Recommended Binoculars
I am not going to spam you with a hundred products here but all I need is to share with you the 4 perfect binoculars (not crazy expensive though), to cover the 4 main aspects for any binocular watchers, from birdwatching, wildlife, nature & landscape observers, sports and events up to astronomical observations.
- Nikon Prostaff 7S 10×42
- Celestron Skymaster 25×100
- Olympus 8×40 DPSI
- Canon 12×36 Image Stabilisation III
Nikon Prostaff 7S 10x42 Binoculars
From all the binoculars I had the chance to try, review, own or see through them, this is the absolute number one I recommend for anyone interested in general binocular observations such as wildlife, nature, sports, landscapes, events and the list goes on even for basic stargazing.
There is no product I would love to recommend more, as I own them and they are absolutely fantastic
The resolution is high, image crystal clear, perfect colour reproduction, good low light performance, weatherproof, waterproof, shock resistant (as advertised), lightweight and more.
If you want to get started in a serious way to binocular observations, I would strongly recommend the Nikon Prostaff 7S 10x42mm
- 10x optical magnification and 42mm objective lens diameter
- High reflection mirror-coated prisms for enhanced brightness
- Long eye relief design ensures a clear field of view, even for eyeglass wearers
- Turn-and-slide rubber eyecups with a multi-click adjustment make it easy to correctly position the eye
- Extremely lightweight with rubber armouring for shock resistance and a firm, comfortable grip
- Waterproof (up to 1m/3.3 ft. for 10 minutes) and fog-free with nitrogen gas
The 10×42 represent a perfect balance between high magnification, handheld observations and low-light performances.
With those binoculars you can watch the nature and the wildlife as never before.
The binoculars are filled in with nitrogen gas and sealed, allowing this to be waterproof (up to 1m for 10 minutes) and to avoid any condensations to be formed on the inside of binoculars. This means that the binoculars can be used even in extreme weather conditions and still works flawlessly
The nitrogen filled gas not only keep the moisture and condensation away but prevents fungus and mould to be formed on the inside in time. That means (as advertised) that you can have the binoculars for many years and always would work in perfect condition.
The Porro prisms are high-reflection mirror coated which allows excellent and enhanced brightness and the observations are contrasted, sharp&clear and gives a clear field of view due to the long eye-relief cups. This is perfect even for people who wear glasses.
This 10x42mm binoculars have a magnification of 10x and the objective lens diameter of 42mm. The exit pupils are 4.2mm offering a relative wide field of view and good basic astronomic observations.
I personally managed to see a lot on the night sky with these binoculars. Not only the moon on a full scale through both of my eyes, but the beauty of Pleiades, Andromeda Galaxy, Perseus, Jupiter & 4 satellites and too many more to remember them all.
From a binocular enthusiast & photographer, I strongly recommend you this pair of binoculars. I cannot guaranty 100% that you may have the same experience as myself, but the user satisfaction is one of the highest ones on the internet for this model/models from Nikon.
Disclaimer: The rating presented is purely a personal rating and description from the usage and testing the product.
We are not assuming any responsibilities for the product or changes the product may have in the future.
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Celestron Skymaster 25x100
Celestron is the creator of the popular astronomical binoculars series “Skymaster” covering the 12×60, 15×70, 25×70, 20×80 and 25×100 models (subject to change)
The Celestron Skymaster 25×100 are the biggest regular binoculars you may find for astronomy with a huge objective lens diameter of 100mm
Larger the objective lens diameter, more light comes through during low-light observations. This is the key point these binoculars are so great.
I own this 25×100 Skymaster binoculars but none of the others. Although I cannot say and review how good other models are, I do now that this model is what you may need if you are going to be a serious stargazer
Just a thing to mention: You will need a good and strong tripod as the binoculars are absolutely massive and there you may not be able at all to carry handheld observations due to high magnification and weight.
If you want to get started stargazing with a good binoculars for astronomic observations, I would strongly recommend the Celestron Skymaster 25×100
- 25x magnification porro prism binocular with ultra sharp focus across the field of view
- Giant 100 mm objective lens offers maximum image brightness in low-light and long-range conditions
- Individual Eyepiece Focus to ensure optimal focus position and multi-coated optics for sharp, clear views
- Suitable for long-range terrestrial or astronomical viewing, protective rubber covering for ultra-firm grip
- Integrated tripod adapter rod for ultra-stable tripod mounting, long eye relief, deluxe padded carrying case
As mentioned in the other section, the 25×100 Skymaster Binoculars are the biggest one from the series and a massive pair of binoculars, making the 100mm objective lens diameter to be absolutely perfect for astronomic observations
You can watch the moon close-up and recognise the craters with shadows clearly using both of your eyes. The Andromeda Galaxy is huge, bright and beautiful. There are so many you can watch through this binoculars making them perfect for every stargazer.
Please keep in mind that this is a massive binoculars, heavy to carry around and you may need a strong tripod.
The oculars are massive also, and each of the oculars acts like a focus & diopter, therefore, you may not have a separate focus ring and some people find it a time consuming to focus through each ocular piece.
But this covers the advantage of using this binoculars even if you are wearing glasses – you can carry observations without the glasses as all you have to adjust is each eye to the right diopter level
The binoculars are holding an integrated tripod adapter rod for stable tripod holding, and also to create a perfect balance for the binoculars as they are adjustable.
You may find them relatively easy to use for astronomical observations and as well they are okay for terrestrial long-distance observations.
On the internet, there may be some mixed reviews, but my copy of the binoculars are absolutely more than perfect for what I need. And I did choose the 25×100 version as they are the best for stargazing due to the large objective lens diameter.
Some people may prefer the 20×80 version while some other the 25×100. I would recommend to read our article 20×80 vs 25×100 binoculars for more information.
Disclaimer: The rating presented is purely a personal rating and description from the usage and testing the product.
We are not assuming any responsibilities for the product or changes the product may have in the future.
This is an Amazon Affiliate link and we may earn a small commission if you make purchase following our link.
Olympus 8x40 DPSI Binoculars
The Olympus 8×40 is a perfect balance between quality, portability and an affordable price. This I recommend as an alternative to the Nikon Prostaff 7s 10×42 as they are cheaper and still offer an amazing image quality
On the internet, the reviews speak for themselves. The Olympus 8×40 are a good pair of high quality binoculars often used by many people for general observations, birdwatching & wildlife, nature and so on.
If you want to get started in a serious way to binocular observations on an affordable price, I would strongly recommend the Olympus 8×40 DPSI
- Durable, high-quality finish with sure-grip rubber coating
- UV protection to protect eyes against the suns harmful rays
- Wide-angle field of view for fast-moving subjects. Weight : 710 g. Length is 139 mm and Width (at maximum eye interval) is 182 mm
- Aspherical optics guarantee a plasticity and distortion-free view. Recommended for bird watching, camping/Hiking , sports and astronomy
- Olympus DPS I 8 x 40 binoculars, case, neck strap, lens covers and manual
For any birdwatchers & wildlife observers (and more) who cannot afford to invest a lot into binoculars and other gear, the Olympus 8×40 may be the perfect solution
Combining an 8x magnification which offers a great field of view with a 40mm objective lens diameter for low light observations, the binoculars comes in perfect hand balancing out the portability, quality and price.
The exit pupils of 5mm offers a great low light performance and a wide field of view when observing This is great for sports also and events observation.
You do not need a tripod to carry on observations with these binoculars. They are small, powerful, portable and perfect for camping&hiking also.
The front lens elements have a UV protection layer to protect your eyes from harmful sun rays. Still, DO NOT LOOK TOWARDS THE SUN DIRECTLY.
Disclaimer: The rating presented is purely a personal rating and description from the usage and testing the product.
We are not assuming any responsibilities for the product or changes the product may have in the future.
This is an Amazon Affiliate link and we may earn a small commission if you make purchase following our link.
Canon 12x36 Image Stabilisation III
Aiming for image stabilisation binoculars means that we are one step closer going for high-end products as there are not only great optics behind as on the Canon 12×36 IS III, but the image stabilisation is a powerful tool for any general binoculars observers.
When I first laid my hand on this products for a review, I got stunned by the optics performance and the image stabilisation. The Canon 12×36 is absolutely perfect for any types of observations (less stargazing).
Beware still, the products are a bit pricy compared to any others, therefore, make sure you need and got a real usage of the IS.
The 12×36 is just one of the many image stabilisation products from Canon. There may be mixed reviews for some of their products, but I tell you what: you can’t go wrong with this ones if you can afford the price.
Therefore, the Canon 12×36 are amazing binoculars with an active image stabilisation and a great optics, perfect for sports, racing, wildlife, birdwatching and fast moving observations.
- Powerful, portable binoculars with 12 x magnification ‑ ideal for bird watching, travel and spectator sports.
- A powerful optical Image Stabilizer counteracts your movement to deliver a stable steady view even from a moving vehicle.
- Enjoy high resolution, bright, accurate colours thanks to Canon’s precision optics with the Super Spectra lens coating.
- Experience a clear, flat field of view from edge to edge thanks to Porro II prism design and field-flattener lenses.
When we think about 12x magnification in terms of handheld observations, we may think about how impossible is to do it. Not anymore thanks to Canon who created these wonderful image stabilisation binoculars.
The optics behind are great. But nothing is compared to be able to do any observations at 12x magnification. The 36mm objective lens diameter is a bit low to perform any low light observations or stargazing. It is not too bad (it is good actually) for moon watching, as 12x is a great range to observe it and you may not need a larger objective lens diameter to be able to do that
In general, the exit pupils of a 12×36 are 3mm. In day light, the humans eye pupil is opened about 2-3mm and during the night up to 7mm. This makes these binoculars still impractical for deep sky observations, low light and night concerts, anything in general where you need a larger aperture and exit pupil to carry on observations.
Don’t let you down by that! If your main usage of the binoculars would be anything related to day-light, nature, birdwatching, spectating shows and events, stadium sports, landscapes, travelling and one million other scenarios, the Canon 12×36 IS III will definitely come in handy.
Just make sure that you are aware that the image stabilisation is powered by AA batteries, therefore, before you go on a long trip, make sure you will have enough of those with you.
Disclaimer: The rating presented is purely a personal rating and description from the usage and testing the product.
We are not assuming any responsibilities for the product or changes the product may have in the future.
This is an Amazon Affiliate link and we may earn a small commission if you make purchase following our link.