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10x50 binoculars: 40 models compared

The 40 models in 10x50 share a 5 mm exit pupil, calculated from 50 mm divided by 10x, and their median field of view is 315 ft. Fields run from 240 to 472 ft.

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Exit pupil
5 mmcalculated
Twilight factor
22.4calculated
Median field of view
315 ftat 1,000 yd
Median weight
29.3 oz

Most popular 10x50 with a listing: Vortex Viper HD 10x50

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Median width of view of 40 10x50 binoculars at 1,000 yd, against the 340 ft median of every size.
Median width of view of 40 10x50 binoculars at 1,000 yd, against the 340 ft median of every size.

Every 10x50 binocular in the chart

40 10x50 models, most popular first, with the best figure in each column in bold.

ModelMaker list priceAmazon
Vortex Viper HD 10x50 346 ft 16 mm 8 ft 28.4 oz $500 to $1,000 Check price on Amazon
Nikon Action 10x50 335 ft 17.3 mm 23 ft 33 oz $100 to $200
Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50 320 ft 17 mm 6 ft 30.4 oz $200 to $500
Vortex Diamondback HD 10x50 315 ft 17 mm 6 ft 30 oz $200 to $500 Check price on Amazon
Vortex Razor HD 10x50 315 ft 16.5 mm 10 ft 28.1 oz $1,000 to $2,000
Nikon Action EX 10x50 CF 342 ft 17.2 mm 23 ft 36 oz
Vortex Razor UHD 10x50 341 ft 18 mm 6.6 ft 36.5 oz over $2,000
Nikon Monarch M5 10x50 314 ft 19.3 mm 14.8 ft 22.6 oz $200 to $500 Check price on Amazon
Nikon Prostaff P7 10x50 Lightest 314 ft 19.3 mm 14.8 ft 22.2 oz $200 to $500 Check price on Amazon
Steiner Military-Marine 10x50 327 ft 16 mm 66 ft 35.3 oz $500 to $1,000 Check price on Amazon
Celestron UpClose G2 10x50 354 ft 12 mm 23 ft 27 oz under $100
Bushnell PowerView 2 10x50 344 ft 16 mm 25 ft 27.8 oz
Nikon Prostaff 5 10x50 293 ft 19.6 mm 16.4 ft 28.7 oz $200 to $500 Check price on Amazon
Celestron Outland X 10x50 294 ft 17.4 mm 8.2 ft 27 oz $100 to $200 Check price on Amazon
Leupold BX-4 Pro Guide HD Gen 2 10x50 299 ft 19 mm 9.3 ft 28.7 oz $500 to $1,000
Nikon WX 10x50 IF Widest field of view 472 ft 15.3 mm 65.6 ft 88.4 oz over $2,000 Check price on Amazon
Hawke Vantage 10x50 294 ft 18 mm 8.2 ft 25.5 oz $200 to $500
Celestron Nature DX ED 10x50 309 ft 17.8 mm 8.2 ft 28.4 oz $200 to $500 Check price on Amazon
Athlon Midas G2 UHD 10x50 341 ft 16.9 mm 9.8 ft 28.5 oz $500 to $1,000 Check price on Amazon
Hawke Endurance ED 10x50 314 ft 17 mm 8.2 ft 28.4 oz $200 to $500 Check price on Amazon
Leupold BX-5 Santiam HD 10x50 304 ft 19.3 mm 11.4 ft 31.5 oz $1,000 to $2,000 Check price on Amazon
Bushnell Spectator Sport 10x50 298 ft 17 mm 31 oz Check price on Amazon
Maven C.3 10x50 262 ft 19.5 mm 8.2 ft 28 oz $500 to $1,000 Check price on Amazon
Celestron Ultima 10x50 315 ft 18 mm 22.9 ft 26.1 oz $100 to $200
Bushnell R7 10x50 340 ft 19 mm 7 ft 32.7 oz $500 to $1,000 Check price on Amazon
Hawke Nature-Trek 10x50 304 ft 18 mm 8.2 ft 29.2 oz $200 to $500 Check price on Amazon
GPO Passion HD 10x50 309 ft 19.5 mm 9.8 ft 33.9 oz $1,000 to $2,000
Celestron Landscout 10x50 354 ft 12 mm 23 ft 27 oz under $100
Opticron Oregon 4 PC Oasis 10x50 Longest eye relief 240 ft 22 mm 8.2 ft 29.8 oz $200 to $500
Bushnell Engage EDX 10x50 340 ft 15 mm 10 ft 29.2 oz
Leica Ultravid 10x50 HD-Plus 352 ft 15 mm 10.8 ft 35.3 oz
Maven B.6 10x50 341 ft 18.1 mm 7.5 ft 30.7 oz $1,000 to $2,000 Check price on Amazon
ZEISS Victory SFL 10x50 Closest focus 366 ft 18 mm 5.9 ft 30.8 oz
Opticron Imagic TGA WP 10x50 279 ft 19.5 mm 14.8 ft 29.4 oz $200 to $500
Minox X-UNIVERSAL 10x50 345 ft 18.1 mm 8.2 ft 32.6 oz
Kowa BD III 10x50 XD 346 ft 17 mm 9.8 ft 25.5 oz $500 to $1,000
Athlon Argos G2 HD 10x50 304 ft 17 mm 13 ft 31.5 oz $200 to $500 Check price on Amazon
Steiner M1050r 300 ft 15.8 mm 66 ft 35.3 oz $1,000 to $2,000
Fujinon 10x50 FMTR-SX 342 ft 19.8 mm 65.6 ft 50.4 oz
Opticron Adventurer II WP PC 10x50 288 ft 17 mm 9.8 ft 26.8 oz $100 to $200

10x50 by the numbers

Binoculars compared
40
Median field of view
315 ft
Field of view range
240 to 472 ft
Median weight
29.3 oz
Median eye relief
17.4 mm
With 16 mm eye relief or more
34 of 40
With an Amazon listing
18 of 40

The 10x50 binoculars with the widest field of view at 1,000 yd, from the makers' figures.

What 10x50 is used for

The Royal Astronomical Society lists 8x40 or 10x50 as the sizes usually recommended for starting out in astronomy. The British Astronomical Association also names 10x50 as a good size. The 5 mm exit pupil gives a twilight factor of 22.4.

ZEISS says dawn use calls for an exit pupil of at least 4 mm, so 10x50 clears that mark. The RSPB shop suggests 10x for greater distances, such as open country or large stretches of water.

Weight is the cost of the 50 mm lenses. The median here is 29.3 oz. Audubon says magnification multiplies hand movement by the same factor, and Celestron says a tripod is not required from 8x to 12x. 18 of the 40 models carry an Amazon button.

How the models of this size differ

The Nikon WX 10x50 IF has the widest view at 472 ft, but it weighs 88.4 oz and its close focus is 65.6 ft. The Nikon Prostaff P7 is the lightest at 22.2 oz, with a 314 ft field and 19.3 mm of eye relief.

Eye relief has a median of 17.4 mm, and 34 of the 40 offer 16 mm or more, the least the RSPB shop advises for eyeglass wearers. The Opticron Oregon 4 PC Oasis 10x50 leads at 22 mm, with a 240 ft field.

Median close focus is 9.8 ft. The ZEISS Victory SFL 10x50 focuses down to 5.9 ft and still shows 366 ft. Roof prisms are the most common design, and 11 models use ED glass.

The Nikon Action 10x50 sits in the $100 to $200 maker list price band. It is a porro model with a 335 ft field and 17.3 mm of eye relief. Compare the sizes in 12x50 and 10x50 against 12x50.

Other sizes and how 10x50 compares

10x50 questions

What does 10x50 mean on binoculars?

10x50 means the binocular magnifies 10 times and each front lens is 50 mm across, so a subject looks 10 times closer than with the bare eye.

How bright is a 10x50 binocular?

10x50 gives an exit pupil of 5 mm and a twilight factor of 22.4. Nikon puts the eye's pupil at about 2 mm in daylight and 7 mm in the dark, so a larger exit pupil matters most at dusk and at night.

Which 10x50 binoculars work with glasses?

34 of the 40 10x50 models with a printed figure have 16 mm of eye relief or more, the minimum the RSPB advises for people who wear glasses. The median for the size is 17.4 mm.

What exit pupil does a 10x50 give?

A 10x50 gives an exit pupil of 5 mm. Nikon defines exit pupil as the objective diameter divided by magnification, so 50 divided by 10 gives 5 mm.

Is a 10x50 good for dusk?

Yes, its 5 mm exit pupil is above the 4 mm that ZEISS gives as the least for dawn use. The twilight factor works out to 22.4.

Can eyeglass wearers use a 10x50?

Most can. The RSPB shop advises at least 16 mm of eye relief, and 34 of the 40 models in this size meet it. The median is 17.4 mm.