Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binocular (15x 70mm)

335 Reviews

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	Price: $61.46
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Pros: Excellent optics, Waterproof, Bright images
Cons: Lousy tripod adapter, Heavy

Celestron's SkyMaster is inexpensive considering its quality. Its 15x magnification together with its 70mm objective lens provides bright images and helps you scan through long distances. Plus, it boasts a rubber construction which offers a firm grip and makes it easy to hold whether wet or dry. Although roof prism binoculars are newer, slimmer and more compact, the porro prism provides a wider field of view and better image quality. This water-resistant pair features a field of view of up to 230 ft, an 18mm eye relief for eyeglass wearers, multi-coated optics for sharper and clearer images and a center focus knob which allows you to easily adjust and focus on your subject. In addition to the binoculars, you also get a neck strap, a tripod adapter, lens covers and a carrying case. On a side note, its tripod adapter does its job but it doesn't feel as sturdy as we'd expect it to be. You also might have to consider buying a tripod because of its weight but as a whole, the SkyMaster is a great set of binoculars. It makes a perfect fit for those who have a serious interest in astronomy or even those who just want to have a better view of the galaxy.

Bushnell Powerview 13-2514 8x21 Binocular (8x 21mm - Armored)

165 Reviews

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	Price: $12.72
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Pros: Good quality, Lightweight, Compact
Cons: Small Eye holes, Foggy

The Bushnell Powerview 13-2514 Binocular is ideal for travelers, sports fan and concert goers. It is armed with everything you might need to get a crisp and clear view of your subject. The fully coated optics provides brighter and sharper images while the Center Focusing System allows for superior precision. Its eyeholes are a bit small and can be foggy at times but it is loaded with great features including an 8x magnification, a 21 objective lens diameter, a 378-foot field of view at 1000 yards, a 21 feet close focus distance and a 9mm eye relief for those who wear eyeglasses. This extremely portable binocular has a shock-resistant rugged armor that easily fits in your pocket and offers a comfortable and firm grip. It also comes with a deluxe case for travelling purposes and a neck strap that enables you to carry it everywhere you go. Overall, Bushnell's Powerview 13-2514 has a top notch quality that will make you enjoy and appreciate nature trips, hunting, concerts and games even more.

Canon 10 x 30 Water-Resistant Binoculars with Image Stabilizer (10x 30mm)

123 Reviews

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	Price: $435.29
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Pros: Excellent image stabilization, Comfortable to hold, Great build quality
Cons: Not waterproof, No lens caps, Pricey

The Canon 10 x 30 IS Binocular is an excellent choice for viewing fast-paced sports and birds in flight. It is constructed with 2 elements in 1 group and features a 30mm Objective Lens and 10x magnification. It also has a Double Field Flattener which ensures blur-free, undistorted images and a 14.5mm eye relief for the benefit of eyeglass-wearers. Thanks to its Image Stabilizer and Super-Spectra Multicoated Lenses, you can view your subjects in brilliant color and clarity. While it is not waterproof, this porro-prism pair boasts a robust construction which has proven to be reliable even in the toughest situations. It is also very lightweight and comfortable to hold. Most users will enjoy the convenience of having a rotary knob which permits manual focusing. The only disappointment is that the IS button is too small. It would've been nice if it is made larger or if it is placed on the side of the binocular for easy access. Canon's 10 x 30 IS Binocular doesn't ship with lens caps but it includes a set of batteries which makes it ready to use, a neck strap for keeping it within reach and a soft case for protection. Its price may still seem a little steep but it is more cost-efficient than higher-end binoculars and it outperforms other models in the same price range.

Nikon Action 16x50 Binocular (16x 50mm - Shockproof, Armored)

108 Reviews

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	Price: $107.74
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Pros: Lightweight, High quality optics, Rugged construction
Cons: Bulky, Not weather-sealed, Not ideal for star gazing

The Nikon Action Binocular offers admirable and dependable performance in a mobile package that weighs only about 34.9 oz or 990 grams. Its 16x magnification along with its 50mm objective lens makes it suitable for a lot of purposes including hiking, hunting and even watching sports. It also has a 12.3mm eye relief, a field of view of 215 ft at 1000 yards and a central focus knob useful for keeping your subject in focus. Given its weight, you can just throw it in your bag or attach it to a neck strap. The Nikon Action Binocular may be a little bulky but it doesn't burden you while you travel and it is very comfortable to hold for extended periods of watching. While it is not weather-sealed like other models, this porro prism binocular boasts excellent build quality. It sports a rubber-armored coating for maximum durability and embodies multicoated eyepiece lenses and BaK4 prisms which allow you to view undistorted, crisp images and take advantage of enhanced contrast and increased brightness. As an added bonus, it also includes a tripod adapter which enables you to mount it on your tripod and get hold of the best viewing position. The Nikon Action 16x50 Binocular is not ideal for astronomical viewing but it is a decent choice if you're in search for a budget-friendly pair that is rugged enough to withstand everyday use and is capable of providing razor sharp images from far away.

Nikon Action Extreme ATB 10X50 Binocular (10x 50mm - Fogproof, Waterproof, Armored)

79 Reviews

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	Price: $189.99
	Price: $189.99
	Price: $139.00
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Pros: High quality lenses, Long eye relief, Great set of accessories
Cons: Heavy

Nikon's Action Extreme Binoculars are perfect for star gazing, bird watching, enjoying distant scenery or in times when you just can't get close enough. Its rubber coating and ergonomic design provides a comfortable grip while its 50mm objective lens and BaK4 high index prisms offer superior image quality and increased light transmission. Being water-resistant and fog-proof, you can view your subjects without worrying about dust, dirt and other factors that can cause a blurry image. This rugged pair does a great job in low-light situations. It also features a field of view of up to 1000 yards, a right diopter control, adjustable eyecups for more comfortable viewing and a 17mm eye relief for the convenience of eyeglass wearers. With its center focus wheel and 10x magnification, you can quickly adjust and view objects up close. Due to its weight, holding it for a long period of time can be quite difficult but luckily, it gives you the option to mount it on a monopod or tripod using an optional adapter. Plus, it comes with a great set of accessories including a soft travel case, lens covers and an adjustable strap. The Nikon Action Extreme is a steal for the price. It has an awesome range and it offers depth and clarity on par with binoculars costing much more.

Pentax Papilio 8.5x21 Binoculars (8.5x 21mm)

59 Reviews

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	Price: $149.00
	Price: $113.70
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Pros: Small size, High-powered lenses, lightweight rugged construction
Cons: Better for shorter distance viewing than for longer ones.

The Pentax brand is more widely known for cameras, lenses and other photography-related accessories but they also produce other forms of optical instruments. One such product is the Papilio binocular, which is specifically designed for wildlife observation. Its compact dimensions (4.6 X 4.3 X 2.2 length/width/thickness) fit easily in your camping bag while the included straps and lens caps help avoid accidents. This close-focus type binocular offers up to 8.5 times magnification at the very close distance of 1.5 feet. This makes it perfect for bird or insect watchers whose subjects are nearly impossible to observe once they sense your presence. It is also ideal for viewing museum exhibits like works of art. The zoom power of the binoculars are dependent on the proprietary CLOSE or Convergent Lens Optical Systems Engineering mechanism from Pentax, which automatically slides both objective lenses toward the center as the binoculars are focused toward an object a short distance away. This synchronized action joined by the movement from the eyepieces, help bring your subject into sharp focus easily, quickly and without the image appearing split due to misaligned lenses. A click-stop adjusting knob makes sure that your lens settings stay where they are. However, the Papilio seems to give away its closeup magnification advantages against zooming in at longer distances. At around 20 feet away, images become blurry and unfocused. The objective lenses have a 21mm diameter and comprised of two lens elements. At the other end, the eyepiece has five elements in five groups and topped off with Helicoid eyepiece rings for extra comfort while using the binoculars. All of the lens elements are housed in a rubber-coated, compact and highly durable casing. It is also multi-coated to block harmful UV radiation and has special prisms that increase the illumination for dark environments.