Nikon Pro-Staff 550 versus Callaway LR550 by Nikon

[e-man]

The Callaway is $100 more. Are they the same?

I know this topic has been discussed before, but I can't find a definitive answer. Today I was at Dick's and I compared these two models extensively. They appear to be exactly the same, but for a few cosmetic differences (the Callaway is yellow and comes with a skin to protect it, the Pro-Staff is army green and comes with a case).

Both units are accurate up to 550 yards. The Callaway measures distances in 1/2 yard increments. The Pro-Staff measures distances in 1/2 yard increments up to 100 yards, but then in whole yard increments after that (which I think is better for golf anyway).

The one key difference, at least according the box, appears to be in the target priority mode. The Callaway has first target priority mode -- if several objects are detected, it will give you the one that's closest (i.e., if you're shooting at a pin and there are trees behind the green, you will get the distance to the pin, not the trees). The Pro-Staff has something called distance target priority mode, which, according to the box, says that if there are several objects detected, it will give the distance to the one that's the furthest. If this is true, obviously, this wouldn't work as well for golf. There's a part of me that wonders, however, if this is all marketing.

Are the two units really programmed differently or is it possible that they just work the same way depending on the conditions? I really like the Pro-Staff just as much as the Callaway, and it would be nice to save $100 if they work exactly the same.

e

[e-man]

Okay, so I'll respond to my own post.

I called Nikon today and spoke with a technical specialist. They told me that the Nikon Pro-Staff 550 and Callaway LR550 are, in fact, programmed differently. The Pro-Staff is good for locking onto big objects (animals, I suppose) in the distance when there are a lot of obstructions between you and the object (i.e., trees). It does not work well with locking onto flagsticks. Of course, the opposite is true for the LR550.

I happened to be reviewing sportsauthority.com today and came across some reviews of the Pro-Staff 550 by people who bought the unit to use for golf. Their comments support what Nikon told me today:

[url="http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3252755&cp=3052500.3053437.3067544.944379&parentPage=family"]http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/ind...rentPage=family[/url]

[sba2]

i know this is a 2-year old post, but good on you e-man for seeing this through to the answer. certainly helps me as i was wondering the same thing for the last couple of weeks.