Binocular Chart
English

7x50 binoculars: 24 models compared

The 24 binoculars of 7x50 size in the records share a 7.1 mm exit pupil. Their fields of view run from 267 to 563 ft, with a median of 367 ft.

Top picks

Binocular Chart earns a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases made through these buttons.

Exit pupil
7.1 mmcalculated
Twilight factor
18.7calculated
Median field of view
367 ftat 1,000 yd
Median weight
36.8 oz

Most popular 7x50 with a listing: Celestron Cometron 7x50

Check price on Amazon

Binocular Chart earns a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases made through these buttons.

Median width of view of 24 7x50 binoculars at 1,000 yd, against the 340 ft median of every size.
Median width of view of 24 7x50 binoculars at 1,000 yd, against the 340 ft median of every size.

Every 7x50 binocular in the chart

24 7x50 models, most popular first, with the best figure in each column in bold.

ModelMaker list priceAmazon
Celestron Cometron 7x50 Lowest maker list price band 344 ft 13 mm 26.2 ft 27.3 oz under $100 Check price on Amazon
Steiner Commander 7x50 420 ft 66 ft 38 oz $1,000 to $2,000 Check price on Amazon
Steiner Commander 7x50c 420 ft 66 ft 42 oz over $2,000 Check price on Amazon
Bushnell Marine 7x50 267 ft 18 mm 35 ft 37 oz Check price on Amazon
Bushnell Marine 7x50 with rangefinding reticle and compass 267 ft 18 mm 35 ft 37 oz Check price on Amazon
Steiner Navigator 7x50 Lightest 419 ft 20.2 mm 66 ft 26.6 oz $500 to $1,000 Check price on Amazon
Steiner Navigator 7x50c 419 ft 20.2 mm 66 ft 30 oz $500 to $1,000 Check price on Amazon
Steiner Military-Marine 7x50 302 ft 20.2 mm 65 ft 36 oz $200 to $500 Check price on Amazon
Nikon Action EX 7x50 CF 336 ft 17.1 mm 23 ft 35.3 oz
Nikon Action 7x50 335 ft 19.6 mm 26.2 ft 33 oz $100 to $200
Bushnell H2O 7x50 Longest eye relief 340 ft 27 mm 24 ft 37.5 oz
Fujinon Mariner 7x50 WP-XL 366 ft 18 mm 32.2 ft 31.2 oz Check price on Amazon
Fujinon Mariner 7x50 WPC-XL (with compass) 366 ft 18 mm 40.4 ft 32.1 oz Check price on Amazon
Nikon WX 7x50 IF Widest field of view 563 ft 17.7 mm 40.4 ft 85.4 oz over $2,000 Check price on Amazon
Celestron SkyMaster Pro ED 7x50 409 ft 20.8 mm 26.2 ft 44.3 oz $200 to $500 Check price on Amazon
Opticron Imagic TGA WP 7x50 315 ft 21.5 mm 16.1 ft 28.4 oz $200 to $500
Hawke Endurance ED Marine 7x50 367 ft 21 mm 8.2 ft 31.2 oz $200 to $500
Hawke Endurance ED Marine Compass 7x50 367 ft 21 mm 8.2 ft 32.3 oz $500 to $1,000
Steiner Navigator Autobright 7x50 384 ft 20.2 mm 36.7 oz
Steiner Navigator Autobright 7x50c 384 ft 20.2 mm 39.3 oz
Steiner T750 356 ft 20.2 mm 66 ft 40.5 oz $500 to $1,000
Steiner M750r 390 ft 22 mm 66 ft 36.9 oz $1,000 to $2,000
Steiner M750rc 392 ft 22 mm 66 ft 39.7 oz $1,000 to $2,000
Fujinon 7x50 FMTR-SX 393 ft 23 mm 32.2 ft 49.7 oz

7x50 by the numbers

Binoculars compared
24
Median field of view
367 ft
Field of view range
267 to 563 ft
Median weight
36.8 oz
Median eye relief
20.2 mm
With 16 mm eye relief or more
21 of 22
With an Amazon listing
12 of 24

The 7x50 binoculars with the widest field of view at 1,000 yd, from the makers' figures.

What 7x50 is used for

Practical Sailor calls 7x50 the traditional marine size. Its reasoning is that 7x gives a fairly stable view, and the 7.1 mm exit pupil suits low light and leaves room for vessel movement. See the marine binoculars list for models built for that job.

Stargazers use the size too. The British Astronomical Association names 10x50 and 7x50 as good sizes, and the Astronomical League recommends objectives of 50 to 80 mm for its deep-sky binocular program. The stargazing list shows which models fit.

Nikon says the human pupil opens about 7 mm in the dark, so a 7.1 mm exit pupil matches a dark-adapted eye. ZEISS notes that pupils seldom exceed 4 mm in old age, so older eyes may not use the full 7.1 mm.

The size carries weight. The median model weighs 36.8 oz, and Audubon says objectives larger than 42 mm are heavier. For a lighter step down, compare 8x42 binoculars.

How the 7x50 models differ

Field of view separates the models more than any other figure. The Nikon WX 7x50 IF is widest at 563 ft, but it weighs 85.4 oz and carries a maker list price band of over $2,000. The Bushnell Marine 7x50 sits at the narrow end with 267 ft.

Weight runs the other way. The Steiner Navigator 7x50 is lightest at 26.6 oz. The Celestron Cometron 7x50 weighs 27.3 oz and sits in the under $100 band.

Eye relief is generous. The median is 20.2 mm, and 21 of 22 models with a printed figure reach the 16 mm that the RSPB advises for eyeglass wearers. The Bushnell H2O 7x50 offers 27 mm, while the Cometron falls short at 13 mm. The glasses list covers more.

Close focus varies widely. The median is 35 ft, and the Bushnell H2O 7x50 focuses down to 24 ft. The Steiner Commander and Navigator models stop at 66 ft. Porro is the most common prism type, and 4 models use ED glass.

Other sizes and how 7x50 compares

7x50 questions

What does 7x50 mean on binoculars?

7x50 means the binocular magnifies 7 times and each front lens is 50 mm across, so a subject looks 7 times closer than with the bare eye.

How bright is a 7x50 binocular?

7x50 gives an exit pupil of 7.1 mm and a twilight factor of 18.7. 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 7x50 binoculars work with glasses?

21 of the 22 7x50 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 20.2 mm.

What is the exit pupil of 7x50 binoculars?

It is 7.1 mm. Nikon's formula divides the objective diameter by the magnification, and its own 7x50 example gives 7.1 mm. Use the exit pupil calculator for other sizes.

Do 7x50 binoculars work with eyeglasses?

Usually yes. The median eye relief is 20.2 mm, and 21 of 22 models with a printed figure reach 16 mm, the least the RSPB advises for glasses.

Are 7x50 binoculars good for astronomy?

Yes. The British Astronomical Association names 7x50 among good sizes, and the Astronomical League's deep-sky program recommends objectives of 50 to 80 mm.