Budget binoculars

Budget binoculars (under $200)

When it comes to full-size budget binoculars, the porro-prism Nikon Action series is most often recommended in reviews. There are actually two separate (and easily confused) series of Nikon Action binoculars. The Nikon Action EX Extreme ATB series, which uses Nikon's eco-friendly glass without lead or arsenic, and the less expensive Nikon Action series. While the binoculars in both series are rubber-armored and use multicoated lenses and Bak-4 prism glass, only the Nikon Action EX Extreme ATB binoculars are waterproof and fogproof. Though slightly heavier, the Nikon Action EX Extreme ATB binoculars are better for eyeglass wearers, though not as eyeglass-friendly as the Nikon Monarch binoculars discussed above (which cost over twice as much).

For beginning bird watchers, reviews especially recommend the Nikon Action EX Extreme ATB 7x35 binoculars (*Est. $110), which are the top-ranked budget binoculars in the tests at the Cornell Lab. The less expensive Nikon Action 7x35 binoculars (*Est. $60) aren't waterproof and fogproof, and they are not tested at the Cornell Lab -- but they are recommended in other reviews. Pete Dunn, reviewing binoculars for Birder's World, says of the Nikon Action 7x35, "The field of view (451 feet) is panoramic. The tradeoff is considerable edge distortion, but this is a good beginner's glass. The biggest problem beginners face is not identifying the bird but finding it. This glass won't hold them back." Both Nikon Action binoculars have a tripod socket, and share the same 25-year warranty (with $10 no-fault protection). Unfortunately, neither can focus closer than 16.4 feet, a big handicap for watching birds at a bird feeder.

For higher 10X magnification, the Nikon Action 10x50 binoculars (*Est. $75) and waterproof/fogproof Nikon Action EX Extreme ATB 10x50 (*Est. $145) also get good reviews, even though 10X binoculars are usually not recommended in this price range. The Nikon Action 10x50 EX Extreme binoculars are an Outdoor Life "Great Buy," not only for the wide field of view, but also depth of field, which makes focusing easier. Testers there find the cheaper Nikon Action 10x50 heavy (33.8 ounces), but praise their low-light performance, important both for hunting binoculars and for birdwatching. They're also recommended for astronomy, where their ability to focus only as close as 23 feet doesn't matter. A 2005 review in Astronomy magazine disagrees with the Outdoor Life criticism of the ergonomics, saying "the binoculars have a sculpted feel that makes holding them easy." This review also praises the optics as exceptional, saying that "Aberrations are well-corrected, as evidenced by a sharp, flat field of view and good image contrast."

Also at 10X, for more money but closer focus and less weight, the Cornell Lab review recommends the Bushnell NatureView 10x42 binoculars (*Est. $120) as "the best choice for a truly inexpensive 10X binocular," though the review didn't test the more expensive Nikon Action EX Extreme in this size. Like the Nikon Action EX, the NatureView 10x42 are porro-prism binoculars with fully multicoated Bak-4 lenses, but the NatureView binoculars have a closer minimum focus of 12 feet, and weigh only 26.6 ounces. However, eye relief is only 15mm, and the Cornell review rates them rather low for eyeglass wearers. The 315-foot field of view is also narrower than the 342 feet offered by the Nikon Action 10x50 binoculars.

According to reviews, $50 is about the minimum you should spend for decent binoculars. We found a few comments for binoculars costing less, and these might be fine for occasional use. The Astronomy magazine review recommends the Celestron UpClose 10x50 binoculars (*Est. $40) as a rock-bottom choice for astronomy binoculars: "Despite the low price, images are more than satisfactory for someone just starting out. Admittedly, contrast is lower and astigmatism is greater than in some other models. However, providing beginning observers fully coated optics for under $40 is a great manufacturing accomplishment."

A few cheap binoculars get some decent comments from owners posting to Amazon.com. None are waterproof or fogproof, and the prism glass is usually Bak-7 rather than Bak-4. They have eye relief that's below the 14mm minimum, so eyeglass wearers may experience some "tunnel vision" that loses part of the field of view.

With a tripod adapter and Bak-4 prisms, the Bushnell NatureView 8x40 binoculars (*Est. $55) get a lower average rating of four stars among Amazon.com users, based on about two dozen reviews at the time of our last visit, but one user does mention they work well with glasses (even though eye relief is only 12mm). The NatureView 8x40 binoculars offer a 330-foot field of view and focus as close as 14 feet. Some users complain about small parts falling off, or worse, the barrels becoming misaligned -- something reviews warn can cause headaches and extreme eye fatigue. One reviewer complains that repair costs under the warranty cost more than a pair of new binoculars. These binoculars cost only slightly less than the much higher rated Nikon Action binoculars.

Amazon.com users like the cheap Bushnell PowerView 12x25 binoculars (*Est. $20) for their 12X magnification, the way they fold compactly and their 11.3-ounce weight. The Bushnell 8x21 binoculars (*Est. $14) focus only as close as 21 feet, but have a 378-foot field of view, much better than the 240-foot field of view of the more expensive PowerView 12x25 binoculars, and they weigh even less at 7 ounces. The PowerView 8x21 binoculars don't have the best durability, optics or eyeglass-friendliness, but they might be better than no binoculars at all.