Best Cheap Binoculars You Can Buy for Your Money

 

When you plan to buy binoculars and are on a tight budget you want to choose the best optical instrument for your money.

This task is not the easiest one to be honest. Selection of binoculars available on the market is really huge.

You need to know how to choose the best one for your money and in this short guide I will try to help you accomplish the task successfully.

 

 

Is There Any Difference Between Cheap and Expensive Binoculars?

Yes, of course there is a difference between cheap and expensive binoculars.

Expensive binoculars always outperform cheap ones in all respects, such as design, ease of use, prism quality, image quality and some other aspects.

If you can afford to buy expensive optical instrument you won’t be disappointed.

Cheap binoculars manufactured by unknown Chinese companies very often have issues and can sometimes even harm your eyesight.

Many of those manufacturers even don’t follow production quality control.

When you buy an optical instrument from an established company, such as

 

Nikon

Barska

Bushnell

Celestron

Bresser

Leupold

Pentax

 

you know that you get high quality product manufactured in compliance with certain standards and with excellent ergonomics.

Optical companies have years of experience in production of high quality optics.

When you buy an optical instrument from unknown manufacturer you don’t even know hat you are going to get for your money.

Most of the time they don’t even provide any sort of guarantee.

 

 

 

 

What to Look for When Choosing Cheap Binoculars

There are a few things you should keep in mind when choosing cheap binoculars.

If you decide to buy cheap binoculars you must understand that it’s a cheap product and you can’t expect exceptional quality.

You get what you pay for, no less, no more. Premium class binoculars start at least from $250 and up to $2,000.

Such binoculars will serve you for years. You can use such binoculars everywhere, in all weather conditions. It will be safe even from accident drops.

Expensive binoculars will never have collimation issues when you see double image when looking through binoculars.

Now, let’s see what are the most important things to take into account when choosing cheap binoculars.

 

 

Don’t Buy From Unknown Manufacturers

I totally understand when someone is on a tight budget and can’t afford to buy expensive binoculars.

But even if you can’t buy expensive optical instrument it is not going to be the end of the world.

There are medium class binoculars available on the market that provide good image quality and are affordable for most people.

In this article I will list medium class, cheap binoculars around $100.

I recommend only brand binoculars from such manufactures like Celestron, Bushnell, Barska, Levenhuk, Nikon, Leupold, Bresser.

These optical companies have both expensive and cheap binoculars. Other brand companies, such as Wingspan, Vortex, Meopta, Bresser, Carson, Pentax and others offer only high quality binoculars and prices that start from $150 and up to $2.000.

For some people it may be expensive which is why in this post I will list only optical devices under or a little over $100.

 

 

 

Optics Quality in Cheap Binoculars

As I mentioned above, expensive binoculars always outperform cheap binoculars in all respects.

There are cheap binoculars that you can get for $20 or $30 and it really looks attractive.

But such binoculars may have collimation issues, prism and some other issues that can turn your experience as a user into a headache.

Such binoculars may have dark image due to a low quality optics used in the binocular.

Cheap binoculars from unknown manufacturers may not go through all required steps of lens coating which results in a low image quality.

This is very normal when a manufacturer is unknown and doesn’t follow quality standards.

Even accident drop of your cheap optical instrument can make your binoculars completely unusable. I would avoid buying such binoculars.

For those of you who are on a very tight budget and can’t even buy binoculars for $100, I have a list of binoculars under $60.

Most of them have a positive rating on Amazon.

Remember that image quality depends on the type of prism used in binoculars. Always choose BAK-4 prism instead of BK-7.

Even if you choose BAK-4 prism binoculars from a brand company, such as Celestron or Bushnell, it can be very different from BAK-4 prism binoculars manufactured by unknown company.

I recommend to always choose brand binoculars even if you have to pay extra $30/$50.

 

 

Advanced Features Product Warranty

If you plan to buy cheap binoculars and want to get 3 in 1 device you should probably be more realistic.

Cheap binoculars are often described as waterproof, fog proof and even shockproof. In reality, most of the time it is far from reality.

They can’t stand even simple tests and you better avoid testing it or otherwise your device may become unusable.

Your cheap binoculars can break after any accident drop.

You can’t expect any sort of product warranty because it’s too cheap and the price it is sold to people can’t cover any product damages.

 

 

Best Cheap Binoculars for Your Money

Now I want to list here some of the best cheap binoculars from brand companies, such as Celestron, Bushnell, Barska, Nikon.

These optical companies produce both premium and medium quality optical devices.

You can’t expect too much from cheap binoculars but they still outperform any other binoculars from unknown manufacturers.

Plus, they are safe in terms of optics and will not harm your eyesight.

I will try to list here only binoculars with magnification up to 10x. Because the higher the magnification the higher is the price.

But binoculars with magnification 10x is an ideal choice for most people, including travelers, bird watchers, hunters.

For those of you that need powerful binoculars I will list some cheapest binoculars available on the market from brand companies.

 

BARSKA – Prices: $44-$111

 

     Barska 10×25 WP Blackhawk Binoculars

• Eye relief 14mm
• Magnification 10x
• BAK-4 roof prism
• Multi-coated optics
• Field of view: 5.7° (303feet / 1000 yds)
• Waterproof/ Fog proof
• Suitable for eyeglass wearers
• Weight 394 gr.
• Price: $44

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Barska 12×42 WP Blackhawk Binoculars

• Eye relief 17mm
• Magnification 12x
• BAK-4 roof prism
• Multi-coated optics
• Field of view: 5.3° (275feet / 1000 yds)
• Waterproof/ Fog proof
• Suitable for eyeglass wearers
• Weight 708 gr.
• Price: $44

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Barska WP 10×26 Naturescape Binoculars

• Eye relief 17mm
• Magnification 10x
• BAK-4 roof prism
• Fully multi-coated optics
• Field of view: 5.2° (273feet / 1000 yds)
• Waterproof/ Fog proof
• Suitable for eyeglass wearers
• Tripod adaptable
• Weight 396 gr.
• Price: $64

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Barska 10x34mm WP Air View Binoculars

• Eye relief 16mm
• Magnification 10x
• BAK-4 roof prism
• Fully multi-coated optics
• Field of view: 6° (314feet / 1000 yds)
• Waterproof/ Fog proof
• Suitable for eyeglass wearers
• Shock-Absorbing Rubber Armor
• Tripod adaptable
• Weight 453 gr.
• Price: $111

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Barska 10x26mm WP Air View Binoculars

• Eye relief 14.1mm
• Magnification 10x
• BAK-4 roof prism
• Fully multi-coated optics
• Field of view: 5.6° (293feet / 1000 yds)
• Waterproof/ Fog proof
• Suitable for eyeglass wearers
• Shock-Absorbing Rubber Armor
• Tripod adaptable
• Weight 215 gr.
• Price: $77

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     10x42mm WP Crossover Binoculars by Barska

• Eye relief 17.5mm
• Magnification 10x
• BAK-4 porro prism
• Fully multi-coated optics
• Field of view: 6° (315feet / 1000 yds)
• Suitable for eyeglass wearers
• Waterproof/ Fog proof
• Tripod adaptable
• Weight 659 gr.
• Price: $100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     8x30mm WP Crossover Binoculars by Barska

• Eye relief 17.6mm
• Magnification 8x
• BAK-4 porro prism
• Fully multi-coated optics
• Field of view: 6° (315feet / 1000 yds)
• Suitable for eyeglass wearers
• Waterproof/ Fog proof
• Tripod adaptable
• Weight 577 gr.
• Price: $59

 

 

 

 

 

     Barska 7x50mm WP Yellow Floatmaster Floating Binoculars

• Eye relief 23mm Magnification 7x
• BAK-4 porro prism
• Fully multi-coated optics
• Field of view: 6.9° (367feet / 1000 yds)
• Suitable for eyeglass wearers
• Waterproof/ Fog proof
• Tripod adaptable
• Weight 1034 gr.
• Price: $100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     10x30mm WP Floatmaster Floating Binoculars by Barska

• Eye relief 14.9mm
• Magnification 10x
• BK-7 roof prism
• Fully coated optics
• Field of view: 5° (262feet / 1000 yds)
• Suitable for eyeglass wearers
• Waterproof/ Fog proof
• Tripod adaptable
• Weight 481 gr.
• Price: $66

 

 

 

 

 

 

     10x50mm X-Treme View Binoculars by Barska

• Eye relief 17.8mm
• Magnification 10x
• BAK-4 porro prism
• Multi-coated optics
• Field of view: 7.5° (399feet / 1000 yds)
• Suitable for eyeglass wearers
• Weight 1020 gr.
• Price: $89

 

 

 

 

 

 

     10x50mm X-Treme View Wide Angle Binoculars by Barska

• Eye relief 17.8mm
• Magnification 10x
• BAK-4 porro prism
• Multi-coated optics
• Field of view: 7.6° (400feet / 1000 yds)
• Suitable for eyeglass wearers
• Tripod adaptable
• Weight 963 gr.
• Price: $79

 

 

 

 

 

 

CELESTRON – Prices: $11-$116

 

      Celestron Cometron 7×50

• – Prism type: BAK-4
• – Wide field of view: 6.8
• – Magnification power 7x
• – Waterproof
• – Price: $34

 

 

 

 

 

      Celestron Cometron 12×70

•  – Prism type: BAK-4
•  – Wide field of view: 4.5
•  – Magnification power 12x
•  – Waterproof
•  – Price: $110

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Celestron UpClose G2 20×50

• -Prism type: BK-7
• -Wide field of view: 3.2
• -Magnification power 20x
• -Waterproof
• -Price: $29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Celestron Outland X 8×25

• -Prism type: BAK-4
• -Wide field of view: 8.2
• -Magnification power 8x
• -Waterproof/fog proof
• -Multicoated optics
• -Price: $49

 

 

 

 

 

     Celestron Outland X 10×25

• -Prism type: BAK-4
• -Wide field of view: 6.3
• -Magnification power 10x
• -Waterproof/fog proof
• -Multicoated optics
• -Price: $54

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Celestron Outland X 8×42

• -Prism type: BAK-4
• -Wide field of view: 6.8
• -Magnification power 8x
• -Waterproof/fog proof
• -Multicoated optics
• -Price: $60

 

 

 

 

 

    Celestron Outland X 10×42

• -Prism type: BAK-4
• -Wide field of view: 5.6
• -Magnification power 10x
• -Waterproof/fog proof
• -Multicoated optics
• -Price: $62

 

 

 

 

 

     Celestron Nature DX 8×32

• -Prism type: BAK-4
• -Wide field of view: 7.4
• -Magnification power 8x
• -Waterproof/fog proof
• -Fully Multicoated optics
• -Price: $87

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Celestron Nature DX 10×32

• -Prism type: BAK-4
• -Wide field of view: 5.8
• -Magnification power 10x
• -Waterproof/fog proof
• -Fully Multicoated optics
• -Price: $98

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Celestron Nature DX 10×42

• -Prism type: BAK-4
• -Wide field of view: 5.8
• -Magnification power 10x
• -Waterproof/fog proof
• -Fully Multicoated optics
• -Price: $109

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Celestron SkyMaster 15×70

• Prism type: BAK-4
• Field of view: 4.4
• Magnification power 15x
• Waterproof
• Multicoated optics
• Price: $64

 

 

 

 

 

     Celestron SkyMaster 12×60

• Prism type: BAK-4
• Wide field of view: 5.3
• Magnification power 12x
• Waterproof
• Multicoated optics
• Price: $58

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Celestron SkyMaster 25×70

• Prism type: BAK-4
• Field of view: 2.7
• Magnification power 25x
• Waterproof
• Multicoated optics
• Price: $65

 

 

 

 

 

     Celestron SkyMaster 20×80

• Prism type: BAK-4
• Field of view: 3.7
• Magnification power 20x
• Waterproof
• Multicoated optics
• Price: $102

 

 

 

 

 

     Celestron LandScout Binoculars 7×35

• Prism type: BAK-4
• Field of view: 9.3º
• Magnification power 7x
• Waterproof
• Fully Multicoated optics
• Price: $30

 

 

 

 

 

     Celestron Cavalry 10×50

• Prism type: BAK-4
• Field of view: 5.6º
• Magnification power 10x
• Waterproof/fogproof
• Fully multi-coated optics
• Price: $84

 

 

 

 

 

     Celestron Gamekeeper 10×42

• Prism type: BAK-4
• Field of view: 5.6º
• Magnification power 10x
• Waterproof/fogproof
• Multi-coated optics
• Price: $116

 

 

 

 

 

     Celestron Gamekeeper 10×25

• Prism type: BAK-4
• Field of view: 5.6º
• Magnification power 10x
• Waterproof/fogproof
• Multi-coated optics
• Price: $84

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Celestron Kids 4×30

• Prism type: BAK-4
• Field of view: 4.3º
• Magnification power 4x
• Coated optics
• Price: $10.75

 

 

 

 

 

BRESSER – Prices: $11-$119

 

 

     Bresser Junior 4×30

• – Wide field of view
• – Magnification power 4x
• – Fully coated optics
• – Customer satisfaction: Yes
• – Price: $11

 

 

 

 

 

 

     National Geographic 4×30 by Bresser

• – Wide field of view
• – Magnification power 4x
• – Fully coated optics (Galilean) BK-7
• – Customer satisfaction: Yes
• – Price: $17

 

 

 

 

 

     Bresser Alpen Magna view 10×42

• · Waterproof
• · Long-eye relief
• · Fully coated
• · Magnification 10X
• · Bak-4 prism
• · Price: $99,95

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Bresser Alpen Pro 10×50 Porro prism binocular  

• Wide Angle (6.4 degrees field of view)
• BAK-4 Optics
• Long Eye Relief
• Fully Multi-Coated
• Price: $92,95

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Bresser Alpen Pro 8×42 roof prism binoculars price is $119.95

• Waterproof
• Fog-proof
• BAK-4 Optics
• Long Eye Relief
• Multi coated
• Wide angle of view (6.4 degrees field of view)
• Price: $119,95

 

 

 

 

 

     Bresser C-Series 8×25

• – Waterproof
• – Magnification power 8x
• – High quality optics BAK-4
• – Customer satisfaction: Yes
• – Price: $67.49

 

 

 

 

 

     Bresser C-Series 10×42

• – Waterproof
• – Magnification power 10x
• – High quality optics BAK-4
• – Customer satisfaction: Yes
• – Price: $112.49

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Bresser Condor 8×32

• – Wide field of view (7.3 degrees)
• – Waterproof
• – Magnification power 8x
• – High quality optics BAK-4
• – Customer satisfaction: Yes
• – Price: $99.99

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Bresser Condor 8×42

• – Wide field of view (7.3 degrees)
• – Waterproof
• – Magnification power 8x
• – High quality optics BAK-4
• – Fully multi-coated
• – Customer satisfaction: Yes
• – Price: $119.99

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Bresser Corvette 10×42

• – Wide field of view (5.77 degrees)
• – Fog proof, waterproof
• – Magnification power 10x
• – High quality optics BAK-4
• – Fully multi-coated
• – Customer satisfaction: Yes
• – Price: $111

 

 

 

 

CARSON – Prices: $30-$124

 

 

Carson Stinger HW-8×22 – BK-7 prism

– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 8x
– Customer satisfaction: Yes
– Price: $50

 

 

 

 

 

  Carson Tracker TZ-8×21 – BK-7 prism

– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 8x
– Customer satisfaction: Yes
– Price: $30

 

 

 

 

 

  Scout JD-8×22 – BK-7 prism Carson

– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 8x
– Customer satisfaction: Yes
– Price: $49

 

 

 

 

 

Carson OperaView OV-4×10 – BK-7 prism

– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 4x
– Customer satisfaction: Yes
– Price: $75

 

 

 

 

 

  Carson TrailMaxx TM-8×21 – BK-7 prism

– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 8x
– Customer satisfaction: Yes
– Price: $40

 

 

 

 

 

  Carson RD Series – 8x26mm

– Wide field of view
– Waterproof
– Magnification power 8x
– High quality optics BAK-4
– 100% customer satisfaction
– Price: $105

 

 

 

 

 

 Carson VP Series Compact High Definition Binoculars 8×42
– Wide field of view
– Waterproof/Fogproof
– Magnification power 8x
– High quality optics BAK-4
– 92% customer satisfaction
– Price: $124.55

 

 

 

 

VORTEX – Prices: $129

 

 

  Vortex Optics Raptor Porro Prism Binoculars 10×32

– Wide field of view ( 6.3 degrees field of view)
– Magnification power 10x,
– Fully multi-coated high quality optics
– 86% Customer satisfaction
– Price: $129

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Vortex Optics Raptor Porro Prism Binoculars 8×32

– Wide field of view ( 6.3 degrees field of view)
– Magnification power 10x,
– Fully multi-coated high quality optics
– 86% Customer satisfaction
– Price: $129

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Vortex Optics Vanquish Reverse Porro Prism Binoculars 10×26
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 10x
– High quality optics, porro prism
– 95% customer satisfaction
– Price: $129

 

 

 

 

PENTAX – Prices: $99-$106

 

 Pentax SP 16×50 Binoculars
– Bak4 Prism
– Magnification power 16
– Customer satisfaction: 70%
– Price: $106.89

 

 

 

 

 

  Pentax UP 8 x 21 Binoculars (Black) – Porro prism

– Bak-4 Prism
– Magnification power 8
– Customer satisfaction: Yes
– Price: $99

 

 

 

 

 

  Pentax UP 8 x 21 Binoculars (Navy) – Porro prism

– Bak-4 Prism
– Magnification power 8
– Customer satisfaction: Yes
– Price: $99

 

 

 

 

BUSHNELL – Prices: $47-$103

 

 

Bushnell Powerview Falcon 10×50 Wide Angle Binoculars
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 10x
– BK-7 prism
– 73% Customer satisfaction
– Price: $54.94

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Bushnell Spectator 4x30mm Extra-Wide Compact Binoculars
– Extra-wide field of view binocular
– Magnification power 4x
– Field of view is amazingly wide
– BaK-4 prism
– 84% customer satisfaction
– Price: $47.95

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bushnell H2O Waterproof Compact Roof Prism Binocular 10×25
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 10x
– Prism type: BAK-4
– Waterproof and Fogproof
– Customer satisfaction: 76%
– Price: $56.89

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Bushnell H2O Waterproof/Fogproof Porro Prism Binocular 10×42
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 10x
– BaK-4 prism
– Customer satisfaction: 86%
– Price: $74.70

 

 

 

 

 

  Bushnell H2O Waterproof/Fogproof Roof Prism Binocular 8×42
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 8x
– BaK-4 prism
– 92% customer satisfaction
– Price: $78.95

 

 

 

 

 

Bushnell 4×30 Spectator Sport Black, Perafocus
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 4x
– BaK-4 prism
– 67% customer satisfaction
– Price: $85

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Bushnell H2O Waterproof Binocular 10×42

– Waterproof/ Fogproof
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 10x
– BaK-4 prism
– 92% customer satisfaction
– Price: $99.81

 

 

 

 

 

Bushnell Trophy Roof Binoculars 10×42

– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 10x
– BaK-4 prism
– 90% customer satisfaction
– Price: $103

 

 

 

 

 

LEUPOLD – Prices: $94-$130

 

 

  Leupold BX-1 Rogue 10x25mm Compact Binoculars
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 10x
– BaK-4 prism
– 91% Customer satisfaction
– Price: $94.79

 

 

 

 

 

Leupold BX-1 McKenzie 10×42 Binoculars
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 10x
– BaK-4 prism
– 100% Customer satisfaction
– Price: $130.99

 

 

 

 

 

LEVENHUK – Prices: $103-$114

 

 

  Levenhuk Karma PRO 16×42 Waterproof Fogproof Binoculars
– Bak4 Prism
– Magnification power 16
– Customer satisfaction: 100%
– Price: $103.95

 

 

 

 

 

 

Levenhuk Karma PRO 12×50
– Magnification power 12
– Waterproof/fogproof binoculars
– Bak4 roof prism optics
– Fully multi coated lenses
– Customer satisfaction: 70%
– Price: $114.95

 

 

 

 

NIKON – Prices: $64-$116

 

  Nikon 8245 ACULON A211 8×42 Binocular
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 8x
– Prism type: Eco-Glass porro prism
– Customer satisfaction: 91%
– Price: $69.48

 

 

 

 

 

Nikon 8250 ACULON A211 16×50 Binocular
– Prism Type: Eco-Glass Lenses
– Magnification power 16
– Customer satisfaction: 94%
– Price: $103.85

 

 

 

 

 

Nikon Aculon A211 10×42 Binoculars
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 10x
– Prism type: Eco-Glass Lenses
– 92% Customer satisfaction
– Price: $89.97

 

 

 

 

 

Nikon Prostaff 3s Binocular 8×42
– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 8x
– Prism type: Lead and arsenic-free Eco-glass
– Customer satisfaction: 94%
– Price: $116.95

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nikon ACULON A30 10X25

– Wide field of view
– Magnification power 10x
– Prism type: BAK-4 prism/Eco-glass
– Customer satisfaction: 87%
– Price: $64.95