Entry-level binoculars, much better than the Sporter EX, dirt in the optics leads to devaluation! !

Since I have Nikon in the compact class is already the EDG 10x32, the EDG 7x42, the HG 8x42, the SE 8x30 and SE CF 10x42 and am excited about these binoculars, this year I have decided my collection to expand downwards and the Sporter EX 8x42, 10x42 EX, the Prostaff 8x42 and the Monarch X 10,5x45 ordered to keep the best of them with the intention.

TEST CONDITIONS
The binoculars I ordered from Amazon and it came with the exception of the Monarch within 24 hours on a Saturday. This gave me the whole weekend time to test the binoculars in direct comparison in detail. To evaluate the optical quality in case of doubt, I also had the opportunity on the latest reference binoculars from one of the largest world collection of resorting to Apex Zhumell.

Although I possess special A3 test cards for lenses and optics, but before trains rather simple, efficient and solid test objects in front of my door, for example,
- The label of a mailbox in 75 m distance (which is also lit up at night by a street lamp) for assessing the sharpness,
- A mid-gray satellite antenna at 25 m distance for the assessment of fringing and phase correction
- A flagpole and roof edges in 40-60 meters for the assessment of geometric distortions
- Numerous other fixed reference objects such as pinholes in a shade with backlight, cobwebs on a TV antenna, extremely thin wire mesh, Single pine needles etc. at distances of 30-75 meters for the assessment of resolution, contrast and brightness. Not to mention the moon, planets and stars.

CONSTRUCTION / Processing
Nikon is the manufacturer with the largest selection and covers every market segment, from pocket binoculars up to 18x70 Astro binoculars, from cheap Action series (Porro binoculars with polymer components made in China) to extremely high IF WP WF and EDG series (with everything technologically feasible and is still affordable).
The Prostaff 7-series is new and the second-cheapest Roof series, still in the beginners class. Nikon is able to offer good binoculars for little money proves the action series. However, the production of roof prism binoculars such as the Prostaff 7 a completely different league because much more complicated and more expensive than the Porro binoculars in the action series. The light beam is reflected in the 6x prisms and broken almost a dozen times to the lens surfaces. Here everything has the design, the precision of the machinery and the assembly, the care of the staff, the constant quality control ...
This can go wrong, and so the Sporter EX were, both the 8x42 and the 10x42, for me a debacle and went back. You can read in my Rezenssion there why.

The Prostaff makes not only at first glance a solid impression. The rubber lining with fine grain is high quality and much better grip than the Sporter. Mittelbrücke and hinge are shorter, the gap dimensions extremely low, the adjustment of the eye distance running fantastically well and smooth.
Unlike the Sporter the eyecups do not rattle in the extended state and have virtually no game. Although the ring for the diopter adjustment on the right eyepiece is made of hard plastic, but catchy, the adjustment range also extends to -3.5, but can be accessed. When Sporter quality dispersion prevented the full utilization so I could not see through two tube at the same time sharp. Unfortunately, the adjustment ring has some play.
Also the focusing wheel is better to use because rubberized. The Verstellbereicht is 1.5 revolutions (= 540 degrees instead of 470), of which almost 180 degrees in the area of ​​50m to infinity, so a very convenient translation. The focus wheel is running smoothly, something hard, especially in the end, but is minimal.
A tripod connection is available (Sporter has none).
The view through the lens reveals a beautiful piece of dirt in the middle of the optics of the left tube, a typical hallmark of Chinese mass production and a lack of quality control. While it does not interfere with imaging, but results in a hefty devaluation on my part and a complaint on Amazon.
Overall, I forgive for mechanics and processing 3 stars.

OPTICAL PROPERTIES
The collimation is true. The sharpness is perfect, only a trace less than with reference binoculars. Text fields and stitches the emptying table at the mailbox can be easily recognized in 75 m distance. With reference glasses are sharper and the groups of letters visible. The resolution is almost the same in both tube.
The definition is not perfect, but to rd. 80% from the center to the radius relative good. This is perfectly adequate for the price range and for monitoring actually not relevant.
In assessing the fringing on the edge of contrast objects My test is merciless. There is a 80 cm wide, medium gray satellite antenna in rd. 25 m distance with milky sky in the background. By that I elicit even Swarovski EL and Steiner XP fringing, though very small.
Here the Prostaff 7 cuts head and shoulders above the Sporter EX. Conjured the Sporter a real firework of colorful edges, red, orange, purple, neon green and yellow, the Prostaff holds carry back. Although color fringing for the trained observer obvious, but they are not much more pronounced than that of binoculars of the middle class as the Minox HD, rather less than the Olympus, Pentax, and others. Obviously used Nikon effective compensation with phase correction, almost as good as funktionniert ED glass.
High marks earned the Prostaff also for the impeccable contrast. Make friends around a prism coating of better aluminum (aluminum ehanced coating) or even silver is used, because the brightness in advanced twilight reveals a high light transmission, I guess 90% +/- 3 in daylight.
The geometric distortion are low. the flagpole neighbor will not not changed for shooting bow and German houses in Chinese pagodas.
Finally, the depth of field is very generous, is, for example approx. 100m at 75m, there should not be looking for sharpness and the focus knob several times back and forth turning hoping the correct focus can be found somewhere in between. It is right there in a narrow range where they were also suspected. Apart from the wheel controls the appearance very precisely and silently.
The lantern test reveals a very good suppression of reflections appear until it is in close proximity of the light source light "flares" (light spots).

Long story short, the optics are especially for the price absolutely succeeded and earned in the beginners class really smooth 5 stars.
Just a pity that in the factory lenses and prisms are not blown in between with compressed air, as usual in Germany.

Eye Relief AND ACCESSORIES
With or without eyeglasses absolutely class! Beautiful Eye relief (distance eyepiece-pupil).
Rubber eyecups which does not cause pressure point. Even in the long run very comfortable.
Every now and then slight shadow on the edge when the pupil is not exactly in the optical axis, but not really a problem.
The bag made of fine woven Cordura and Velcro closure is processed very clean. However, the 40mm wide strap also is unpadded.
The one-piece eyepiece is not fit, although the lens covers of the cheapest plastic sit better, but because they can be mounted either on the binoculars still on the belt and one of them was lost after 5 minutes, I judge it to be deficient.

CONCLUSION
Actually, Nikon has placed the Prostaff properly to the wheel and constructed a solid binoculars with balanced properties.
The inadequate production (dirt in the internal optics) unfortunately leads that I can not forgive a buy recommendation.
If you disregard the value for money outstanding.