Binocular Chart

Best binoculars under $200: the $100 to $200 band

The Nikon Trailblazer II 8x25 has the widest field of the 10 models, 435 ft at 1,000 yd, while the Trailblazer 10x25 ATB is the lightest at 9.9 oz.

Top picks

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Best binoculars under $200: the $100 to $200 band
ModelSizeField of viewEye reliefClose focusWeightExit pupilAmazon
Celestron Nature DX 8x42 Closest focus 8x42 388 ft 17.5 mm 6.5 ft 22.2 oz 5.3 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
Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 15x70 231 ft 18 mm 43 ft 48 oz 4.7 mm Check price on Amazon
Nikon Prostaff P3 8x42 Longest eye relief 8x42 377 ft 20.2 mm 9.8 ft 20.3 oz 5.3 mm Check price on Amazon
Celestron Outland X 8x42 8x42 368 ft 17.8 mm 13.1 ft 23.6 oz 5.3 mm Check price on Amazon
Nikon Trailblazer 10x25 ATB Lightest 10x25 342 ft 10 mm 11.5 ft 9.9 oz 2.5 mm Check price on Amazon
Steiner Safari UltraSharp 10x26 10x26 302 ft 12.7 mm 11 ft 10.5 oz 2.6 mm Check price on Amazon
Nikon Trailblazer II 8x25 Widest field of view 8x25 435 ft 10 mm 8.2 ft 10.9 oz 3.1 mm Check price on Amazon
Bushnell R5 10x42 10x42 390 ft 17.5 mm 24.7 oz 4.2 mm Check price on Amazon
Athlon Neos G2 HD 10x42 10x42 309 ft 14.1 mm 13.1 ft 21 oz 4.2 mm Check price on Amazon

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How these binoculars were chosen

A model is on this list when its maker list price band is $100 to $200. Each series appears once, in one size, with the most popular first. Every figure comes from the makers' documents.

The 10 models share a median field of 355 ft, a median weight of 21.6 oz, a median eye relief of 17.3 mm and a median close focus of 11.5 ft. Roof prisms are the most common design. For wider budgets, see binoculars under $100 or binoculars from $200 to $500.

Picks for every use and price are in the main best binoculars list.

The picks, most popular first

Closest focus

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

Celestron prints a close focus of 6.5 ft for the Celestron Nature DX 8x42, under the 6.6 ft median for 8x42 models. The RSPB says close focus matters for insects. Eye relief is 17.5 mm and weight is 22.2 oz. The 388 ft field sits a little under the 393 ft median for the size.

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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 Vortex Triumph HD 10x42 has a 334 ft field against a 336 ft median for 10x42 models, and 17 mm of eye relief that clears the RSPB's 16 mm mark for glasses. It weighs 22.9 oz. The tradeoff is a 15.3 ft close focus, far longer than the 6.6 ft median for the size.

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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

Celestron lists the Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 at 48 oz with a 231 ft field, the narrowest on the list. Celestron says a tripod becomes necessary at 15x and higher, and this model is tripod adaptable. Its 18 mm eye relief and 4.7 mm calculated exit pupil suit stationary sky viewing.

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Longest eye relief

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

Nikon prints 20.2 mm of eye relief for the Nikon Prostaff P3, the longest of the 10, which gives eyeglass wearers room. Weight is 20.3 oz against a 24.2 oz median for the size. The 377 ft field is under the 393 ft median, and close focus is 9.8 ft.

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Celestron Outland X 8x42

  • Field of view 368 ft
  • Eye relief 17.8 mm
  • Close focus 13.1 ft
  • Weight 23.6 oz
  • Maker list price $100 to $200

The Celestron Outland X 8x42 has a calculated exit pupil of 5.3 mm, and Nikon says a larger exit pupil gives a brighter view in dim light. Eye relief is 17.8 mm at 23.6 oz. The tradeoff is a 13.1 ft close focus and a 368 ft field, against 6.6 ft and 393 ft medians.

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Lightest

Nikon Trailblazer 10x25 ATB

  • Field of view 342 ft
  • Eye relief 10 mm
  • Close focus 11.5 ft
  • Weight 9.9 oz
  • Maker list price $100 to $200

At 9.9 oz the Nikon Trailblazer 10x25 ATB is the lightest pick, under the 11.1 oz median for 10x25 models. Its 342 ft field is third of 26 in the size. The 10 mm eye relief and 2.5 mm calculated exit pupil are the cost, so glasses wearers and dusk viewers should look elsewhere.

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Widest field of view

Nikon Trailblazer II 8x25

  • Field of view 435 ft
  • Eye relief 10 mm
  • Close focus 8.2 ft
  • Weight 10.9 oz
  • Maker list price $100 to $200

Nikon prints a 435 ft field for the Nikon Trailblazer II 8x25, the widest on the list and far past the 357 ft median for 8x25 models. It weighs 10.9 oz and focuses to 8.2 ft. Eye relief is 10 mm, under the 15 mm median, so it suits bare eyes best.

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Bushnell R5 10x42

  • Field of view 390 ft
  • Eye relief 17.5 mm
  • Weight 24.7 oz
  • Maker list price $100 to $200

Bushnell lists 17.5 mm of eye relief for the Bushnell R5, over the 16 mm median for its size and past the RSPB's 16 mm mark for glasses. Its 390 ft field is third of 87 in the size, against a 336 ft median. It weighs 24.7 oz, and the makers' documents print no close focus figure.

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Athlon Neos G2 HD 10x42

  • Field of view 309 ft
  • Eye relief 14.1 mm
  • Close focus 13.1 ft
  • Weight 21 oz
  • Maker list price $100 to $200

Weighing 21 oz, the Athlon Neos G2 HD 10x42 sits under the 24.9 oz median for 10x42 models and has a 4.2 mm calculated exit pupil. Its 309 ft field is under the 336 ft median, and close focus is 13.1 ft. Eye relief of 14.1 mm falls short of the RSPB's 16 mm for glasses.

Check price on Amazon

By the numbers

Binoculars compared
10
Median field of view
355 ft
Field of view range
231 to 435 ft
Median weight
21.6 oz
Median eye relief
17.3 mm
With 16 mm eye relief or more
6 of 10
With an Amazon listing
10 of 10

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

Eye relief decides the fit for glasses

The RSPB says eyeglass wearers should look for at least 16 mm of eye relief. National Audubon Society says binoculars made for birders offer 15 to 20 mm.

Six of the 10 models here reach 16 mm or more: the Nature DX 8x42, Triumph HD 10x42, SkyMaster 15x70, Prostaff P3, Outland X 8x42 and R5. The two Nikon Trailblazers list only 10 mm. The eyeglass fit tool and the eye relief guide explain how to read the figure.

Objective size sets brightness and weight

Nikon defines exit pupil as the objective diameter divided by magnification, and says a larger one gives a brighter view in dim light. The exit pupil calculator works it out for any size.

The 8x42 models on this list work out to 5.3 mm. The 10x25 models work out to 2.5 mm. National Audubon Society says objectives smaller than 30 mm are not bright enough for detail in poor light, and objectives larger than 42 mm are heavier.

The 8x42 picks weigh 20.3 oz to 23.6 oz. The 10x25 and 8x25 picks weigh 9.9 oz to 10.9 oz. See the 8x42 size page for the full field of that size.

Magnification and steadiness

National Audubon Society says binoculars that magnify eight times also magnify hand movement eight times. The RSPB calls 8x or 10x the best compromise between power and practicality.

The SkyMaster 15x70 sits outside that range. Celestron says a tripod is not required at 8x to 12x but becomes necessary at 15x and higher, which suits its 48 oz weight and tripod adaptability.

What this list leaves out

None of the 10 models lists ED glass in the makers' documents, so glass type is not a point of difference here. Each series appears in one size only, so other sizes of the Nature DX, Outland X and Prostaff P3 lines are not shown.

For compact pairs only, use compact binoculars. For the whole range, see best binoculars compared.

The short answer

Pick by the figure you need. The Nikon Prostaff P3 has the longest eye relief at 20.2 mm, the Trailblazer II 8x25 the widest field at 435 ft, and the Trailblazer 10x25 ATB the lowest weight at 9.9 oz.

More binocular lists

Questions and answers

Which binoculars under $200 have the longest eye relief?

The Nikon Prostaff P3 binocular in 8x42 has the longest, at 20.2 mm. The Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 follows at 18 mm.

Which of these suit eyeglass wearers?

Six of the 10 list 16 mm of eye relief or more, the minimum the RSPB gives for glasses. They are the Nature DX 8x42, Triumph HD 10x42, SkyMaster 15x70, Prostaff P3, Outland X 8x42 and R5.

Which model is the lightest?

The Nikon Trailblazer 10x25 ATB is the lightest at 9.9 oz. The median weight across the 10 models is 21.6 oz.

Does the Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 need a tripod?

Celestron says a tripod becomes necessary at 15x and higher. The SkyMaster 15x70 weighs 48 oz and is tripod adaptable.

Do any of these have ED glass?

None of the 10 lists ED glass in the makers' documents. Most use roof prisms, with the SkyMaster 15x70 using porro prisms.