Best binoculars under $100

How these binoculars were chosen

A model is on the list when its maker list price falls in the band under $100, with one size from each series. Models that have an Amazon listing come first, and the order is most popular first. Every figure comes from the makers' documents, and fields marked calculated are worked out from the size.

Across the 8 models the median field is 354 ft, the median weight is 15.5 oz, the median eye relief is 12.5 mm and the median close focus is 15.3 ft. Porro prisms are the most common design here, and none of the 8 has ED glass.

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

Eye relief and field at this price

The RSPB shop says eyeglass wearers should look for at least 16 mm of eye relief, and Audubon says binoculars made for birders offer 15 to 20 mm. None of the 8 models reaches 16 mm. The longest is 15 mm, on the Leupold BX-1 Rogue 8x25 Compact and the Celestron Ultima 8x32. Binoculars for glasses wearers covers models that clear the 16 mm mark, and the eyeglass eye relief tool shows how much view a given figure leaves you.

Audubon says bird-worthy binoculars should show a field of at least 6.5 degrees. The Cometron 7x50 at 6.6 degrees, the two 10x50 models at 6.8 degrees, the Ultima 8x32 at 8.1 degrees and the Outland X 8x25 at 8.2 degrees meet that figure. The Nikon 10x25 at 5 degrees does not, and the BX-1 Rogue at 6.4 degrees comes close.

Brightness and exit pupil

Nikon defines exit pupil as the objective diameter divided by magnification, and says a larger one gives a brighter view in dim light. Its example is a 7x50 at 7.1 mm, which is what the Cometron works out to. Swarovski Optik says the eye's pupil opens to 8 mm in children and opens less with age, so a 7.1 mm beam can be more than an adult eye uses.

The Nikon 10x25 works out to 2.5 mm and the Nikon 8x21 to 2.6 mm. The Outland X 8x25 and the BX-1 Rogue 8x25 Compact both reach 3.1 mm. The 10x50 pair reaches 5 mm and the Ultima 8x32 reaches 4 mm. The exit pupil calculator gives the figure for any size you are weighing.

Weight, power and steadiness

Weights run from 6.9 oz to 27.3 oz, and the median is 15.5 oz. Audubon points out that eight-power binoculars magnify hand movement eight times, so a 10x model asks more of your arms. Celestron says a tripod is not required from 8x to 12x. The Cometron 7x50 and both 10x50 models are tripod adaptable, while the Outland X 8x25 is not.

The RSPB shop calls 8x or 10x the best compromise between power and practicality for birdwatching. Every model in the band is 10x or lower, so none needs a mount. Compare the full-size choices on the 10x50 page and the pocket models on the 10x25 page. The roof and porro prism guide explains why the 7x50 and 10x50 pairs are bulkier than the roof-prism compacts.

What the band leaves out

Nothing in the band has ED glass, and no model reaches the 16 mm eye relief that the RSPB sets for glasses. If those two figures matter, step up to binoculars from $100 to $200, or see every size and price together in best binoculars compared. Prices shown are maker list price bands, not shop prices.

The short answer

For a wide view at the lowest price, the Celestron Outland X 8x25 offers 432 ft at 1,000 yd, while the Celestron Ultima 8x32 gives 425 ft with 15 mm of eye relief. For dim light, the Cometron 7x50 gives a 7.1 mm exit pupil, while the Nikon 8x21 is the choice when 6.9 oz matters most.