REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Good rubber grip
REASONS TO AVOID
Poor clarity
Shows a yellowish dark tint
Nikon Prostaff P3 10x42 Review
Don't be enticed by the price, these had some of the worst clarity we've seen
Credit: Abriah Wofford
By Benjamin Hickok ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ December 23, 2023
Contributions From: Jessica Riconscente
RELATED: The Best Binoculars
Our Verdict
The Nikon Prostaff P3 10x42 is an affordable pair of full-sized binoculars that offer good all-around performance for their place in a large pool of entry-level models. This model has exceptional close focus range and great comfort for a full-sized pair of binoculars, combined with a good level of brightness and satisfactory clarity from this tier of optics. Unfortunately, they didn't quite meet the standard set by similarly priced and comparable models to merit our recommendation.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Nikon Prostaff P3 10x42 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Bang for the Buck | Best on a Tight Budget |  Best Compact Binoculars | Best Travel Binoculars on a Budget | |
| Price | $170 List Check Price at REI | $320 List Check Price at Amazon | $180 List Check Price at Amazon | $210 List Check Price at Amazon | $120 List Check Price at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Don't be enticed by the price, these had some of the worst clarity we've seen | An excellent balance of price and all-around performance with particularly impressive brightness | One of the most budget-friendly options we've found that offers a good entry into the birdwatching pastime | An inexpensive, small, and packable model that offers surprisingly good optics | Compact with decent clarity for budget-tier optics, and a good option for backpackers |
| Rating Categories | Nikon Prostaff P3 10x42 | Vortex Diamondback H... | Celestron Nature DX... | Vortex Diamondback H... | Nikon Trailblazer AT... |
| Clarity (35%) | |||||
| Brightness (20%) | |||||
| Comfort (15%) | |||||
| Field of View (10%) | |||||
| Ease of Adjustment (15%) | |||||
| Close Focus Range (5%) | |||||
| Specifications | Nikon Prostaff P3 10x42 | Vortex Diamondback H... | Celestron Nature DX... | Vortex Diamondback H... | Nikon Trailblazer AT... |
| Measured Weight | 20.6 oz | 23.1 oz | 22.8 oz | 14.7 oz | 10.5 oz |
| Measured Interpupillary Distance Range | 56mm - 75mm | 56mm - 75mm | 57mm -74mm | 55mm - 74mm | 38mm -75mm |
| Measured Size | 5.9" x 4.2" | 5.7" x 5.1" | 5.4" x 4.5" | 4.7" x 4.1" | 2.7" x 4.1" |
| Measured Close Focus | 7.1 ft | 5.5 ft | 8.0 ft | 7.4 ft | 6.6 ft |
| Measured Eye Relief | 15.5 mm | 18.0 mm | 18.0 mm | 18.0 mm | 10.5 mm |
| Glass Type | Not mentioned | HD | BAK-4 | HD | Eco-Glass |
| Magnification | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| Objective Lens Size | 42 | 42 | 42 | 28 | 25 |
| Claimed Field of View | 367 ft | 393 ft | 388 ft | 332 ft | 342 ft |
| Claimed Close Focus | 9.8 ft | 5.0 ft | 6.5 ft | 6.0 ft | 11.5 ft |
| Claimed Eye Relief | 15.7 mm | 17 mm | 17.5 mm | 18 mm | 10 mm |
| Waterproof/Fog Resistant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tripod Adapter | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Measured Lux Reading from Brightness Testing | 748 lux | 1163 lux | 823 lux | 390 lux | 237 lux |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
Good but not great for an entry-level pair of binos. Credit: Abriah Wofford
Clarity
We noted yellow and magenta color fringing across the whole lens, as well as a slight distortion at the top and bottom of the lens. While we didn't expect too much from a pair of binoculars at this price point, comparable models proved they could offer great clarity.
A glimpse into our clarity tests with the Nikon Prostaff P3 10x42. Credit: Jessica Riconscente
Brightness
For an entry-level tier of binoculars, the Nikon Prostaff P3 10x42 did fairly well here, registering a light transmission of 748 Lux, over 300 more than similarly priced and comparably sized models. Of course, the Prostaff wasn't nearly as bright as the top models tested, which is a fair and expected result from a pair of binos at this price point.
The P3 offers a good level of brightness from this tier of binoculars. Credit: Abriah Wofford
Comfort
The Nikon Prostaff P3 10x42 did pretty well in our evaluation, weighing in at 20.6 ounces and balancing well. The rubberized grip and smaller feel of the full-sized frame also add to comfort and ergonomics, setting it apart from other comparable 10x42 models.
The Prostaff is comfortable in the hand and easy to handle. Credit: Abriah Wofford
Field of View
We were able to observe and count 54.5 vertical fence boards with the Nikon Prostaff P3 10x42, which was about average for the lineup.
We used these fence posts to measure field of view at a set distance. Credit: Jessica Riconscente
This is a positive note compared to other models, since the magnification is higher at 10x. While higher magnification naturally reduces the field of view, which can make it harder to spot animals in a small area, it's a fair tradeoff for getting a closer look. In this case, it doesn't seem to compromise performance any more than other models with similar 10x magnification.
Ease of Adjustment
The lack of a locking diopter, a rather average focus knob, and a short 15.5 mm of eye relief make this one of the less impressive models we tested when considering ease of adjustment. We also cannot recommend glasses wearers consider the Nikon Prostaff P3 10x42, as our test team members with glasses had difficulties achieving eye relief and focus with this model.
The P3 offers average ease of adjustment. Credit: Abriah Wofford
Close Focus Range
With a close focus range of 7.1 feet, the Nikon Prostaff P3 10x42 makes for a good companion while visiting an aviary or butterfly house. You won't be able to focus on a butterfly on your foot as you can with more premium models, but you'll be able to clearly focus on a hummingbird a few meters from your window.
The P3s don't offer the best eye relief, although the close focus range is decent. Credit: Abriah Wofford
Should You Buy the Nikon Prostaff P3 10x42?
For the price, we felt that the Nikon Prostaff P3 10x42 is a mostly lackluster pair of binoculars that were comfortable to use for their full size. However, with such poor clarity and terrible eye relief, we wouldn't recommend them.
What Other Binoculars Should You Consider?
While it comes with a higher price tag, we encourage our readers to consider the Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42 over the Nikon Prostaff P3 10x42. This option provides enhanced clarity, increased brightness, a broader field of view, and improved close-range focus. However, if you are fixed on buying a pair of binoculars at a similar price point to the P3, then you'll want to take a look at the Celestron Nature DX 8x42. These offer better clarity and brightness than the P3.
—Benjamin Hickok and Jessica Riconscente
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