Nikon Prostaff 5 12x50 specs and field of view
Twelve times magnification meets 50 mm lenses in the Prostaff 5 series, with a 4.2 mm calculated exit pupil and a 246 ft field at 1,000 yd.
- Field of view
- 246 ftat 1,000 yd
- Eye relief
- 15.5 mm
- Close focus
- 16.4 ft
- Weight
- 27.9 oz
- Exit pupil
- 4.2 mmcalculated
Why pick it
- 27.9 oz, lighter than the typical 29.2 oz
- Waterproof
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Who the Prostaff 5 12x50 suits
The 15.5 mm eye relief and 4.2 mm calculated exit pupil suit steady, longer looks at distant animals or landscapes when you can brace the glasses. Nitrogen fogproofing and a 1 m rating for 10 minutes cover damp days.
The view of 246 ft is narrow against the 277 ft median for 12x50, and close focus of 16.4 ft is long.
Prostaff 5 12x50 aside, the most popular models of all sizes are in our best binoculars comparison. Prostaff 5 12x50 is one of 36 models in the 12x50 binoculars comparison. Nikon lists it in the $200 to $500 price band, alongside the models in best binoculars under $500.
Prostaff 5 12x50 specifications
Prostaff 5 12x50 figures as Nikon prints them; rows marked * are calculated from the 12x50 size.
| Magnification | 12x |
|---|---|
| Objective lens | 50 mm |
| Prism type | Roof |
| Field of view | 246 ft at 1,000 yd (82 m at 1,000 m) |
| Angular field of view | 4.7° |
| Apparent field of view | 52.4° |
| Eye relief | 15.5 mm |
| Close focus | 16.4 ft (5 m) |
| Eye spacing range | 56 to 72 mm |
| Weight | 27.9 oz (790 g) |
| Length | 7.2 in (183 mm) |
| Width | 5.5 in (140 mm) |
| Waterproofing | Up to 1 m / 3.3 ft for 10 minutes |
| Fog-proofing gas | Nitrogen |
| Focus system | Center focus |
| Maker list price | $200 to $500 |
| Exit pupil | 4.2 mm * |
| Twilight factor | 24.5 * |
| Relative brightness | 17.4 * |
* Calculated from the size, not printed by the maker.
Prostaff 5 12x50 against other 12x50 binoculars
Prostaff 5 12x50 shows 246 ft at 1,000 yd, below the 277 ft median of the 36 12x50 models in the chart. At 27.9 oz it is at or under the 29.2 oz median weight for the size.
Prostaff 5 12x50 and its nearest rivals
Prostaff 5 12x50 next to the 12x50 models closest to it in maker list price, with the best figure in each column in bold.
| Model | Field of view | Eye relief | Close focus | Weight | Exit pupil | Maker list price | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikon Prostaff 5 12x50 | 246 ft | 15.5 mm | 16.4 ft | 27.9 oz | 4.2 mm | $200 to $500 | Check price on Amazon |
| Bushnell R5 12x50 | 275 ft | 15 mm | 30.6 oz | 4.2 mm | $200 to $500 | Check price on Amazon | |
| Hawke Vantage 12x50 | 263 ft | 16 mm | 8.2 ft | 25.3 oz | 4.2 mm | $200 to $500 | |
| Leupold BX-2 Timberline HD 12x50 | 262 ft | 15 mm | 5 ft | 26.6 oz | 4.2 mm | $200 to $500 | Check price on Amazon |
Other sizes of the Prostaff 5
Nikon makes the Prostaff 5 in 4 sizes; a larger front lens adds brightness and weight, and more magnification narrows the view.
| Model | Size | Field of view | Eye relief | Close focus | Weight | Exit pupil | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikon Prostaff 5 12x50 | 12x50 | 246 ft | 15.5 mm | 16.4 ft | 27.9 oz | 4.2 mm | Check price on Amazon |
| Nikon Prostaff 5 8x42 | 8x42 | 330 ft | 17.5 mm | 16.4 ft | 22.2 oz | 5.3 mm | |
| Nikon Prostaff 5 10x42 | 10x42 | 294 ft | 15.2 mm | 16.4 ft | 22.2 oz | 4.2 mm | |
| Nikon Prostaff 5 10x50 | 10x50 | 293 ft | 19.6 mm | 16.4 ft | 28.7 oz | 5 mm | Check price on Amazon |
Nikon binoculars
Prostaff 5 12x50 questions
Prostaff 5 12x50: does it work with glasses?
Prostaff 5 12x50 has 15.5 mm of eye relief, under the 16 mm the RSPB advises for people who wear glasses, so the edge of the view may be cut off with glasses on.
Prostaff 5 12x50: what does 12x50 mean?
Prostaff 5 12x50 magnifies 12 times through 50 mm front lenses, which works out to an exit pupil of 4.2 mm, the width of the beam of light that reaches each eye.
Prostaff 5 12x50: how wide is the view?
Prostaff 5 12x50 shows a view 246 ft wide at 1,000 yd, below the 277 ft median of the 36 12x50 models in the chart.