Binoculars are crucial for various observations because they will aid your vision to see something further. Since there are plenty to choose from, it can be a bit confusing as well so we will need to consider their pros and cons. For those who are buying binoculars for birding or sightseeing, Nikon Prostaff Vs Vortex Diamondback are two ideal options to consider. The two are rated high for their reliability and you may like them as well. Let’s see below about which will be the better option.
In this article, we are going to give you information about:
- How to Choose for a Binoculars
- What are Nikon Prostaff and Vortex Diamondback
- How are the Built of Nikon Prostaff and Vortex Diamondback
- How are the Optics of Nikon Prostaff and Vortex Diamondback
- How are the Specs of Nikon Prostaff and Vortex Diamondback
- How are the Performance of Nikon Prostaff and Vortex Diamondback
- Nikon Prostaff Vs Vortex Diamondback
Binoculars
For binoculars, the amount of options may get overwhelming since you can find so many of them out there. They are the basic gear for observation since this optics can help to make the further object seem closer to you and as most people already know, not all of them will be the best option. Just like any product, it is always best to choose the one that fits in your application the most. For typical applications, here are some factors to consider.
Since binoculars are meant to zoom into the object, the magnification is probably what most people are considering. Logically the bigger the magnification the closer as well you are to an object but, note that high magnification also sacrifices the image quality and this is why it is best to look for the moderate options. For example binoculars made for birding usually are 8×42 power as it is the most ideal and works well under low-light conditions too.
The field of view is also generous for you to take the surroundings into observation such as when watching a flock of birds or to watch over a group of game birds. Since the aperture is not huge, they sit well on your hand with or without a tripod as well as comfortable to sling on the shoulders or around the neck with a strap. If you want a more compact choice there are other sizes such as 8×32 or 10×42 when the application is less mobile.
Next is the budget itself and this is tricky because not all of us will spend the same amount of money for these binoculars but there is always a good option in every price range so we will just only need to spend the time for selecting. There are models that cost less than $200 and they can be useful as well but we will recommend to invest just a little bit more for the higher option or settle for those at least on the mid-range section or about $300 to $400.
This is often said as the sweet spot for binoculars as they are often being the safer bet while also still affordable for many. The last but definitely not least is what is necessary for you such as the long eye relief for users who are wearing glasses. Some binoculars are also paired with high-quality optics to deliver the best image quality even at a shorter distance which makes the close focus extremely necessary.
| Nikon Prostaff | Vortex Diamondback | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
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| Product Dimensions | 7 x 6.5 x 3.5 inches | 7.2 x 8.4 x 3.9 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 4.8 Ounces | 1.36 pounds |
| Best offer | Check price | Check price |
About Nikon Prostaff and Vortex Diamondback
Now when you already have an image or how the binoculars should be, it is the time to see what the market has to offer since there are so many of them and it can be confusing as well to choose just one. If you have decided the power or main specification, we can move to the brands or manufacturers to see their collection. Personally we prefer the more well-known names just to save time and to be more rest assured as they mostly have good reputation.
For binoculars, usually companies that are selling optics or hunting gears do carry some in the catalog and among them we have both Nikon and Vortex. Both of them are very popular with good reputation and while Nikon is more well-known with their cameras, this company is actually making lots of other optics in which one of them is a binoculars. As for Vortex, this is an outdoor brand so you will find plenty of red dot or rifle scope such as Vortex Razor.
These brands also have popular and affordable options for birding or observation so you can check their catalog but on the entry level, they do have Nikon Prostaff and Vortex Diamondback that you can rely on. These binoculars are the option of many and often being the go-to for this type of application. For today’s comparison we will be talking about the standard 8×42 power but you can always look for other sizes that match with your activity or focus.
In terms of capabilities both of them are very similar to each other just like good options in the price range but they are often better especially on the image quality and ease of use. Prostaff for example is even comparable to Nikon’s higher end option such as the Monarch by not falling over the image brightness and details. You can check the comparison in our previous article Nikon Prostaff Vs Monarch. In comparison, both Nikon Prostaff and Vortex Diamondback are good options for birding or sightseeing but not exactly the same.
Nikon Prostaff and Vortex Diamondback Design
The Diamondback by Vortex is loved by many and now there is a new variant called the Diamondback HD which is slightly more expensive. Side by side these binoculars are very compact and ideal for sightseeing or when you need a lightweight option that can be easily stabilized. Comparing the two, your Prostaff is just slightly larger but it is lighter than Diamondback at 20 oz. compared to almost 22 oz. The build quality itself seems to be similarly rigid.
When you touch the housing of these binoculars, the outer layers are a bit textured and they seem to be made of rubber which is typical for almost any binoculars to provide some grip while being held and to protect the unit for prolonged use. Thankfully these binoculars are also waterproof for an unfriendly condition. They are fogproof too for superb image quality at any time.
Nikon Prostaff and Vortex Diamondback Optics
Now moving further let’s see what Nikon Prostaff and Vortex Diamondback can offer. For the 8×42 size, both of them are very compact and should be versatile for various different applications that require and easy to use binoculars. The magnification is 8 times and the aperture is 42mm making them a great combination for sightseeing and birding. They have their own technology to make the glass and additional coating that are equally claimed to provide great image quality such as the Eco-glass of Nikon and HD glass from Vortex.
The Eco-glass is lead and arsenic free which is better for the environment and also safer for our health. This glass by Nikon is combined with silver alloy mirror coating which is applied on the mirror surface of the prism to optimize the image quality. The Diamondback has dielectric coating as well to achieve the accurate images.
Nikon Prostaff and Vortex Diamondback Specs
Side by side they are very similar to each other but also just slightly different when you see through their optics. Both of them have a pretty wide field of view more than 300 feet at 1000 yards but the latter is wider at 393 feet compared to 377 feet. They can focus really well too but you will be able to see an object closer with Diamondback since this model’s close focus is around 5 feet while Nikon is almost twice further.
The Nikon Prostaff and Vortex Diamondback have an equally long eye relief however so we do think both glass wearers and people with better vision will be able to use them yet, in comparison the Prostaff is just slightly longer.
Nikon Prostaff and Vortex Diamondback Performance
Lastly is the user experience and in this area both of these binoculars are working really well. We are not seeing differences between the images since you can achieve great clarity in any of the two in the same condition. They are bright and clearly showing the detail of your object with very minimal blurs around the rim of the glass. Ideally they are best with proper lighting and during the day so as you observe earlier or late, the objects like birds will look more like shadows.
From the ease of use both Nikon Prostaff and Vortex Diamondback are the same. As you can see they have a focuser knob in the middle of the panels that stay at their position. It is also easy to adjust the two tubes to follow your eyes and overall they are very comfortable to use.
Nikon Prostaff vs Vortex Diamondback
These binoculars are very well made for the entry-level options and they are also working really well. There is not much difference however so you will get the same experience but the Diamondback do have close focus which makes it better for users who are observing small objects that are closer to them such as butterflies and other insects. Image quality wise they are equally clear and look detailed.
Conclusion
You can go well with any of the two because they are equally good options. Our recommendation is Diamondback will be better for close focus but for birding, the Prostaff is more affordable with the same performance including image quality and ease of use.