Best binoculars 2022: Top picks for stargazing, wildlife and more

While telescopes are often considered the astronomer’s best friend, a pair of the best binoculars you can buy are a tough competitor. For many, they’re also a cost-effective alternative. You’ll be able to scope out the best binoculars available for stargazing in this handy guide. 

The more popular models of binoculars for stargazing offer 8x, 10x and 12x magnifications, but larger models can go as high as 20x and 25x. It’s important to remember that higher magnifications don’t always mean better views. As brightness drops off with higher magnification, you should consider the size of the objective lens (the one you point at the sky).  Larger objective lenses allow the binoculars to collect more photons than the naked eye can, delivering the bright, sharp views you want from your nights standing out under the stars. 

For optical quality, we recommend multi-coated optics and BAK-4 prisms as a minimum. Size and weight can increase quickly as magnification and objective lens size change. These features mean quality optics combined with a good-sized objective lens. You’ll get the clearest vision of whatever you’re looking for, environmental and atmospheric conditions permitting.

We’ve scoured the stores to find everything on offer right now to summarize the best binoculars in 2022. We’ve put them in this detailed guide to aid you in your search. We’ve also included links to purchasing the listed models at the very best prices.

Buying binoculars is not just a case of buying the biggest, highest magnification ones, especially if you’re looking for something easy to pack up for traveling or to suit a younger stargazer with small hands. You should check out our best compact binoculars and best binoculars for kids guides for those requirements. If you’ve got your heart set on a specific brand, we also have useful guides for brands, including Vortex deals, Bushnell deals and Leica deals to help you out.

There’s something for every level of astronomer and to suit every budget in this guide, so, without further ado, here are the best binoculars we’ve found on the market.

The best stargazing binoculars

These are simply the finest binoculars available for viewing the night sky, with a price tag to suit. Not only are they optically excellent, but the gyro-stabilization Canon has installed, taken from its most expensive camera lenses, means all the wobble introduced by being handheld and larger magnification goes away. It feels like they are being held on an invisible tripod.

The glass is the same as in Canon’s camera lenses, taking the ‘L’ designation that marks out some of the best and most expensive lenses ever to sit in front of a digital sensor. You can expect sharp, bright, and stable views through these excellent binos.

As always, we can expect some downsides. These are a heavy pair of binoculars, and you’d struggle to hold them steady for long periods were it not for the electronic stabilization. They’re also eye-wateringly expensive. While we’ve picked out the 10×42 pair as ideal for astronomy, there are alternatives in the range, including 18×50 IS AW (opens in new tab) and 15×50 IS AW (opens in new tab) models that are not quite as painful on the wallet. 

In our review we thought that, while expensive, they are almost perfect for hand-held astronomy so we think the price is worth it if you can stretch to it.

Best binoculars under $300

When we reviewed the TrailSeeker 8×42 binoculars, we thought they struck a great balance between quality, affordability and portability. 

The TrailSeeker 8×42 from Celestron offers a slightly different view from the norm because of the amount of light their 42mm apertures collect. Their marginally lower magnification also gives you a wider field of view. The Earth’s moon will appear slightly smaller when compared with 10×50 binoculars. Nevertheless, the optical system mixed with the lens multi-coatings offers a sharper, brighter view compared to other binoculars we’ve tested. 

They are great if you’ll be moving between temperatures (e.g., from inside with the central heating on to the great outdoors on a frosty night) thanks to the nitrogen purging and a waterproof design which means they won’t fog up.

Another advantage of the Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 is the lack of false color — also known as chromatic aberration — which often forms a purple or blue hue around brighter targets. Very little could be seen in the field of view, particularly along the lunar limb during our review.

The TrailSeeker 8×42 binoculars weigh a modest 2 lbs. (1KG) but over long periods of observing time, we discovered that our arms began to shake, making it difficult to get a steady hand-held view: if you’re prone to trembling arms, we advise using a tripod. 

Best budget binoculars

If you’re a glasses wearer, the Opticron Adventurer II WP 10×50 are some of the best binoculars, thanks to the excellent eye relief of 0.7 inches (17.78mm). Issues faced by the people wearing glasses typically include not being able to move the eye as close to the eyepieces as desired. In turn, this means they may have to remove their spectacles to get a better view (which of course causes problems with actual eyesight). That’s not the case with this pair and the eye relief mentioned above should negate this problem. The Opticron Adventurer II WP 10×50 also features twistable eyecups that can retract or extend to provide even more comfort. 

During our review we thought that although the binoculars lacked a premium feel to the touch, the optics are excellent and provide excellent contrast, showing all the usual subjects well. Open star clusters like the Pleiades (Messier 45) in Taurus (the Bull) and the Beehive (Messier 44) in Cancer (the Crab) were picked out with ease and viewed with high clarity, while bright double stars — particularly Mizar and Alcor in the constellation of Ursa Major (the Great Bear) — resolve well under the magnification. 

Weighing in at 1.7 lbs. (0.77 kg), these binoculars can be handheld comfortably for long periods of observing time, we confirmed this during our hands-on review.

Best binoculars for sturdiness

You’ll be hard-pressed to find better than the reliable and robust Vortex 10×50 Crossfire HD for wildlife viewing and occasional stargazing, thanks to the wide field of view.

The image is crisp and clear, with stars appearing as perfect pinpoints of light. You may find you can detect a small degree of false color when observing brighter objects, although this optical defect isn’t unusual for this price point. That being said, the Vortex Crossfire HD 10×50 manages to produce a great balance between brightness and sharpness across the field of view. In our review, we only noticed a tiny drop off towards the very edges of the fields of view.

It’s the build quality that makes these binoculars stand out. They are well-constructed with a solid, heavy-duty focusing knob that’s a breeze to adjust even when wearing thick gloves to fend off chilly winter temperatures. Their eye relief is adjustable thanks to comfortable twistable eyecups. At just 1.89 lbs. (0.86KG), astronomers who like to dabble in nature-watching and globetrotting will be grateful for their light weight.  

During our review we realized that despite being sold with a chest harness, the padded case forms part of the harness so you can’t use one without the other which makes it a little redundant.

Best for kids

The 7x magnification and 50mm objective lenses make the Celestron Cometron 7×50 perfect for kids (see them featured in our best binoculars for kids guide). Kids can see better in the dark than adults which means they don’t need a top-of-the-range pair to see a similar amount of light as an adult would with a stronger pair. 

What kids do need is something lightweight and comfortable to hold as they may not be as good at holding binoculars steady and may tire quicker. Alternatively, consider tripod-mounting a pair.

We weren’t too excited about reviewing this pair of binoculars as they don’t look great on paper, but to our surprise, we ended up loving them. They are an inexpensive way to enter the world of sky watching and if it doesn’t work out, very little is lost.

These compact binoculars partner a 7x magnification with a large 50mm objective lens, they don’t need much bulk but still allow a lot of light in. Although these are strong, durable, compact and lightweight, they aren’t waterproof, which we would expect at this low price. See our hands-on review of the Celestron Cometron 7×50. 

Best high magnification binoculars

As if a mad scientist had blended a pair of telescopes using an experimental teleporter, touring the heavens with these is like viewing the night sky using two four-inch (100 mm) refractors, with added  25x magnification. 

They’re not for everyone and will undoubtedly need support. At 15.3 inches (388.62 mm) in length and weighing in at a hefty 8.75 lbs (4 kilograms), you will need a heavy-duty tripod. The eye relief is decent at 0.6 inches (15.24 mm), but this may be a little close for glasses wearers.

Under a dark, clear night sky, you can just make out Jupiter’s atmospheric belts using this pair. Sweeping through the Milky Way, particularly the dense star fields of Sagittarius, is a sight that you have to see to believe, the Sagittarius Star Cloud (Messier 24) is especially impressive. The multi-coated optics are exquisite, with bright images and stunning contrast. Back in 2015 we chosen them as our Editor’s Choice for large astronomy binoculars.

The Celestron SkyMaster 25×100 binoculars are a worthy investment. Their tough, rugged, reliable build means you’ll enjoy many years of stargazing. See our full Celestron SkyMaster 25×100 review here. 

Best constructed binoculars

The aspherical eyepiece lens built into the Nikon 10×50 Aculon A211 binoculars works like a charm and eliminates any kind of image distortion. All the usual nighttime binocular subjects can be picked out easily, from Jupiter’s disk to the crescent moon, with the optical system revealing crisp shadows at our natural satellite’s terminator. Meanwhile, the rubber armor on the exterior allows for a firm, shock-resistant grip that makes the binoculars pleasing to hold.

With a relatively sizeable 6.5-degree field of view, these binoculars are perfect for those occasions when the moon passes through or close to a large star cluster, such as the Pleiades (Messier 45) in Taurus (the Bull). Pinpoint stars dot the backdrop of a night sky right to the edge of the frame, with excellent contrast.

The Aculon A211s slightly let themselves down with the rather close eye relief of just 0.5 inches (16.51mm), which might be problematic for spectacle wearers. 

In our hands on review, our verdict is that while we think they are a bit bulky for taking travelling or backpacking, they are bright and sharp enough to use for entry-level astronomy. They are great value for money with good optical quality.

Best premium binoculars

Another reliable name in the world of optics, mainly telescopes and eyepieces, is Meade Instruments. The MasterClass Pro ED  (extra-low dispersion) range of binoculars are premium products with a high price tag. They will satisfy even the most seasoned astronomer with spectacular views of the lunar surface, planets, and the brightest deep-sky objects. They are available as 10 x 42 (opens in new tab), 10 x 56 (opens in new tab) and 8 x 42 (opens in new tab) models.

They have fully multi-coated optics and BAK-4 prisms, both features which will give accurate color images. The 8-degree angle of view is perfect for quickly finding your night sky subjects or bird spotting, and the integrated field flattener eliminates almost all field curvature. This means the image is sharp from edge to edge with no ‘falling off’ at the edges.

As we’d expect from a premium pair of binoculars, the MasterClass Pro ED binoculars are nitrogen purged and waterproof. This prevents fogging and ensures dust can’t find its way in.

This pair of binoculars are a reasonable 2lb in weight, but we’d recommend using them with a tripod and adapter for long periods. 

The MasterClass Pro ED range comes with a carry bag and harness, a neck strap as well as lens caps and a cleaning cloth.

Best lightweight binoculars

These are fantastic entry-level binoculars that punch well above their price tag. They’ve been on the market since 2016 and still hold their own against more expensive binos. The eye relief is very long at 20.2mm and the eyecups are adjustable — this is excellent news for glasses wearers.

They have a lightweight design and are comfortable to hold thanks to the non-slip rubber coating. They have a shockproof outer layer and shouldn’t break if you accidentally drop them. The focus wheel is easily rotatable, even when wearing thick gloves. They are also waterproof and fog-proof, which is impressive for their price tag.

The downside to this pair of binoculars is that there is no tripod adaptor. They are lightweight at just 565g so they would be great for handheld nature spotting or taking on your travels without tipping your luggage allowance over the limit. Still, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend them for hours of exploring the night sky.

Best large aperture binoculars

The Celestron Skymaster 8×56 binoculars won Space.com‘s Editor’s Choice award for Best Medium Binoculars for Astronomy back in 2014 thanks to their affordability and versatility, but we still think they’re a top performer today. They weigh just over 1 KG so aren’t the lightest pair you can pick up, but they certainly aren’t the heaviest and it isn’t impossible to hold them for long stints at a time.

They are nitrogen-filled and sealed so you can be confident they can perform in all weathers without condensation. The eye relief is a generous 18mm and comfortable and the field of view of 5.8 degrees is satisfactory, although not outstanding. See what we thought of the Celestron SkyMaster 8×56 in our hands on review. 

Best for stereo image

If you’re ready for a completely different kind of binocular experience, put a pair of the Vixen SG 2.1×42 to your eyes and you’re confronted with the same night sky you can see naked-eye, only zoomed-in 2x. Why would anyone buy a pair of binoculars with such a low magnification? If your goal is to glimpse deep-sky sights such as galaxies or even get a close-up of Jupiter’s largest moons, then the Vixen SG 2.1×42 are not for you. However, if sussing-out constellations and generally getting a super steady, wide-eyed view of the cosmos is what you’re after, then you’ll adore the Vixen SG 2.1×42.

Using lenses composed of five multi-coated elements and with stunning build quality, they offer eye-opening stereoscopic depth. The drawbacks include blur around the edges of the field of view – a hangover of their simple Galilean design – and some pop-off lens caps that are pretty easy to misplace.

Our verdict when we reviewed the Vixen SG 2.1×42 is that they are a niche choice for stargazers who are looking for something a little different, they let a lot of light in and have an immersive 3D depth. We wouldn’t recommend them for spectacle wearers due to the lack of eye relief and rubber eye cups, but for a highly portable, easy to adjust, low-power binoculars, these might be your new best friend.

Best low budget binoculars

These are entry-level skywatching binoculars that would suit anyone with a tight budget or who is a beginner wanting to get the most value for their money. While there are some true wins to this model, there are a few reasons why they’re cheap, and we discussed them in our detailed review.

The view they present is very reasonable, the fuzzy glow of the Orion Nebula (Messier 42) is pleasing, and we could just make out three stars in the Trapezium Cluster at the nebula’s heart. You would need greater magnification to tease out the fourth bright star in this star-forming region. 

The moon looks stunning, easily fitting in the field of view and with only a slight degree of false color. In July 2020, the UpClose G2 10×50 binoculars served as an excellent optical aid for studying the naked-eye comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE). 

What lets down the view is the collimation of the lenses being off, you can adjust this via small screws, but it’s a bit frustrating having to do this with an out-of-the-box pair. The lenses are also prone to fogging, which can be irritating, but not a dealbreaker. We’d still recommend the Celestron UpClose G2 10×50 binoculars because of their lightweight design and low cost.

Best for reliability

The Nikon Action EX 12×50 binoculars make a good comparison with regular 10×50 binoculars in that you get the same aperture at 50 mm but a greater magnification of 12x. The construction is excellent, with comfy rubber grips and a big focus knob. Eye relief is 0.51-in (13 mm).

Since you’re magnifying the same amount of light collected by 10x50s, a higher magnification usually means images are less bright. However, this loss of brightness is not noticeable due to the multi-coated lenses and high-refractive-index prisms of the Action EX 12×50. What you get are great, high-contrast images. Saturn offered a test of this binocular: its rings were not resolvable on their own, but the skywatcher will notice definite ansae — the extension of the rings at either side of the planet, giving Saturn an oblate shape.

When viewing stars, the images are sharp and pinpoint at the center of the field. Around the edge of the 5.5-degree field of view though, there is some curvature. This makes it slightly distracting when spanning across the Milky Way or wanting to observe larger star clusters. But this doesn’t take away from the fantastic package the skywatcher gets in the Action EX 12×50.

The Nikon Action EX 12×50 is quite a heavy binocular, weighing in at 2.3 lbs. (1.04KG). The higher magnification will enhance any image wobble, so we advise using a tripod.

Best binoculars for galaxies

This relatively unusual combination of 12x magnification and 56 mm aperture objective lenses combines power with light-gathering ability while still being small and light enough to be handheld comfortably with steady hands. 

It’s noticeable how much better they show galaxies than smaller models — the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31) appears disk-shaped with hints of structure, while the neighboring Bode’s Galaxy (Messier 81) and Cigar Galaxy (Messier 82) in Ursa Major (the Great Bear) look outstanding in the same 5.5-degree field of view. When turned toward the moon, the craters exude superb clarity and contrast. 

A hint of distortion through the optical system begins about three-quarters of the way from the center of the field, with some stars displaying a degree of softness. These stars took the appearance of streaks rather than crisp points of light. 

In terms of build, the binoculars are satisfactory. The handholds, made of rubber, are comfortable, the 0.6-in (15mm) eye relief is generous (but not for spectacle wearers), and at 2.27 lbs. (1.03 KG), they weigh slightly less than the Nikon Action EX 12×50 but with more light gathering ability. The Celestron Nature DX 12×56 is waterproof and also keeps fogging at bay.

Best for detailed magnification

Celestron didn’t produce the SkyMaster line of binoculars to be top-of-the-range products, but they still provide excellent views for an affordable price. This is the case for the 15×70 ‘giant’ binoculars. It’s a sturdy pair of binoculars with a bit of bulk, and users will be pleased with the quality of views provided for the price range. 

At 11-inches (280 mm) in length and weighing 3 lbs. (1.36 kilograms), the Celestron SkyMaster 15×70 binocular certainly has a lot of heft, but using them handheld isn’t impossible. You’d be most comfortable if you mounted them to a tripod.

Despite the larger 70 mm objective aperture, the higher magnification of 15x reduces the apparent field of view to 4.4 degrees, compared to typical 10x50s or 12x50s that provide a degree more. 

That said, the more light gathered and higher magnification make details that might be vague or fuzzy on smaller pairs pop out. There is some softness and blurring towards the edge of the field, which is disappointing but not unexpected considering the low cost. If you’re a spectacle-wearer, you’ll be delighted to read that the SkyMaster 15×70 has a respectable 0.7 inches (18 mm) of eye relief.