Nikon PROSTAFF P3 8x42 Binocular | Waterproof, fogproof, rubber-armored Full-Size Binocular, wide field of view & long eye relief | Official Nikon USA Model

Why it's worth it

The PROSTAFF P3 8x42 is a sensible way into real birding optics without spending much. It's waterproof, fogproof, under a pound and a half, and bright enough at dusk that owners use it for stargazing as well as warblers.

If you're not sure you'll stick with birding, start here. The P3 weighs about 1.27 pounds, which matters more than it sounds like it should on a three-hour walk. The body is fiberglass-reinforced polycarbonate under rubber armor, with O-ring seals and nitrogen purging, so rain, snow, humidity, and a cold morning after a warm car won't put moisture inside.

The image punches above what you'd guess from a budget pair. Multilayer coatings on the lenses and a silver-alloy prism coating keep the view bright and the colors close to life. Owner feedback repeatedly describes people who assumed they needed ED glass, bought this instead on a whim, and never sent it back. A few compare it favorably against a tour leader's far more expensive pair.

From our review of 8 binoculars for birdwatching and nature, by Genevieve Dubois, Home & Living Expert

What we like

• +If you're not sure you'll stick with birding, start here
• +The image punches above what you'd guess from a budget pair
• +The turn-and-slide eyecups and long eye relief mean glasses wearers generally do fine, and the central focus wheel is smooth…

What to know

• –There's no ED glass, and the listing doesn't claim phase-corrected prisms
• –The polycarbonate body feels less solid in the hand than a magnesium-chassis binocular, and the view isn't flat to the edges