold and Monarch African lines; however, Bushnell no longer actively markets its Elite 4200 line. Although still listed on Bushnell's website, the Elite 4200 riflescopes are no longer in production, nor are they actively sold by Bushnell. Instead, Bushnell offers an upgraded line of riflescopes in its Elite 6500 line, which has replaced the 4200 line.
Tags: Elite 4200, Bushnell Elite, Nikon Monarch, Bushnell Elite 4200, field view
