Nikon 7537 8x42 PROSTAFF 7 Binocular (Black)

Having taken several journeys lately into researching various brands of binoculars, the trail always led back to Nikon. Other brands were either over priced or lacked quality in one way or other. Having owned Bushnells and a few other brands over the years I also knew most of the key factors to look for in selecting the best quality product for for under my limit of $200.00. And like other reviewers I debated over whether to go with 8 or 10 power, ultimately deciding upon the 8X42 only because of the perceptible hand-shake effect I personally experience with 10 power binocs. The 8X42 are remarkably sharp and crisp, and remain so even at low light levels bordering on total darkness. The edge to edge sharpness is perfect with no fall-off (blurring at edges) whatsoever. The focus controls, main and diopter, are well designed and perform in a precise manner. The actual feel of the binocular is as if someone gave as much though to the design of the binoc body as was given to the optics themselves. The Prostaff 7 is light weight yet substantial and has a 'this is the way it should be' feel when holding them. The neck strap is well constructed, wide enough for comfort, narrow enough to be unintrusive. The only negative/con is that while the objective lens caps fit snugly and securely, the ocular (eyepiece) lens caps are too large and do not stay on. In light of the 99.99% other positives it was easy to overlook this, and the problem was solved by simply placing small thin adhesive pads inside the inner rim of the caps to snug up the fit - problem solved ! Granted one should not have to do that, but I personnaly view it the same as buying a BMW with a smudged exhaust pipe. Conclusion: If you want a pair of quality binoculars at a low price and I do not believe you will be at all disappointed with the Nikon Prostaff 7 8X42's.

So, given the headline, why the 4 stars? The eye relief is a little less than perfect in terms of setting the cups for those of us who do not wear glasses and the lens covers are a bit of a pain in the rear. Those are minor gripes indeed and not worth changing your decision about these binoculars based upon - they are still the best value for money deal in the midsize category by my reckoning and for all but the most demanding (or indeed possibly just fashion conscious) will be superb, lifetime optics. If you don't wear glasses, make sure the cups are adjusted all the way out and click into place. If you do wear glasses, then you're in luck - these have plenty of eye relief and you can keep them on.Depth perception and color accuracy are superb, tending towards a slight excess of 3D effect. That's head and shoulders above most midrange optics where the image is very flat and 'dead' by comparison. Hand feel is good - grippy and with an impression of quality. Very comparable to Monarchs and indeed if you're looking at those I suggest you audition these as well because they're optically very close and you can get 2 pairs of these for basically the same cash as a pair of Monarchs.My review is based on physical comparison of many dozens of pairs of binoculars side by side across a broad price spectrum. This price point appears to be where quality and cost converge, with more expensive offerings (at full retail) offering fractionally improved optics within a given manufacturer's range and lower priced offerings having far more optical artifacts than I believe any reasonable user could put up with. Nikon appear to be right up there in the value for money leagues, with these being very close contenders with optics at twice the cost from some other manufacturers. It appears that most manufacturers have a 'signature' color balance which I assume is based on coating technology however, so your tastes may vary and you may find another brand which is more to your liking if you're already wedded to a 'look'.Summing up - great binoculars, great price on Amazon, solid feel and excellent depth of image. A fine set of optics and good value for money.

The binos are amazing. As other buyers, I don’t agree with the protective caps. Those at the eye side are BIGGER than the rings, and those at the front side don’t have a good hole to hold in the neck strap. You need special attention to protect your lens.

This set of Binocs had all the features I was looking for. I've never owned a pair of Binoculars before so I did a lot of research online. These met my minimum requirements and the price was very good. I visually inspected them and found the workmanship to be excellent. The materials were also excellent. They functioned smoothly. They are easy to grip and feel comfortable in my hands. The viewing was clear and sharp. I purchased the "OP/TECH USA System Connector Adapt-Its" and they do fit but tricky to get on. I also purchased a pair of "Opticron Universal Objective Lens Covers 48-50mm" but they were a little too snug. I would go with the 50mm to 52mm set for these binocs. I believe these are great for the quality and price. I am very satisfied with my purchase.