The Cornell Lab Review: Affordable Full-Size 8×42 Binoculars 

First published December 2022; updated March 2024.

It’s one of the most common questions birdwatchers hear: What kind of binoculars should I buy? And it’s hard to give a blanket answer: with hundreds of models at price ranges from under $100 to more than $3,000, the market can be bewildering.

But the good news is that today’s binocular market is full of great-performing options. Even fairly low price points can deliver bright, crisp images, a comfortable feel, and generous field of view.

With such a crowded field, we didn’t attempt an across-the-board survey and instead focused on 30 models of 8×42 binoculars—the most popular and versatile binocular style of the last couple of decades.

Recognizing that many birdwatchers are on a budget, we aimed this review at two affordable price tiers: $130–$240 (Budget); and $240–$650 (Mid-Range). (We’ll continue to roll out reviews that cover segments of the market including premium, compact, pocket, other affordable models we missed in this review, and more.)

With many of today’s binoculars delivering great image quality at these prices, your choice also depends on ergonomics (such as weight, focus wheel, barrel size, eyecups); and how you plan to use them (such as watching feeder birds vs. birding in dim light or at greater distances).

See The Top-Level Results in One Graph 

This graph shows our ratings and the list price of each binocular in our review. Our ratings were conducted without respect to price, so binocular ratings are comparable across price tiers. (For our review and analysis methods, see the end of this article.)

As a caveat, remember that binocular rankings are inherently subjective. We do everything we can to make them objective—multiple testers, clear ranking criteria, data analysis—but people’s needs and preferences differ in ways that no single number can capture perfectly. So don’t worry too much about exactly where each binocular sits on the graph, and be sure to try out multiple pairs.

Hover over or tap each point to bring up details about the binoculars.   

The rating score is a combination of the binoculars’ image quality, comfort/feel, and perceived build quality (see Review Methods at the end of this article). Binocular prices vary through time and from retailer to retailer. For consistency, we quote prices as MSRP as of Dec 2022. Mobile users: rotate your device for a better view.

Overall Top Picks

These are all binoculars with bright, detailed images as well as good balance and easy adjustment of the focus wheel. The Celestron TrailSeeker ED is our overall top pick, and the Opticron Oregon is notable for being the only model in the Budget tier to make the group. In short, all these binoculars were a blast to go birding with.  

Here’s how we rated the 8 binoculars in our Top Picks (highest to lowest):

• Celestron TrailSeeker ED ($380)
• 2-way tie: Nikon Monarch M7 ($489), Kowa BDII XD ($449)
• Athlon Midas G2 UHD ($375)*
• Nikon Monarch M5 ($290)
• Celestron TrailSeeker ($300)
• Hawke Frontier ED X ($549)
• Opticron Oregon 4 PC Oasis ($219)

Note: tap the links to see our full review notes for each model.
*Rating assigned by Cornell Lab reviewers, but not part of the larger head-to-head testing.

Where Budget Binoculars Shine ($130–$240)

Budget tier binoculars are especially good in situations such as watching bird feeders. Birds are at medium to close range, out in the open, not moving around too much, and generally in strong light. If this describes your typical birdwatching setup, there may be no clear reason to spend more. 

Here’s how we rated the 9 binoculars in the Budget tier (highest to lowest):

• Opticron Oregon 4 PC Oasis ($219)
• Athlon Argos G2 HD ($225)*
• 2-way tie: Celestron Nature DX ED ($210), Hawke Nature-Trek ($209)
• Nikon ProStaff P7 ($190)
• 3-way tie: Vanguard VEO ED ($200), Vortex Crossfire HD ($190), Nikon ProStaff P3 ($140)
• Meade Canyonview ED ($200)

Note: tap the links to see our full review notes for each model.
*Rating assigned by Cornell Lab reviewers, but not part of the larger head-to-head testing.

Move Up to Mid-Range For These Reasons ($240–$650)

The Mid-Range tier typically offers binoculars that are sharp most or all the way across the image, handle challenging light, have a wider field of view, and focus smoothly and quickly. If you find yourself looking at birds in the distance, peering into backlit treetops, tracking birds as they flit through cluttered spaces, or needing to change focus in an instant, then spending a bit more is likely to make a noticeable improvement and leave you more satisfied. Note that in general, higher-priced binoculars do have better image quality, but there is variation—so check our recommendations. 

Here’s how we rated the 21 binoculars in the Mid-Range tier (highest to lowest):

• Celestron TrailSeeker ED ($380)
• 2-way tie: Nikon Monarch M7 ($489); Kowa BDII XD ($449)
• Athlon Midas G2 UHD ($375)*
• 3-way tie: Nikon Monarch M5 ($290), Celestron TrailSeeker ($300), Hawke Frontier ED X ($549)
• Oberwerk Sport ED ($350)*
• 4-way tie: Nocs Provisions Pro Issue ($295)*; Maven C1 ($400); Vanguard Endeavor ED IV ($620); Vortex Viper HD ($640)
• 2-way tie: Vortex Diamondback HD ($290); Zeiss Terra ED ($449)
• 2-way tie: Opticron Explorer WA ED-R ($355); Meopta Optika HD ($450)*
• Kowa SV II ($259)
• Celestron Regal ED ($390)
• Pentax SD WP ($250)*
• Bushnell Forge ($459)
• Meade MasterClass Pro ED ($459)

Note: tap the links to see our full review notes for each model.
*Rating assigned by Cornell Lab reviewers, but not part of the larger head-to-head testing.

How to Choose: Try Before You Buy, and Ask These Questions  

In years past, choosing binoculars was largely a matter of zeroing in on the relatively few models that delivered premium image quality. Nowadays, image quality can be astoundingly good, leaving room for ergonomics and build quality to be equally important considerations.

Our #1 tip is to try as many binoculars as you can before you buy. Because ergonomics have such an effect, there’s really no substitute for feeling them in your hand, twirling the focus knob, and evaluating how well the image fills your eyes as you look at a bird. It can be hard to find stores that carry a wide range of binoculars to try; we suggest specialty stores like Wild Birds Unlimited, or bird festivals where a wide range of binocular companies will set up booths. (There’s also the option of striking up a conversation on a bird walk, asking your fellow birders how they like theirs, and possibly even swapping for a few minutes.)

As you’re trying out binoculars, ask yourself these questions to dial in on the best pair for you:

• How does the focus wheel feel?
• Is there enough field of view?  
• Do the binoculars immerse you in the scene?
• How are the weight and balance?
• Are the eyecups right for you?
• Do you like the accessories?
• Does the manufacturer’s warranty provide enough coverage?

For more on each of these questions, see our full article on how to choose binoculars you’ll love.