Binoculars Reviews

We found a number of comprehensive and thorough binocular reviews in journals and outdoors magazines. A 2005 study conducted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology still ranks among the best we've seen. In that comprehensive binocular test, a team of 40 birdwatching experts rates and ranks 78 pair of binoculars (in four price ranges) for image quality, depth of field, ergonomics and eyeglass-friendliness (usability by people who wear eyeglasses). Each binocular was not only tested by at least ten reviewers, but also examined by a core team of five experts.

In a more recent review originally published in Bird Watcher's Digest, birding experts Michael and Diane Porter and a team of 13 other birders comparatively rate 56 mid-priced binoculars from 18 different manufacturers. This review also delves into many of the same considerations addressed by the Cornell study.

Birders aren't the only people who need binoculars. At CloudyNights.com, an astronomy website, Ed Zarenski reports on 34 binoculars he tested over eight months. For Outdoor Life, a team tests 17 binoculars. The review neglects tests of color accuracy, but is otherwise very good. For example, it does test resolution as daylight dwindles -- a situation important for both birding and hunting binoculars. Editors at Consumer Reports magazine also don't test for color in their rating of 34 binoculars, and discussion isn't very extensive, but the ratings and recommendations are helpful.

On the other end of the spectrum, many reviews (including those at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology) say that for most people, the performance difference between $200 to $500 binoculars and $500 to $1,000 binoculars doesn't justify the big price jump. For instance, we found excellent reviews for the Leupold Golden Ring series of binoculars (*est. $650 to $900) and Nikon Premier LX L series (*est. $500 to $1,400) , but most reviews say the Nikon Monarch ATB 8x42 binoculars (*est. $250) are nearly as good -- and certainly come much closer in performance than the price difference would suggest. While the most demanding birders might consider the ultra-high-end Zeiss Victory T* FL 8x42 (*est. $1,800) , reviews say most people will be very satisfied with binoculars in the $200 to $500 price range.

Binoculars are a product for which rigorous comparative reviews really matter. Specifications rarely tell the whole story, even for image quality, not to mention comfort and usability. For example, although some reviews use a specification called "exit pupil" as a guide to how bright the binocular image will be, the best binocular reviews note that optics quality matters much more. Another specification, eye relief, is a major factor in eye comfort (especially for people who wear glasses), but testers in comparative reviews evaluate "eyeglass-friendliness" by actual usage, often rating a binocular higher or lower than the eye-relief specification would predict.

Since you can't rely on specifications alone for selecting binoculars in the price range and size you'd like, hands-on tests, such as those cited in our All Reviews chart, are the best way to gauge binocular quality. For our ConsumerSearch Fast Answers chart, we've included the best general-use binoculars. There are a myriad of specific-use categories out there for binoculars, from giant astronomy binoculars to marine binoculars, hunting optics and birding binoculars. Those types of binoculars are covered further below in our Full Story section. Models that combine a binocular with a digital camera are covered in our separate report on digital-camera binoculars.  ... Continued

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

Among luxury binoculars, reviews favor the Zeiss Victory T* FL series, especially the Zeiss T* FL 8x42. At this price range, it's especially important to try the top binoculars in person. Differences in warranty terms can also be significant, since some are transferable and/or cover accidental damage. Other binoculars to consider in this price range include the Swarovski EL and Leica Ultravid series.

When it comes to the best mid-priced binoculars, reviews praise the Nikon Monarch ATB series, which seems to have everything: great close-up focusing for butterflies and bird-feeder watching, comfort for eyeglass wearers and good field of view, as well as good overall optics and ergonomics. The Leupold Wind River Katmai series is a close second choice, rated slightly higher by the 2005 Cornell Lab, but it is more expensive.

The Nikon Action EX Extreme ATB 7x35 binoculars get top rating among economy binoculars at the 2005 Cornell Lab of Ornithology binocular tests, but it's easy to confuse these with the Nikon Action 7x35 binoculars (without the EX), which aren't waterproof, don't focus as closely and aren't good for eyeglass wearers. Users at Amazon.com recommend various Bushnell models priced at well under $50.

Reviews praise the Pentax Papilio series as an excellent value, not only for its outstanding close-up focus, but for its optical quality and ergonomics as well. However, the Nikon 8x20 Premier LX L gets top rating among compact binoculars at the 2005 Cornell Lab of Ornithology tests, which doesn't include the Pentax Papilio.