Best Binoculars
If you like binoculars that are not too heavy, then we have reviewed the best compact binoculars, or if you want the best binoculars for long distance, then we have reviewed the best binoculars with good magnification.
If you are looking for the best kids binoculars, then we have found some of the best binoculars suitable for beginners, amateurs and kids.
No matter why you need to buy binoculars, we have researched and prepared the best independent binocular reviews.
What is the magnification of the best binoculars?
The best binoculars are measured by a standard measurement system, which you will often see advertised in the form “aa x bb”. The first number is known as the magnification factor of the binoculars, and the higher the number, the higher the power or magnification of the binoculars. If the magnification power of the binoculars was “10” then this means that the image that you observe through the binoculars appears 10 times larger than with your naked eye.
What is the size of binoculars?
The second part of the “aa x bb” is a measurement of the size of the binoculars. This number refers to the size of the objective lens of the binoculars, which is easy to figure out – that is the lens at the big end of the binoculars. So for example, if a pair of binoculars is listed with the measurement “10 x 50”, then what that tells us is that the power of the binoculars is 10 times magnification, and the objective lens is 509 mm diameter. Generally speaking, the larger the objective lens, the image of the binoculars will be larger, and larger binoculars will allow more light which makes for a clearer and brighter image.
Are the best binoculars the larger binoculars?
The best binoculars are not necessarily always the larger binoculars. Larger binoculars are generally quite heavy, and these can be hard to hold steady and focused on a moving target.
The best binoculars are not necessarily always the highest magnification. The higher the magnification of a pair of binoculars means that the image will be larger, but potentially the image will be dimmer, especially in low light situations. This also results in difficulty keeping the image in focus, which can be tricky even with the best binoculars.
The best binoculars are not always those with the largest image. The larger image size will also mean that the field of view is narrow. So when you have a large image, and a narrow field of view, it can be difficult to find your target with the binoculars, and also tricky to keep the image in the center of the field of view.
So What are the different types of binoculars for?
Long distance binoculars
If you want to observe far into the distance, and look for relatively stationary targets, then without a doubt, you will need the largest binoculars , and the largest objective lens that you can afford. The problem here is that the best binoculars can get very expensive fore larger sized objective lens, and the overall weight of the larger binoculars can get quite heavy. This means that if you need to observe your image for a long period of time, you will also need a tripod to hold the binoculars steady, and to take some of the weight away from your hands and arms. There is no way you can hold still and steady for long periods without the shakes or wobbles ruining the image, no matter how clear and bright it is!
Low light binoculars (early morning, late afternoon)
Astronomy binoculars
No matter whether you are a professional astronomer, or a beginner, a pair of the best binoculars come in very handy! These may be either very low light binoculars with large objective lens, or you can choose night vision binoculars that use the infra red spectrum to observe the target. Check out where you can see the best telescope!
Nature lovers binoculars
If you love observing nature, then you probably like to be relatively active, such as walking or hiking, when you don’t want to carry heavy binoculars. Better still, if you like looking at landscapes, trees and mountains, then the best binoculars will have a nice wide field of view. If you enjoy looking for wildlife, such as bird watching and animal spotting, then you may be looking for small binoculars that allow you to move quickly to follow a moving target. It is also handy a wide field of view so that you can find the image through the binoculars without having to look over the top of the binoculars to find your image.
Binoculars for bird watching
There are a couple of different scenarios for those who love observing animals, and who are seeking the best bird watching binoculars. If you need to be fast and mobile, then it is likely the larger binoculars will be too heavy, and too hard to keep on the target. Unless you are using a bird or animal watching hide. If you are in a stationary observation location, and especially if you have the advantage of using a tripod to mount the binoculars on, then there is no doubt that you might enjoy the higher magnification and power of larger binoculars. Once you have located a suitable target with high powered binoculars, you will be able to maintain focus on the image and enjoy a close up image of your favourite subject.
Small Binoculars
On the other hand, if you are hiking through difficult trails or paths, and through bush land with tress and undergrowth all around, then high powered binoculars would be quite useless. For this scenario, you might be better equipped with lighter or small binoculars with a clear image and wider field of view.
The small binoculars with a wide field of view are much easier to focus on a moving target, without the distraction of tress and bush getting in the way of the target image. It is always a trade off with a large image size, because as soon as the target moves, that movement is also magnified, and then you will have to try to find and focus on the image all over again.
Durability of binoculars
The problem when it comes time to buy binoculars, is that most people want to use their new binoculars outdoors, and in all sorts of weather conditions. Needless to say, the best binoculars are delicate optical instruments, which are generally not built to get bumped around, or to get wet and dusty.
If you are looking to buy binoculars for indoor use, then it is wise to treat them with care so as to preserve the delicate optical components on the inside.
Best Binoculars
If you plan to buy binoculars for hiking that are suitable for taking out into the great outdoors, then you should definitely look for binoculars that are suitable for rugged treatment, and can handle the outdoors conditions.
Some of the best binoculars for outdoor use come with rubberized exterior coatings that are designed to protect the binoculars from bumps and scratches and being dropped. These ruggedised binoculars are the undoubtedly the best binoculars for any outdoors application, and are built to withstand rough treatment without damaging the optical components.
Waterproof binoculars
The final criteria that you might wish to look out for when choosing the best binoculars is whether you need waterproof binoculars. If you travel to wet and humid environments, or if you tend to go hiking through all types of weather conditions, it is inevitable that sooner or later it will rain, or your bags will get wet, or your water bottle will leak and spill all over our gear. Fortunately, the best binoculars are able to withstand water, and to protect the delicate optical components on the inside. Better still, the best waterproof binoculars are sealed to prevent moisture or debris from entering the housing. Filled with inert gases, the best binoculars actively prevent fog or condensation forming on the lens. The use of sealed weatherproof binoculars will make sure that your binoculars are always in good conditions and it also prevents water or fog from spoiling the image.
What are the best binoculars brands on the market?
Binoculars are a specialist piece of equipment, with delicate optical components which are designed to offer the best user experience. Anyone can build a pair of binoculars, but it takes the professional to get it right. We always recommend that you stick with the reputable brands of binoculars, such as Nikon, Bushnell, Celestron, Vortex and Vanguard, all of whom are renowned for making the best binoculars.
<<<Click here to read our reviews of these brands>>>
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How much do binoculars cost?
There is a wide range of prices when it comes to choosing the best binoculars on the market. After you have chosen the size of the binoculars you need, cost is the most important when it comes to selecting the best binoculars. But don’t let the price change your mind. We always recommend that the best binoculars are an investment for the longer term, and when you buy good binoculars, they will last for a long time, and you will never regret that you paid a little extra to get the best binoculars for your specific application.
Recommendations for the Best Binoculars
Here are our recommendations when you go to buy binoculars:
- Set your expectations – do you want to get cheap binoculars, or high magnification, or wide field of view, or high powered binoculars, or the best kids binoculars?
- Work out your primary purpose – do you want the best binoculars for outdoors, or hiking, or astronomy, or the best binoculars for bird watching?
- Work out whether you need waterproof binoculars, or ruggedised military binoculars, or whether you need binoculars to be sealed and protected from excessive humidity and extreme weather conditions
- Can I afford the best binoculars, or will cheap binoculars do the job.
Where to Buy Binoculars
If you are chasing the most popular brand names and the best binoculars, then you can be confident that where ever you buy binoculars, the best brands always have the best reputation, and the highest quality products.
We recommend Amazon as the best retailer of the widest range of products anywhere, and they provide a comprehensive return policy if you don’t receive the goods as promised.
Be Confident to buy Binoculars on Amazon
Here is a list of the best reasons why you can be totally confident to buy binoculars from the Amazon superstore:
- Warranty. Amazon offers a comprehensive warranty over all the products on sale, and when you buy binoculars from Amazon, you get a full return policy in the event that something is wrong with the product. Such is the confidence with the high quality products and suppliers that Amazon is able to provide the best warranty. This in turn should give you the confidence to buy the best binoculars, via their online service.
- Price. Amazon can out compete most retailers in terms of price and availability, and are able to bring you competitive pricing for the best binoculars on the market. If you live in an eligible location, you may even be lucky enough to get free delivery, so that makes the pricing even more attractive, since you don’t even have to leave your house.
- Amazon is the official supplier of the best binoculars manufacturers on the market, and in most cases, the actual representatives of the manufacturer have placed the products directly at Amazon. So in many ways, it is almost like buying binoculars directly from the manufacturer, and you can be reassured of getting the best after sales service, and proper care and packaging during the shipping and delivery service.
What are the reputable brands of the best binoculars?
We always like the traditional manufacturers of binoculars. Some of the biggest names in the industry continue to make the most popular models of binoculars. You may even be familiar with some of the popular brands already, and we recommend any of the bigger name suppliers as having excellent binoculars to choose for your next purchase.
Manufacturers such as Bushnell, Celestron, and Nikon are some of the best manufacturers of binoculars, and we have made a shortlist of some of the best binoculars reviews to make your choice easier!
Here is our list of the Best Binoculars Reviews
1. Celestron Outland X 10×42 Binoculars
The Celestron Outland X binoculars are an excellent choice for the best binoculars, and this model is a relatively affordable price range. The Celestron Outland is rated at 10 x 42 which means they generate a large power of 10 times magnification. The benefit is that these binoculars are not as large as some of the 50 mm binoculars on the market, but you still get the incredible 10 x magnification from a smaller set of binoculars.
The Celestron Outland binoculars are ergonomically designed to be comfortable to use with twist focus eye cups that feel soft against your skin. The binoculars are encased in a tough rubber coating for protection against rough handling and accidentally bumping. Better still, these binoculars are nitrogen filled to resist water and moisture from ruining the internal optics.
These Celestron Outland X binoculars are not the lightest or smallest binoculars on the market, but they come with handy carrying straps, as well as a protective pouch to carry the binoculars in when not being used.
The Celestron Outland binoculars are excellent for nature lovers, animal lovers, and can be the best birding binoculars so long as you don’t have to carry them too far as they are not the lightest binoculars on the market.
Check out the Celestron Outland X binoculars at Amazon.
2. Celestron SkyMaster 10×50 Binoculars
As we suggested earlier, Celestron are a renowned manufacturer of the best binoculars, and the SkyMaster are certainly no exception. Coming in various sizes to suit all your needs, we found that the 10 x 50 sized binoculars offer an incredible clear and bright image that offer performance approaching that of a small telescope. Such is the incredible power up to 10 times magnification and wide field of view, these binoculars offer a wonderful viewing experience.
Celestron offer the best optical components, and these binoculars come with multi coated glass optics, and include a tripod mount for steady viewing. The tripod is a must with these powerful and heavy binoculars, as even the strongest arms will begin to shake after holding them up to your eyes for any length of time.
Build solid and built to last, these binoculars are rubber coated and easy to use. Despite the high performance and solid build, these are affordable binoculars, and represent great value for money.
Check out the Celestron SkyMaster binoculars at Amazon.
3. Nikon 7541 Monarch 3 binoculars
Nikon is another manufacturer of high quality binoculars. Coming in a wide range of magnifications and sizes, there is a pair of Nikon binoculars to suit your requirements.
The Nikon 7541 Monarch 3 is at the top of the range, and is easily one of the best binoculars on the market. The Nikon Monarch 3 comes in a magnificent 10×42 power rating which is a benchmark for handheld optics in my opinion. With a huge magnification of 10 times, and yet with a nice wide field of view, the Nikon binoculars offer great all round performance. Nikon binoculars achieve excellent optical performance with top quality optical components and multi coated lenses right through the optical viewing path. Nikon binoculars are renowned for power and precision, and the Nikon Monarch 3 10×42 binoculars are an excellent example and great value for money.
I found that the focus wheel was easy to use, quick to adjust, and yet fine enough to focus precisely and clearly on the object. In fact I found the focus such a pleasure to use, that I found my finger was constantly resting on the easy feeling focus wheel, and even making subconscious adjustments to keep the perfect image clarity. This is not just a nice to have feature, this actually makes the Nikon binoculars a pleasure to use, and even after long periods of viewing, my eyes never felt tired or strained because the image was always sharp and clear, with no blurring or shadowing.
Although not the lightest binoculars, these Nikon binoculars are serious instruments, and if you are serious about your long distance vision, then these Nikon Monarch 3 binoculars will be a welcome companion for many years to come.
Check out the Nikon 7541 Monarch 3 binoculars at Amazon.
4. Nikon 7576 MONARCH 5 – 8 x 42 Binoculars
If you want to enjoy the great outdoors, but prefer to be a little more mobile, then there is another option, the Nikon 7576 Monarch 5 binoculars which are a little smaller and lighter than the Monarch 3. The Nikon Monarch 5 come in a very handy 8 times magnification, and a measurement of 8 x 42. So there is a trade off in terms of overall magnification, but you certainly gain in terms of wider field of view, and a little less weight to carry around on your adventures.
In fact these Nikon binoculars have been made for traveling, with a robust design and a rugged armor coating on the external surface, to withstand those incidental bumps and scratches. Better still, the Monarch 5 are weatherproof as well as waterproof for those accidental spills and drips. Probably not wise to fully immerse these very affordable binoculars, just in case, but at least you have the confidence that a few spots of rain will not permanently damage these Nikon binoculars.
As soon as you pick up these Nikon binoculars, you can just feel the quality, such as the excellent balance, the ergonomic feel, the smooth and quick adjust focus wheel, not to mention the super clear, bright and sharp optical images.
Check out the Nikon 7576 Monarch 5 binoculars at Amazon.
5. Bushnell H2O Waterproof/Fog proof Binoculars
Normally I will treat my best binoculars with due care and even if they do occasionally get a little damp, I wouldn’t ever intentionally dunk them full in the water. Maybe I have to change my opinion, because the Bushnell H2O Binoculars are made to be fully waterproof binoculars. As if that is not enough, these Bushnell binoculars are also fog proof, which is handy when you travel into extreme temperatures and high humidity environments.
Bushnell binoculars are now considered to be the ultimate in waterproof binoculars, which means you can pack these with confidence wherever you go, and never have to worry about water damage or ruining your best binoculars.
The Bushnell H2O Waterproof binoculars have been designed with the outdoors in mind, with non-slip rubber grip, a rapid adjusting focus wheel, and a wonderful 10 x 42 magnification factor, which means you always get high powered binoculars vision. Additionally, these Bushnell binoculars have improved light transmission optics. You can buy these Bushnell binoculars with confidence as they are 100% waterproof and fog proof, and come with a limited lifetime warranty to back up those claims of best waterproof binoculars. If you have been looking for waterproof binoculars, then it is time to get serious and buy the best waterproof binoculars on the market.
Check out the Bushnell H2O Waterproof binoculars at Amazon.
6. Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10× 42mm Roof-Prism Binocular
Just in case you didn’t think we were serious about bringing you the best binocular reviews, now we come to the Bushnell Legend 10 x 42 Roof Prism Binoculars.
The Bushnell binoculars truly are the legends in waterproof binoculars, as well as lightweight design, and touch enough for the great outdoors. The Bushnell Legend HD binoculars have been designed with a light weight magnesium housing, which is water proof and covered in a non slip rubber grip material.
Built with the user in mind, you will be blown away by the awesome power of the 10 times magnification, as well as the wide field of view. These Bushnell binoculars are easy to use, and the soft rubber eye cups are very comfortable, and the superior internal optics are much easier on the eyes, and won’t cause discomfort. The optics have been multi coated for sharp focus, bright images, and fog proof both internally and externally which means a little heat or rain will not spoil your viewing pleasure.
Check out the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Waterproof binoculars at Amazon.
Conclusion – Which are the Best Binoculars?
No matter whether you are a professional or a beginner, the best binoculars are affordable and easy to use. No matter whether you use your binoculars every day, or just on special occasions, the best binoculars will never let you down.
You can choose to go for the best magnification, or go for a wide viewing angle, or the biggest and brightest image, or whatever you prefer. There is a wide range of good binoculars on the market for you top choose from.
It is important to understand that binoculars are a specialist piece of equipment with delicate optical components that need to be treated properly. You can get rugged binoculars that are built to resist bumps and scratches, and you can select waterproof binoculars that can withstand rain and high humidity without fogging up. So even though they may cost a little more up front, when you buy good binoculars you know that you will be able to get many years of exploration, and enjoyment.
