I Left My Binoculars at Home on Purpose: Meet the Maven M.2 12×50 Monocular

Outside of a bow or firearm, many will tell you that a set of binoculars is the most essential piece of equipment in a hunter’s kit. I certainly fit in that group. Even if things are looking grim, when I lift binoculars to my face, I feel like I’m going to spot a giant or unlock a secret to success. My binoculars are my safety blanket. They keep me going.

So, when the opportunity to test the Maven M.2 Monocular was presented to me, I was conflicted. On the one hand, I’ve always thought monoculars are a gimmick. If they were so great, why don’t you see any hunters using them in the field? It seemed like something a crossbow hunter would use. Derive what you will from that statement.

But on the other hand, I’m responsible for keeping up with the latest and greatest for our “Best Binoculars” buyer’s guide, which also covers monoculars. I had a professional obligation to do it.

Because of that, the M.2 ended up on my doorstep, and one day, I left the bino harness at home. It was embarrassingly difficult to do. But after a few hunts, I got over it, and now I’m questioning if binoculars are as crucial as I thought.

In short: If you’re looking for a new hunting optic, I’m going to make a case that it shouldn’t be a set of binoculars. Is the Maven M.2 monocular for everyone? Absolutely not. However, for specific situations, it’s everything you could ever need in a more portable package, making it the superior choice. Additionally, you can get incredibly high-quality glass at half the price, since it’s essentially half a pair of binoculars.

Build of the Maven M.2 12X50 Monocular

The M.2 is a natural extension of Mavens’ lineup. In simple terms, the brand took its highest-end binocular, the B.6, and chopped it in half. If you don’t love the 10X50 size, Maven did the same thing with its flagship 10X42 B1.2 binocular to create the M.1 10X42 monocular.

When you first pick this thing up, the quality is apparent. The magnesium construction provides a metallic, durable feel. At 1 pound and 4 ounces, the M.2 is hefty, despite its compact size. A lot of that heft comes from its larger 50mm objective lens, so while it is heavy for a monocular, it’s a necessary tradeoff for the low-light performance the lens gives you. Plus, it’s way lighter than a 12X50 pair of binoculars.

The optic has an IPX7 rating and can be submerged in 1 m of water for half an hour. That’s more than enough protection from dust and moisture you’ll encounter in the field. So far, I have had zero durability issues.

The components are Japanese, but the entire thing is constructed in the U.S.. Toss in high-quality oil- and scratch-resistant ED glass, along with a dielectric-coated prism, and you have a recipe for a sweet monocular. And appeal? This thing has it. I absolutely love the look of Maven’s products. The orange and silver color, in particular, provides an exceptionally eye-catching look.

My First Experience With the Maven M.2 12X50 Monocular

It was on a whitetail hunt that I first ditched my binoculars. The only reason I was able to muster the courage to do it was that I began to critically evaluate my gear setup.

I realized I hadn’t used my binoculars all that much while hunting in the big woods. Aside from squirrel and bird watching out of boredom, I would use them to glass small fields on the property from the truck, or when identifying the sex of deer that I spotted in thick cover with my naked eye.

And the binocular harness I had been carting around was flat-out clunky when climbing the tree to get set up in my saddle. The straps would annoyingly catch on climbing sticks, and it added an extra step any time I needed to add or remove a jacket. Obnoxious.

So I made the call and threw the Maven M.2 in my pocket. It fit perfectly. When I embarked from the truck into the woods, I felt naked. Not in a good way.

But that stopped at the tree stand. It turned into a freeing feeling. I was able to successfully glass every single thing I needed to, with a quick reach into my pocket: no extra bulk, no annoying harness. The portability in the field is fantastic. I cannot emphasize enough how nice it is to fit my only optic in a jacket pocket.

Optical Performance

The optical performance of the Maven M.2 is excellent, but not perfect. I break optical performance into two categories: clarity and low-light performance.

Clarity

When you look through the monocular, it appears pristine, and the image quality is fantastic. It’s sharper than most optics I own. On the face of it, some would call it perfect. However, it’s my job to assess beyond what’s immediately noticeable.

On the very extreme edges of the image, there are some flaws. To pick up these flaws, I had to hold the monocular steady and move my eye itself to look at the edges — picture trying to roll your eyes up to the back of your head. It’s a very unnatural thing to do, and if you don’t do that, you may not even notice the following “complaints.”

When looking at fall leaves in bright sunlight, there is some chromatic aberration. Additionally, the extreme edges are slightly distorted. Now, both of those things could be attributed to the 12X zoom. A higher-powered optic inherently makes image flaws more noticeable, all else being equal.

Overall, it is excellent glass and better than most. As I said, when you pick it up and first look through it, the sharpness will impress you. You’ll only find something to complain about if you look for it.

Low-Light Performance

I was interested in seeing how the Maven M.2 would perform in low light, given its 50mm objective lens. However, it is a monocular, so it has one less lens to gather light. I compared it to my ZEISS SFL 10X50 binoculars and the Vortex Diamondback HD 10X42 to see just how bright an image the single large lens could crank out. I tested them in the field and then in a controlled environment at home, looking down a dark hallway.

The hallway test provided the most striking results. The M.2 can’t touch the SFL in low light. The SFLs were easily putting out a brighter image.

It wasn’t as straightforward as the 10X42 Vortex. However, the Maven M.2 monocular had a very slight edge — enough of an edge that I noticed, though.

Overall, I’m impressed with that performance, considering the single-tube design. If you’re worried about glassing around sunrise and sunset, the M.2 is more capable than some binoculars.

Other Strengths of the Maven M.2 12X50

Stability

I was most concerned about image stability when I agreed to test the M.2. 12X is a lot of zoom, and it can be tough to maintain a steady image at such a high power.

However, shockingly, I don’t really notice shakiness when using it. There isn’t any internal electronic stabilization, so I don’t know how that’s possible. But if shakiness is something you’re concerned about, don’t be. Color me surprised.

Smooth Focus Wheel

The focus wheel is the perfect blend of smooth and stiff. It’s stiff enough that it’s impossible to accidentally move, which is great, because it’s best used with two hands, and one is almost always in contact with the wheel.

When you go to turn it, though, it’s buttery smooth. It’s easy to fine focus, and it is anything but stiff or grabby when you intentionally move it.

Four-Position Eye Cup

Rather than the traditional two positions available for the eyecup, Maven provided four. When you first look through the monocular, it can be tough to get it lined up perfectly, but the additional eye cup positions help. The outermost position works best for me, but having additional positions will allow any face shape to get it dialed in.

High Value

When the Maven M.2 was released, many people online thought the price of $500 was ridiculous. And, in the world of monoculars, it does seem steep.

But, very few of the cheaper monoculars have anywhere near the capabilities of the M.2. A 12X50 is inherently going to be more expensive. Additionally, none of the cheaper monoculars offer the same level of optical performance.

And on that note, the M.2 is a great deal in regard to optical performance. It’s the same glass and features found in the most premium binoculars in Maven’s lineup, but at half the price. If you want to experience what high-end glass is all about, this may be the cheapest way to do it. It’s half the tubes, so your money goes twice as far.

The Inevitable Drawbacks

Switching to a monocular hasn’t been all good. There are some tradeoffs you make by going to a single tube, and they can potentially be a deal-breaker.

Downside of a Monocular

I’ve only found one downside to moving to a monocular, but for some situations, it’s a really big negative. Eye fatigue sets in much quicker. I’ve glassed with the Maven M.2 next to the ZEISS 10X50 binoculars, and while 10 minutes of straight glassing with the binoculars was no problem, the same time behind the monocular caused noticeable strain.

There’s nothing Maven can do about that. It’s the nature of squinting one eye closed and focusing with the other. That’s it, though. Outside of long glassing sessions, I love the reduction in bulk and am starting to prefer the monocular in many situations.

Negatives That Can Be Fixed by Going to the Smaller M.1 Monocular

A 12X optic is on the upper end of what I would recommend for non-image-stabilized optics. If you’re a shaky person, it may be too much for you to freehand, although most people have a steady enough hand to use it.

Optical power is all about tradeoffs, though. I absolutely love the 12X zoom when “blind searching” thick cover for bedded animals. It gives me a much closer view of what I’m looking at, and a few times, I’ve caught an ear flick or been able to distinguish an antler tine from a stick that I might not have been able to with a lower-powered optic. It could also be a huge benefit when Western hunting, and using the extra power to estimate antler size more accurately is a plus.

However, it does make acquiring a target I’ve identified with my naked eye fairly difficult. For example, last week I thought I saw a few deer legs in some new growth pine. I pulled up the M.2 to verify, but it took me a few tries to locate what I was looking for. It’s noticeable.

That’s because the field of view is more limited. If you’re glassing large swaths of open country, though, it won’t be as apparent. But it is a reality of going with a higher-powered optic. Lastly, the M.2 is heavy for a monocular. That’s due to its large objective lens and impressive zoom capability.

If you think that the 12X is too much, grab the M.1 monocular, which is the same thing from a quality and build standpoint in a 10X42. It solves all of those problems. Personally, I prefer the extra power.

Where Maven Completely Missed With the M.2 Monocular

There is one complaint I have, which, to me, is a complete miss by Maven. The M.2 Monocular is not tripod compatible.

It is ridiculous to manufacture a higher-powered optic, like a 12X, without the ability to mount it on a steadying tripod. Yes, I said the stability when free-handing was shockingly good, but come on. Making it tripod mountable would turn this thing into a sweet “micro-spotting scope” of sorts.

Who Should Ditch Binos for the Maven M.2 Monocular

Whitetail Tree Stand Hunters: It’s time to be real with yourself, Whitetail nerds. You don’t use your binoculars that much, especially if you hunt the big woods. I have thoroughly enjoyed the move to a pocket optic in the tree stand. It does everything I need; the streamlined, compact design is ideal for the tight quarters in the stand or blind.

If you’re pre-season scouting from afar in farm country, binos would be better, and a spotting scope would be best. But when it’s time to get in the tree, the M.2 is perfect.

Anyone Shopping for “Truck Binoculars”: Most hunters I know have a set of binoculars that live in their truck. The M.2 is the quintessential “truck bino.” You can lock it up in a glove box, and when you’re driving around the woods, it sits perfectly in a cup holder. Since you’re not using it for long glassing sessions, the eye strain negative is a moot point.

Waterfowlers: For me, waterfowl scouting involves driving around in a boat or truck, locating birds in the sky, and then trying to pinpoint where they land. Optics come in handy for that last part. It also helps with bird identification, viewing birds on the water, or looking at potential blind locations from afar.

But again, that’s not all that glass-heavy of an activity. The compact monocular has won out for me when scouting for ducks.

Who Shouldn’t Make the Switch

Western Big Game Hunters: Spot and stalk hunters should take a hard pass on this one. The eye strain will be too much for long glassing sessions. The lack of tripod compatibility also makes this optic a no-go. Stick with the binoculars, for sure.

Unless …

You’re an extreme backcountry elk hunter: I’m talking the guys who go in deep for a week at minimum. In that instance, weight becomes very important.

In my experience, optics aren’t as critical while elk hunting as they are deer hunting. Elk are huge, and if they’re on a distant mountainside, chances are you’re going to see them with the naked eye. Pull up the M.2, identify if it’s a target bull or not, and be on your way. I’m not saying every backcountry elk hunter should do it, just that you should consider it.

Or you live in a heavily timbered part of the West: I was raised in the pine-covered mountains of the Idaho panhandle. You cannot see through the canopy, and optics are useless 85% of the time. On a deer hunt with my brother north of Coeur d’Alene, I may have used my binoculars a total of a dozen times in a week. I senselessly packed around a bulky harness and full binos. The M.2 would have sufficed for the light glassing we were doing.

Final Thoughts on the Maven M.2 Monocular

A monocular is a specialized piece of equipment for sure, and I know I’m going out on a limb recommending you move away from binoculars, the widely accepted hunting optic standard. But live a little. Think outside the box. Break the rules.

The Maven M.2 Monocular is excellent. It gives you top-of-the-line optical clarity at one of the lowest prices you can find, and will make you a more streamlined, efficient hunter in the right situations. After testing it, I’ve found myself leaving the binocular harness at home more and more.