Best binoculars on Reddit

197 reviews from r/Binoculars, r/telescopes, r/birdwatching and 10 more subreddits

197 reviews from
and
By Brand
/
By Product
#1

Nikon

4.0
(49)
"No stabilization, but optically about as good as it gets in a single binocular unit."
·
"It has a nice big FOV and clear and bright image."
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"The most underrated binoculars ever"
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"I’m a big fan of Nikon Monarchs."
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"They are great and moderately priced."
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"Very wide field of view, little to no shaking, and very lightweight."
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"The 10x42 Monarch M7 is highly recommended for hunting, moongazing, and stargazing."
·
"I find 8x42 to be the sweet spot."
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"Exceptional quality, great for long-range clarity and brightness."
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"I did a ten day cruise in May to the inner passage. I brought my pair of Nikon Monarch 7 8x42. They were great for the trip."
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#2

Vortex

4.5
(29)
"Vortex Diamondback HD, just bought a pair, glad to see others making the same recommendation."
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"Vortex Diamondback is the only of those that I have used and I think they are a great value."
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"Second Diamondback HD for the warranty"
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"Vortex crossfire for sure. Great quality and lifetime warranty."
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"I just got the vortex diamondback HD binoculars and they're great."
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"The Diamondback HD is a good start in your budget."
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"Reach out to vortex. Their diamondbacks are great quality and affordable."
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"Vortex Bantam would be my go to. It's really great."
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"I think they are the best bang for the buck."
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"Exceptional pair of binoculars with really good optics."
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#3

Celestron

3.7
(14)
"Celestron’s nature DX are superb Binos that stand up against much pricier ones."
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"Start with a pair of Celestron Cometron 7x50 first and figure out what you actually need before dumping a ridiculous amount of money."
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"10 x 50's recommended, see the Celestron offerings."
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"For starting out, Celestron Nature DX are a good option."
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"Celestron Nature DX 8x42 and 8x32 are viable options."
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"They work pretty well, collect a decent amount of light and are easy to hand hold."
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"Great size for astronomy."
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"Great value for a second-hand option at 70€."
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"Clear optics and solid build quality."
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"A good alternative if you want to tone it down a little."
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#4

Opticron

4.4
(9)
"Opticron Oregon 4 PC Oasis 8x42 has surpassed the Nature DX as the best optics for <$160 bins."
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"To my eyes, they are the best <$200 bins I’ve ever handled."
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"They are FANTASTIC, especially if looking for a smaller size."
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"The Oregon 8x42 is clear and bright, well built with 22mm of eye relief."
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"Highly recommended for both German submarine crews and modern US navy crews."
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"IMO, if $150-$175 is your budget cap, Opticron Oregon 4 PC Oasis 8x42 would be a better pick."
·
"They are pretty bright and clear for a sub $200 pair of binoculars."
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"They’re clear and bright with 22mm of eye relief."
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"The Oregon 8x32's are not as good as the 8x42's."
#5

Pentax

4.4
(7)
"I can vouch for its high image quality."
·
"The Pentax Papilio II 6x21 are the closest binoculars I believe you can get."
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"Get the Pentax Papilio II 6x21 or 8x21 binoculars."
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"For nice quality binoculars in your budget and with good close focus distance, I'd suggest the Pentax Papilio 6.5x21."
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"Pentax Papillio are pretty nice in my opinion. I like reverse porros at that price point."
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"A good first bin at an appropriate age might be a Pentax papilio. Kids like 'em because they can focus up to ~18 inches, just as good for looking at bugs as for looking at stars."
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"The 12x50 Pentax binoculars are too large to carry around."
#6

Canon

4.8
(6)
"Canon 18x50 IS. Or the 15x50 if you want a bit less magnification."
·
"I'm heavily biased because I just bought a canon 10x30 IS 2 and I love the image stabilisation."
·
"I went with the Canon IS II 10x30 and I'm very satisfied with my choice."
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"I’d recommend some flavor of Canon IS binoculars, I have 2 pairs, one is 15 years old and still going strong."
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"Active image stabilization optics are perfect for boats."
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"Stabilized binos are recommended for better zoom."
#7

Fujinon

4.8
(6)
"Fujinon 10x50. My forever all purpose binoculars. Excellent for astronomy."
·
"The 16x28 model is only $50 more and offers great performance."
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"These binoculars have one of the better slough rates, making them excellent for panning."
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"You don't realize just how nice the image stabilization is until you try it."
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"Incredible light transmission, great clarity, huge exit pupil."
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"The Fuji mariners are fine for the purpose and weren't huge money."
#8

Leica

4.8
(4)
"Excellent optics and clarity."
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"If money is no object, Leica makes amazing glass."
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"Leica makes some of the most rugged binos on the market imo"
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"Leica 8x20 Ultrivid, or Tvinocid, Swarovski CL 8x25, Zeiss Victory 8x25."
#9

Oberwerk

4.5
(4)
"The Oberwerk LW 8x60 are incredible. I tested it between the 12x60 and the 8x is far superior."
·
"$1,000 quality in the mid $300’s. These are some of the only ones out there that work for an abnormally wide IPD of 72mm."
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"2 options that punch well above their weight are Oberwerk and Svbony."
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"The Oberwerk 6.5x32 is a kid-friendly option that balances magnification and weight."
#10

unknown

4.0
(4)
"15x with IS binos is pretty great from what I've heard."
·
"The 8x42s can be easily carried around while hiking or birding."
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"The 10x50s can also be easily carried around while hiking or birding."
·
"The 10x42s are likely what you want for hiking and daytime use."
#11

Maven

4.7
(3)
"I've been really impressed with my Maven spotting scope."
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"Maven for me. I have 8x42s. When I hand them to a friend they put them up to their eyes and say whoa!"
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"I personally run Mavens, which also have amazing glass just about 1/2 the price of the other two."
#12

Leupold

4.7
(3)
"I've used Leupold binos for the last 25 years and really like them."
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"Now I use BX-4 Pro Guide 12x50 and really like them."
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"The Leopold BX-4 are good with glasses."
#13

Zeiss

4.0
(3)
"Available for $150."
·
"Brighter and less chromatic aberration compared to others."
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"I have also had good luck with the Zeiss Binoculars."
#14

Tasco

3.3
(3)
"A pair of Tascos would be decent quality and reasonably priced."
·
"I've bought Tasco 8x42 for my girlfriend and they are perfectly usable."
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"Here are three from Tasco. Not known for the best binoculars but the 8x25 weights 9.6 oz, may be manageable."
#15

Practika

3.3
(3)
"Such a revelation & decent low price too."
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"They're nowhere near as sharp, or efficient as the 8 x 40's."
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"They're a step down & use inferior glass."
#16

Svbony

4.5
(2)
"Svbony SV202 10x50 ED are excellent value for your money."
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"2 options that punch well above their weight are Oberwerk and Svbony."
#17

Bushnell

4.0
(2)
"They work fine for plane spotting, just need steady hands or a tripod."
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"Relatively cheap and sharp image. It's nice that they’re also waterproof."
#18

Bresser

3.5
(2)
"Bresser Pirsch ED - Best Binoculars 2024 (Under £400)"
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"I recently bought Bresser Corvette 10x50 as recommended in a few reviews as a good all round option for stargazing."
#19

Kiichi Terasawa

5.0
(1)
"These two are an excellent value at just $150 for both."
#20

Eyeskey

5.0
(1)
"I recently found a bargain basement wonder, the Eyeskey Dreamer 8x42 binoculars."
#21

Athlon

5.0
(1)
"Athlon makes great glass - I have the 15x56mm Cronus and I absolutely love them."
#22

Celestron TrailSeeker 8x42

5.0
(1)
"She loved them so much now her entire family has them."
#23

Athlon Midas G2 UHD 8x42

5.0
(1)
"They are far superior, but cost a bit more."
#24

Nikon Prostaff 8x42

5.0
(1)
"I can whole heartedly recommend the Nikon pro staff 8x42’s."
#25

Zeiss Conquest 8x42

5.0
(1)
"If I had $1500 bin budget, I'd buy two pairs."
#26

Opticron Traveler BGA 8x32

5.0
(1)
"I love my 8x32 Opticron traveler bga."
#27

Alpen

5.0
(1)
"Great value for an extremely limited budget."
#28

Olympus

5.0
(1)
"There will be nothing else better than it for the price and they are compact and lightweight."
#29

Athlon Optics

5.0
(1)
"Excellent optics comparable to much more expensive models with a wide field of view and durable construction."
#30

Hawke

5.0
(1)
"Would recommend the Hawke Endurance 8x42. They weigh less than a kilo, and have adjustable eye relief stops that can be used with or without glasses."
#31

Intuit

5.0
(1)
"Intuit Dome is allowing binoculars!"
#32

N/A

5.0
(1)
"Binoculars are a must-have at concerts for a better view."
#33

Kowa

5.0
(1)
"They’re lighter, brighter, and a little clearer than the Oregons."
#34

Steiner

5.0
(1)
"Nothing at all like a Steiner 7x50 😊 Binastro on B*irdforum *reports that this double-hinged compact actually has an IPD range of 37-93mm 😮."
#35

Swarovski

5.0
(1)
"Swarovski makes amazing glass."
#36

20x70 or 20x80

4.0
(1)
"High fov ie 20x70 or 20x80 should be good, do buy a tripod."
#37

Nocs

4.0
(1)
"The standard ones are $95 per pair, and they are pretty good binoculars! They are 8x25."
#38

Viking

4.0
(1)
"Viking Kestrels often receive rave reviews and cost less."
#39

Diamondback 10x32

4.0
(1)
"Then you’d have a pair with higher magnification and still be manageable to handle."
#40

Diamondback 10x42

4.0
(1)
"In the US the 10x42 Diamondback is on sale often."
#41

Unknown 8x56

4.0
(1)
"I suggest an 8x56 binocular of any kind just make sure it’s in good condition."
#42

Nikon Prostaff P7 8x30

4.0
(1)
"8x30 will work both for daylight and nighttime under dark skies."
#43

Canon IS Binoculars

4.0
(1)
"Look at the Canon IS binoculars."
#44

Fujinon Techno-Stabi

4.0
(1)
"The Fujinon Techno-Stabi series seems solid and mostly very well reviewed."
#45

Nikon Monarch M5

4.0
(1)
"Think I am between the Nikon Monarch M5 and Vortex Diamondback HD."
#46

Steiner Military Binoculars

4.0
(1)
"Steiner Military binoculars (there is a civilian version way less expensive)."
#47

Alpine

4.0
(1)
"A 6x-8x32 roof prism binoculars would work great. Roof prisms are highly water resistant which is needed."
#48

Vortex Optics

4.0
(1)
"Excellent optics and build quality."
#49

Nautika

4.0
(1)
"É decente e ajuda DEMAIS a ver os bichos."
#50

Sky Rover

4.0
(1)
"Shockproof and reasonably priced, a solid choice for outdoor use."
#51

Kite

4.0
(1)
"If you have the budget and really need the zoom, go for stabilized binos."
#52

Amazon

4.0
(1)
"Wide field of view, lightweight, and affordable. Good for close focusing on butterflies."
#53

Nature

4.0
(1)
"The 8x32 Nature is probably the best bet and in the middle of the price range."
#54

Carl Zeiss

4.0
(1)
"The 8 x 40 'Toucan' is more sharp."
#55

Vanquish

4.0
(1)
"It gives a good view and is relatively light."
#56

Gosky

4.0
(1)
"Versatile for both bird watching and stargazing with good light transmission and clarity."
#57

Barska

4.0
(1)
"A pair of Barskas would be decent quality and reasonably priced."
#58

Celestron Nature DX ED 10x50

3.0
(1)
"They are nice but I find the 10x difficult to hold steady."
#59

Nature DX ED

3.0
(1)
"Highly rated, but outside of budget."
#60

Silva

2.0
(1)
"The high magnification makes it hard to locate targets while kayaking."
#61

SoB

1.0
(1)
"Absolutely no. Also would not get Aculon zoom binoculars. Zoom binoculars have terrible FOV, the exact opposite of what you need when scanning for objects in the sky."
#62

Audubon

1.0
(1)
"$200 will not get you a great set of binoculars."

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