One caveat: Cabela’s frequently sells the pre-2018 model at a deep discount, but doesn’t label it as such. I haven’t tried that model and while the price is pretty good, the optics are definitely different and potentially inferior.
More fantastic 10×42 binoculars
- The ultimate luxury upgrade: ED Maven B1.2 42mm Binoculars for $1,000. These are on my top three list of all time. If you can afford these, but not the Leicas, don’t feel bad. Images are clear, sharp and crisp, with no distortion or softness on the edges. I wore them every day for two months and only noticed purple fringe once. They are expensive but worth it.
- Budget selection: Nikon Monarch M5 10×42 for $267. This is the highest magnification version of our top pick, and everything I say about it also applies to the 10×42. For those on a budget, this is a great 10×42 option.
- Another good budget choice: Celestron Regal ED 10×42 for $320. The Celestron Regal EDs are what I call a sleeper offering. I mean, you’ll find very little information about these online, but they are great binoculars and the price is almost impossible to beat. You get a large field of view (6.5 degrees), a clear, sharp image and very little chromatic aberration. I haven’t tried better binoculars that cost less.
- Another improvement: Nikon Monarch HG 10×42 for $997. Nikon’s Monarch HGs offer a slightly wider field of view and are brighter and sharper than the Vortex or Celestron. I like the Maven B1.2 better, but that could be a matter of taste. If you want to move forward in terms of pricing, the Swarovski EL 10×42 for $2,399 They are deservedly legendary.
What if you want 8X magnification, but not the size and weight of an 8×42 binoculars? That’s where 8×32, 8×30, and even 7×32 in some cases come into play. They offer the same magnification, but a narrower field of view; It may be more difficult to track small objects like a warbler fluttering through the foliage, but with a little practice. It’s not too difficult to handle. For hiking and traveling light, this size is a good solution. I’m still in the process of testing more models in this size range, but here are my picks so far.
When I’m out hiking, the Celestron 8×32 Trailseeker ED (8/10, WIRED recommends) are the binoculars I want to carry around my neck. They’re light enough to barely notice, but have excellent optical performance for this price. The Trailseekers offer BaK-4 prisms with dielectric and phase coating, which is rare for binoculars of this size at this price (another way to see this listed is roof prism binoculars with multi-coated optics). Works. ED glass keeps fringing and other chromatic aberrations under control even in bright and glare conditions. With a field of view of about 7.9 degrees, birding with these is very similar to my 10X42, both the power and objective lens size are smaller, but the field of view ends up being about the same .
Small, light and portable. Comfortable eyepieces. Easy to concentrate. Very few chromatic aberrations.
These Pentax are also excellent for the price. The 7.8-degree field of view is wide enough for most uses and the extra-low dispersion (ED) glass is very effective. I basically saw no chromatic aberrations, not even at the edges. Even better, the sharpness all the way to the edge is exceptional – better, in fact, than the Celestron – but the magnification is less and the field of view is also slightly narrower. As with most of our picks, they are water and fog resistant. The focus knob is also very smooth. And at 20 ounces, I didn’t mind having them around my neck all day. If you hike and this is within your budget, these are also a great option.
More great 8×32 and 7×32 picks:
- Another solid option: Nocs Field Issue 8×32 for $175. These Nocs (8/10, WIRED recommends) are compact and lightweight, but still provide a nice, sharp image. They’re not as pretty as the previous Pentax ones, but they’re also cheaper. Like the other Nocs binoculars, the Field Issue are waterproof and fog-resistant, and come in a variety of colors. They offer comfortable eyepieces and a nice oversized focusing wheel that you can’t miss. These manage to reach the optimal point between increase, price and weight.
Compact binoculars often involve a significant compromise in image quality. Depending on your use case, the weight savings may be worth it, but in general, I suggest birders and hunters use 32mm or larger binoculars. Yes, you can make birds with 8x25s, but it’s often frustrating.
The Maven C.2 series is the first compact binocular I’ve tried that didn’t leave me frustrated. Yes, the 28mm field of view is narrow when you’re used to 42mms, but they’re so small and light (just 4.5 inches and weighing just 12 ounces) that I barely noticed them around my neck. If you want a compact, lightweight optic that still provides a bright, sharp image, these are the binoculars to get. They are good for general use: wildlife, sports, travel, or anytime you want binoculars but don’t want to know you have them.
More Great Compact Binoculars
- Another option: Zeiss Terra ED 8×25 for $399. I haven’t tested them extensively, but I’ve used them enough to know that they are lightweight (10.9 ounces) and provide a very good, sharp image. They have 8X magnification and come with a sturdy, waterproof case. The foldable design means they fit easily in your pocket too. The downside is that they are more expensive than the Nikon Monarch 8×42 but offer a much smaller field of view.
- Best budget compact: Nocs 8×25 Standard Edition for $106. These are detailed below, but the short story is that they are wonderfully compact and lightweight, and the price is right, but the image quality could be better. They are a great option for the stadium or general use, but not so good for birders and hunters.
Before we delve into why Nocs are great for kids, let me be clear: Nocs are not binoculars for kids. They are slim, compact binoculars that fit well into the ultralight category above. I “borrow” them from my kids all the time. I wouldn’t suggest these as the best first pair of binoculars for young children (in that case, check out our budget pick below), but for anyone over 8 years old, these are an excellent, compact first pair of binoculars.
You get good magnification, with a waterproof (IPX7 rating) and fog-proof design in a lightweight (11.8 ounces) package. These also have two things that make them specifically ideal for kids: a sturdy build and a nice rubber grip. I can’t tell you how many trees and rocks have crashed while around my son’s neck, and they are still as good as new.
More Great Binoculars for Kids
- Budget selection for children: Let’s go binoculars for $20. If you have little ones who are new to using binoculars, the price of the Nocs may be too high. If you want to see if your kids actually use their binoculars before you dive in, there are plenty of options. I’ll be frank: none of these are great, but they are cheap and lightweight and don’t cost a fortune. Another option is the Obuby Binoculars for $20.
When you think of stargazing, you probably think of telescopes, but binoculars can work too, especially larger, higher-magnification models like these Celestron Skymasters. The first thing you need to know is that they are huge, most of the time you will want to use them with a tripod, which is not included in the price (they do include an adapter, which I used to put them on a photography tripod). , which worked well). The Porro prism design (see below), with 15x magnification and 70mm objective lenses, makes them nice and bright, perfect for getting good views of the moon. They also work for larger clusters and nebulae. They also work for bird watching, but it’s more like using a telescope. However, they are good for digiscoping if you are watching something reasonably stationary, like waterfowl.
As with all Celestron binos, they have a large, smooth focus knob, and they also have a long eye relief which makes them easy to use with glasses. There is a bit of chromatic aberration, especially with bright stars or the moon, but it didn’t distract me. In fact, for the price, they offer surprisingly excellent views.
The best binoculars for special use cases
Image stabilized binoculars: I’m still testing, since it’s a huge category, but so far my first choice is the Fujinon 14×40 Techno-Stabi Binoculars with Image Stabilization for $1,300. If you are on a boat, these are the binoculars you need. They offer industry-leading plus or minus 6 degrees stabilization, almost no image lag, have an IPX7 waterproof rating, and as an added bonus, they float. I did most of my testing on a SUP, which is the most unstable boat I could think of, and it allowed me to birdwatch without having to go ashore. They’re not cheap, but they definitely deliver.
