Nikon Monarch M5 10x42 vs Prostaff P7 10x42: Which Should You Choose?
Both keep the same 10x42 format. Nikon's published figures give the PROSTAFF P7 a wider 367-foot field at 1,000 yards, while the MONARCH M5 lists 18.4 mm of eye relief versus 15.7 mm on the P7. Favor the P7 if the wider stated field is your priority; favor the M5 if its longer stated eye relief better matches your viewing setup. Neither specification guarantees how a particular observer will track a subject or see through glasses.
Published by Pickoryx · Published 2026-10-14
Source checked 2026-10-14 23:16 UTC
Products compared
Product A · ASIN B09GVCB6K3
Nikon MONARCH M5 10x42 (Model 16768)
Last observed offer
$259.86 List Price: $349.95
Per listed package.
Offer eligibility must be confirmed on Amazon.
Checked 2026-10-19 17:39 UTC. Price and availability may change.
Product B · ASIN B0B3JPG73Q
Nikon PROSTAFF P7 10x42 (Model 16773)
Last observed offer
$226.95
Per listed package.
Offer eligibility must be confirmed on Amazon.
Checked 2026-10-19 07:35 UTC. Price and availability may change.
Pickoryx may earn a commission from qualifying purchases through the paid Amazon links on this page, at no added cost to you.
The buying question
At the same 10x42 format, should the wider stated field of the P7 or the longer stated eye relief of the M5 matter more for this buyer?
Nikon lists a wider field for the P7, while the M5 has 2.7 mm more eye relief on paper. Those measurements guide a fit and viewing preference, not a guarantee of observed performance or personal comfort.
Quick verdict
Choose Nikon MONARCH M5 10x42 (Model 16768) if
- You want the longer published eye-relief figure to give your glasses or preferred viewing position more nominal room, and you can confirm the eyecup position works for you.
- You prefer the MONARCH M5's documented 293-foot field at 1,000 yards over the P7's wider stated field.
Choose Nikon PROSTAFF P7 10x42 (Model 16773) if
- You want the wider published field at the same 10x42 magnification: 367 feet at 1,000 yards versus 293 feet for the M5.
- You can use the P7's 15.7 mm eye-relief specification with your glasses and eyecup position.
When the recommendation changes
- Trying the eyecups with your own glasses or preferred eye position changes which model is comfortable to use.
- A current live offer changes the price tradeoff; the available price evidence does not establish a long-term buying window.
The differences that matter
Field Width And Subject Tracking
What this changes: At the same listed 10x magnification, the P7's stated field is 74 ft wider per 1,000 yd. That gives the P7 the wider published viewing window on paper; it may matter when scanning, but these figures are not a field test of subject acquisition or tracking.[1, 2]
Eyeglass Fit And Eye Position
What this changes: The M5 lists 2.7 mm more eye relief, so it is the stronger specification-led starting point for someone comparing eye distance. Nikon's wording applies to both models; the millimeter figure alone cannot guarantee full-field viewing or comfort with a specific person's glasses, frame, or eyecup position.[1, 2, 3, 4]
Best for your routine
Prioritizing the wider published viewing window while keeping 10x42 magnification
Best fit: Nikon PROSTAFF P7 10x42 (Model 16773)
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
The P7 is listed at 367 ft per 1,000 yd compared with 293 ft for the M5. This is a choice based on Nikon's stated field width, not a measured tracking advantage.
Prioritizing the longer published eye-relief figure as a starting point for glasses or eye-position fit
Best fit: Nikon MONARCH M5 10x42 (Model 16768)
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
The M5 lists 18.4 mm versus 15.7 mm for the P7. Try the eyecups with your own glasses when possible because the specification does not guarantee personal fit.
Value and trade-offs
One or both observed offers have eligibility conditions, so no unrestricted price difference is shown.
Compare the current offers when you are ready to buy. The P7's clearest documented tradeoff is its wider stated field; whether that is worth a current price difference depends on how much that specification matters to you.
There is not enough price history to support a historical-low, Buy Now, or Wait recommendation.
Limitations
- This comparison uses Nikon's published specifications and product descriptions; no side-by-side field, optical, or eye-relief test was performed.
- A listed field of view does not prove that one model makes every moving subject easier to acquire or follow.
- Eye relief is a published measurement, not a guarantee of full-field viewing or comfort with a particular eyeglass frame or eyecup setting. Try the fit if possible.
- This comparison covers Nikon's US 10x42 models 16768 and 16773. Results for other magnifications or Nikon binocular families are outside this comparison.
Questions shoppers ask
Do the MONARCH M5 and PROSTAFF P7 here use the same magnification?
Yes. This comparison is between the Nikon MONARCH M5 10x42 (model 16768) and PROSTAFF P7 10x42 (model 16773); both are listed as 10x with 42 mm objective lenses.
Does the M5's longer eye relief guarantee a better fit with glasses?
No. Nikon lists 18.4 mm for the M5 and 15.7 mm for the P7 and describes both as long-eye-relief designs for eyeglass wearers. Your glasses, eye position, and eyecup setting still determine personal fit.
Methodology and sources
Compared Nikon USA's exact model 16768 and 16773 product specification pages with Nikon's corresponding global 10x42 model tables. Reported figures are the manufacturers' published specifications, not independent measurements.
AI-assisted research and writing; this comparison reports published specifications and does not claim Pickoryx performed testing.
View 4 sources
- 1.Nikon MONARCH M5 10x42 BinocularsNikon Inc. · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-14 23:16 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Tech Specs: 10x42; angular fields of view, field of view at 1,000 yd, and eye relief: Nikon USA identifies the page as product 16768 / MONARCH M5 10x42 and lists 5.6° real and 52.1° apparent field, 293 ft at 1,000 yd, and 18.4 mm eye relief.
- 2.Nikon PROSTAFF P7 10x42 BinocularsNikon Inc. · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-14 23:16 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Tech Specs: 10x42; angular fields of view, field of view at 1,000 yd, and eye relief: Nikon USA identifies the page as product 16773 / PROSTAFF P7 10x42 and lists 7° real and 62.9° apparent field, 367 ft at 1,000 yd, and 15.7 mm eye relief.
- 3.MONARCH M5 8x42/10x42/12x42 | Binoculars / Monoculars | Nikon ConsumerNikon Corporation · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-14 23:16 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Overview feature description and specifications table, 10x42 column, lines 90 and 104-118: Nikon's global model page separately lists M5 10x42 eye relief at 18.4 mm and field of view at 293 ft per 1,000 yd; it describes the design as long eye relief intended to preserve a clear field for eyeglass wearers.
- 4.PROSTAFF P7 8x42/10x42 | Binoculars / Monoculars | Nikon ConsumerNikon Corporation · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-14 23:16 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Overview feature description and specifications table, 10x42 column, lines 89 and 101-115: Nikon's global model page separately lists P7 10x42 eye relief at 15.7 mm and field of view at 367 ft per 1,000 yd; it describes the design as long eye relief intended to preserve a clear field for eyeglass wearers.