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Cheap Binoculars, Best Discount Binoculars

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When it comes to binoculars, there's a dizzying array of models to consider, from the top of the line Leica Duovid at $2950 to cheap binoculars knock-offs for nine or ten dollars. In between are models like the Pentax Papilio (starting at $98) that are specifically designed for looking at butterflies.

The higher-priced models offer greater magnification, as well as superior optics and durability. But you can still get a good pair of cheap binoculars for less than $60 if you just want a reasonable pair for sight-seeing, ball games, theater, or casual bird-watching. The big names in the binoculars market include Bushnell, Nikon, Eagle Optics, Olympus, Alpen Pro, Galileo, Barska, Tasco and Pentax.

Discount Binoculars Magnification and Objective Lens Width.

The primary features on a pair of cheap binoculars are the magnification and objective lens width. Magnification refers to how much larger the distant object will appear, or how much closer it will seem to you. The greater the magnification, the more light is needed to display the image on the binocular lenses, which in turn requires a larger objective lens. The objective lens width is the width of each of the two lenses on the binoculars. The greater the lens width, the more light is collected; the more light, the brighter the image appears.

The magnification and lens width are typically included in the model name for a pair of binoculars. For example, Nikon Action 7x35 binoculars (starting at $58, Amazon) have a magnification of 7 (which means objects will appear seven times closer than they actually are) and an objective lens width of 35mm; the Bushnell H20 Porro Prism 8x26 Waterproof Compact (starting at $47, Amazon) has a magnification of 8 and an objective lens width of 26mm.

For most outdoor activities, such as bird watching or sightseeing, a magnification of 7 or 8 is appropriate. For indoor activities such as opera or theater, a lower magnification (such as 3 or 4) is often preferable because the lower magnification requires less light to magnify the image. For example, the Nikon Action 7x35 is well suited for bird-watching and other outdoor activities, while the LaScala Optics Othello 3x25 Opera Glasses (starting at $24, Amazon) and Vivitar 1502612 4x30 (starting at $13, Amazon) are designed for the dim light of theater and opera performances.

Cheap Binoculars Field of View.

The field of view determines how much surface area you can see in the distance. Let's say you're looking at a bird 1,000 feet away. A larger field of view allows you to see more of the area around the bird, making it easier to follow the bird as it moves on the ground or flies through the air. Similarly, if you're watching an opera performance, a larger field of view lets you see more of the stage. The field of view is determined in part by the objective lens width, but also by the design of the lenses.

Of the cheap binoculars that we researched, the Nikon Action 7x35 has the largest field of view: 489 feet at 1000 yards. This means that if you're focused on an object 1000 yards away, you'll see a 420 square foot area around the object. The Olympus Outback 8x21 (starting at $42, Amazon) had the smallest field of view: 324 feet at 1000 yards. (See the features chart for additional comparisons.)

Cheap Binoculars Focus Adjustments.

Most binoculars typically have a center focus knob and some kind of diopter adjustment. The center focus knob allows you to zoom in on the object you wish to view, while the diopter adjustment lets you adjust the strength of the right and/or left ocular lens to compensate for the strength or weakness of one of your eyes compared to the other. All of the cheap binoculars that we researched, with one exception, have both a central focus knob and dioptric adjustment knobs.

The exception is the Bushnell Permafocus 8x25 (starting at $33, Amazon). These cheap binoculars are designed for someone who just wants to lift the binoculars to their eyes and look at something in the distance. To keep things simple, the Bushnell Permafocus has its focus permanently set to infinity. This means that everything farther than about 75 feet away will come into clear focus. While this type of focus is not suitable for casual bird watching, it could be ideal for sight-seeing or watching a ball game.

Cheap Binoculars Eye Relief.

An important factor for people who wear glasses is eye relief. The "eye relief" is the distance between the eyepiece and the point where the full image comes into focus. Basically, if this distance is long enough, you can look through the binoculars with your glasses on and see a full clear image. If this eye relief distance is too short, looking through your cheap binoculars will be like looking through a tube. If you want to learn more about eye relief, you'll find a good explanation at Birdwatching.com.

In the Cheapism price range (less than $60), the only pair of cheap binoculars we found that work well with your eyeglasses is the H2O Porro Prism 8x26. With an eye relief of 15mm, this is just within the range of being suitable for eyeglass wearers. If keeping your glasses on is a priority (or a necessity), you might consider spending a little extra for the Eagle Optics Triumph 8x25 (starting at $80, Amazon), which boast an eye relief of 18mm -- a more comfortable range for looking through while wearing glasses. These mid-priced binoculars also work well without your glasses, writes a user on Birdwatching.com, in part because the diopter adjustments can be used to compensate for different eye strengths, as explained above. Although the Nikon Action 7x35 is not designed for eyeglass wearers, these cheap binoculars interact well with glasses, according to a user post on Epinions Note, however, that the eye relief of 11.9 mm on these cheap binoculars indicates that your field of view will be somewhat limited when wearing glasses and will work better without them.

Cheap Binoculars Water Resistance.

If you plan to use your binoculars in wet conditions (or they accidentally fall into water), consider a pair of cheap waterproof binoculars. Waterproof binoculars are sealed tight to keep the moisture out, but if moisture seeps inside the lens of non-waterproof binoculars, the image will be blurred. The Bushnell H2O Porro Prism 8x26 is the only pair of waterproof binoculars that we found for less than $60; they are "O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged," a technical design feature that locks out moisture.

Discount Binoculars Size and Weight.

Cheap lightweight binoculars are certainly handy if you just want to put them in your bag or backpack and forget about them until they're needed. We reviewed several pairs of cheap binoculars serve the purpose well. The Bushnell Powerview 8x21(starting at $10, Amazon), Eagle Optics Energy 8x21 (starting at $50, Amazon), and Olympus Outback 8x2 all weigh less than seven ounces; the Vivitar 1502612 4x30 tips the scale at eight ounces. On the heavier side, the cheap binoculars on our list, the Bushnell H2O Porro Prism and Nikon Action 7x35, weigh 19.2 and 25.2 ounces, respectively. (See the features chart for quick reference.)

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Eagle Optics Triumph 8x25
Olympus Outback 8x21 RC I
Bushnell Permafocus 8x25
LaScala Optics Othello 3x25 Opera Glasses
Pentax Papilio 8.5x21
Vivitar 1502612 4x30
Bushnell Powerview 8x21
Eagle Optics Energy 8x21
Nikon Action 7x35
Bushnell H20 Porro Prism 8x26 Waterproof Compact

 

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