The Nikon Prostaff P3 binocular line is a series of four entry-level binoculars aimed at an audience who wants Nikon-quality optics but at beginner prices. The P3s come in 8×30, 8×42, 10×30 and 10×42 versions and we’re reviewing the 8x42s because they sit roughly in the middle of the four models price-wise.
Their resin body is coated in a rubberized armor and all the controls work smoothly with a confident tension in the focus wheel and hinge to hold firm when needed. They sit at the bottom of Nikon’s pyramid of binoculars with the P7 range slightly above the P3 and the Monarch line well at the top featuring the very best binoculars Nikon can produce.
With an MSRP of $139.95, the Prostaff P3s will appeal to beginner wildlife spotters, birdwatchers and aviation enthusiasts who want to buy a pair of binoculars where most of the manufacturing cost has been spent where it counts: on the optics. They’d also be great binoculars for kids if your young spotters are enjoying the hobby and are ready for an upgrade.
Those who wear eyeglasses will be relieved to hear that the Prostaff P3s’ eye relief is good enough that you shouldn’t need to remove them. This said, there are things about the Prostaff P3 binoculars that leave us wanting more, likely in a bid for Nikon to keep the cost down, rather than purposefully making anything inferior. So if premium quality all-round is important to you, you may want to peek at the Monarch line, instead.
Nikon Prostaff P3 8×42 binocular: Design
- Wide 42mm objective lenses good for low light
- Premium-grade eyecup adjustments
- Waterproof and fogproof
Color us impressed because the Nikon Prostaff P3 8×42 binoculars have fantastic optics for the money. The lenses are treated with multilayer coatings and the prism inside the binoculars is coated with a silver-alloy prism to retain brightness throughout. The 42mm objective lenses on the model that we’ve reviewed here drink in the light and happily gave us good viewing into early twilight so birders and wildlife hunters don’t have to pack away the moment the sun hits the horizon.
Stand-out features are surely the adjustable eyecups, the focus wheel, and the hinge. A solid clunk as the eyecups are adjusted for suitable eye relief is felt every time they are adjusted into one of three positions. While those new to binoculars won’t be aware of how good this is, know that when…
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