Binoculars mean the difference between seeing a little gray bird and identifying a titmouse, cheering a home run and seeing the epic catch, or realizing that the 10-point buck is actually a doe standing in front of dead branches.
Whether you're scouting terrain, watching birds in your backyard, or getting season tickets at Fenway, binoculars bring the world closer, making it sharp and clear far beyond what your eye is capable of seeing. To choose the right pair of binocs, you must be clear about what you're going to use them for. If you'd just like to watch some birds at the feeder in your backyard and perhaps overcome the limitations of the cheap seats at the ballpark, there's no need to spend a fortune. On the other hand, if you go birding in diverse locations or are planning a big hunt in unfamiliar territory, it's often worth the extra money to get something a little more powerful.
If you're looking for binoculars for bird-watching, check out our guide All the Gear You Need to Start Birding. Be sure to check out our other guides, including The Best Gear to Make Your Backyard More Fun, The Best Hiking Gear, and How a Birdfeeder Can Bring You Joy.
Updated November 2023: We've added new Pentax binoculars and updated prices and links throughout.
- What Do the Model Numbers Mean?
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- Why the High Price Tags?
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Binoculars are usually listed with two number specifications; for example, the Nikon Monarch M5 are 8x42. Here's what that means:
The number 8 refers to the magnification power. Objects seen through these binoculars will be eight times bigger than when you look with your naked eye. Newcomers should stick with 6X or 8X. They have enough power that you'll see things clearly, but they don't magnify so much that you'll struggle to find what you want to see or have trouble following fast-moving objects (though all binoculars take some practice).
The 42 refers to the size of the front lens in millimeters. The larger the lens, the more light reaches your eye. That means the image will be bigger, brighter, and clearer. A pair of 8x42 binoculars should be significantly brighter and offer a better viewing experience than a pair of 8x32 binoculars, even though both provide the same magnification. But the larger you get, the more glass they will use—so they'll weigh more. The weight difference between an 8x32 pair and a 10x42 pair is significant if you're wearing them all day. We suggest sticking with lenses in the 26-50 range. Our top pick is roughly in the middle, at 8x42, generally considered the sweet spot for most people.
Nikon's Monarch 5 binoculars were my first “real” binoculars. Years later, their upgraded M5 is my top pick for most people just getting started. These offer great bang for your buck, and the 8x42 magnification is the most versatile. It isn't just me, either. These are some of the most common binoculars I see when I'm out birding.
The Monarch M5s strike an excellent balance between optical power, quality, and price. The glass in these provides nice, bright views with very little chromatic aberration (the distortions or fringing that you sometimes see around objects in bright sunlight).
The Monarch M5s are also light enough that they can hang around your neck all day without bothering you too much, and they come with the most comfortable stock strap of any binoculars I've tested.
The nomenclature for the Monarch series is a little confusing. I'm recommending the Monarch M5 here, released in 2022, but the Monarch 5 binoculars I own are technically still available. The new M5 designation features a slightly wider field of view and better optical coatings. There's also the more expensive Monarch M7 series, which is available in 8x42. I have not tested the latter, which offers an even larger field of view but is significantly more expensive.
- Budget pick: Celestron Nature DX ED 8x42 for $179. These are a solid buy for under $200 (they're often on sale for around $140). They aren't quite as bright as the Nikon Monarchs, and I did notice more chromatic aberrations, particularly purple fringing. But for the price, these are a good entry-level option. Another budget pick worth considering is Nikon's Prostaff line, which has an 8x42 model for between $130 and $150. I find these to be roughly the same as the Celestron Nature DX ED model.
- Another solid option: Nocs, best known for its compact, colorful 8x25s (our top pick for kids, see below), recently scaled up, releasing an 8x42 model for $295 and a 10x42. I've been testing the 8x42 for a while now, and for the price, these are really nice. Bright colors also make them much easier to find in your pack.
- A nice upgrade: Maven C.1 8x42 for $400. The C.1 has Maven's mid-level optics—cheaper than the justly famous B.1 series, but still very capable lenses with a bright, clear image. These are particularly impressive in low light, great for peering into the depths of shadows in the forest.
- Another nice upgrade: Pentax 8x43 ZD ED Binoculars for $696. Pentax/Ricoh's 8x43s are just a little bit sharper, clearer, and brighter than the Monarchs. This is a somewhat personal preference, but I like the slightly cooler colors of these compared to the Monarch M5s.
- Really nice, insanely expensive: The Leica Noctivid 8x42 binoculars for $2,999 are everything you'd expect from the Leica name, including the price. These are by far the brightest, sharpest lenses I've ever put to my eye. If you have the funds, you will not be disappointed. The 10x42s are usually available for around $2,400. The other options in this high-end category are the Swarovski EL 8.5x42 ($2,000) and the Zeiss Victory HT for between $2,850 and $2,900.
The difference between 8X and 10X doesn't sound like much, but in practice, it's significant. Objects are larger, but the field of view is narrower. That means it's harder to follow things, especially something like a small bird in thick shrubs. It also means any hand shaking can cause you to lose your subject. That said, this is my favorite resolution for birds, as long as I am not carrying these all day, because 10x42s are considerably heavier.
Our top pick at this size is the Vortex Viper HD Binoculars. These offer excellent clarity, crisp, clear views, and good color accuracy. The colors are slightly less saturated to my eye, but I only noticed this in side-by-side comparisons with the Nikons above. The focus wheel is smooth, though I wish it were slightly faster. There is some blurring in the periphery (the edges of your field of vision through the lenses), but that's to be expected at this price.
One caveat: Cabela's frequently sells the pre-2018 model of these at a steep discount but doesn't label it as such. I have not tested that model, and while the deal is pretty good, the optics are definitely different and potentially inferior.
- Best luxury upgrade: Maven B1.2 42mm ED Binoculars for $1,000. These are in my top three all-time best list. If you can afford these, but not the Leicas, don't feel bad. Images are clear, sharp, and crisp with no distortion or softness in the edges. I used them every day for two months and only noticed purple fringing once. They're expensive but well worth the money.
- Budget pick: Nikon Monarch M5 10x42 for $297. These are the stronger-magnification version of our top pick, and everything I say about those holds true for the 10x42 as well. For those on a budget, these are a great 10x42 option.
- Another good budget pick: Celestron Regal ED 10x42 for $320. The Celestron Regal EDs are what I call a sleeper deal. That is to say, you'll find very little information about these online, but they're excellent binoculars, and the price is almost impossible to beat. You get great field of view (6.5 degrees), a sharp clear image, and very little chromatic aberration. I have not tested a better binocular that costs less.
- Another upgrade: Nikon Monarch HG 10x42 for $997. Nikon's Monarch HG offer a slightly wider field of view and are brighter and sharper than the Vortex or the Celestron. I like the Maven B1.2s better, but that might be a matter of taste. If you want to keep going price-wise, the Swarovski EL 10x42 for $2,399 are deservedly legendary.
What if you want 8X magnification, but not the size and weight of 8x42 binoculars? That's where 8x32, 8x30, and even 7x32 in some cases, come in. They offer the same magnification, but a narrower field of view—it can be more difficult to track small objects like a warbler flitting through foliage, but with a little practice it's not too hard to manage. For hiking and traveling light, this size is a good compromise. I am still in the process of testing more models in this size range, but here are my picks so far.
These Pentax are excellent for the price. The 7.8-degree field of view is wide enough for most uses and the extra-low dispersion (ED) glass is very effective. I saw basically no chromatic aberrations, even on the edges. Even better, the sharpness to the edge is outstanding, better, in fact, than our top pick. Though, of course, the FOV is narrower and the magnification less the the Nikons. As with most of our picks, these are waterproof and fogproof. The focus knob is also very smooth. And at 20 ounces, I didn't mind having them around my neck all day. If you're hiking and this is in your budget, these are the best binoculars I've tested for this size and FOV.
- Another solid option: Nocs Field Issue 8x32 for $175. These Nocs (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are compact and lightweight, but still provide a nice sharp image. They're not quite as nice as the Pentax above, but they're also cheaper. As with Nocs' other binoculars, the Field Issue are waterproof and fogproof, and they come in a variety of colors. They offer comfortable eyecups and a nice oversized focus wheel that you can't miss. These manage to hit the sweet spot between magnification, price, and weight.
Compact binoculars often involve a significant compromise in image quality. Depending on your use case, the weight savings may be worth the trade-off, but in general, I suggest that birders and hunters stick with 32-mm or larger binoculars. Yes, you can bird with 8x25s, but it's often frustrating.
Maven's C.2 series is the first compact binocular I've tested that didn't leave me frustrated. Yes the 28-mm field of view is narrow when you're used to 42 mm, but these are so small and light—just 4.5 inches and weighing only 12 ounces—that I barely even noticed them around my neck. If you want compact, lightweight optics that still deliver a bright, sharp image, these are the binoculars to get. They're good for general-purpose use—wildlife, sports, travel, or any time you want binoculars but don't want to know you have binoculars.
- Another option: Zeiss Terra ED 8x25 for $399. I have not tested these extensively, but I've used them enough to know that they're lightweight (10.9 ounces) and deliver a very good, sharp image. They have 8X magnification and come with a nice rugged, waterproof case. The folding design means they also easily fit into your pocket. The downside is that they're more expensive than the Nikon Monarch 8x42 yet offer a much smaller field of view.
- Best budget compact: Nocs Standard Issue 8x25 for $95. These are detailed below, but the short story is that these are wonderfully compact and light, and the price is right, but the image quality could be better. A great choice for the ballpark or general use, but not as good for birders and hunters.
Before I dive into why the Nocs are great for kids, let me be clear: Nocs are not kids’ binoculars. They're fine compact binoculars that fit well in the ultralight category above. I “borrow” them from my kids all the time. I wouldn't suggest these as the best first pair of binoculars for young kids (in that case, see our budget pick below), but for anyone over the age of 8, these make a great, compact, first pair of binoculars.
You get good magnification, with a waterproof (IPX7 rating) and fogproof design in a lightweight package (11.8 ounces). These also have two things that specifically make them great for kids: rugged construction and a nice, rubberized grip. I can't tell you how many trees and rocks these have bashed into while around my son's neck, and they're still as good as new.
- Budget pick for kids: Let's Go Binoculars for $20. If you have little ones that are new to binoculars, the price tag of the Nocs might be too high. If you want to see if your kids actually use their binoculars before diving in, there are a multitude of options. I'll be blunt: None of these are great, but they're cheap and light and don't cost a fortune. Another option is the Obuby Binoculars for $20.
Image-stabilized binoculars: I am still testing, as this is a huge category, but so far my top pick are the Fujinon 14x40 Techno-Stabi Image-Stabilized Binoculars for $1,300. If you're on a boat, these are the binoculars you want. They offer industry-leading stabilization of plus or minus 6 degrees, there's hardly any image lag, they carry an IPX7 waterproof rating, and as an added bonus, they float. I did most of my testing on an SUP, which is about the most unstable watercraft I could come up with, and these made it possible to bird-watch without going ashore. They're not cheap, but they definitely deliver.
Rangefinder systems: This is another area I am still testing, but so far Nikon's Coolshot Pro IIs for $447 are at the top of my list for golfers (with the caveat that I don't actually golf, I relied on some help from my father-in-law). These tiny, 6.3-ounce rangefinders are also image-stabilized, which makes it easier to ensure that you're getting the range off the flag and not the green behind it.
You may have noticed that the binoculars in this guide span a huge price range, from under $100 to over $3,000. This comes down to two main factors: the quality of glass and coatings, and the engineering behind them.
All the binoculars listed here share the same BaK-4 prism design, which is a glass designation used by the German glassmaker Schott AG. However, within that design standard, there is still a significant range in quality. The unfortunate truth is that the more you spend, the better the image quality will likely be.
That difference is very obvious when comparing high-end Leicas or Swarovskis to $300 models like the Monarch M5. The difference between the Monarch M5 and similarly priced 8x42 binoculars is much less obvious. For this reason, I highly suggest visiting your local store and trying some of these, if at all possible. Some people will see little difference between a $300 pair and a $500 pair, but you'll never know unless you try them out.
If you can't get to a store, stick with our top pick. It may not be the absolute best that money can buy, but it will be good enough for most people and will leave more money in your pocket.
