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Best binoculars compared: 12 popular models

The most popular pick is the Vortex Viper HD 10x42, with a 341 ft view and 17 mm of eye relief. For bird watching the Celestron Nature DX 8x42 shows 388 ft, and for the night sky the Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 carries 70 mm lenses.

Top picks

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Best binoculars compared: 12 popular models
ModelSizeField of viewEye reliefClose focusWeightExit pupilAmazon
Vortex Viper HD 10x42 10x42 341 ft 17 mm 6 ft 24.9 oz 4.2 mm Check price on Amazon
Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42 Closest focus 10x42 330 ft 15 mm 5 ft 21.3 oz 4.2 mm Check price on Amazon
Celestron Nature DX 8x42 Widest field of view 8x42 388 ft 17.5 mm 6.5 ft 22.2 oz 5.3 mm Check price on Amazon
Vortex Crossfire HD 10x42 10x42 325 ft 15 mm 6 ft 23 oz 4.2 mm Check price on Amazon
Vortex Triumph HD 10x42 10x42 334 ft 17 mm 15.3 ft 22.9 oz 4.2 mm Check price on Amazon
Nikon Monarch M5 8x42 8x42 335 ft 19.5 mm 8.2 ft 22.2 oz 5.3 mm Check price on Amazon
Nikon Monarch M7 10x42 10x42 362 ft 16.5 mm 8.2 ft 24 oz 4.2 mm Check price on Amazon
ZEISS Terra ED 8x42 8x42 375 ft 18 mm 5.3 ft 25.6 oz 5.3 mm Check price on Amazon
Swarovski EL 10x42 10x42 336 ft 20 mm 10.8 ft 29.6 oz 4.2 mm Check price on Amazon
Celestron Cometron 7x50 Largest exit pupil 7x50 344 ft 13 mm 26.2 ft 27.3 oz 7.1 mm Check price on Amazon
Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 15x70 231 ft 18 mm 43 ft 48 oz 4.7 mm Check price on Amazon
Nikon Prostaff P3 8x42 Lightest 8x42 377 ft 20.2 mm 9.8 ft 20.3 oz 5.3 mm Check price on Amazon

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How these binoculars were chosen

This list holds the most popular current models that have an Amazon listing, one size per series, with the most popular first. Every figure comes from the makers' own documents, so the numbers match what each brand prints.

Exit pupil, twilight factor and relative brightness are calculated from the size and are named as calculated. Prices appear only as the maker's list price band.

The picks, most popular first

Vortex Viper HD 10x42

  • Field of view 341 ft
  • Eye relief 17 mm
  • Close focus 6 ft
  • Weight 24.9 oz
  • Maker list price $500 to $1,000

The Viper HD 10x42 gives 341 ft of view, 5 ft wider than the 336 ft median for its size, and 17 mm of eye relief that suits glasses. It weighs 24.9 oz, the same as the median for its size. Its maker list price band is $500 to $1,000.

Check price on Amazon

Closest focus

Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42

  • Field of view 330 ft
  • Eye relief 15 mm
  • Close focus 5 ft
  • Weight 21.3 oz
  • Maker list price $200 to $500

Close focus of 5 ft is the shortest in this group, which helps with butterflies and other near subjects. At 21.3 oz it sits under the 24.9 oz median for 10x42, but its 15 mm of eye relief falls just short of the 16 mm glasses figure. The maker list price band is $200 to $500.

Check price on Amazon

Widest field of view

Celestron Nature DX 8x42

  • Field of view 388 ft
  • Eye relief 17.5 mm
  • Close focus 6.5 ft
  • Weight 22.2 oz
  • Maker list price $100 to $200

A 7.4 degree view, or 388 ft at 1,000 yd, makes this the widest of the twelve and handy for following moving birds. Eye relief of 17.5 mm works with glasses. The calculated exit pupil is 5.3 mm. At 22.2 oz it is light for the group, and its price band is $100 to $200.

Check price on Amazon

Vortex Crossfire HD 10x42

  • Field of view 325 ft
  • Eye relief 15 mm
  • Close focus 6 ft
  • Weight 23 oz
  • Maker list price $200 to $500

Weighing 23 oz, the Crossfire HD 10x42 sits under the 24.9 oz median for its size. Its 325 ft field is narrower than the 336 ft median for 10x42, and 15 mm of eye relief is short for glasses. The closest it focuses is 6 ft, and the maker list price band is $200 to $500.

Check price on Amazon

Vortex Triumph HD 10x42

  • Field of view 334 ft
  • Eye relief 17 mm
  • Close focus 15.3 ft
  • Weight 22.9 oz
  • Maker list price $100 to $200

The Triumph HD 10x42 sits in the $100 to $200 maker list price band, the lowest of the 10x42 models here, and it offers 17 mm of eye relief. Its close focus of 15.3 ft is the longest of the group among 42 mm models, so it suits distant subjects better than nearby ones.

Check price on Amazon

Nikon Monarch M5 8x42

  • Field of view 335 ft
  • Eye relief 19.5 mm
  • Close focus 8.2 ft
  • Weight 22.2 oz
  • Maker list price $200 to $500

ED glass and 19.5 mm of eye relief come together in the Monarch M5 8x42. Its 335 ft field is narrower than the 393 ft median for 8x42, and it focuses down to 8.2 ft. The calculated exit pupil is 5.3 mm, and the maker list price band is $200 to $500.

Check price on Amazon

Nikon Monarch M7 10x42

  • Field of view 362 ft
  • Eye relief 16.5 mm
  • Close focus 8.2 ft
  • Weight 24 oz
  • Maker list price $500 to $1,000

Of the 10x42 models here, the Monarch M7 has the widest field at 362 ft, well above the 336 ft median for its size. It also has ED glass and 16.5 mm of eye relief. Weight is 24 oz, the near limit is 8.2 ft, and the maker list price band is $500 to $1,000.

Check price on Amazon

ZEISS Terra ED 8x42

  • Field of view 375 ft
  • Eye relief 18 mm
  • Close focus 5.3 ft
  • Weight 25.6 oz

At 5.3 ft, the Terra ED 8x42 focuses closer than the 6.6 ft median for its size. It has ED glass, 18 mm of eye relief and a 375 ft field. It weighs 25.6 oz, more than the 24.2 oz median for 8x42, and the makers' documents print no list price band for it.

Check price on Amazon

Swarovski EL 10x42

  • Field of view 336 ft
  • Eye relief 20 mm
  • Close focus 10.8 ft
  • Weight 29.6 oz
  • Maker list price $1,000 to $2,000

The EL 10x42 offers 20 mm of eye relief, which gives eyeglass wearers plenty of room, against a 16 mm median for its size. It weighs 29.6 oz, the most of the 42 mm models here, and focuses no closer than 10.8 ft. Its field is 336 ft, equal to the size median. The maker list price band is $1,000 to $2,000.

Check price on Amazon

Largest exit pupil

Celestron Cometron 7x50

  • Field of view 344 ft
  • Eye relief 13 mm
  • Close focus 26.2 ft
  • Weight 27.3 oz
  • Maker list price under $100

The calculated exit pupil of 7.1 mm is the largest of the twelve, so it gathers the most light for dim evenings. It is a porro prism design at 27.3 oz, with 13 mm of eye relief that glasses wearers will find short. Close focus is 26.2 ft, and the band is under $100.

Check price on Amazon

Celestron SkyMaster 15x70

  • Field of view 231 ft
  • Eye relief 18 mm
  • Close focus 43 ft
  • Weight 48 oz
  • Maker list price $100 to $200

At 15x70 this is the strongest and heaviest model here, at 48 oz, with a narrow 231 ft field. Celestron says a tripod becomes necessary at 15x and higher. Eye relief of 18 mm is generous, and the twilight factor of 32.4 is the highest in the group. Its band is $100 to $200.

Check price on Amazon

Lightest

Nikon Prostaff P3 8x42

  • Field of view 377 ft
  • Eye relief 20.2 mm
  • Close focus 9.8 ft
  • Weight 20.3 oz
  • Maker list price $100 to $200

Weighing only 20.3 oz, this Nikon is the lightest model on the list. It pairs a 377 ft field with 20.2 mm of eye relief, the longest on the list. Near subjects are a limit, since it focuses no closer than 9.8 ft for near subjects. The maker list price band is $100 to $200.

Check price on Amazon

By the numbers

Binoculars compared
12
Median field of view
339 ft
Field of view range
231 to 388 ft
Median weight
23.5 oz
Median eye relief
17.3 mm
With 16 mm eye relief or more
9 of 12
With an Amazon listing
12 of 12

Field of view of each pick, widest first, from the makers' figures.

What the figures mean

National Audubon Society explains that in 8x42 the first number is magnification and the second is the objective lens diameter in millimeters. So an 8x42 magnifies eight times with 42 mm lenses.

Nikon defines exit pupil as the objective diameter divided by magnification, and says a larger exit pupil gives a brighter view in dim light. By that formula the Cometron 7x50 works out to 7.1 mm, while the 10x42 models work out to 4.2 mm and the 8x42 models to 5.3 mm.

Eye relief and field of view

The RSPB says eyeglass wearers should look for at least 16 mm of eye relief. Nine of the twelve models here meet that figure, and the median is 17.3 mm. The Cometron 7x50 at 13 mm, and the Diamondback HD and Crossfire HD at 15 mm, fall short. The binoculars for glasses wearers list narrows this further.

Audubon says bird-worthy binoculars should have a field of at least 6.5 degrees. The Viper HD, at 6.5 degrees, just meets it. The Diamondback HD and Crossfire HD fall under it at 6.3 degrees and 6.2 degrees, and the SkyMaster shows 4.4 degrees. See the field of view calculator to turn degrees into feet.

Power, weight and steadiness

Audubon notes that binoculars magnifying eight times also magnify hand movement eight times. The RSPB calls 8x or 10x the best compromise for birdwatching and says stronger binoculars are hard to hold steady without a tripod.

Celestron says a tripod is not required from 8x to 12x but becomes necessary at 15x and higher, which matters for the SkyMaster 15x70 at 48 oz. The group median weight is 23 oz. The tripod guide covers where the line falls.

Choosing between the picks

Compare size first. The 8x42 models lean toward wider views and larger exit pupils, while the 10x42 models bring more reach. 8x42 against 10x42 sets the two side by side.

The RSPB suggests 10x for open country or large expanses of water and 8x for woodland, close range or poorer light. Three models carry ED glass: the Monarch M5, the Monarch M7 and the Terra ED. This list leaves out models without an Amazon listing and extra sizes from a series, so the full chart covers the wider range.

The short answer

For the widest view, the Nature DX 8x42 at 388 ft leads. For glasses, the Prostaff P3 offers the most eye relief at 20.2 mm. For dim light and a low price band, the Cometron 7x50 has the largest exit pupil at 7.1 mm.

More binocular lists

Questions and answers

Which binoculars here have the widest field of view?

The Celestron Nature DX 8x42 has the widest field at 388 ft at 1,000 yd, or 7.4 degrees. The Nikon Prostaff P3 follows at 377 ft.

Which models suit eyeglass wearers?

Nine of the twelve have 16 mm of eye relief or more, which is the RSPB's figure for glasses. The Nikon Prostaff P3 has the most at 20.2 mm.

Which model is the lightest?

The lightest is the Nikon Prostaff P3 at 20.3 oz. The median weight across the twelve is 23.5 oz.

Which model has the closest focus?

The Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42 focuses down to 5 ft. The median close focus across the twelve is 8.2 ft.

Do I need a tripod for the SkyMaster 15x70?

Celestron says a tripod becomes necessary at 15x and higher. The SkyMaster weighs 48 oz, so a mount helps with comfort too.