Table of Contents
When you know what the specs mean and what to look for, it’s easy to choose the best binoculars. Finding the best binoculars is important for anyone who likes to watch wildlife, but they can be used for a lot more than just that. Some binoculars can also be used to look at the stars, scan the sea, and get a better look at things far away.
We think that the best binoculars should have clear, bright views, be priced right for your budget, and work well in all kinds of weather and temperatures. This review of the best binoculars of the year doesn’t use numbers to rank the products, but the order in which they are listed shows how they compare.
Best Binoculars Comparison Table
Model | Objective Lens Diameter | Manufacturer | Dimensions | Weight | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Celestron Nature DX ED | 50mm | Celestron | 5.5 x 2.2 x 6.5 in | 1.56 lb | $249.95 |
Canon 10x42L IS WP | 42mm | Canon | 5.9 x 5.1 x 2.8 in | 2.2 lb | $1,299.00 |
Nikon Monarch HG | 42mm | Nikon | 5.7 x 5.1 x 2.2 in | 1.55 lb | $976.95 |
Vixen SG | 42mm | Vixen | 2.0 x 2.8 x 5.0 in | 0.5 lb | $329.00 |
Nikon Monarch M5 | 42mm | Nikon | 5.6 x 5.1 x 2.4 in | 1.3 lb | $479.95 |
Athlon Optics Midas ED | 42mm | Athlon Optics | 5.8 x 5.1 x 2.1 in | 1.55 lb | $389.99 |
Vortex Viper HD | 42mm | Vortex Optics | 5.8 x 5.3 x 2.1 in | 1.5 lb | $649.99 |
Celestron Nature DX ED 12×50

Specification | |
---|---|
Magnification | 8x, 10x, 12x |
Objective lens | 42 mm |
Prism type | BaK-4 prisms |
Coating | Fully multi-coated |
Field of view | 388 ft. – 304 ft. / 1000 yd. |
Eye relief | 17.5 mm – 14.0 mm |
Close focus | 6.5 ft. / 2 m |
Waterproof/fogproof | Yes |
The Celestron Nature DX ED 12×50 can be used for a variety of outdoor tasks because it can focus on nearby objects up close and has a fairly wide field of view. Its tough construction and ED glass, which makes images that are bright, colorful, and sharp, also make it useful for a variety of outdoor tasks.
The Celestron Nature DX ED 12×50 is a good pair of large binoculars for viewing wildlife that falls in the middle of the price range. The Nature DX prisms are made of high-quality BaK-4 glass with phase coatings that let more light through and make images look brighter.
The Good
- ED glass lets colors come out well.
- Construction that is both light and strong
- Good field of view, and you can get in close to focus
- For use in all weather, it is waterproof and fog-proof.
- It comes with a case and a neck strap.
The Bad
- Slightly more expensive than similar models.
Canon 10x42L IS WP

Specification | |
---|---|
Magnification | 10x |
Objective lens | 42 mm |
Prism type | Porro II prisms |
Coating | Super Spectra coating |
Image stabilization | Yes |
Field of view | 341 ft. / 1000 yd. |
Eye relief | 16 mm |
Close focus | 8.2 ft. / 2.5 m |
Waterproof/fogproof | Yes |
All of Canon’s current binoculars have the letters “IS” at the end of their names to show that they are image-stabilized. With this battery-powered option, you can get a picture that doesn’t shake by pressing a button on the binoculars.
The effect is instant and will blow your mind. We chose the rubber-coated Canon 10x42L IS WP model as the best out of all the Canon IS options. They are also waterproof, as the name suggests, which makes them great for an even wider range of long-distance activities.
Check Price
The Good
- Stabilization of the image for steady viewing
- Optics from the L-series are clear and sharp.
- Made to withstand the weather
- Good field of view, and you can get in close to focus
- Easy to use for a long time without getting tired.
The Bad
- Compared to other models, this one is pricey.
- Compared to other models, it is heavy.
Nikon Monarch HG 10×42

Specification | |
---|---|
Magnification | 8x, 10x |
Objective lens | 42 mm |
Prism type | Dielectric, high-reflective |
Coating | Fully multi-coated and phase-correction coating |
Field of view | 435 ft. – 341 ft. / 1000 yd. |
Eye relief | 17.8 mm – 16.1 mm |
Close focus | 6.6 ft. / 2 m |
Waterproof/fogproof | Yes |
The Nikon Monarch HG 10×42, we loved these so much that it was hard to find anything wrong with them. We found almost no chromatic aberration, which means that the optics are very good. This is because Nikon’s multilayer coatings on all of the glass elements and the Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements that come with the lens make this possible.
The image is clear all the way to the edges thanks to a smart built-in system that flattens the field of view. This is especially helpful for people who watch wildlife, as is the wide field of view. The Nikon Monarch HG are easy to carry around because they only weigh 680g and have a slim body.
The Good
- High-quality optics for images that are clear and bright
- Easy to use because it’s light and made with comfort in mind.
- Good field of view, and you can get in close to focus
- For use in all weather, it is waterproof and fog-proof.
The Bad
- Pricey for what it is
Vixen SG 2.1×42

Specification | |
---|---|
Magnification | 8x, 10x |
Objective lens | 32 mm |
Prism type | BaK-4 prisms |
Coating | Fully multi-coated |
Field of view | 390 ft. – 314 ft. / 1000 yd. |
Eye relief | 16 mm |
Close focus | 5 ft. / 1.5 m |
Waterproof/fogproof | Yes |
Put a pair of Vixen SG 2.1×42 binoculars to your eyes if you want to try something very different. You’ll see the same night sky as you would with the naked eye, but 2 times closer. Why would someone buy a pair of binoculars with such a low magnification?
The Vixen SG 2.1×42 are not for you if you want to see deep-sky objects like galaxies or get a close look at Jupiter’s biggest moons. But if you want to find constellations and see the sky with wide-open eyes, you’ll love the Vixen SG 2.1×42.
The Good
- Easy to carry because it is small and light.
- Good field of view, and you can get in close to focus
- For use in all weather, it is waterproof and fog-proof.
- It comes with a case and a neck strap.
The Bad
- Compared to other models, it had a smaller objective lens size.
Nikon Monarch M5 8×42

Specification | |
---|---|
Magnification | 8x, 10x |
Objective lens | 42 mm |
Prism type | Roof prisms |
Coating | Fully multi-coated |
Field of view | 330 ft. – 362 ft. / 1000 yd. |
Eye relief | 18.4 mm – 17.1 mm |
Close focus | 8.2 ft. / 2.5 m |
Waterproof/fogproof | Yes |
The Nikon Monarch 5 was our first pair of “real” binoculars. Years later, their improved M5 is our top choice for most newcomers. You get a lot for your money with these, and the 8×42 magnification is the most useful. When we go birding, these are some of the most common binoculars we see.
The optical power, quality, and price of the Monarch M5s are all very well balanced. The glass in these is clear and bright, and there isn’t much color distortion. The Monarch M5s are also light enough that you can wear them all day without them bothering you too much.
The Good
- High-quality optics for seeing images that are clear and bright
- Built to last and to be tough
- Large field of view and good ability to focus up close
- For use in all weather, it is waterproof and fog-proof.
The Bad
- Compared to other models, it’s pretty heavy.
- People who wear glasses might not be able to use eye relief.
Athlon Optics Midas ED

Specification | |
---|---|
Magnification | 8x, 10x |
Objective lens | 42 mm |
Prism type | BaK-4 prisms |
Coating | Fully multi-coated |
Field of view | 426 ft. – 362 ft. / 1000 yd. |
Eye relief | 17.2 mm – 16.3 mm |
Close focus | 8.2 ft. / 2.5 m |
Waterproof/fogproof | Yes |
Nearly all of the other binoculars we tested, including the Athlon Optics Midas ED 8×42, are the result of a revolution in optical quality brought by the falling costs of precision manufacturing and optical treatments. You can get a pair of binoculars for just over $300 that matches, not just comes close to matching, products that cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars more.
The optics of the Athlon Midas ED pair are not its only strong point: These are very strong binoculars that did not break in the humid, dusty, and hostile environment of the Mexican rain forest or the harsh sun of the Californian desert.
The Good
- Extra-low dispersion (ED) glass gives accurate colors.
- Easy to use because it’s light and made with comfort in mind.
- Large field of view and good ability to focus up close
- For use in all weather, it is waterproof and fog-proof.
- It comes with a case, a neck strap, and a lens cleaning cloth.
The Bad
- Some users may find that the eye relief isn’t quite enough.
Vortex Viper HD 8×42

Specification | |
---|---|
Magnification | 8x, 10x |
Objective lens | 42 mm |
Prism type | Roof prisms |
Coating | Fully multi-coated and phase-correction coating |
Field of view | 347 ft. – 319 ft. / 1000 yd. |
Eye relief | 17 mm |
Close focus | 5.1 ft. / 1.6 m |
Waterproof/fogproof | Yes |
The Vortex Viper HD 8×42 is the best choice if you want to buy a good pair of optics because it has what we think is the best mix of performance and price. The images we saw through their high-quality glass were some of the brightest and clearest we saw in our tests.
In our tests of image quality, the only models we found that were better than the Viper HD cost more than hundreds of dollars. They also have a close focus range of 6.3 feet and are easy to hold thanks to soft focus knob and a weight that isn’t too heavy for a full-sized pair of optics.
The Good
- High-definition (HD) optics for images that are sharp and clear
- Built to last and to be tough
- Good close-up distance for observing in detail
- Lenses that are fully multi-coated and have a phase-correction coating to improve image quality
The Bad
- Compared to some other models, the field of view is a little bit narrower.
- For people who wear glasses, the eye relief may be a little short.
FAQs
The Suangor 30-160×70 Mega Zoom BCFBinoculars say that they are the most powerful ones in the world. The Oberwerk BT-100XL-SD 100mm, which can zoom up to 80 times, is the most powerful binocular telescope in the world.
The 10×42 binoculars are a great choice if you want a pair of binoculars for general use. In terms of quality and versatility, the 10×50 binoculars are the next step up. In comparison, the wider lenses give a brighter image and will work better when there isn’t much light.
In general, binoculars with a magnification of 6 to 10x are easier to use. However, 8 to 10x magnification is best for birdwatching, tracking moving objects, and minimizing shaking. For going to the theater, a little less magnification is easier to use, and portability is a big deal.
Monoculars are better than binoculars in a few important ways: They are smaller and lighter, which makes them easy to carry and put in bags.