- Quick list
- Best overall
- Best optical performance
- Best for affordable stargazing
- Best binoculars under $300
- Best budget binoculars
- Best for moon views
- Best mid range model
- Best family binoculars
- Best for magnification
- Best for entry level astronomy
- Best for beginners
- Best for reliability
- Best for daytime use
- Best binoculars FAQ
- How we test
1. The list in brief ↴
2. Best overall
3. Best optical performance
4. Best for affordable stargazing
5. Best binoculars under $300
6. Best budget binoculars
7. Best for moon views
8. Best mid range model
9. Best family binoculars
10. Best for magnification
11. Best for entry level astronomy
12. Best for beginners
13. Best for reliability
14. Best for daytime use
15. Binoculars FAQ
16. How we test
With a pair of the best binoculars with you, you'll be ready to view distant wildlife and sporting events in bright clarity. A good pair can even be taken stargazing, although those looking to use them for this purpose will want to look for large front lenses (known as the objective lens diameter) to soak in as much light from distant stars as possible, along with high magnification to bring celestial objects into focus.
At Space.com our experts know what they like in a pair of binoculars, and have tested them out in the field to bring you all the best options for all different purposes and budgets. A quality pair of binoculars will be comfortable to hold, easy to transport (even more so with the best compact binoculars) and safe to use in all weather conditions. You'll find nothing less in this guide.
Binoculars tend to be more portable and affordable than telescopes, making them a good choice for casual stargazing. Those who plan to get more serious about their stargazing will benefit from investing in one of the best telescopes, and for those who want to image the night sky we also have guides to the best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography.
If you're looking to get your kids involved, we also have a guide to the best binoculars for kids that are suited to smaller hands.
- Staples: Solar eclipse multipack available
- Amazon: Celestron solar eclipse glasses
- B&H Photo Video: Single and multipack eclipse glasses
- Adorama: Solar eclipse glasses and filter adapter kits
- Target: Discounted ISO-certified solar glasses
- Walmart: Solar glasses, binoculars and filters available
A contributing expert to Space.com, Live Science, All About Space and more, Gemma is the author of several books including 'Quantum Physics in Minutes'. She holds a degree in physical sciences, a Master's in astrophysics and a PhD in computational astrophysics and became fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 2011. Gemma is also the Communications and Outreach Office at the European Space Agency.
The quick list
Best binoculars overall
The finest stargazing binoculars money can buy with in-built stabilization. As close to perfection as you’ll get for handheld astronomy.
Best optical performance
Some of the best optics on the market in an easily transportable roof prism design. A premium product at a premium price.
Best for affordable stargazing
They offer bright and clear views, with a wide aperture for gathering light and magnification that is excellent for stargazing and wildlife spotting.
Best binoculars under $300
The TrailSeeker 8x42’s minimalist design makes them a hugely more attractive option than large and heavy deep-sky astronomy-centric binoculars.
Best budget binoculars
Best thought of as a great value pair of entry-level binoculars for all-round use and for occasional night sky views.
Best for moon views
These binoculars give a superb stargazing experience at a reasonable price. Fantastic magnification for lunar viewing.
Load the next 6 products ↴
Best mid-range model
The pair you need if a wide field of view and a good sturdy build quality top your brief.
Best family binoculars
Surprisingly good optics make these attractive to adults and kids alike. Considering what and who they're for, for the price, they're hard to beat.
Best for magnification
See the universe close up and in stereo, but don’t plan to hike with them as they're big and heavy.
Best for entry-level astronomy
Ideal for anyone just starting out in stargazing. A sleek and well made binocular model with optics to boot.
Best for beginners
Slender and lightweight, these are ideal for beginners and hobbyists who need a 'go-anywhere' binocular.
Best for reliability
With high magnification and excellent light-gathering abilities, these binoculars are built to last.
Best binoculars we recommend in 2024
Why you can trust Space.com Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test and review products.
Best overall
✅ You want the best of the best: Other than price and size, we really couldn't find major fault with these binoculars — we gave them 5 stars in our review.
❌ You're a casual user: These are an expensive pair of powerful binos, so if you only ever do casual stargazing or wildlife spotting, they'll be overkill.
❌ You want a lightweight binocular: These are undeniably heavy and bulky, so if weight is important to you, we'd suggest looking elsewhere.
🔎 Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars: They're not perfect, but they’re as close as you’ll get for hand-held astronomy. They're an outstanding choice for super-steady stargazing thanks to their image stabilization, waterproof design and large objective lenses. ★★★★★
When it comes to hand-held astronomy, binoculars don't come better than the Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars. The main defining feature of the Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars is that they include Canon's Optical Image Stabilization (IS). This nifty technology uses gyroscope motion sensors to detect how much your arms are moving and a vari-angle prism to compensate for that movement up to 0.8 degrees. This means that at the push of a button you can eliminate the slight shakes created by your hands and ensure a consistently steady image — ideal for longer viewing sessions when your muscles might be prone to getting tired.
These binoculars use premium L-series glass with Canon's multi-layered anti-reflective lens coating (known as 'Super Spectra') to increase light transmission and reduce lens flare for a bright and clear view that offers accurate color reproduction. The view through these binoculars is incredibly sharp with no chromatic aberration, which is just what you need for observing pin-point stars.
The downside of these high-tech binoculars is that the IS system is quite power-hungry, so it's worth making sure you take plenty of spare AAA batteries along on your trip. We also weren't wholly satisfied with the accessories provided with these binoculars, especially considering the price point. We found that the one-piece lens caps struggled to stay in place, and we thought the carry case was a bit basic and flimsy, so you might want to upgrade it. But overall, these are still the best stargazing binoculars on our list thanks to the astronomy-centric glass and clever image stabilization feature.
- Read our Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Rugged build quality, but bulky. |
| Performance | Produce bright and colorful images. |
| Functionality | Optical image stabilization. |
Best optical performance
✅ You want some of the best on the market: If you're prepared to pay for them, these binoculars will last you for years to come and provide stunning optical performance and a premium finish.
❌ You specifically want image stabilization: This may be the only thing missing from this pair of binos, so if that's important to you, there are other options out there that do have it.
🔎 Nikon Monarch HG 10x42 A premium package that comes at a premium price — though not ideal for beginner binocular users unless you have deep pockets or a real passion for wildlife or a similar interest that you plan on pursuing for years to come. ★★★★½
In our Nikon Monarch HG 10x42 review, we loved these so much that we found them hard to fault. These binoculars have high-quality optics, and we noticed almost no color distortion (chromatic aberration). This is because Nikon uses multilayer coatings on all glass elements and includes Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements. With a wide field of view and great built-in field-flattened technology, these binoculars ensure sharp images from edge to edge, particularly beneficial for keen wildlife observers.
Because of their slim design with a roof prism, these binoculars are sleek and easy to carry in a coat pocket or around your neck. Even though they weigh 680g, they remain comfortable for long periods of use, thanks to the soft and comfortable neck strap.
While they do come with a higher price tag because of their exceptional optics and quality finish, we believe they provide excellent value for those who can afford them. These binoculars are completely waterproof and fog-resistant because they're sealed and filled with nitrogen. You can feel confident using them in any weather, indoors or outdoors, making them especially useful for your stargazing sessions.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Premium finish all over. |
| Performance | Razor sharp views from edge to edge. |
| Functionality | Only way to improve would be inclusion of image stabilization. |
Best for affordable stargazing
✅ You want to take them anywhere in any weather: They were created with the outdoor enthusiast in mind, and they're waterproof and fogproof so you can use them anywhere.
❌ You want to use them for prolonged periods: They may become quite heavy if you plan on using them for long periods handheld, so we'd opt for a more lightweight pair.
🔎 Celestron Nature DX 12x56 They offer bright and clear views, with a wide aperture for gathering light and magnification that is excellent for stargazing and wildlife spotting. ★★★★½
The Celestron Nature DX 12x56 binoculars represent excellent value for money for anyone looking for a sub-$250 pair of binoculars for casual wildlife-spotting, bird-watching or stargazing. The build quality is fantastic since they feature full rubber housing and they're completely waterproof, fogproof and nitrogen-purged. They include a tripod mount that could be useful for longer viewing sessions and a rain guard that protects the lenses from getting watermarked.
The focus knob is smooth and easy to turn, and they offer close focus of just under 10 feet, which is handy for anyone wanting to spot wildlife from their own backyard. Glasses-wearers will also be glad of the 16mm eye relief offered by the twist-up eyecups. For an affordable price, you can't go far wrong with these binoculars.
The optics on these binoculars are comparable to some more expensive models, featuring phase-coated BaK-4 prisms with multi-coated optics. They may not have the sharpness to satisfy professionals, but for casual users looking for an affordable pair to invest in, these are some of the best you could buy.
- Read our Celestron Nature DX 12x56 review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Fogproof and waterproof. |
| Performance | Bright images even when observing in low light. |
| Functionality | A little heavy for prolonged use. |
Best binoculars under $300
✅ You want to travel with them: We found they were lightweight enough to travel with them easily, although perhaps not the best for prolonged periods of handheld use.
❌ You're serious about astro: For dedicated astro use, particularly for deep sky objects, they lack the magnification needed.
🔎 Celestron TrailSeeker 8x42 binocular: Traveling stargazers will love them as they work well after dark and strike a balance between quality, affordability and portability. The TrailSeeker 8x42’s minimalist design makes them a hugely more attractive option than large and heavy deep-sky astronomy-centric binoculars ★★★★½
In our full Celestron TrailSeeker 8x42 binoculars review, we thought the binoculars struck a great balance between quality, affordability and portability — especially for skywatchers.
The TrailSeeker 8x42 from Celestron offers a slightly different view from the norm due to the amount of light their 42mm apertures collect. Their slightly lower magnification also gives you a wider field of view. The Earth's moon will appear slightly smaller when compared with 10x50 binoculars. But compared to other binoculars we've tested, this optical system and lens multi-coatings offer a sharper, brighter view.
When using the Celestron TrailSeeker 8x42 binoculars, you'll notice minimal false color. False color is that purple or blue halo around bright objects, also known as chromatic aberration. In our review, we rarely saw any false color, especially when observing the edge of the moon.
The Celestron TrailSeeker 8x42 binoculars are perfect for transitioning between different temperatures, such as moving from a warm indoor environment to the cold outdoors on a chilly night. They are waterproof and nitrogen-filled to prevent fogging, ensuring that you can use them comfortably for extended periods while observing without any problems.
Although the TrailSeeker 8x42 binoculars only weigh 23.1 oz (655g), we found that during long periods of observation, our arms started to shake, making it difficult to maintain a steady hand-held view. If you're prone to trembling arms or will be using these binos for long sessions, we advise pairing them with one of the best tripods for astrophotography or the best travel tripod.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Fogproof and waterproof. |
| Performance | Good quality optics, slight color fringing. |
| Functionality | Wide field of view. |
Best budget binoculars
✅ You're a beginner: If you've used binoculars before, then these are unlikely to impress you, so they're best suited to beginners.
❌ You specialize in astro: While they do give decent views of the night sky, anyone focusing solely on astronomy usage would likely want to go for a better pair.
🔎 Celestron UpClose G2 10x50 Binocular: The Celestron UpClose G2 10x50 is a great value pair of binoculars, well suited for entry-level and all-round use. They're also great for occasional night sky use and are easy to set up, use and adjust. If you're an astronomer on a budget, these are a decent choice, although we do question their longevity. ★★★★½
These are affordable skywatching binoculars that would be ideal for anyone just starting out who wants to get the most for their money. While there are some true wins to this model, there are a few reasons why they're on the cheap side, and we discussed them in our Celestron UpClose G2 10x50 binocular review.
The moon looks amazing through these binoculars, fitting easily into the view with just a hint of false color. In July 2020, the UpClose G2 10x50 binoculars were very effective for spotting the naked-eye comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE).
In our opinion, these binoculars are an excellent option for those on a budget who are just getting into stargazing or exploring. They're lightweight and ideal for trekking. However, in our review, we did identify a couple of downsides. Firstly, they require collimation, meaning you need to adjust the alignment of the lenses. Additionally, they tend to fog up in certain conditions.
These binoculars offer a good view, and we managed to spot three stars within the Trapezium Cluster near the center of the Orion Nebula (Messier 42), but in order to see the fourth bright star in this star-forming area, you'd need a pair with higher magnification.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Basic build design and quality. |
| Performance | Surprisingly little chromatic aberration. |
| Functionality | Needs greater magnification for astro. |
Best for moon views
✅ You want good quality without breaking the bank: Given the high magnification, sturdy build and large objectives, we think they're great quality for the price.
❌ You want to view planets or small distant galaxies: They don't excel in this area, they're more suited to providing dramatic wide-field views or larger objects.
🔎 Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70 Binocular The celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70 offer a top stargazing experience for a reasonable price. They won’t give you close-ups of planets or reveal the most distant galaxies, but they make up for it by providing dramatic wide-field views in a good, dark sky. ★★★★½
Celestron is a well-respected brand with a strong reputation in the field of technology, and the SkyMaster binoculars, including the 15x70 'giant' model, deliver excellent views at an affordable price. Despite being a bit on the heavy side, these binoculars are durable and we think they offer impressive quality for their cost.
Despite the larger 70 mm objective aperture, the higher magnification of 15x reduces the apparent field of view to 4.4 degrees, compared to typical 10x50s or 12x50s that provide a degree more.
The SkyMaster 15x70 binoculars have a major advantage. They gather more light and offer stronger magnification, enhancing the clarity of objects that might appear blurry in less powerful binoculars. While there's a bit of softness and blurring at the edges, which is common in budget-friendly models, these binoculars provide a comfortable 0.7 inches (18 mm) of eye relief, making them suitable for people who wear glasses.
At 11-inches (280mm) in length and weighing 3 lbs (1.36kg), we found in our Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70 binocular review that they certainly have a lot of heft, but using them handheld isn't impossible. It's best to use a tripod for maximum comfort with these binoculars. However, due to their powerful magnification, the views of the moon are truly stunning. We were particularly amazed by the three-dimensional look of the lunar surface.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Robust construction. |
| Performance | Optics give good detail. |
| Functionality | Excellent for viewing larger deep-sky objects. |
Best mid range model
✅ You want to travel with them: The lightweight design of these binoculars makes them extremely manageable to travel with.
❌ You're on a tight budget: While they're not the most expensive option on this list, anyone on a particularly tight budget could certainly find a more affordable pair.
🔎 Vortex 10x50 Crossfire HD Binocular If you want to move up to the next level with your binocular stargazing, then the roof prisms on these binoculars bring super-sharp views and come with a useful harness and an excellent padded case. ★★★★
Thanks to their wide field of view, you'll be hard-pressed to find better than the reliable and robust Vortex 10x50 Crossfire HD for wildlife watching and the occasional bit of stargazing.
The eyecups are comfortable and twistable, allowing you to customize the eye relief to 17mm for a personalized viewing experience. If you enjoy exploring nature and traveling, especially if you're into astronomy, you'll like how lightweight these binoculars are, weighing only 1.89 lbs (0.86kg).
What makes these binoculars stand out is their excellent design. They're skillfully crafted with a sturdy and easily adjustable focusing knob, which is useful when you're wearing thick gloves in cold weather.
The view through the Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 binoculars is sharp and clear, making stars look like perfect pinpoints of light. When observing brighter objects, you might see a bit of color distortion, which is typical for binoculars in this price range. However, the Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 provides a great balance of brightness and sharpness across the entire field of view. During our Vortex 10x50 Crossfire HD review, we only observed a tiny drop-off towards the very edges of the field of view.
Although these binoculars come with a harness, we realized during our review that the padded case forms part of the harness so you can't use one without the other which is a little frustrating.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Sturdy, well constructed build. |
| Performance | Bright and sharp images. |
| Functionality | Excellent padded case and harness. |
Best family binoculars
✅ You're buying for your kids: These make a great inexpensive, 'don't care if they get trashed' pair of binoculars that are great for kids who aren't particularly careful.
❌ You want good quality: They're decent for what they are, but if you want good quality optics we'd recommend spending a bit more on a better pair.
🔎 Celestron Cometron 7x50 Their small size and light weight (1 lb 11 oz) let you use them all day, yet you can still hand-hold them comfortably after sunset and long into your dark night of sky-watching. Considering what and who they're for, for the price, they're hard to beat. ★★★★
The 7x magnification and 50mm objective lenses make the Celestron Cometron 7x50 perfect for kids (see them featured in our best binoculars for kids guide). It is a known fact that children have better night vision than adults, meaning they do not require high-end binoculars to see the same amount of light that an adult would with a more powerful pair.
Having reviewed the specs on paper, we weren't too excited about reviewing this pair of binoculars, but to our pleasant surprise, we ended up loving them in our Celestron Cometron 7x50 review. They offer a budget-friendly entry into the realm of sky-watching, and if it doesn't suit you, the gamble you took will only set you back $40.
These compact binoculars feature 7x magnification and a large 50mm front lens, finding a good balance between size and light-gathering ability. They are robust, lightweight and easy to carry. However, it's worth mentioning that they lack waterproof features, but that's to be expected in this price range.
Keep in mind that when kids use binoculars, they might find it challenging to keep them steady for a long time, so it's a good idea to pick lightweight and comfortable binoculars for them. This makes it easier for kids to use them and helps prevent them from getting tired quickly. Alternatively, consider mounting them on a tripod.
- Read our Celestron Cometron 7x50 review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Water-resistant, not waterproof. |
| Performance | Useful for other subjects in the daytime. |
| Functionality | Ideal for use by adults and kids alike. |
Best for magnification
✅ You want more detailed views: The high magnification means you can pick out some incredible details in the vast night sky.
❌ You want to use them handheld: They're big and heavy, so using them handheld would end in arm-ache and you'd have a hard job holding them steady.
🔎 Celestron SkyMaster 25x100 Binocular These heavy-hitters are certainly not for the uninitiated binoculars-users. We think these are more akin to two 100mm refractor telescopes stuck together as they have an enormous reach. They're our favorites for large astronomy binoculars, and with proper care, they could give you decades of joyful stereoscopic star-hopping. ★★★★
The Celestron SkyMaster 25x100 are our top pick for large astronomy binoculars. They act much like two 100mm (4-inch) refractor telescopes set up side-by-side, with built-in image-erecting prisms and eyepieces that rotate independently through 450 degrees rather than the combined central focus knob that you get on traditional binoculars. They also have a 15mm eye relief, which is just enough to get away with using them with glasses.
The result is breathtaking images of the night sky. You'll be able to pick out clusters of galaxies like the Leo Triplets, see Jupiter's atmospheric belts and catch the Sagittarius star cloud (also known as Messier 24). The multi-coated optics produce bright, clear views through the unusually large objective lens diameters.
It's worth noting that this is a heavy piece of equipment, coming in at 8.75 lbs (3.97kg), so you won't be able to use them handheld and will instead need to use the built-in tripod adapter to mount them, possibly with the addition of a counter-weighted arm. The build quality is well thought-out, with the weight of the glass supported by a solid reinforced metal bar, which also makes a handy grip for carrying and stowing away the binoculars. The lens covers and thinly padded carry case are a bit of a let-down, but they're still some of the best large astronomy binoculars out there.
- Read our full Celestron SkyMaster 25x100 review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Requires tripod to use. |
| Performance | Perfect for finding clusters of galaxies. |
| Functionality | 450 degree independent eyepiece rotation. |
Best for entry level astronomy
✅ You're looking for your 'first pair' of binoculars: We think they're a great option for anyone starting out in their astronomy journey.
❌ You wear glasses: The eye relief is only 0.46-inch/11.8mm, so they aren't great if you wear glasses.
❌ You need them for travel: We found them a little bulky, so they might not be the best pair to travel with.
🔎 Nikon 10x50 Aculon A211 Binocular Ideal for anyone just starting out in stargazing. They're a bit bulky for travel and they don't offer much eye relief, but they're bright and sharp enough for impressive entry-level astronomy. ★★★★
With these Nikon 10x50 Aculon A211 binoculars, you can easily recognize familiar nighttime sights like Jupiter and the crescent moon. They also unveil clear shadows on the moon's surface where light and darkness meet. The rubber armor coating on the outside ensures a strong and shock-resistant grip, making them comfortable to hold. Plus, the aspherical eyepiece lens effectively eliminates image distortion.
In our hands-on Nikon 10x50 Aculon A211 binoculars review, our verdict is that while we think they are bulky, if you plan on taking them traveling or backpacking, they are bright and sharp enough to use for entry-level astronomy. They are great value for money with good optical quality.
These binoculars provide a broad field of view, spanning about 6.5 degrees. This makes them excellent for observing celestial events, such as the moon passing through or near a large star cluster like Pleiades in the Taurus constellation. When you peer through these binoculars, you'll see sharp, pinpoint stars across the entire view, showcasing great contrast.
The Aculon A211 binoculars have a slight drawback in their limited eye relief, measuring just 0.5 inches (16.51mm). This may pose a bit of a challenge for those who wear glasses, but it's still manageable.
- Read our full Nikon 10x50 Aculon A211 binoculars review
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | BaK-4 glass optics. |
| Performance | Bright and sharp images, some chromatic aberration. |
| Functionality | They lack eye relief. |
Best for beginners
✅ You want quality on a budget: Nikon hasn't cut any corners here, and the optics are excellent for the low price point.
❌ You primarily use them for stargazing: While we did find they performed well for stargazing, they're not astro-specialists, so if that's your niche then we think there are better options.
🔎 Nikon PROSTAFF P3 8x42: Slender and lightweight, these are ideal for beginners and hobbyists who need a 'go-anywhere' binocular, or for those who want a lighter binocular around their neck. ★★★★
These are fantastic entry-level binoculars that punch well above their modest price tag. They are new to the market and hold their own against more expensive binos because, as we found during our Nikon Prostaff P3 8x42 binocular review, the optics are fantastic for the price. The eye relief is very long at 20.2mm and the eyecups are adjustable — this is excellent news for anyone who wears glasses and makes for a comfortable viewing experience for all.
Adjusting the focus on these binoculars is easy, and they offer just the right amount of resistance, even when you're wearing thick gloves. Although they don't include a tripod adaptor, their 8x magnification and lightweight design (only 572g) make them manageable without one. They're great for casual nature watching or travel, without stressing about exceeding your luggage weight limit. However, if you plan on long nights of extended stargazing, they might not be the most suitable choice.
These binoculars are made to be both light and tough. Crafted from robust fiberglass-reinforced polycarbonate resin, their non-slip rubber coating ensures a comfortable grip during extended use. The shockproof design adds durability, reducing the chance of damage if accidentally dropped or bumped. Moreover, they are waterproof, allowing use in wet conditions and fog-proof — an impressive feature considering their budget-friendly price.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Waterproof and fogproof. |
| Performance | Sharp and bright views. |
| Functionality | Solid polycarbonate fiberglass-reinforced body. |
Best for reliability
✅ You want a long-term pair: If you're looking for a reliable pair of binoculars with high magnification that will last you for years to come, these are a great choice.
❌ You want something lightweight: They're quite heavy and require a tripod in order to hold them steady, so they're not ideal for prolonged handheld use.
🔎 Nikon Action EX 12x50 Binocular A step-up from the mass market with a little extra magnification, excellent light-gathering and rugged construction that extends to waterproofing, comfy rubber grips and a large focus knob. ★★★★
The Nikon Action EX 12x50 binoculars are a fantastic option compared to the usual 10x50 binoculars as they provide a higher 12x magnification while maintaining the same 50mm aperture. The build is excellent, featuring comfortable rubber grips and a large focus knob and eye relief of 13mm.
When using higher magnification, like the 12x50s, you usually get less bright images because you're magnifying the same amount of collected light. However, the Action EX 12x50 tackles this problem with multi-coated lenses and high-refractive-index prisms, making sure that the decrease in brightness is hardly noticeable. In our Nikon Action EX 12x50 binoculars review, we found that you get great, high-contrast images.
The Nikon Action EX 12x50, weighing in at 2.3 lbs (1.04kg), is too heavy for long bouts of stargazing. The higher magnification will enhance any image wobble, so we advise using a tripod.
These binoculars deliver clear and sharp images at the center of your view, particularly when observing stars. However, you may notice some curvature as you move towards the edges of the 5.5-degree field of view. Overall, we think they provide a fantastic observing experience.
Seeing Saturn's rings individually wasn't possible with this pair of binoculars, but observers can still notice clear ansae – the extensions of the rings on either side of the planet, creating an oblate shape.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Tough waterproof rubber armor. |
| Performance | Excellent light gathering & sharp optics. |
| Functionality | Quite heavy. |
Best for daytime use
✅ You enjoy wildlife spotting: We found these binoculars great for daytime use as well as nighttime stargazing, giving you the best of both worlds.
❌ You wear glasses: There's only 0.-56-inch/14.3mm of eye-relief, so they're not ideal if you wear glasses.
🔎 Celestron Nature DX ED 12x50 Binocular One of the best binoculars for stargazing, wildlife observations and more. Their key to flexibility is their use of high-end extra-low dispersion (ED) objective lenses, to create sharp, bright, and aberration-free images within a compact and portable design. ★★★★
These are some of the finest handheld binoculars for stargazing and wildlife observation. The Extra-low dispersion (ED) objective lenses produce aberration-free sharp images.
For our Celestron Nature DX ED 12x50 review binoculars, we took them to several events, partly because they are lightweight and compact and they can be carried easily in their padded case. We tested them at a motor race and were delighted with the bright and sharp views, even at dusk.
We were happy with how well these binoculars worked at night. The Pleiades star cluster looked sharp and clear across the entire view, with only a slight decrease in quality towards the edges, and we didn't see any noticeable color distortion either.
The only aspect that didn't quite impress us was the eyecup quality. They are average and don't offer much relief, especially for glasses wearers. However, overlooking the eyecups, the Nature DX ED 12x50 binoculars are crafted with excellent quality and feature durable rubber armor that shields them from water and impacts.
They sit just below the $250 mark, which is on the more expensive side, but will keep stargazers and nature spotters entertained for years to come.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) glass. |
| Performance | Excellent optics. |
| Functionality | Lack of eye relief. |
Best binoculars FAQ
Which binoculars are best?
You may ask yourself which types of binoculars are best and while it's a tricky question to answer, binoculars come in two kinds: Porro-prism and Roof-prism. To look at, the Porro-prism designs have the most common look of any binocular. They feature a gradual and stepped-up appearance, forming part of the housing which includes two exit pupils, eyecups, central focuser, objective lenses and optical system. You’ll find that these designs are best for observing due to their affordability.
Meanwhile, the Roof-prism binocular boasts a “H”-shaped appearance that lends well to a smaller, and lighter-weight design. These instruments have complicated optical designs, which means that observers need to spend a substantial amount of money to own a reliable binocular of this type. Unlike the Porro, a good Roof-prism binocular isn’t ideal for those on a budget, or casual observers.
What do binocular numbers mean?
Examine any binoculars and you’ll discover that one of several combinations of numbers separated by a 'x' will be visible — for example, 7x40, 10x50, 8x40 and so on. These numbers, which are often located close to the eyepieces, tell you the magnification and aperture of the optical system. For example a 10x50 binocular has a magnification, or 'power' of 10x with front lenses with a diameter of 50mm. It’s these numbers that reveal which objects you can observe by telling you how much you can magnify them by and how much light your binoculars can collect.
The larger the aperture, the easier it will be to see fainter night sky targets such as galaxies and nebulae. As a rule of thumb, and under decent observing conditions, 7x35 binoculars will reveal a hundred thousand stars and 10x50s will show the finer details of the Moon, planets, Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31) and the Orion Nebula. Larger, heavier binoculars such as 20x80s and 20x100s, will open up a wealth of objects such as the fainter spiral galaxies Messier 65 and NGC 3628 and a selection of globular clusters and star-forming regions.
Some models of binocular will have their field of view printed on the barrels or somewhere close to the magnification and aperture. Given in degrees, this number tells you how wide you can see when peering through the eyepieces. The larger the number, the wider the scene. Ten degrees will allow the Big Dipper’s bowl to fit comfortably in your field of view.
Which is best BaK-4, BK-7 or K9 binoculars?
As you shop around for your next piece of observing kit, you’ll come across the terms BaK-4, BK-7 and K9. These refer to the formulations of glass found in the prisms of spotting scopes, binoculars and monoculars.
BK-7 and K9 glass can be found in cheaper products, and refer to borosilicate formulations. While used across a wide range of brands, this glass is said to lead to problematic exit pupils — in particular the field of view isn’t perfectly round, which can leave the observer with poor clarity around the edges of their chosen target. We must stress that this isn’t true for all pieces of kit, so we advise giving your chosen binoculars a test before parting with your cash.
While a touch more expensive than BK-7 and K9 prisms, the BaK-4 — or barium crown glass — is preferable for binoculars. With this type of prism you’ll achieve a higher quality of image, particularly when combined with a well-made optical system.
Multi-coated vs fully-coated binoculars
Without coatings on the optics of binoculars, images would be blurry and lack contrast since light transmission would be poor, glare would become prevalent and light would be lost through internal reflections. A poor, disappointing view would be had by the observer.
It’s easy to find out if your binocular lenses feature a coating: you’ll see an even dark appearance when you peer through the barrels, while the glass will feature a bluish or greenish tint thanks to a layer of magnesium fluoride. If you see a brownish tint, then your optics are coated with calcium fluoride. Both offer the same outcome — they halt the reflection of some wavelengths, allowing more light to enter your eyes through the exit pupils.
Binoculars largely come in two varieties when it comes to coatings: they’re either fully coated or multi-coated. In both versions, all lenses, glass surfaces and prisms feature at least one layer of magnesium fluoride or calcium fluoride. Binoculars with multi-coated optics are the most superior kind you’ll be able to find on the market, with at least one of the surfaces featuring several layers of anti-reflective compounds.
Which binoculars are best for astronomy?
Comparing binoculars, you’ll discover that those used for traveling and sightseeing will have smaller apertures, are lighter and less expensive than those used for astronomy. This is because for a decent observing experience in the dark, the best binoculars for stargazing must have an optical system that is able to collect as much light as possible to pick out those faint targets. In other words the larger the aperture, the better. We advise purchasing at least 10x50 binoculars for comfortable views of a selection of targets; they’re light enough to hold for long periods of time, while offering good views of a selection of night-sky targets. The larger the binocular, the more you’ll be able to see, but be warned: They’ll also be heavier and will require a tripod for steady sights of the heavens.
It isn’t just the aperture that you need to be mindful of. The quality of the optical system is an essential feature to consider for high-definition, excellent contrast and crystal-clear views. You’ll discover two major kinds of binoculars at reputable stockists: the porro-prism and roof-prism. Choose the Porro-prism design for a reliable and affordable piece of kit, making sure that the lenses feature a coating and the glass is of decent quality (we can vouch for multi-coated optics and BaK-4 prisms). If you wear spectacles, we advise choosing binoculars that offer eye relief of at least 14 to 15mm.
Whichever model you decide to go for there are plenty on the market to suit a variety of budgets, observing interests and level of skywatcher.
How we test the best binoculars
To guarantee you're getting honest, up-to-date recommendations on the best binoculars to buy here at Space.com we make sure to put every binocular through a rigorous review to fully test each instrument. Each binocular is reviewed based on many aspects, from its construction and design, to how well it functions as an optical instrument and its performance in the field.
Either our expert staff or knowledgeable freelance contributors test each pair of binoculars carefully, to ensure a personal, fair and hands-on review of each model and judge it based on price, destined use and class.
For example, comparing a pair of 25x100 mammoth binoculars to a compact pair of 8x25s wouldn’t be appropriate though each binocular might be the best pick in their own class.
We look at how easy they are to operate, whether eye relief can be adjusted for spectacles wearers, if a binocular comes with appropriate accessories or carry bags and suggest if a particular set of binos would benefit from any additional kit to give you the best viewing experience possible.
With complete editorial independence Space.com are here to ensure you get the best buying advice on binoculars, whether you should purchase an instrument or not, making our buying guides and reviews reliable and transparent.
Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.
