A user-friendly model with a clear image, the Nikon Prostaff is a high performing model with 10x magnification.
The Nikon Prostaff 7 rivals the Nikon Monarch 3 8x42 ATB, in the clarity arena. When the eyecups are brought to a user's eyes, you are immediately met with a crisp, clear image of an object from 13 feet away to nearly half a mile. While testing the binocular at Mount Baker, we were easily able to view the cones resting in the Douglas Fir Tree located nearly a half mile away.
The Prostaff 7 also shined during its 3-day hunting field test. It blew other wide angle competitors out of the water, such as the Olympus Trooper and the Bushnell Legacy 8x42. This is due to the Nikon Prostaff 7's wide field of view, allowing users to take in a large area without having to adjust or move the binoculars.
The only negative mark against the Prostaff 7 is that sun spots appear in the field of vision while viewing objects in the direct sunlight. If you want the best of the best for wildlife viewing, try the Swarovski EL 8.5x42.
With the magnification power of 10, the Nikon Prostaff 7 Series 10x42, offers excellent vision. What makes it stand out compared to other 10x binoculars is the limited amount of shakiness displayed while viewing a moving image. Typically 10x binoculars amplify hand movement in the view, but these are surprisingly stable.
With a light plastic case and lens caps for both the optical lens and eye pieces, the Prostaff 7 is a durable pair of binoculars. Some other binoculars have thicker layer of plastic protecting the barrels, like the Bushnell NatureView 6x30 and the Bushnell Legacy 8x42, but we found the Prostaff's protection to be adequate.
Due to its roof prism design, the Nikon Prostaff 7 10x42 is incredibly compact, at only 6 inches long and 5 inches wide. Weighing 23.5 ounces, it placed middle of the pack when comparing weight against other binoculars tested. This makes it a manageable size and weight for packing on hikes, but it is not as easy to carry as some of the more compact models we tested, such as the Nikon Trailblazer 8x25 ATB or the Bushnell Legend.
The size and weight of the Prostaff 7 became a slight issue while hunting. As with most binoculars, there is always a level of sacrifice for performance versus size and weight. In the case of the Prostaff 7, you are gaining an impressively powerful and clear set of binoculars in exchange for a slightly heavier and larger size. This issue was only apparent while testers were hunting, and carrying multiple items on their chest. The binoculars were just an added object that sometimes got in the way. This can easily be mitigated by using a chest harness with the binoculars, holding them closer and tighter to your chest while hiking, or placing them in a backpack, but this causes them to be less accessible in a rush.
The camouflage colorway of the binoculars is a giveaway that the Nikon Prostaff 7 was designed with the hunter or wildlife viewer in mind. With its clear and stable image, wide field of view, and high magnification, this binocular will definitely not disappoint while out in the filed or on the hunt.
