Nikon BAA841SA Prostaff 7S 10×42 Binocula
Nikon BAA841SA Prostaff 7S 10×42 Binocula
Building on the success of the acclaimed Prostaff 7S binocular range, the next generation Prostaff 7S series is designed to enhance viewing comfort for outdoor and wildlife enthusiasts. Taking full advantage of a long and successful history in optical technology, Nikon engineers have made significant improvements to create sports optics with outstanding performance. Suited for outdoor pursuits such as birdwatching, marine sports and hiking, discover new worlds with an even better appreciation thanks to the stunning quality and ergonomic handling the Prostaff 7S offers.
Joy of Discovery
Superb image quality is realised across the Prostaff 7S range with a multilayer coated Eco-glass lens and roof prism construction. The objective lens diameters of 30 mm or 42 mm, combined with 8 x and 10 x magnifications suit an array of situations to ensure you get one of the best possible view. For excellent light transmission across the visible range, high-reflective mirror-coated prisms offer bright, sharp images with natural colours even in poor light conditions. A phase-correction coating is also applied to gensure high-resolution images at any magnification.
Reassuringly Durable
Remodelled to enhance both design and functionality, Prostaff 7S series binoculars are extremely practical. With formidable conditions in mind, all models boast a waterproof and fog-free design. A robust housing ensures the binoculars are waterproof up to 1 metre for 10 minutes and to prevent fog or mould from forming inside the optical system, Nikon have used nitrogen gas, so a sudden change in weather won’t cloud your view.
 |  |  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camping, Hiking | Bird/Nature watching | Marine Sports, Fishing | Spectator Sports | Spectacle Wearers | |
| Categories covered by the Prostaff 7S Series | Durability and portability are the perfect combination when enjoying rugged outdoor activities. Models which feature rubber armouring and waterproofing are ideal. | 7x – 10x magnification is most suitable for nature viewing with 8x – 12x models recommended for wildlife at a greater distance. A wide field of view is best for tracking birds in flight. | Durability and waterproofing are must-haves with a wide field of view advisable. For boat use, Vibration Reduction is recommended. | A wide field of view covers the playing area with 7x – 10x magnification best for fast moving sports. For an enhanced view, zoom-type binoculars are extremely practical. | Models featuring high-eyepoint design permit eyewear users a comfortable, full field of view. |
Operational Simplicity
Sometimes a split second is all you have for that dream sighting of a rare bird, but with decades of design experience, Nikon know how to engineer binoculars that are easy to use and quick to adjust. With this in mind, particular attention has been paid to features such as the knurling on the focusing ring to realise effortless operation. Whether you wear glasses, contact lenses or use your binoculars without either, you’ll have the better view of your chosen subject, with the long eye-relief design providing a clear view of the entire field even when wearing spectacles. For comfort, the multi-click turn-and-slide rubber eyecups can either be positioned outwards to provide a good eye rest or retracted when using sunglasses or other eyewear.
Ergonomically Friendly
A rugged but lightweight body using fibreglass-reinforced polycarbonate resin covered in rubber armouring for shock resistance means the Prostaff 7S series is ready for action. The rubber housing also provides a firm and comfortable grip, improved to ensure better handling in all kinds of weather. Packed into a compact design, these lightweight binoculars are perfect for handheld outdoor use and can be worn around the neck with the strap provided or mounted on a tripod using the optional BAB90006 Hard (H) type Tripod Adaptor.
Sporting the latest breakthroughs in value and performance, Prostaff 7S series binoculars deliver a clear, sharp image, meeting the demands of wildlife enthusiasts everywhere.
Prostaff 7S series binoculars are available in two objective and two magnification sizes. Take a look at the table below comparing the capabilities of each model.
 |  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnification / Objective Diameter | 8x / 30 mm | 10x / 30 mm | 8x / 42 mm | 10x / 42 mm |
| Type | Roof Prism (DCF) Central Focusing | Roof Prism (DCF) Central Focusing | Roof Prism (DCF) Central Focusing | Roof Prism (DCF) Central Focusing |
| Exit Pupil / Eye Relief | 3.8 mm / 15.4 mm | 3.0 mm / 15.4 mm | 5.3 mm / 19.5 mm | 4.2 mm / 15.5 mm |
| Relative Brightness | 14.4 | 9.0 | 28.1 | 17.6 |
| Angular Field of View (real/apparent) | 6.5° / 48.9° | 6.0° / 55.3° | 6.8° / 50.8° | 6.2° / 56.9° |
| Field of View at 1,000 m | 114 m | 105 m | 119 m | 108 m |
| Interpupillary Distance Adjustment | 56-72 mm | 56-72 mm | 56-72 mm | 56-72 mm |
| Close Focusing Distance (approx) | 2.5 m | 2.5 m | 4.0 m | 4.0 m |
| Length / Width / Weight | 119 mm / 123 mm / 415 g | 119 mm / 123 mm / 420 g | 167 mm / 129 mm / 650 g | 164 mm / 129 mm / 645 g |
| Supplied Accessories | Neck Strap, Carrying Case | Neck Strap, Carrying Case | Neck Strap, Carrying Case | Neck Strap, Carrying Case |
| Weight: | 0.1 Grams |
| Dimensions: | 1 x 1 x 1 millimetres |
| Brand: | Nikon |
| Model: | BAA841SA |
| Part: | BAA841SA |
| Colour: | black |
| Dimensions: | 1 x 1 x 1 millimetres |
I bought this for my wife to use on a safari in East Africa. She is very happy with them, and I found them much clearer and quicker to focus than my own binoculars. I may have to get a second pair for myself.
These Nikon Prostaff Binoculars are the best that I have ever owned. Worth the money, and I know I should have got them years ago.
Used for ornithology, light enough for fieldwork with excellent visio
I have been using these since last summer it took me ages to pick a pair of binoculars I tried a varied selection… I started with binoculars costing triple the price of these and double these… I realised that the difference was barely visible compared to these nikon binoculars… Yes the others felt a little better to hold came with better accessories… But the crucial factor was in the view.. Zoom and functionality… For the price these binoculars are unbelievabley good value… I have used them while out hiking… Also for general use just to see how much zoom I could get and what the quality of the image was… I’m more than impressed… Yes you could spend a whole lot more… But the difference in reality is marginal…
Highly recommended for most people these will do the job and more….
What did I use it for – seeing things up close of course ! 🙂
Solidly built, rubberised binoculars that come in a padded pouch with a velcro flap and a good quality strap and some lens caps. Image quality is very good for the level they are pitched at and the angle of vision and close focus are good and as described. Be aware that the 10x magnification is not for everyone and you may struggle with clear picture visibility if you can’t hold them steady, so in that case perhaps opt for the 8x instead.
The small let down is the lens caps which at both ends are inadequate, plastic and liable to come off and get lost as they are not a good fit at all. Surprising, and a small niggle in a package which on the whole is superb. Would recommend! (but buy alternative lens caps!)
Very good for the price, nice and light with superb optics! The end caps/covers are a bit of a nonsense but that’s all that lets it down really. Overall well worth the buy, you won’t be disappointed!
Very pleased with this pair of Nikon prostaff 7s 8×42. Myself and my family find them easy to use and hold for periods of time. Great for tracking birds in flight or spoting and the clarity is superb. Worth the extra money for the upgrade to the 7s.
1. Build quality – Relatively poor to other Nikon’s line-ups (Cameras or other products)
However, forgivable from its price.
2. Quality of picture – a bit of chromatic aberration because it’s not using ED lens.
However, it is within my tolerance level. I should avoid watching seagulls(whity feather) in cloud weather.
3. components – lens caps and the bag is just too simple and not conventional compared to other brands.
Overall, the quality of the product is fine so far.
These are a great pair of binoculars and I am very pleased with the image quality. I had a pair of Pentax 8×25 UCF WP Porro that I was never really happy with and these new Nikon’s confirmed just how poor the Pentax were!!
They had to go back however due to the eyecup becoming loose on one side and a few bits of o-ring / rubber fell out. This tells me that quality control is not great.
I ordered a replacement pair from another supplier as Amazon was out of stock when it came to returning them.
Main Positives:
Cracking image clarity, not too heavy, Tripod mount screw (hidden under Nikon logo at front – despite some reviews saying it does not have a mount I can confirm that it does), great for spectacle wearers.
Other negatives:
The lens covers at the front are junk and Nikon should be ashamed to supply them
The case is cheap and nasty
Great Quality Binoculars, Awful lens Covers & Strap.
Very clear views and well worth the money compared to other binoculars I have owned. The lens covers & strap are a different story, very poor quality and really let the binoculars down. Have swopped them for the ones off my old binoculars and they are well over 10yrs old.
I had been contemplating buying my first pair of decent serious binoculars for
some time, i.e not the usual bog-standard cheap Argos, or Go Outdoors fare.
Having to buy during lockdown made it impossible to shop around to physically
compare different models at local specialists for an informed choice, and therefore,
I did plenty of online research.
As much as I’d like to aspire to likes of high-end marques such as Zeiss, Leica,
and Swarovski, etc they are all way out of my league!
After sifting through many reviews and best buy recommendations etc. I found myself
drawn towards the more realistic lower to mid-range price points, and a lot of deliberation
plummeted for these 8×42 Nikon Pro Staff 7s, and have to say I’m very pleased I did.
They are stunningly clear, bright, and sharp and exceed all my expectations!
My only reservation is as others have pointed out, are the poor lens caps provided.
Not cheap but they do seem excellent. I wear glasses and it was amazed at just how well I could focus these. I’m no expert but lenses seem excellent. Bought partially for looking at the moon but I’m not sure the magnification is good enough for anything other than general interest.
Ordered these as a birthday present with a Prime delivery date of 5-7 July. Arrived week late on 13 July, no explanation given. Disappointing. Product is good but beware of claimed delivery dates
This is my first ‘proper’ pair of binoculars. I got the 10×42 model which offers a good level of magnification whilst letting plenty of light in for a crystal clear image.
They aren’t ultra compact, but they are not huge, so I’d say these would fit easily into a large coat pocket if you’re out walking.
They come with a nice case and lens covers all round as well as a neck strap.
The image from these is leaps and bounds better than anything else I have used before.
I was not very impressed with the packaging as their was none it just came in it’s box for all to see what it was and the box was not sealed very unprofessional
As for the product very pleased initial test was very good I’m looking forward to getting out and about with them they are a lot better than my Zeiss pins that where more than twice the price of these
This 10×42 version of the prostaff 7s has a nice hold, solid feel and pleasant focusing and diopter. Coming from a compact instrument, the bright image and less intrusive black ‘halo’ are what really stood out for me. They are not the lightest or most compact binocular in this format nor, I’m led to believe, do they provide the most ‘colourful’ image. But overall seem good for the price (179GBP).
They are though made in China, not Japan. For this reason, I considered returning them as it is not made clear in either the amazon listing or on the manufacter’s website.
Bought these after reading the other reviews, I’m very happy with the image quality and build, I didn’t want to spend a fortune but I know optics aren’t cheap so went for these. I would happily recommend them, you won’t be disappointed.
I use them everyday and still haven’t found a better quality image when comparing with friends, I also can’t tell a huge different between these and older monarch bins.
Technology/ coatings keep on getting better, so it seems that the generation of the ones you buy really matters.
The Nikon’s seem to have a slightly cheaper feel/ finish to other brands (they lack in detail of finish some how?) this includes the case and strap, but the all important optics more than make up for this.
They are brilliant and I have had 3 Buzzards fly over my house a couple of times recently and with the binoculars I can pick out all the details on the wings, I have also taken them on hikes and they very lightweight.
For any one looking for an all-round set off bins, then buy these, lightweight, great quality, nice feel to them, they are rubber armoured, but they don’t feel too rubbery, easy to carry around the neck when travelling as they aren’t heavy at all.
The binoculars were heavier and larger than I’d anticipated (my fault, since the specs were clearly laid out). Having bought them for my wife as a birthday present, I was almost tempted to change them, since I thought she’d find them too heavy.
I’m glad I didn’t, though, since she’s had no problem with carrying them, using the neckstrap provided. The best bit, though, was the clarity in viewing. I’m a horseracing fan and have had a number of pairs of binoculars, but these are the best I’ve seen for viewing at long and mid-range distances. As other people have commented, the lens caps are useless, but don’t let small thing that put you off if you’re looking for binoculars with top quality optics.
I would recommend anyone to consider this Binocular for starting out, well built, and a good price.
Unfortunately I returned mine, but not for any other reason than I was looking for something in the more premium lineup…
Bought these to ‘upgrade’ from the Nikon 3S model. Used them side by side and actually found the cheaper 3S ones to have a better result, for me at least. Love Nikon products and just goes to show you can’t improve on the already great 3S model..
These binoculars are really good but the only thing I have to say I was bitterly disappointed at the way they were posted out to me no packaging at all just a sticker stuck on the box sent them back got another pair the exact same way just a sticker on the box. They were for my husband Christmas present he opens the door to delivery man there went my surprise but can’t complain about the binoculars they were grea
I felt a bit overwhelmed trying to choose binoculars, but was advised to get these for birdwatching. They are really great. I couldn’t recommend them more highly. They’re waterproof, don’t fog, focus is easy to use, work well in low light, not too heavy, easy to attach strap etc. The only bad thing is the lens caps fall off all the time. They should come with their own strap attached, which in turn attaches to the binoculars.
Build quality is typically Nikon. I suspect these will last a fair while unless I lose them!
I bought these after reading many reviews and I’m so pleased I did. My old pair were heavy and hard to hold. These are lightweight and very easy to hold and use. They come with a wide neck strap and covers for the lenses plus a carrying case. I tend to use them for birdwatching from the kitchen window and the clarity is really good. My old pair have been regulated to sitting permanently on a tripod – much easier than hand holding.
Long story short; I bought the Opticron Discovery WP 8×32 after reading a number of reviews and good though they are, I found it hard to adjust to the focusing to infinity in the opposite direction to some of my other binoculars. There was also a bit of backlash in the focusing and the central hinge was a bit easy to move for my liking. So, I continued looking and reading. I thought I would try these Nikon Prostaff 7s 8×30 after seeing good reviews and after having had Nikon Monarch ATB 8×42 and Monarch 5 8X42 (sold to help finance the Conquests) and found them to be good binoculars themselves.
These Prostaffs are really, really sharp. I have also compared them to Zeiss Terra 8x25s (nearly twice the price) and these are still better for sharpness and colour. I think you would have to go a long way to beat these at the prices they can be picked up for. If you are patient, I have seen them for 119, which has to be a great buy by anyone’s reckoning.
I would agree with everyone else about the front lens caps. Inconvenient and easy to loose. I always take them off and put them in the case and then carry the binos round my neck with the rainguard over the eye pieces.
To be true, there are some minor thing I would like be slightly better. One of them is occasional chromatic aberration or color fringing, in other words blue/purple color cast along object edges in high contrast situations (like dark tree branches, dark building or other sharp edge silhouettes against bright overcast sky) . This seems some very rare in summer time but a bit more pronounced in winter when dark objects and white backgrounds dominate landscape. As many other reviewers pointed out, eye-piece protection caps are surprisingly loose, however could be fixed to binocular’s strap, so not a big issue. On other hand, front lens cups fit secure, but not are securely attachable to the strap that makes them prone to lose. Thus I keep them in drawer. It would be a nice touch from Nikon to make binocular’s bag with some small inside pocket for wiping cloth.
From usage point of view it is very important to adjust correct individual eye-relief distance, eyes distance and keep eye centered along optical axis to avoid field of view edge blackouts.
Overall, I am very impressed by the product and highly recommend it as high quality traveling companion.
The glass is clear and bright, with relatively little colour fringing against a grey sky. They are extremely light, which is great for my partner, and easy to hold and focus. I would definitely recommend them.
Why are the EDG’s so much more? This really shows in a direct comparison with the Prostaff. The EDGs are significantly sharper and clearer, and built to last (the Prostaff eye relief cups are very lightly built and the plastic feels quite cheap). With the EDG there is next to no colour fringing and angled extraneous light from the side tends to intrude less into the binocular itself. Most notably, in low light the EDG is in another league for brightness and clarity. So the two Nikons really are chalk and cheese.
Nevertheless, this Prostaff is a great binocular for regular, casual use and I certainly think it’s better than some other budget competitors, such as Opticron, particularly in terms of lightness and brightness.
I bought these slightly sceptical about how much better they would be than a 50 Nikon 10×42 pair I bought in 2011, but they were so much better, worth every extra penny. I’d also say 8x makes for much stabler hand held viewing than 10x which is critical to seeing well through them. The eye relief worked great, easy to see through with shades or glasses on as well as without.
As many people have said, the end caps are pathetic, I now have 3 pairs of Nikon binoculars and none of them stay in, since they lived around my neck I just did not bother using them, not worthy of influencing your purchasing decision though.
I searched for months trying to find a practical replacement that could be carried in pack when walking.
The Nikon Prostaff 10 x 20 seemed expensive but has proved to be worth every penny. They are practical to carry in backpack all day when out walking, a little larger than some others classed as pocket binoculars but the filed of vision is much greater and worth the slightly larger size. Quality is excellent and the clarity of vision is better than anything I have used before. I have spent years at sea and used various binoculars for many hours over the years, The Nikon prostaff 10 x 30 is a top quality product. Easy to focus, easy to hold, Good field of view. I use for general purpose looking at boats, scenery etc on holidays and walking. I can highly recommend them.
These replaced a medium cost pair I lost on holiday. I decided to pay more this time round as the other reviews were so good. Wow, what a difference, worth every penny. If you can afford these, buy them, you will not be disappointed.
Easy to use? Again, Yes.
Durability? How can I answer when I have had them for less than 1 month?
All I can say, is that the clarity of vision is way ahead of my previous binoculars. Even though with age the steadiness of hand is not always perfect.
I am predominantly looking at birds, and can now easily see details like beak shape (which was not always the case with my previous pair.
The brightness is stunning!
The clarity has awed both myself and my husband.
Immense clarity, 3D rendering, brighter than the eye can see, so great for evening use. Feels lightweight, sculpted rubber coating feels good in the cold and focuses well with gloves, main focus-wheel has a nice action, right-eye piece adjustment is firm – so not accidentally changed from preferred setting. Close focus is impressive. Waterproof.
If you need a more compact size, go for the 8×30’s (again the 7s version NOT 3s) they are shorter and have about the same brightness as what your eye sees, the x42 (7″ long with eye-cups extended) gather more light so useful for evening viewing or looking into more shady areas. I recommend the x42, and actually the extra length can hep keep them steadier than more compact offerings (though they are not overly long).
I would never choose more than 8x for hand-holding (and I’m steady), once you get to 10x, shake reduces definition, makes for harder observation and too much stress on the brain.
You do need to keep your eyes positioned directly in the centre of the eye-pieces, otherwise blackout can occur on the sides. It’s important to extend the eyecups to gain the correct eye-relief / distance, but edge blackout can still occur, it takes some practice to keep total constant clear vision – but it’s worth it – for that clarity, edge to edge sharpness and brightness. Note, most roof-prism binoculars exhibit this necessity – to look absolutely centrally through to avoid blackout, and actually the Prostaff’s are more forgiving than most, actually they are very good.
The individual front objective lens-caps on mine clip in nice and tight (I don’t know why people are loosing them? – maybe Nikon have improved their fit now), and the eyepiece caps thread into the strap – which actually are the only ones you need to use, so all good.
Ok now to be super critical… I’m somewhat of an optics expert, for photography I use medium format, this is going to be on those terms, you probably wont notice what I do, but I’ll mention it for those that might. Some sharpness is lost at the *extreme* edges – but you’re not looking directly at the edges often, sharpness is otherwise very very impressive. Around contrasty subjects such as a bird against a bright sky CA (magenta and green fringes) is noticeable off-centre. Dead centre no CA, also no CA visible looking at fields, trees, cliff, buildings etc, only objects against a v.bright sky. Neither of these are enough to knock a star off, and in fact in terms of any weaknesses they probably have less than most here even at 100 more; the only way to improve on these would be to pay twice+ as much for the ED glass in the Monarch’s. The Prostaff’s in my option are a well judged and very enjoyable sweet spot.
If this is going to be your first (or second) pair of bin’s you’ve bought, go for these – the 7s 8×42, do not be tempted to save money and get the 3s version. If you fancy spending double, then get the Monarch 7’s by all means.
For sure these are the best bin’s in the sub 300 price range, for 800 the Leica Trinovid’s are nice though. There’s the Nikon Monarch’s, but I’m not sure they are better in all respects. The Prostaff’s have amazing performance, you really don’t need more!
[I’ve been critically comparing them to the ‘Hawke Nature-Trek 8×42’, the Nikon’s are brighter and sharper, the Hawke’s have a slightly wider-field of view and physically are slightly shorter. The Hawke Nature-Trek’s are very good though (actually a pro birdwatcher recommended them), but the Nikon’s are clearly slightly better and for me worth the extra. If you are on a tight budget the Hawke’s are a good choice, but I’d pick the Nikon’s every time.]
If you take a camera on a walk to look in a different way – to stop and ponder, then maybe take the Prostaff’s on your next. Refreshingly no battery to charge, on/off or menus, just exhilarating real-time close-ups, and no time wasted editing photos when you get home, just pleasurable recapitulation, vivid memories and planning the next outing.
So why spend so much on expensive binoculars to achieve a barely perceptible difference [for bird watching], when these inexpensive ones work as well ? Budget binoculars have improved amazingly………………hope this helps you.
They are fairly lightweight. The rubber surface is easy to grip and not cold.
The adjustment is simple, once you get the hang or the correct spacing between eye pieces.
Vary happy with the purchase. Quality product.
I particularly like the extending eyepieces for those of us who wear specs.
I tried them out a low tide yesterday and was delighted to see the redshanks, oystercatchers, curlew and knots rootling about on the mud really clearly.
My only gripe is that until last week on Amazon the cost was 164 ( the price at Camarthen Cameras who were selling them) but unfortunately I had to wait four days for an Amazon gift voucher to arrive and by the time I logged in to order them, Amazon had put them up to 179.
I read many reviews and related articles on various forums discussing the best binoculars to buy in the ” under 200 ” category, the Nikon Prostaff has amazing reviews and I have to say that now both he and I have used them I have to say they are brilliant.
I have owned in the past both Swarovski`s and Zeiss binoculars so can speak from experience when I say that although the Nikons are not quite in the same league as Swarovski they are the next best I have seen, easy to hold, easy to focus and with amazing bright clear crisp images.
I currently own an old pair of Nikon`s I have had for 7 years, they still work perfectly and are still crisp and clear, I may retire these and purchase a pair of the Prostaff`s myself.
Highly recommended.
Where they fall down is with the lens covers. The set on the top is too big and doesn’t stay on. The two bottom ones fit snugly but there is no means of securing them to the binoculars so you can’t fit them when using the binoculars as they easily fall off and are likely to get lost.I think Nikon could do better in this respec