Reviews

Nikon ProStaff 550 Laser Rangefinder Review – Solid, Affordable Quality 2025

In this article, you will get Nikon ProStaff 550 Laser Rangefinder Review. The item has great value, for both beginners and experts alike, especially in short- to medium range use or those users not requiring a full feature set or archery mode.

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Nikon ProStaff 550 Laser Rangefinder Review

For many outdoors users, the Nikon ProStaff 550 Laser Range Finder will meet all their needs, now and in the future. This rangefinder combines Nikon’s world-class reputation for optics with a solid basic package of features for the short-range to the medium-range hunter.

Affordable, entry-level quality

In the approx. $200 price range, it’s hard to beat the ProStaff 550’s list of features. It may not contain all the bells and whistles of higher-priced models such as its higher-end brother, the Nikon RifleHunter 550. Of course, it doesn’t carry their price tag, either. This model is a solid performer in a rugged, compact package.

Features of the Nikon ProStaff 550:

Rated range from 11 yards to 550 yards
Monocular design
Multicoated optics to improve light transmission, clarity, and color rendition.
6x magnification
Displays 0.5 yd increments to 100 yds, 1 yd increments after that
Uses 1 CR2 lithium battery for long life
Dimensions: 1.5 by 2.7 by 5.1 inches (W x H x D) to fit easily in your hand
Lightweight at 6.3 ounces (without battery)
Waterproof/Fogproof (except battery chamber) for guaranteed performance in field conditions.

Another key feature of this model is the enabling of continuous tracking; after all, you’ll likely be using this on a moving target pretty often. Also, while this unit is not a dedicated archery or bow hunting range finder, many users reported very good results with this unit for their bowhunting needs. Those needing optimal archery performance may want to check out other models in the bow hunting range finder category or models with an angle mode in the rifle hunting range finder category.

Finally, the ProStaff 550 offers a 3.5 mm exit pupil for a bright image and a generous 18 mm of eye relief.

As mentioned, this quality unit is for sale at Amazon.com in both the base black version pictured above or the camouflage Team Realtree version shown here. Features are identical in both cases.

The ProStaff 550 is widely praised for its ruggedness and ease of use in a small, affordable package. Some downsides that users have noted is that with its size and 6x magnification, it can sometimes be difficult to stay on target at long distances. Most report that the range finder easily ranges deer-sized targets out to at least 300 yds, with many users ranging out to the reported max of 550 yds. For most farm country or eastern hunters, it’s rare to have a shot over 250 yds anyway. But many user reviews came from western hunters who reported good performance as well.

Things that are great about it:

Nikon quality, rugged package
Small, lightweight design for one-hand operation
Solid performance for the majority of users
Attractive price

Things that could be better:

Best for short- to medium-range situations under 500 yards
Not as full-featured as other models

The small design may be less than steady in some conditions

Reviews from people who’ve purchased this:

Here is an actual user review. James K. writes, from a bow hunting perspective:

I’ve gone bow hunting 5 times and had a shot at two deer. The first was a miss due to grossly underestimating the range. The second shot came after I got the Nikon ProStaff 550 as a Christmas gift. It was a kill.

This is a simple and compact rangefinder. It doesn’t have incline compensation, but with today’s fast-shooting bows I can’t imagine that makes much of a difference. My kill was at twenty yards, the ProStaff 550 ranged it at twenty yards and my twenty yard pin put the arrow right where it was supposed to. What more can you ask for in a rangefinder? Plus, as opposed to an archery rangefinder, this has the additional yardage/range beyond 100 yds.

Review paraphrased for length – see the actual, original review at this link

CONCLUSION:

The Nikon ProStaff 550 Laser Rangefinder is a solid performer from one of the best manufacturers in the business. It would serve most hunters and outdoors enthusiasts quite well in virtually any condition. At this price level, it’s hard to beat, but it doesn’t come with all the features that other models may have. Users that need longer range, incline adjustments, or other features may have to look at other models, but those usually come at a price.