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Binoculars mean the difference between seeing a little gray bird and identifying a titmouse, cheering a home run and seeing the epic catch, or realizing that the 10-point buck is actually a doe standing in front of dead branches.

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Whether you're scouting terrain, watching birds in your backyard, or have scored season tickets to Fenway, binoculars bring the world closer, making it sharp and clear far beyond what your eye is capable of seeing. Finding the right pair of binoculars means first figuring out what you're going to use them for. If you'd just like to watch some birds at the feeder in your backyard and perhaps overcome the limitations of the cheap seats at the ballpark, there's no need to spend a fortune. On the other hand, if you plan to go birding in diverse locations, or are planning a big hunt in unfamiliar territory, it's often worth the extra money to get something a little more powerful.

Be sure to check out our other guides, including [The Best Gear to Make Your Backyard More [The Best Hiking and [How a Birdfeeder Can Bring You Table of Contents
1. [What Do the Model Numbers Mean?](#model)
2. [Best Overall](#best)
3. [Best High Power](#high)
4. [Best Compact](#compact)
5. [Best for Kids](#kids)
6. [Why the High Price Tags?](#price)

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> If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. [Learn What Do the Model Numbers Mean?
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Binoculars are usually listed with two number specifications; for example, the Nikon Monarch M5 are 8x42. The number 8 refers to the **magnification power**. Objects seen through these binoculars will be 8 times bigger than when you look with your naked eye. 

The 42 refers to the **size of the front lens in millimeters**. The larger the lens size, the more light reaches your eye. That means the image will be brighter and clearer. A pair of 8x42 binoculars are often significantly brighter, with a better viewing experience, than a pair of 8x32 binoculars, even though both provide the same magnification.

Bigger is not always better, though. Bigger may mean everything looks closer, but it also means the field of view (the width of the image that you see) is narrower. Tracking a fast-moving object—say, a bird or a baseball—is more difficult.

As with cameras, larger-diameter glass translates to extra weight. The difference between a pair of 8x32 and 10x42 binoculars is significant when you're planning to hang them around your neck all day while hiking.

For this reason, we suggest newcomers stick with 6x or 8x for the first number. Binoculars in this range have enough power that you'll see things clearly, but not so much that you'll struggle to find what you want to see (although all binoculars do take some practice). We suggest something in the 26-50 range for the second number. Our top pick is roughly in the middle, at 8x42, generally considered the sweet spot for most people.

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### Best Overall
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{: Monarch 5 binoculars were my first "real" binoculars. Years later, their upgraded M5 is my top pick for most people just getting started. These offer great bang for your buck, and the 8x42 magnification is the most versatile. It isn't just me, either. These are some of the most common binoculars I see when I'm out birding.

The Monarch M5s strike an excellent balance between optical power, quality, and price. The glass in these provides nice, bright views with very little chromatic aberration (the distortions or fringing that you sometimes see around objects in bright sunlight).

The Monarch M5s are also light enough that they can hang around your neck all day without bothering you too much, and they come with the most comfortable stock strap of any binocular I've tested.

The nomenclature for the Monarch series is a little confusing. I'm recommending the Monarch M5 here, which is new for 2022, but the Monarch 5 binoculars I own are technically still available. The new M5 designation features a slightly wider field of view and better optical coatings. There's also the more expensive Monarch M7 series, which is available in 8x42. I have not tested the latter, which offers an even larger field of view but is significantly more expensive.

##### Other great 8x42 binoculars:
- **Budget pick:** [Celestron Nature DX ED 8x42 rel="sponsored" isAffiliateLink="true"}. These are a solid buy for under $200 (they're often on sale for around $160). They aren't quite as bright as the Nikon Monarchs, and I did notice more chromatic aberrations, particularly purple fringing. But for the price, these are a good entry-level option.
- **★ Nice Upgrade:** [Pentax 8x43 ZD ED Binoculars rel="sponsored" isAffiliateLink="true"}. Pentax/Ricoh's 8x43s are just a little bit sharper, clearer, and brighter than the Monarchs. This is a somewhat personal preference, but I like the slightly cooler colors of these, compared to the Monarch M5s.
- **★ Really nice, but insanely expensive:** The Leica Noctivid 8x42 binoculars are everything you'd expect from the Leica name, including expensive. These are by far the brightest, sharpest lenses I've ever put to my eye. Unfortunately, they're out of stock everywhere. The [10x42s are available for rel="sponsored" isAffiliateLink="true"}. The other options in this category are the [Swarovski EL 8.5x42 rel="sponsored" isAffiliateLink="true"} and the [Zeiss Victory HT rel="sponsored" Best High Power
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{: difference between 8x and 10x doesn't sound like much, but in practice, it's significant. Objects are larger, but the field of view is narrower. That means it's harder to follow things, especially something like a small bird in thick shrubs. It also means any hand shaking can cause you to lose your subject. That said, this is my favorite resolution for birds, as long as I am not carrying these all day, because 10x42s are considerably heavier.

Our top pick at this size is the Vortex Viper HD Binoculars. These offer excellent clarity, crisp, clear views, and good color accuracy. The colors are slightly less saturated to my eye, but I only noticed this in side-by-side comparisons with the Nikons above. The focus wheel is smooth, though I wish it were slightly faster. There is some blurring in the periphery (the edges of your field of vision through the lenses), but that's to be expected at this price.

One caveat: Cabela's frequently sells the pre-2018 model of these at a steep discount but doesn't label it as such. I have not tested that model, and while the deal is pretty good, the optics are definitely different and potentially inferior.

##### Other great 10x42 binoculars:
- **Budget pick:** [Celestron Regal ED 10x42 rel="sponsored" isAffiliateLink="true"}. The Celestron Regal EDs are what I call a sleeper deal. That is to say, you'll find very little information about these online, but they're excellent binoculars, and the price is almost impossible to beat. You get great field of view (6.5 degrees), a sharp clear image, and very little chromatic aberration. I have not tested a better binocular that costs less.
- **★ Nice Upgrade:** [Nikon Monarch HG 10X42 rel="sponsored" isAffiliateLink="true"}. Nikon's Monarch HG offer a slightly wider field of view and are brighter and sharper than the Vortex or the Celestron, though the price is accordingly higher. Still, if you have the money and are serious about binoculars, the Monarch HGs are a great investment. If you want to keep going price-wise, the [Swarovski EL 10x42 rel="sponsored" isAffiliateLink="true"} are deservedly legendary.

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### Best Compact 
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{: Olympus 10x25 offer a great compromise between resolving power, weight, and price. You get 10x magnification, but with a bright, large field of view that makes it easier to find your target. No other compact binoculars I've tested at this size, and this price, can match these in terms of optical quality.

The only downside is that these aren't quite as compact as some options. These will fit in some of my pockets, but not all. If size is your main concern, the Zeiss pair below are even more compact (though more expensive).

- **★ Nice Upgrade:** [Zeiss Terra ED 8x25 I have not tested these extensively, but I've used them enough to know that they're lightweight (10.9 ounces) and deliver a very good, sharp image. They have 8x magnification and come with a nice rugged, waterproof case. These aren't just light, either. The folding design means they also easily fit into your pocket.

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### Best for Kids
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{: I dive into why the Nocs are great for kids, let me be clear: Nocs are not kids' binoculars. They would fit well in the ultralight category above. They're fine compact binoculars. I “borrow” them from my kids all the time. Nor would I suggest these as the best first pair of binoculars for young kids (in that case, see our budget pick below). But for anyone over the age of 8, these make a great, compact, first pair of binoculars.

You get good magnification, with a waterproof (IPX7 rating) and fog-proof design in a lightweight package (11.8 ounces). These also have two things that specifically make them great for kids: rugged construction and a great, rubberized grip. I can't tell you how many trees and rocks these have bashed into while around my son's neck, and they're still as good as new.

- **Budget Pick for Kids:** [Let's Go Binoculars rel="sponsored" isAffiliateLink="true"}. If you have little ones that are new to binoculars, the price tag of the Nocs might be too high. If you want to see if your kids actually use their binoculars before diving in, there are a multitude of options. I'll be blunt: None of these are great, but they're cheap and light and don't cost a fortune. Another option is the [Obuby Binoculars rel="sponsored" Why the High Price Tags?
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You may have noticed that the binoculars in this guide span a huge price range, from under $100 to over $3,000. This comes down to two main factors: the quality of glass and coatings, and the engineering behind them.

All the binoculars listed here share the same BaK-4 prism design, which is a glass designation used by the German glassmaker Schott AG. However, within that design standard, there is still a significant range in quality. The unfortunate truth is that the more you spend, the better the image quality will likely be. 

That difference is very obvious when comparing high-end Leicas or Swarovskis to $300 models like the Monarch M5. The difference between the Monarch M5 and similarly priced 8x42 binoculars is much less obvious. For this reason, I highly suggest visiting your local store and trying some of these, if at all possible. Some people will see little difference between a $300 pair and a $500 pair, but you'll never know if that's you unless you try them out.

If you can't get to a store, stick with our top pick. It may not be the absolute best that money can buy, but it will be good enough for most people and will leave more money in your pocket.

Source: Wired

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