Binoculars present a useful tool for observing nature, birds, animals, shows, and sports from a distance. The best binoculars provide magnification of distant objects and allows them to be focused and clear through the binocular lenses in order to provide a pleasing viewing experience. While binoculars come with many different features, there are a few that create the best binoculars. These include light weight, strong magnification, comfortable eye relief, durable construction, and positive reviews. The following binoculars possess each of these features.
| PRODUCT | BEST FOR | PRICE | OUR RATING |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bushnell Powerview Compact Folding Roof Prism Binocular | Best Compact Binoculars | $ | 4.1 Stars |
| Bushnell NatureView Porro Prism Binoculars | Best Binoculars for Hunting and Birding | $$$ | 4.6 Stars |
| Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15×70 Binoculars | Best Binoculars for the Money | $$ | 4.2 Stars |
| Orion 51464 20×80 Astronomy Binoculars | Best Binoculars for Astronomy | $$$ | 3.4 Stars |
| Vortex Optics Diamondback 10×42 Roof Prism Binocular | Best Binoculars Around $250 | $$$$ | 4.7 Stars |
| Olympus 118760 Trooper 10×50 DPS Binocular | Best Binoculars Under $100 | $$ | 4.6 Stars |
Best Compact Binoculars
The Bushnell Powerview compact folding roof prism binoculars provide a small but high value item for concert goers and nature observers. Consumers particularly enjoy the lightweight feel of these binoculars, which weigh in at about a pound and make them easy to carry anywhere they are needed. Their small size, combined with the included carrying case and strap, add to their convenience and portability. The result is a product that is easy to pick up and take anywhere.
In addition to its small, lightweight design, the Bushnell Powerview provides an excellent value for consumers. The binoculars are inexpensive, but, according to consumers, provide optics that far exceed this affordable price. Certain features add to this optical ability. For instance, they come with 32mm lenses and the ability to magnify up to 10x. In addition, the lenses are multi-coated to maximize the amount of light coming in, and the binoculars boast prisms that also improve the optical ability. The result, according to consumers, are surprisingly clear images, even at a distance.
Finally, the Powerview binoculars are durable. Though not waterproof, they are designed to be shock proof and come with a limited lifetime warranty to give consumers peace of mind. The results are a portable, convenient, and high-performing binoculars for almost any use.
Best Binoculars for Hunting and Birding
The Bushnell NatureView Porro 8×40 prism binoculars offer birders a number of appealing features. These binoculars, for instance, are relatively lightweight and therefore easy to carry on a hike, especially with the included carrying case and strap. In addition, consumers report that the view they provide is very clear, allowing them to enjoy watching birds from a distance with these binoculars.
The NatureView boasts porro prisms and magnification of up to 6x, in addition to 40mm lenses. Bak-4 prisms ensure strong focus, and multi-coated optics maximize its light gathering abilities. In addition, the Bushnell NatureView receives solid reviews from consumers for its ease of use. The binoculars work well even for people who wear eyeglasses. They also report that the binoculars require only small, simple adjustment to get the maximum clarity from the views through the use of a knob in the center of the binoculars.
Finally, the NatureView is designed to be durable, with a waterproof and fogproof body that allow birders to enjoy their hobby even in less than ideal circumstances. Because of its superb optics, ease of use, and durable construction, the NatureView is the ideal set of binoculars for any casual or serious birder.
Best Binoculars for the Money
Although Celestron is best known for creating top tier telescopes, like their NexStar Series, the Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15×70 binoculars cost less than $100. However, they provide views and performance that far exceed their price. These binoculars can be used not only for terrestrial viewing but for astronomical viewing and for photography as well because of the strength and clarity of the views they provide. Consumers even report preferring these binoculars over a telescope in some instances, because of the ease with which they can be held and because of the simplicity of use.
The SkyMaster Giants possess a number of excellent optical features, including 70mm apertures for maximum light gathering and multi-coated optics to enhance their light gathering abilities and to make its astronomical uses possible. As a result, they provide clear images day or night. To further enhance the clarity of the view they provide the SkyMaster Giants possess Bak-4 prisms that focus the light for a better image. In addition, they provide up to 10x magnification.
At about 4 pounds, the Giant is light enough to hold on its own, but a tripod may be necessary for long viewing sessions. Their 18mm eye relief makes them comfortable to use even for eyeglass wearers. Their inexpensive price and overall outstanding optics make them one of the best binocular values.
Best Binoculars for Astronomy
The Orion 51464 20×80 astronomy binoculars are designed to provide stunning astronomical views for a very affordable price. They provide an inexpensive way for consumers to enjoy the nighttime sky, a comparable price to many of the high quality telescopes for children on the market today. The Orion does so through solid optics and superb light gathering capabilities.
For instance, these binoculars have 80mm apertures, which gather up to 30 percent more light than 70mm apertures, allowing the consumer to enjoy clear images of the nighttime sky. In addition, these binoculars come with Bak-4 prisms that are designed to sharpen the views. They also come with full multi-coated optics, meaning that all of the lenses possess multiple layers of coating to enhance their ability to gather the light and use it to create clear views of objects such as the moon, and Jupiter’s moon.
The Orion astronomy binoculars also come with added features that make it comfortable to use. These include 17mm eye relief, making it easy to use even for people who wear eyeglasses, and a tripod adapter so consumers can mount it to a tripod instead of needing to hold it throughout their viewing session. Consumers report that the construction of the binoculars meets expectations for their price, and that the optics exceed their expectations and provide an excellent value for anyone wishing to enjoy astronomical views with a binocular.
Best Binoculars
The Vortex Optics Diamondback 10×42 roof prism binoculars are an outstanding choice for consumers. For the price, they offer incredible optics. For instance, they possess 42mm lenses that offer up to 10x magnification, the same kind of magnification often found in more powerful astronomy binoculars. In addition, they provide a wider field of view than any other pair in their category to allow consumers to enjoy as much of the landscape as possible. Their optics are further improved with multi-coating that allows for the maximum amount of light to be taken in by the lenses. They also boast the more modern and effective roof prism design for even better images.
Consumers report that these binoculars provide excellent views suitable for hunting, birding, and other outdoor activities. The Vortex Diamondback is also built to last, with waterproof and fog proof technology and a VIP lifetime, no questions asked warranty. Consumers give the binoculars positive reviews for its ability to withstand wear and tear.
Its value is only increased by the inclusion of a carrying case and neck strap for easy portability. The result is a high-quality pair of binoculars that rivals much more expensive brands for a very affordable price
Best Binoculars Under $100
The Olympus 118760 Trooper 10×50 DPS I Binoculars offer a good value among binoculars that cost less than $100. They offer a number of features that improve their optical abilities. For instance, they provide 10x magnification and possess Bak-4 prisms in order to allow them to collect as much light as is available through their 50mm lenses. In addition, they have porro prisms and anti-reflective coating on the lenses that improves the clarity of the view. They receive solid reviews from consumers for the clarity of the views they provide.
In addition to their solid optics, the Olympus Trooper comes with other features that also make it comfortable and easy to use. These include UV protection on the lenses and a knob that makes it simple to adjust them. Consumers report that the easy adjustment makes it fast and simple for them to fit the binoculars to their eyes and achieve the best possible views. The Trooper also comes with an extra-wide, 65-degree field of view that allows the consumer to enjoy observing even fast-moving objects.
Finally, the Olympus avoids issues that some inexpensive binoculars have by including aspherical optics that prevent light distortion. As a result, these binoculars outperform others in their price range, making them an appealing choice for anyone looking for binoculars on a limited budget.
Binoculars Basics Guide
Binoculars come in many different sizes, with many different features, and in many different price ranges. As a result, choosing the right set of binoculars for your needs will depend upon gaining an understanding of the different features available, so you can choose the ones that will fit your needs and avoid purchasing a set that has either more than you will use or less than you need to enjoy your particular viewing activity. Following are a few of the things you should consider when choosing your own set of binoculars.
Uses
Binoculars can be used in a variety of contexts that require the user to see something that is too far away to comfortably observe with the naked eye. Following are a few of their main applications:
- Event watching
Certain sports and cultural events are best enjoyed with a set of binoculars. For instance, your seat at a sports game, concert, theater, or horse race may be so far away that it would be difficult to watch unless you have binoculars to view the action up close.
- Birding
Binoculars provide an unobtrusive way to view birds up close. In addition, their lightweight and durable construction make them suitable for toting around outside.
Nature observation
In addition to observing birds, the owner of binoculars can enjoy any natural beauty in more detail with their binoculars.
- Traveling
Certain tourist activities also benefit from the use of binoculars. For instance, many people purchase these items when they are taking a cruise or going on a safari, because they allow the tourist to enjoy the beautiful views and wildlife as they travel.
- Astronomy
Astronomy binoculars allow you to enjoy the stars in a smaller and easier to use form than a telescope. While these binoculars will not give you all of the features provided by a telescope, they can offer clear views of the moon and planets for a fun way to enjoy the nighttime sky.
Because the uses of binoculars vary so much, it is important to know how you plan to use your pair. For instance, watching a sports event requires a pair that provides basic magnification; observing the moon requires a larger pair with specifically astronomical features; and observing nature requires a durable, waterproof pair.
Features
Once you know how you plan to use the binoculars, you will need to determine which features you want in your binoculars. There are a number of features you should consider.
- Magnification
Magnification refers to the extent to which the binoculars enlarge the object being observed. The largest binoculars, such as those that are used in astronomy, often have at least 10x magnification. In general, the greater the magnification, the better the view will be and the further away you will be able to see.
- Lens
The lenses are the pieces of the binoculars at the end of the tubes that let in the light and affect the clarity of the view. The diameter of the lens is called the aperture, measured in millimeters. The larger the aperture, the clearer the view will be, because the more light it will allow in to the binoculars. Binocular apertures range in size from about 25mm to 70mm or more.
- Coating
The coating refers to the chemicals that have been applied to the lenses. These chemicals improve the light collecting abilities of the lens. There are several different types of coating that can be applied. For instance, a single coat or multiple coats can be applied to one lens or all the lenses. In general, the more layers of coating there are, the better the lens functions and the clearer the view is.
- Prism
The image coming through the lens of the binoculars would be upside down without the prism, which flips the image to an upright position. There are two types of binoculars: Porro prism binoculars and roof prism binoculars. Roof prism binoculars tend to provide a better image because they place the lens more in line with the eyepiece and do not force the light to bend as much when traveling through the binoculars, but there are excellent binoculars that use both kinds.
- Price
As mentioned above, binoculars come in a wide variety of prices. For instance, a basic pair might cost around $25. At the top end of the price range, however, you could pay close to $3,000. As a result, you need to decide how much you are willing to spend on your binoculars before you begin your search, so you can narrow down your choices to only those you can afford.
In addition to your budget, the use to which you want to put the binoculars and the features you will need should also play a role in how much you plan to spend. For instance, if you want to put the binoculars to astronomical use, you will need to budget more to get the high-end optics you necessary for clear nighttime views than you would need to budget if you are purchasing a pair to take on a bird watching hike.
- Value
Of course, after you determine how much you can spend on a pair of binoculars, you should look for the best value for your money. In order to determine the best value, you should consult reviews of the items you are considering. Other consumers can give you a good idea of how the binoculars stand up over time, and under the same kind of use to which you plan to put yours. Sometimes, by consulting the reviews, you can find an inexpensive pair that outperforms more expensive brands, or determine that a pair that looks good on paper actually has certain flaws that make it an unappealing choice.
When looking for a good value, you should also consider which accessories come with the binoculars. For instance, some require a tripod for best use. If the tripod or tripod adapter is sold separately, you may end up spending more money than you planned. Some binoculars come with carrying cases and straps for added protection. Finding binoculars that comes with these items can enhance the value of your purchase and keep you from running over budget purchasing extra accessories.
Once you know how to use your binoculars, which features you want, and how much you can pay, and once you find a pair that is a good value, you will be on your way to enjoying all the benefits they offer. Regardless of whether you are bird watching, concert going, or sports watching, you will be able to enjoy a clearer, more up close experience with the right pair of binoculars.