Good binoculars are a must for any amateur astronomer, whether you’re a budding beginner or a veteran of the stars. Here we look at some of the best for stargazing – all under $100.
You decided to buy binoculars for stargazing, after searching for the best budget binoculars for stargazing (level: Beginner). Are you wondering which are the best binoculars for long distance viewing? You want to get the most out of them. Good. In this case, I’m going to disclose how to buy binoculars for stargazing or astronomy. I’ll help you learn what are the best budget binoculars for stargazing, how to test binoculars in a store and how many magnification power do they need exactly. What’s more, you must also understand what are important factors when choosing the right model.
Stargazing binoculars
In this article, I will be showing you the best binoculars for stargazing available under 100 dollars.There are many benefits that can be derived from a good set of binos.I mean, a pair of binoculars can do tons of things for yourself and not only make you more knowledgeable about the world, but also help you to have more fun trips outdoors.
Are you looking for the best binoculars for stargazing? Look no further: we’ve reviewed eight of the best stargazing binoculars right here. You can find a wide range of binoculars on the market, and they all have particular benefits that are handy for stargazing. Whether you’re an amateur or a professional stargazer it’s important to get yourself a decent pair of binoculars, but with so many different options out there finding a great pair isn’t always easy.
Ok, so you’re looking for some binoculars to enjoy the stars a little more. You have come to the right place, since we are here to help you find what you need. We’ve done the homework for you, so that it will be easy to find the right set of binoculars. This is an exhaustive list of all the available choices around on the market.
Stargazing is one of the coolest hobby you can ever do. It involves looking into the far reaches of space and the night sky in an attempt to see stars, planets, galaxies, and satellite. It turns out that there are many things that you can find in the night sky.
Best binoculars for stargazing under 100
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Best Binoculars Under $100: Budget Picks That Are Cheap But Good
Best choice of binoculars
The sheer number of high-quality binoculars that cost less than $100 will amaze you.
However:
You’ll search through a long list to find the best binoculars under $100, so you ought to remember that quality optics matter before accessories, like a smartphone adapter.
While looking through models under this price range, one model that stood out, which we have crowned the best overall, is the SkyGenius Powerful 10x50mm binoculars.
Read on to know how we arrived at this pick.
Page Contents
Best Binoculars Under $100 For Your Collection
- SkyGenius 10×50 – Best Overall
- Occer Compact Binoculars – Best Family Option
- Gosky 10×42 – Best Outdoor Experience
- Bushnell Falcon Binoculars – Best For Distant Views
- Celestron SkyMaster – Best For Spontaneous Sightings
Features To Look For In Best Cheap Binoculars
Size Of The Objective Lens
Lens Coatings
Tips on How To Find Binoculars On A Budget
Have Your Hobbies In Mind
Older Models Are Cheaper
Search By Brand First, Before Checking Features
The Benefits Of Buying Cheap Binoculars
Conclusion
Best Binoculars Under $100 For Your Collection
You’ve probably heard that binoculars are expensive, and when you have a low budget, you may forego some exceptional features such as advanced lens coating and high magnification power.
This sounds like a loss when you’ve saved money for a while to get your first binos, and the market wants you to settle for second best.
Fortunately, there are binoculars with decent features within the hundred-Dollar price tag, and we have five of those models below:
- SkyGenius 10×50 – Best Overall
SkyGenius 10 x 50 Powerful Binoculars for Adults Durable Full-Size Clear Binoculars for Bird Watching Travel Sightseeing Hunting Wildlife Watching Outdoor Sports Games and Concerts
Most SkyGenius binoculars cost less than $50, so we had to have at least one of their models in this review.
The SkyGenius 10×50 model gives you the kind of magnification you need for many outdoor activities like bird watching in your backyard, birding in a park, game viewing, sightseeing, or even hunting.
These binoculars offer a 367 feet field of view through 50mm lenses, which covers an expansive area from left to right.
And since they have a weak light vision, you can use them until the late hours of the evening.
What’s more, they are tripod adaptable to mount them next to the window that looks out to your bird feeder and enjoy nature from your favorite spot.
They have Porro prisms; hence, they have wide-shaped barrels, and these prisms ensure superior light transmission from the objective lens to the eyepiece. The lenses also have a corrective optical coating, thus offering exceptional color fidelity for bright and clear pictures.
You can use them in different weather conditions as they are moisture-proof.
The rubber armor makes these binoculars shock-resistant, and it reduces wear and tear caused by the rigors of different outdoor environments.
In summary, SkyGenius has a good combination of features for clarity, and they don’t cost you a lot to enjoy such advanced quality lenses.
Pros
Porro prisms
Corrective optical coating
Large field of view
Tripod adaptable
Moisture-proof
Cons
Weighs 1.75 pounds
Takeaway
You can use these binoculars for different outdoor experiences because they have a high magnification power and a wide field of view. SkyGenius 10×50 is the kind you mount on a tripod on your deck, grab a seat, relax and watch nature.
That’s why these binoculars scooped the best overall position on our list.
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- Occer Compact Binoculars – Best Family Option
Occer 12×25 Compact Binoculars with Clear Low Light Vision, Large Eyepiece Waterproof Binocular for Adults Kids,High Power Easy Focus Binoculars for Bird Watching,Outdoor Hunting,Travel,Sightseeing
Family vacations and outings are fun when everyone enjoys the experience, so with this Occer model, weighing about 0.65 pounds, kids can use it when birding or game viewing.
On cruise trips, you’ll carry these binoculars without worrying about dropping them in the waters because they come with a cruise strap.
They are also waterproof, so you can rest easy when you see your kids running around with them in the backyard on a wet day, and the non-slip grip prevents them from slipping off your hands.
It’s compact for use with one hand and takes a small space in your backpack.
To mention a bit about the engineering and the internal design of these binoculars, they have modern optics, such as a fully multi-coated layer on the objective lens and blue film fully multi-coated eyepiece lenses to ensure maximum light transmission.
BAK4 prisms on this Occer model guarantee sharp pictures even in low light settings.
As family-friendly binoculars, they also have a 20mm eye relief if you’re sharing them with a child or parent who uses eyeglasses. Additionally, for family members who don’t wear glasses, they can adjust the eyecups and still enjoy excellent views through the 15mm eyepieces.
Pros
Lightweight
Family-friendly
Large eyepieces
Coated lenses
Long eye relief
Low light vision
Cons
Unsuitable for very dark settings
Takeaway
These Occer binos are the best compact binoculars under $100. For this price, they have essential features for family-friendly binoculars, such as non-slip grip, compact size, lightweight and water resistance.
Nonetheless, the fact that they suit young nature lovers doesn’t compromise the optics as they have sharp images enabled by BAK-4 prisms.
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- Gosky 10×42 – Best Outdoor Experience
Gosky 10×42 Roof Prism Binoculars for Adults, HD Professional Binoculars for Bird Watching Travel Stargazing Hunting Concerts Sports-BAK4 Prism FMC Lens-with Phone Mount Strap Carrying Bag
They stand out as the best 10×42 binoculars under $100 for outdoor thrills because they have a phone adapter for you to capture unforgettable moments on your smartphone.
Armed with a 10x magnification, you can take on most outdoor activities and you’ll be able to explore a larger area within a day without having to get too close to your subject.
Gosky 10×42 has revolutionary blue and green film coatings to give you the original color of objects in sharp, clear images.
They are durable, fitted with rubber armor to prevent damage if they fall.
Their focus is sharp and easy to adjust, and they have a sturdy frame that makes them durable. Further, their front caps are firm over the objective lenses to protect these sensitive components.
Pros
Lightweight
Phone adapter
Clear images
Easy to focus
Sturdy construction
Cons
Slight shaking when held in one hand.
Takeaway
These binoculars give you professional quality at a budget-friendly price. Their smartphone adapter makes every outdoor activity more interesting because afterward, you have tons of pictures. They are lightweight, and the images you see on the eyepiece are bright and sharp.
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- Bushnell Falcon Binoculars – Best For Distant Views
Bushnell Falcon 10×50 Wide Angle Binoculars (Black)
This 10x50mm model has good quality for its low price, which confirms that brands do not give low-quality optics in cheaper models.
These Bushnell Falcon binoculars offer a field of view of 300 feet from left to right up to 1,000 yards. Their 50mm objective lenses give you bright images because they have full lens coating to enhance light transmission when birding or hiking.
Their eyecups roll down if you’re using them with eyeglasses so that the glasses don’t scratch, and the eyecups block unnecessary light interrupting your view.
Bushnell Falcon Wide Angle binos have 9mm eye relief to prevent eye strain.
They have a solid build to serve you for a long time, making them even more valuable. On top of that, these binoculars are easy to focus so don’t worry about missing important moments outdoors because you can’t turn the focus knob fast.
Pros
Easy to focus
Neck strap
Solid build
Large objective lenses
High magnification
Roll down eyecups
Cons
Close focus distance is only 25 feet
Heavy
Takeaway
These binoculars have easy focus, and they can magnify objects up to 10 times for precision and clarity. You’ll also note their wide field of view that lets you follow your subject, making it our top choice for long-distance views.
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- Celestron SkyMaster – Best For Spontaneous Sightings
Celestron – SkyMaster 25×70 Binocular – Large Aperture Binoculars with 70mm Objective Lens – 25x Magnificiation High Powered Binoculars – Includes Carrying Case
When you’re exploring, you come across unexpected sightings of animals and plant activity, and if you take too long, you miss the magic.
With the SkyMaster binoculars, you have 25x magnification power so you’ll not miss finer details, and the 70mm objective lenses guarantee bright, clear images.
They are one of the best budget binoculars for campers who love to wake up to birding excursions and sleep after a stargazing thrill.
These binoculars have 13mm eye relief, so they are comfortable for eyeglass wearers even when used for hours. They have good color fidelity yielded by multi-coated BAK-4 prisms, and their rugged construction gives a firm grip.
Pros
For astronomy and land use
Large objective lens
25x magnification power
Water-resistant
Low light precision
Quality BAK-4 prisms
Cons
Narrow field of view
Takeaway
I love that these binoculars serve both bird watchers and astronomy enthusiasts, so it must be quite an experience to explore a birding paradise with a 70mm lens and a 25x magnification power. Even more exciting is the thought of watching birds on a feeder in the backyard.
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Features To Look For In Best Cheap Binoculars
Cheap quality binoculars
In a nation with over 12 million active bird watchers in a year, according to a 2019 report, you’d expect an easier way to tell binoculars apart without looking through endless lists of binoculars under $100 reviews.
However, since the only way to find the best budget binoculars for birding or hunting needs is by looking through many reviews, here are a few factors to help you narrow down your search.
Size Of The Objective Lens
You’ll see two figures in your product specifications, with an X between them. The first number stands for the magnification power, and the second one tells you the front lens size.
The front lens controls the amount of light flowing into the barrels and the brightness of subjects on the eyepiece. A larger objective lens tends to supply more light, so you’d be interested in the second figure in the model’s specification, such as 42mm, 50mm, and 70mm.
Also check for the exit pupil, which is on the eyepiece.
When it’s smaller, most of the light from the front lens gets lost; therefore, you won’t see bright images on the eyepiece. On the same note, remember that a larger lens may lead to heavier binoculars, so you may have to overlook the weight to have brighter images.
Lens Coatings
Lens coating prevents light loss during transmission from the front to the eyepiece lenses, thereby producing bright and sharp images. Although you’re on a limited budget, you can still expect to get quality images, so don’t compromise on lens coatings.
Preferably, choose a model with lens coatings on all glass surfaces, indicated as “fully multi-coated”. Other coatings are fully coated and multi-coated.
Tips On How To Find Binoculars On A Budget
So far, you know a few cheap binos and the features that are a must-have in any model. Now, let’s delve into how you arrive at one model while shopping.
You need to:
Have Your Hobbies In Mind
You’ll discover that some internal and external features of binos matter depending on your hobby.
For example, for a bird lover who prefers to watch a bird feeder’s activity instead of looking for birds in a park, binoculars that are tripod adaptable mean a lot.
If you love birding, hunting, and hiking, you’re probably okay with most of the budget-friendly binoculars. However, if you’re into astronomy, you need an advanced model with specifications for long-distance view.
Older Models Are Cheaper
Look for last year’s models from top brands because their price will be lower than their most recent releases.
Search By Brand First, Before Checking Features
While looking through many brands to create a list of the best cheap binoculars for you, I found that SkyGenius, Occer, and Bushnell have more affordable binoculars than other brands.
The Benefits Of Buying Cheap Binoculars
Man looking through binoculars
Still not convinced there’s quality in budget binoculars? Well, here are some benefits awaiting you:
You can buy two brands or models at once to enjoy different features, such as having the best binoculars for kids for your young bird lovers and another that suits your needs.
A cheap model gets you started on your hobby instead of waiting until you’ve saved a lot to buy an expensive model.
Cheaper models are easier to replace should they malfunction.
If you’re using binoculars for the first time, you’ll test the waters with an affordable model.
Conclusion
The SkyGenius model is the best overall when you’re working with a budget of $100, and you’d like to get a tripod or other accessories with the same amount.
These binoculars have a 10x magnification and an excellent field of view of 367 feet. You can use them for many activities because they have a corrective optical coating for sharp, bright images even in low light, unlike the Occer Compact model.
Nevertheless, the Occer Compact binoculars are the budget option for families, and they are lighter than other models discussed in this review.
