Check Today's Price

Pros - Interchangeable eyepieces allow for scope diversity - Best in class image quality - Excellent dual focus controls Cons - No tripod included - Expensive investment - Short eye relief

Hi there! Thanks for stopping by to read my review of the Nikon ProStaff 5 82mm Spotting Scope Outfit Package. Nikon is well known for its high quality sporting optics, so let’s cut to the chase and see how the ProStaff 5 stacks up against the competition.

This spotting scope features a straight eyepiece design and an 82mm objective lens, and the model I reviewed shipped with the SEP–20–60 eyepiece, but the 82-A model will provide you with an angled eyepiece. The ProStaff 5 can use one of three different eyepieces, each of which has a bayonet mount for secure fitment. These interchangeable eyepieces allow you to customize your spotting scope for various uses, and all three are compatible with the FSB-series digital camera bracket.

The eye relief on the ProStaff 5 is pretty short: just 16.9mm at the minimum magnification. I didn’t measure the eye relief at maximum magnification, but I’ll tell you that this is probably not the scope outfit for you if you wear eyeglasses.

The body of the spotting scope measures 15.43 inches, and it weighs just 2.12 pounds. It’s compact and lightweight enough to pack along just about anywhere.

What Do I Get?

This is an obvious question, since you want to know what other accessories you’ll need to buy. Fortunately, Nikon has you covered for all of your spotting scope needs, including the following in the box:

• The Nikon ProStaff 5 82mm spotting scope
• The SEP–20–60 eyepiece
• A stay-on soft case
• A full-size tripod
• A cleaning kit

The included accessories, even the tripod, are excellent quality and should provide you with all of your needs to make the most of your purchase.

How Powerful Is the Magnification?

With the included eyepiece, you get variable zoom from 20X to 60X, and the image quality is sharp and crisp throughout the entire power range. Resolution and clarity are both outstanding, but there is a hint of chromatic aberration visible along the outer perimeter of the viewfield at maximum magnification.

The field of view through this scope is 118 feet at 20X magnification from 1,000 yards, and approximately 30 feet at 60X magnification.

How Easy is the Scope to Use?

This model is relatively easy to use, with a decent sized magnification wheel and large, tapered center focus knob. The ergonomic design makes the glass easy to grip and use even with slippery or gloved hands, which is vital when you’re using the spotting scope in the field.

What’s the Light Gathering Capability Like on the Nikon ProStaff 5?

Thanks to its fully multicoated optics and large objective lens, this model has fantastic transmittance. It’s equally useful during bright daylight hours, with a built-in sliding sunshade, or during lowlight conditions. Heck, I’ve even used the ProStaff 5 to do some moon, planet, and star gazing.

How Good Are the Optics and Focus?

Nikon has done a great job with the porro prism optical system here, other than the aforementioned chromatic aberration. The lenses and BaK–4 prisms are fully multicoated, and there is little to no phase shift, thanks to good application of phase correction coatings. Focus and power adjustment is smooth and easy, but with enough resistance to keep you from accidentally bumping either control out of whack.

What’s the Housing Like on This Scope?

The housing on this spotting scope is very smooth plastic, and there’s barely a hint of texture or rubber grip around the glass. While the focus knob and magnification wheel have plenty of texture to give you a positive grip on them, the scope itself can be slippery and easy to drop if you aren’t careful with slippery or gloved hands. Be careful.

Both the ProStaff 82 or ProStaff 82-A incorporate a tripod mount, but this is fixed and not rotatable, so you cannot adjust the viewing angle of your spotting scope when it’s mounted.

How Rugged Is It?

The Nikon ProStaff 82 is both fogproof and waterproof, since the lenses are O-ring sealed and the optics chamber is nitrogen-purged. Berar in mind, the waterproofing is limited to provide protection up to 3.3 feet for 10 minutes, so don’t take it in the lake with you. Since the body lacks any rubber armor, it’s not terribly shock resistant, and I’d be cautious about dropping it.