You are currently viewing Nikon Prostaff 7 vs 7S Binoculars: Know These Differences Before You Buy

Nikon Prostaff 7 vs 7S Binoculars: Know These Differences Before You Buy

Are you looking for the best binoculars to suit your different needs? If you are, Nikon’s Prostaff line of optics equipment is one of the best.

Features

Prostaff 7

Prostaff 7S

Eye relief

19.3 mm

19.5 mm

Lens coatings

Fully multi-coated

Fully multi-coated

Type of prism used

Roof prism

Roof prism

Field of view

119 m at 1000 m

110 m at 1000 m

Available models

8 x 42 and 10 x 42

8 x 30, 10 x 30, 8 x 42 and 10 x 42

Amazon product page

Check price

Check price

In particular, the Prostaff 7 and 7s are high-performing binoculars that are also very affordable. Though they have fairly similar attributes, there are a few subtle differences. In this post, we’ll review the Prostaff 7 and 7s, to help you determine which one meets your needs.

Checkout Prostaff 7s

Contents

Prostaff 7 vs 7S Binoculars: Here is the winner

Design and build

Nikon PROSTAFF 7 Binocular

The first time you take the Prostaff 7 out of the box, you’ll be amazed at the superior quality of the construction. If you were to put them side by side with the Monarch 7, it would be impossible to tell them apart despite the Prostaff 7 being more fairly-priced.

The Prostaff 7 8 x 42 measures 6.7 inches tall, 5.1 inches wide and it tips the scales at 23.5 ounces. Other handy features entail a protective, rubber coating for an ergonomic design.

This casing makes them feel comfortable to hold even when you’re wearing gloves. Plus, it provides a non-slip grip. It also features nitrogen-filled o-ring seals making the gadget waterproof and fog proof.

Prostaff 7 Vs 7S

To this end, the Prostaff 7S has relatively similar features. For instance, it also has rubber armoring that not only prevents slippage but also provides shock resistance.

Similarly, it sports a fog proof and waterproof construction. This makes it suitable for all-weather use. Important to note here is that both models are waterproof up to a depth of 1 meter and for 10 minutes. Thus, an immersion of beyond 1 meter or 13.3 feet of depth could damage your optics equipment.

Binoculars

Weight:

Where the Prostaff 7S differs from Prostaff 7 is in dimensions and weight. The 7S’ 8 x 42, with a length of 6.6 inches and width of 5.1 inches, is slightly smaller. Comparing the same models of the 8 x 42 variation, the Prostaff 7S- with a weight of 22.9 ounces, weighs slightly less.

Eye relief:

Another feature I like about the Prostaff 7 is the turn-and-slide eyecups that make the binoculars very comfortable to use.

Based on a study carried out by the Vision Council of America, at least 64% of Americans wear eyeglasses. Unfortunately, eyeglasses can often prevent you from getting a full view when using a set of binoculars.

This is where the eye relief feature comes in. A larger eye relief ensures that you can see clearly whether you’re wearing eyeglasses or not. And luckily, both models have a decent eye relief with that of Prostaff 7 at 19.3 mm and the 7S at 19.5 mm.

Lens

Prostaff 7 Vs 7S Binocular

Type of Prism:

With any binoculars lens, part of the light that passes through it gets reflected by the front or rear surfaces. Such reflection decreases the amount of light penetrating through; hence distorting the quality of the image.

To prevent this, both the Prostaff 7 and 7S are equipped with fully multi-coated lenses and prisms. This feature helps to maximize light transmission, and this results in brighter images that have better contrast.

Similarly, both binoculars sport roof prisms. The advantage that roof prisms have over their Porro counterparts is that they’re slimmer, more streamlined and lighter. This helps to cut back on the overall weight of the optics equipment.

Objective diameter:

When it comes to the objective diameter, the Prostaff 7S is the better of the two as it comes in various sizes that you can choose from. The 8x model is available in 30 mm and 42 mm.

Unfortunately, the Prostaff 7 only comes in a 42mm size. The silver lining to this is that it comes in the larger objective diameter which lets in plenty of light, enabling you to see objects even in dim light.

Magnification power:

Prostaff 7 Vs 7S Comparison

Both the Prostaff 7 and Prostaff 7S come with different strengths of magnification namely: 10x and 8x. For Prostaff 7, you’re free to pick between 8 x 42 and 10 x 42 whereas the variations of 7S are 8 x 30, 10 x 30, 8 x 42 and 10 x 42.

The main difference between 8x and 10x is that the 8x models have a slightly better field of view and steadier images. With a 10x range of binoculars, they tend to amplify movements of your hands, and this makes it difficult to view images steadily. Thus, if you prefer steady images over magnification power, opt for the Prostaff 7 8×42 or Prostaff 7S 8×42.

Given the different magnification powers, it’s not surprising that their fields of view vary. Of the two types of binoculars, Prostaff 7S has a larger field of view (FOV) of 119 m at 1000 m. In contrast, the Prostaff 7 FOV is 110 m at 1000 m.

This makes the Prostaff 7S better suited for applications like hunting. Essentially, a wider field of view enables you to scan a larger area to see movement. As such, it will be very easy to spot a whitetail or other animal trying to slip through a dense bush.

Pros and cons

Nikon Prostaff 7

Pros:

  • Equipped with fully multi-coated lenses
  • Has a multilayer prism coating
  • Close focus distance
  • Rugged construction
  • Comfortable and easy to use
  • Long eye-relief perfect for eyeglass wearers

Cons:

  • Lens caps tend to come off easily

Nikon Prostaff 7S

Pros:

  • Has a wider field of view
  • Comes in an array of variations to choose from
  • Suitable for individuals who wear glasses
  • Rubber cover enhances grip
  • High-contrast images thanks to multi-coatings

Cons:

  • One has to buy the binoculars’ lens cap separately
  • You need to buy a tripod adapter to attach it to a tripod

Final Verdict

Choosing between Prostaff 7 and Prostaff 7S shouldn’t be difficult, given the differences that exist between them. The main one is that 7S has a larger FOV of 119m at 1000m.

The larger field of view makes the 7S a better option for uses like hunting. But for applications such as observing wildlife and bird watching, the 110 m at 1000 m FOV of the Prostaff 7 is enough.

Furthermore, the 7S comes in more variations that you can pick from, depending on the objective diameter and magnification you prefer.

Buy Prostaff 7s From Amazon

 

Related Post:

Nikon Prostaff 3s vs 7s: Which is the Best Binocular for Bird Watching?

Nikon Monarch 5 vs 7: Which is Best for Outdoors?

Leave a Reply