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Old 06-22-2015, 08:59 AM
Kevlak Kevlak is offline
 
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Default Nikon Monarch 3 vs Prostaff 5

Hey all,

So I've been looking at these scopes hard and would like a few opinions on them. What I don't understand is that the scopes are pretty much identical in specs. Both have 4in eye relief, both transmit 95% light. Other than that both lines offer different magnifications, Why would one purchase the monarch over the prostaff if they both have the same specs yet the prostaff is around $100 less depending on magnification? Is there something I'm missing?

Kevin

Last edited by Kevlak; 06-22-2015 at 09:05 AM.
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Old 06-22-2015, 09:07 AM
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north american hunter north american hunter is offline
 
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I have never looked at the prostaff 5 but I can tell you that for the money the monarch 3 is a great scope
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Old 06-22-2015, 09:12 AM
Kevlak Kevlak is offline
 
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I looked through both on the weekend and could not determine a difference. There has to be something different but I couldnt tell.

Kevin
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Old 06-22-2015, 09:15 AM
Xbolthunter Xbolthunter is offline
 
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I have both I run the pro staff on my xbolt 270 wsm great scope bought at cabelas for 209$ like it more then my Ziess that I sold
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Old 06-22-2015, 09:16 AM
Kevlak Kevlak is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Xbolthunter View Post
I have both I run the pro staff on my xbolt 270 wsm great scope bought at cabelas for 209$ like it more then my Ziess that I sold
Do you find a noticeable difference?
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Old 06-22-2015, 09:29 AM
Kurt505 Kurt505 is offline
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I have only owned the Monarchs, but I would suspect in low light conditions is where you will notice the $100 difference, if ever.
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Old 06-22-2015, 09:55 AM
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Bushrat Bushrat is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kurt505 View Post
I have only owned the Monarchs, but I would suspect in low light conditions is where you will notice the $100 difference, if ever.
Yup and by the time it's dark enough to notice the difference it's past legal shooting hours anyway.
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Old 06-22-2015, 11:13 AM
Kurt505 Kurt505 is offline
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Yup and by the time it's dark enough to notice the difference it's past legal shooting hours anyway.
Not on an overcast evening during a new moon.
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Old 06-22-2015, 12:13 PM
TUFFBUFF TUFFBUFF is offline
 
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I have one monarch, and 2 pro 5's, haven't tested the pro 5's one to update a rig and one spare for now. Both good glass for the pricepoint - especially on a boxing week sale Only complaint is monarch a tad on the heavier side.
I'd imagine the difference would be the glass might have a couple more coatings on it or higher grade polishing - would make zero difference during legal hunting hours. Another you may find the Pro5 might not be 100% clear to the edge's maybe and/or slight tunnel vision at max power. I do notice these with the burris ff2 and vortex diamondback but these Nikons are a few steps up from them and the original prostaff for sure.
If your on CGN pm Travis M, nikon canada rep and seems fairly knowledgeable.
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Old 06-22-2015, 01:12 PM
elkhunter11 elkhunter11 is online now
 
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I have two Monarchs, and I have compared them to the Prostaff. I do see a difference between them.
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Old 06-22-2015, 01:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kurt505 View Post
Not on an overcast evening during a new moon.
All depends on the scope I guess, have seen cheap scopes that are better than some costing twice as much when it comes to shooting in low light.
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Old 06-22-2015, 04:22 PM
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I've purchased two monarch 3's now.
Great scope, well worth the money.
I have one on a 300wsm and another on a 270. Keeps zero, and clear as a Leupold.
I can't attest to the prostaff.
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Old 06-22-2015, 04:22 PM
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I have a Monarch, have had a Prostaff; the difference I noticed was when looking toward the sun, I thought the Morarch had less glare, probably due to better coatings.
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Old 06-22-2015, 09:59 PM
Xbolthunter Xbolthunter is offline
 
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I honestly cannot see a difference I hated Ziess no matter what I tried past 300 yards it was always blurry and same with Leupold but that's just I know there great scopes I love my nikons even in low light
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Old 06-22-2015, 10:16 PM
Kurt505 Kurt505 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bushrat View Post
All depends on the scope I guess, have seen cheap scopes that are better than some costing twice as much when it comes to shooting in low light.
I don't doubt it. What I was saying is that in low light is where you might see the difference, I don't know because I've never owned the pro staff.

I do know that good optics make a difference in low light. I was hunting on an overcast evening with ten minutes left in legal light. I had a Baush and Lomb 4200 Elite and my friend had a Swarovski. Although I could see the deer well enough to tell which were the two bucks out of the group, I could actually count the points and see which deer was bigger using the Swarovski scope. Ten minutes earlier you couldn't tell the difference between the two.
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Old 12-06-2015, 02:52 PM
Northernboy52 Northernboy52 is offline
 
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Light transmission is basically dependent on the size of the front optic 40mm vs 42mm, either one will be acceptable in low light.

The major difference between the Prostaff and the Monarch will be the in seeing fine detail especially at the longer magnifications. Simply put it's the difference in being able to see the fine hair or just a brown matt on the hide. Maybe not too important for deer. However, if you're trying to pick-out a coyote lying in tall late-season grass then the fine detail separation is crucial.

I have both Prostaff 3-9 x 40 on a ABIII .243 and a Monarch 3, 4-16 x 42 on a Rem 700 .270. The Monarch is definitely sharper at the long end.
When deer hunting (in the woods at 100-150 yds) both are used at a lower mag (3-5) and I really don't see any difference.

As for the comment about low light: think about an overcast day and scopeing the tree line in shadows. That's where light transmission and fine detail are needed not so much across open fields or forest clearings.
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Old 12-06-2015, 07:11 PM
Kevlak Kevlak is offline
 
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I forgot I made this thread, I ended up buying a monarch 3 4-16x42. So far I love everything about it!

Kevin
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Old 01-09-2018, 11:26 AM
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Good to hear, I was torn between the two. Kevlak, are you still happy with your monarch?
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Old 01-09-2018, 11:56 AM
Don_Parsons Don_Parsons is offline
 
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I think the Prostaff 5 got a work over back in 20011/12 if I recall.
The folks on a few other forums didn't notice much difference between the Prostaff and Monarch.

The exact $100 might be a fraction more quality control or glass. Don't know.

Yes to clear vision at dawn and dusk.
Fairly crisp click on the dials, and side Parallax is handy.

Good luck on what ever path you choose

Don
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  #20  
Old 01-09-2018, 12:04 PM
robbiebobbie robbiebobbie is offline
 
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Good Thread, I am looking for a scope about this range for a new 270 win. Always hear about Leupold but there are others out there it seems. So many choices...
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  #21  
Old 01-09-2018, 12:23 PM
fish_e_o fish_e_o is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kurt505 View Post
Not on an overcast evening during a new moon.
i have trouble when i get into tight trees. it can look like night an hour before legal is up
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  #22  
Old 01-09-2018, 08:51 PM
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I have a Prostaff 5 and have no complaints with it. If I had to pick one thing about Nikon is the size of the ocular portion of the scope. I find it larger and not as stream line as my Leupold.
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  #23  
Old 01-09-2018, 09:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Xbolthunter View Post
I honestly cannot see a difference I hated Ziess no matter what I tried past 300 yards it was always blurry and same with Leupold but that's just I know there great scopes I love my nikons even in low light
Which model of zeiss did you own? I own a terra in 3-9x42, and haven’t had any problems with it yet. Of course, I seldom shoot past 200 yards. The glass in this thing is crystal clear, and I find it performs amazing in low light. That said, I have not tried the Nikon’s.
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  #24  
Old 01-09-2018, 09:05 PM
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Ordered my Monarch 3, 4-16x42 thru Amazon $446 taxed and shipped, should be here Friday, look forward to trying it out.
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Old 01-14-2018, 08:54 AM
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Tried it out yesterday, good bang for the buck. I notice it only has a 30 year warranty as opposed to Leup's lifetime, but 30 years is probably more than I need, we'll see how it handles rough treatment.
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  #26  
Old 01-14-2018, 09:53 PM
michaelmicallef michaelmicallef is offline
 
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What reticle did you get. I was thinking about the Monarch 3 but not with the little circles.
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  #27  
Old 01-14-2018, 11:19 PM
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That's the one I got BDC. I haven't shot past 100 yds with it yet but if you use it in combination with their program http://spoton.nikonsportoptics.com/s...n.html#Index:4 it looks like it has potential and I'm looking forward to giving it a go. It is sold as a hunting reticle not a bench-rester.
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  #28  
Old 01-15-2018, 06:44 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered user View Post
Ordered my Monarch 3, 4-16x42 thru Amazon $446 taxed and shipped, should be here Friday, look forward to trying it out.
That's a good price for a good scope. I've had a few and love them.
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