Best binoculars 2024: Top picks for stargazing, wildlife, birding and more – Space.com

Best binoculars 2024: Jump Menu

With a pair of the best binoculars, 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 in terms of specs and features, and we've 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 and wildlife watching. 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 photograph 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.

Dr Gemma Lavender

A contributing expert to Space.com, Live Science,All About Spaceand 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 theRoyal Astronomical Societyin 2011. Gemma is also the Communications and Outreach Office at theEuropean Space Agency.

Best binoculars overall

Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars

Best binoculars overall

The finest stargazing binoculars money can buy with in-built stabilization. As close to perfection as youll get for handheld astronomy.

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Best for affordable stargazing

Celestron Nature DX 12x56

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.

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Best binoculars under $300

Celestron TrailSeeker 8x42 binocular

Best binoculars under $300

The TrailSeeker 8x42s minimalist design makes them a hugely more attractive option than large and heavy deep-sky astronomy-centric binoculars.

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Best budget binoculars

Celestron UpClose G2 10x50 Binocular

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.

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Best for moon views

Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70 Binocular

Best for moon views

These binoculars give a superb stargazing experience at a reasonable price. Fantastic magnification for lunar viewing.

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Best mid-range model

Vortex 10x50 Crossfire HD Binocular

Best mid-range model

The pair you need if a wide field of view and a good sturdy build quality top your brief.

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Best family binoculars

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.

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Best for magnification

Celestron SkyMaster 25x100 Binocular

Best for magnification

See the universe close up and in stereo, but dont plan to hike with them as they're big and heavy.

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Best binoculars overall: The finest stargazing binoculars money can buy with in-built stabilization

Magnification: 10x

Objective lens diameter: 42mm

Field of view: 6.5-degrees

Eye relief: 14.5mm (0.57-inch)

Weight: 39.2 oz / 1.1kg

Optical Image Stabilizer

Rugged build quality

Lots of eye relief

Bulky size

Lens caps are loose

AAA batteries required

Buy it if

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.

Don't buy it if:

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.

The bottom line

Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars: They're not perfect, but theyre as close as youll 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.

For hand-held astronomy, the Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars are among the very best you can get. Their standout feature is Canon's Optical Image Stabilization (IS). This clever technology uses gyroscope motion sensors to detect arm movement and a vari-angle prism to correct it by up to 0.8 degrees. With the push of a button, you can eliminate hand shakes and get a steady image, perfect for long viewing sessions when your arms might get 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 we got through these binoculars during our Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars review 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.

Today's best Canon 10x42L IS WP deals

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Best optical performance: Some of the best optics on the market in an easily transportable roof prism design

Magnification: 10x

Objective lens diameter: 42mm

Field of view: 6.9-degrees

Eye relief: 17mm (0.67-inch)

Weight: 1.5 oz / 680g

Highly portable

Sharp views across the whole field of view

No image stabilization

Negligible color fringing

Buy it if

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.

Don't buy it if:

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.

The bottom line

Nikon Monarch HG 10x42A 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.

In our Nikon Monarch HG 10x42 review, we loved these so much that we found them hard to fault. These binoculars have excellent optics, with almost no color distortion. This is because Nikon uses special coatings on all glass parts and includes Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass. They also have a wide field of view and technology that keeps the entire image sharp, making them ideal for wildlife watchers.

These binoculars have a slim design with a roof prism, making them sleek and easy to carry in a coat pocket or around your neck. Even though they weigh 680g, they are comfortable to use for long periods because of 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.

Today's best Nikon Monarch HG 10x42 deals

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Best for affordable stargazing: A wide aperture and 12x magnification make these excellent for observing the cosmos

Magnification: 12x

Objective lens diameter: 56mm

Field of view: 5.5 degrees

Eye relief: 16mm (0.63-inch)

Weight: 36.2 oz / 1028g

Excellent build quality

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Best binoculars 2024: Top picks for stargazing, wildlife, birding and more - Space.com