Celestron Ultima 8x42 specs and field of view
With a calculated 5.3 mm exit pupil and 18 mm of eye relief, the Ultima 8x42 matches the size median on eye relief and weighs 21.9 oz against 24.2 oz.
- Field of view
- 393 ftat 1,000 yd
- Eye relief
- 18 mm
- Close focus
- 13.1 ft
- Weight
- 21.9 oz
- Exit pupil
- 5.3 mmcalculated
Why pick it
- 21.9 oz, lighter than the typical 24.2 oz
- 18 mm eye relief, enough for glasses
- Waterproof
Who the Ultima 8x42 suits
Eyeglass wearers get 18 mm, and the calculated 5.3 mm exit pupil is meant for dusk. The 393 ft field equals the size median, so general birding and viewing stay comfortable.
A 13.1 ft close focus is double the 6.6 ft median, which rules out close insects and flowers.
Ultima 8x42 is one choice among many, and the top binoculars compared covers the most popular ones. Ultima 8x42 is one of 75 models in the 8x42 binoculars comparison. Celestron lists it in the $100 to $200 price band, alongside the models in best binoculars under $200.
Ultima 8x42 specifications
Ultima 8x42 figures as Celestron prints them; rows marked * are calculated from the 8x42 size.
| Magnification | 8x |
|---|---|
| Objective lens | 42 mm |
| Prism type | Porro |
| Field of view | 393 ft at 1,000 yd (131 m at 1,000 m) |
| Angular field of view | 7.5° |
| Apparent field of view | 60° * |
| Eye relief | 18 mm |
| Close focus | 13.1 ft (4 m) |
| Eye spacing range | 50 to 74 mm |
| Weight | 21.9 oz (620 g) |
| Waterproofing | Waterproof |
| Fog-proofing gas | Nitrogen |
| Tripod adaptable | Yes |
| Maker list price | $100 to $200 |
| Exit pupil | 5.3 mm * |
| Twilight factor | 18.3 * |
| Relative brightness | 27.6 * |
* Calculated from the size, not printed by the maker.
Ultima 8x42 against other 8x42 binoculars
Ultima 8x42 shows 393 ft at 1,000 yd, at or above the 393 ft median of the 75 8x42 models in the chart. At 21.9 oz it is at or under the 24.2 oz median weight for the size.
Ultima 8x42 and its nearest rivals
Ultima 8x42 next to the 8x42 models closest to it in maker list price, with the best figure in each column in bold.
| Model | Field of view | Eye relief | Close focus | Weight | Exit pupil | Maker list price | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celestron Ultima 8x42 | 393 ft | 18 mm | 13.1 ft | 21.9 oz | 5.3 mm | $100 to $200 | |
| Bushnell R3 8x42 | 325 ft | 21 mm | 21.3 oz | 5.3 mm | $100 to $200 | ||
| Athlon Neos G2 HD 8x42 | 367 ft | 17 mm | 13.1 ft | 21 oz | 5.3 mm | $100 to $200 | Check price on Amazon |
| Nikon Action 8x42 | 420 ft | 17.3 mm | 16.4 ft | 27.9 oz | 5.3 mm | $100 to $200 |
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Other sizes of the Ultima
Celestron makes the Ultima in 4 sizes; a larger front lens adds brightness and weight, and more magnification narrows the view.
| Model | Size | Field of view | Eye relief | Close focus | Weight | Exit pupil |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celestron Ultima 8x42 | 8x42 | 393 ft | 18 mm | 13.1 ft | 21.9 oz | 5.3 mm |
| Celestron Ultima 8x32 | 8x32 | 425 ft | 15 mm | 8.2 ft | 18.3 oz | 4 mm |
| Celestron Ultima 10x42 | 10x42 | 342 ft | 15 mm | 13.1 ft | 21.9 oz | 4.2 mm |
| Celestron Ultima 10x50 | 10x50 | 315 ft | 18 mm | 22.9 ft | 26.1 oz | 5 mm |
Celestron binoculars
Ultima 8x42 questions
Ultima 8x42: does it work with glasses?
Ultima 8x42 has 18 mm of eye relief, which meets the 16 mm the RSPB advises for people who wear glasses.
Ultima 8x42: what does 8x42 mean?
Ultima 8x42 magnifies 8 times through 42 mm front lenses, which works out to an exit pupil of 5.3 mm, the width of the beam of light that reaches each eye.
Ultima 8x42: how wide is the view?
Ultima 8x42 shows a view 393 ft wide at 1,000 yd, at or above the 393 ft median of the 75 8x42 models in the chart.
Ultima 8x42: can it go on a tripod?
Ultima 8x42 is tripod adaptable according to Celestron, so it accepts a binocular tripod adapter.