I am not going to be writing a lengthy article today, but I will make it worth your while. My research has lead me to the following list of the best hunting binoculars you can have under $500. Lets get right into those binoculars:
Welcome to the Naturaquest website. If you are looking for best hunting binoculars under 500, welcome to the right place. On this occasion, we want to give information about our products that will be beneficial for you.
Want to get the best hunting binoculars under $500? There are many models of hunting and birding binos out there, and they all claim to be the best. Which one will you buy?
Best compact hunting binoculars
Are you looking for the best hunting binoculars under $500? Whether you are a hunter or not, binoculars can be beneficial in so many different scenarios. Whether it be searching an area, keeping an eye on children at a park, watching the game at a sports event, or bird-watching — choosing the right pair of binoculars can make any situation better. There are many different factors to consider when choosing the best binoculars and I hope to point out each of them to help you make the best purchase decision.
I’ve been an avid hunter since I was a kid. I often enjoy hitting the woods with my cousins, and sometimes even my brother. But as we grow older, so too has our hunting gear. Hunting binoculars have changed a lot over the past few decades as well as prices. There are so many options today that it’s hard to choose which ones we want to spend our money on. Luckily for you, I’ve sorted through all of the jargon and compiled a list of the best binoculars for under 500 dollars for you.
You can find a myriad of binocular buyers guides on the internet but none of them tell you which ones are the best. This guide was created to cut through all of the excess information, promotional content, garbage and fluff and show you what the actual best binoculars in each category are.
Best hunting binoculars under $500
Despite all the technological advances that can be found in shiny new cameras the Canon 6D is still a great camera best binoculars for the money,best compact binoculars. And just because other cameras have advanced significantly since 2012 this does not automatically make the Canon 6D over the hill, past its sell by date, irrelevant or obsolete.
8 Best Binoculars Under $500 In 2022 (10×42, Hunting & More)
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Binoculars Less Than 500
What’s the best thing about this price range?
Every hunter will find a pair of binoculars that more than fits their needs – it’s the number one attraction of this budget category.
Forget the overpriced costs, exacting preciseness, and trumped-up marketing gimmicks. All you want is dependability, high quality, and durability for the field.
This price range can literally dish it all!
QUICK LIST: 8 Best Binoculars Under $500 In 2022
Monarch 5 10×42
Maven C.1 8×42
Vortex Viper HD 10×42
Nikon Monarch 7 8×42 ATB
Leica Trinovid BCA 8×20
Maven C.3 12×50
Zeiss Terra ED 10×42
Steiner Predator 10×42
Top Binoculars Less Than $500
This is the price range that the majority of hunters will shop in, and sometimes, no more than this is needed.
Entry level hunters who want to start out with a dependable binocular will typically be attracted to this budget range. Even experienced binocular users often find that they don’t need the trappings that the expensive one’s tout. This is going to be a category that pleases all hunters of all skill levels.
And, for $300 to $500, you’re going to see an upgrade in quality compared to lower budget binoculars. Specifically, image, build, and coating quality.
Unless you have fastidious taste, you’d be hard-pressed not to find a set of binoculars to suit your needs right here.
IMAGE PRODUCT DETAILS
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Monarch 5 10X42
PRISM TYPE: Roof Prism
GLASS: BaK-4
EYE RELIEF / EXIT PUPIL: 18.4 / 4.2mm
CHECK PRICE
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Maven C.1 8×42
PRISM TYPE: Schmidt-Pechan Prism
GLASS: BaK-4 ED
EYE RELIEF / EXIT PUPIL: 19.5 / 5.25 mm
CHECK PRICE
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Vortex Viper HD 10X42
PRISM TYPE: Roof Prism
GLASS: BaK-4
EYE RELIEF / EXIT PUPIL: 16.5 / 4.2mm
CHECK PRICE
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Nikon Monarch 7 8X42 ATB
PRISM TYPE: Roof Prism
GLASS: BaK-4
EYE RELIEF / EXIT PUPIL: 17.1 / 5.3mm
CHECK PRICE
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Leica Trinovid BCA 8X20
PRISM TYPE: Roof Prism
GLASS: Unspecified
EYE RELIEF / EXIT PUPIL: 14mm / 2.5mm
CHECK PRICE
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Maven C.3 12×50
PRISM TYPE: Schmidt-Pechan Prism
GLASS: BaK-4 ED
EYE RELIEF / EXIT PUPIL: 15 mm / 4.2 mm
CHECK PRICE
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Zeiss Terra ED 10X42
PRISM TYPE: Schmidt-Pechan Prism
GLASS: Schott ED
EYE RELIEF / EXIT PUPIL: 14 / 4.2mm
CHECK PRICE
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Steiner Predator 10X42
PRISM TYPE: Roof Prism
GLASS: BaK-4
EYE RELIEF / EXIT PUPIL: NA / 4.2mm
CHECK PRICE
Our 8 Best Binoculars Under $500
- Nikon Monarch 5 10X42 Binocular
Monarch 5 10X42
Image Credit: Nikon
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Optics Planet Price
Nikon is well-known as one of the best binocular brands and saying that this Nikon Monarch 5 10X42 is a favorite among hunters, still wouldn’t do this binocular any justice.
At around $300, you’re getting a heck of a lot of upgrades… ED Glass, Eco-Glass, Dielectric coatings, HighPoint design…
Just with this one sentence, it’s already met the criteria to make the top hunting binoculars in this price range, and still there’s more! If you’re shopping for value, you’re going to get the best bang for your buck with the ever-reliable Nikon binocular.
READ FULL REVIEW
- Maven C.1 8×42
Maven C1 8×42 Review
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Not all binoculars at this price point need to be big. Sometimes, a compact 8x bino can deliver the same or better quality and performance than its larger counterparts.
Pros:
All-purpose
ED glass
Dielectric coatings
Wide FOV
Compact
Cons:
Stiff diopter
The 8×42 is a mid-size binocular but during my hands on review, I discovered that it has the power of quality that puts it up with the champs in this price camp. With ED glass, SP (Schmidt-Pechan) prisms, and dielectric coatings, it has the optical potential to wipe out its competition with color fidelity, high contrast, and sharp resolution.
YouTube video
Because of its “smaller” specs, it offers a wide FOV, has higher light transmission, and a brighter image. Hunting anyone? It would be great for use in the forests and thick woodlands. My field testing of the C.1 revealed that it’s also a winning binocular for bird watching and waterfowl hunting. Really though, it’s a star performer for all uses where mid-distance, moving objects, and close-focus matters. The weather can’t get in its way because it’s completely weatherproof.
Yes, it has Maven’s iconic stiff diopter – whether they do this on purpose or not, at least you’re not paying extra for a ‘locking’ feature as it’s inherently difficult to move out of place unintentionally. With all that under its belt, this daily user is just as good its larger competitors.
READ FULL REVIEW
- Vortex Viper HD 10X42 Binocular – Best For Hunting
Vortex Viper HD 10X42
Image Credit: Vortex
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Optics Planet Price
If you’re easily impressed by ratings, then this $500 Vortex Viper HD 10X42 will blow you away! But, don’t expect me to give up that info so easily… you’re going to have read our full review of the binocular to find out how it did with other hunters.
As a teaser, this Viper deserves its spot for meeting every criteria of the standard we had in place for high budget binoculars. It has the HD Lens Elements, XR Fully Multi-Coated, Dielectric prism coatings, and phase correction coatings that hand over unbeatable image quality on a silver platter.
But, it also has a locking diopter piece! No more accidental shifts and bumping out of focus. Since this isn’t something we see very often, even on high budget binoculars, this is the one thing that just had me tickled into giving it a spot to be featured.
This is one of the best hunting binoculars under $500 on the market.
READ FULL REVIEW
- Nikon Monarch 7 8X42 ATB Roof Prism Binocular
Nikon Monarch 7 8X42 ATB
Image Credit: Nikon
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Optics Planet Price
If you are willing to spend less than $100 more, the Nikon Monarch 7 8X42 ATB (All-Terrain Binocular) has everything the Monarch 5 above has, plus some! With multi-setting click stop rubber eyecups, an extremely wide field of view, and the ATB designation, this Nikon is irresistible.
Nikon shines in the under $500 price range so to get the scoop on what bino could suit your hunting style, you might want to check out some of the other binoculars in their line-up before you make your final decision.
But, if you have 500 clams to spend you can’t go wrong with the Monarch 7 – and as a bonus, you will even get some change!
READ FULL REVIEW
- Leica Trinovid BCA 8X20
Leica Trinovid BCA 8X20
Image Credit: Leica
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Optics Planet Price
Yes, you’re seeing this binocular in the right price class – it really is under $500. The Trinovid BCA may be small, but it’s a Leica.
Pros:
Price
Compact
Collapsible
Lightweight
Wide IPD
Cons:
Short eye relief
The Trinovid BCA is a compact binocular inspired by the larger Trinovid series of binos. It’s 3.6 x 4.1 inches by length and width, and it only weighs 8.3 ounces. The small 20 mm objective lenses helps to keep the BCA bino small and portable.
But, you may be tempted to think the BCA is overpriced for its mini size – it’s not. Yes, you can afford full-size binos with this budget, but it won’t have Leica quality behind it.
With their world-class glass, proprietary coatings, and top-secret glass elements, sight picture quality is well above what inferior brands can provide on even their high-end and larger binoculars.
With a double hinge frame, the Trinovid tubes are collapsible to “fold” inwards for an even more compact fit in your pocket or a case. Speaking of cases, Leica does not provide one for the mini binoculars, not even a generic nylon case. You’ll have to budget a few more bucks to keep them protected or in storage.
The Leica bino has an extremely wide IPD range of 32-83 mm to fit users of all ages – just because they’re small it doesn’t mean they’re made for kids. The eyecups have a twist up design with 5 positions that stay in place even with brows pressed up against them.
They very well might be pressed up against the brows since it has short eye relief of 14 mm.
Interestingly, the diopter is located on the objective bell of the right tube. It works to focus your right eye just the same as if it was in the traditional position on the eyepiece.
Never underestimate quality from a brand such as Leica even if it comes in a small package. After all, it’s designed to be ultra compact for your birdwatching, wildlife observing, and sightseeing needs.
- Maven C.3 12×50
Maven C3 12×50 Binocular Review
Maven Price
Amazon Price
The Maven C.3 binoculars are a champ in the hunting field and proved to be a great observational tool for people-watching at night. With a price point that is sure to attract, the C.3’s mid-range quality will not disappoint.
Pros:
ED glass
Schmidt-Pechan prisms
Dielectric coatings
Compact
Weatherproof
Cons:
Tripod mounting
The C.3 12×50 binoculars are tripod mountable, but the catch is that the objective bells are close together making it difficult to attach the adapter. Given that it’s a binocular that is best used when mounted, it’s a legitimate drawback.
But if you have an appropriate tripod adapter, you can look forward to a rewarding experience while birdwatching, hunting, and observing wildlife, people, and the moon. It has a narrow FOV for birding, but the extra power and compact size may make up for it.
With Schmidt-Pechan prisms that have been layered with dielectric coatings and made with ED glass elements, the optical experience is far beyond what you would expect for its price point.
YouTube video
I field tested the C3s in twilight conditions and could still see elk at 800 yards. During the early evening, spotting elk at 1400 yards and beyond was thrilling, especially so if you’re making the most of the last few minutes of your hunt.
The Maven B.6 also offers 50 mm apertures, and it is premium-grade and much more expensive than the C3s. It’s worth checking out, but for the cost-conscious buyer looking to spend minimal without compromising on anything less than mid-range performance, the C3 12×50 wins the race.
READ HANDS ON REVIEW
- Zeiss Terra ED 10X42
Zeiss Terra ED 10X42
Image Credit: Zeiss
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The Zeiss Terra ED 10X42 deserves a spot for its Schmidt-Pechan prism assembly with ED glass and excellent close focus distance. It’s also worth mentioning that it comes in well under price, in fact this sweet bino is closer to the $300 price range – for a Zeiss!
For a fully waterproof and fog-proof binocular housed in durable rubber armor, and from a renowned optics brand such as Zeiss this is an absolute steal… But, there is a reason the Terra is so affordable – it’s made in China.
So, does that affect the quality and should it influence your decision of whether or not to invest in this optic? You will have to check out our detailed review to find out.
READ FULL REVIEW
- Steiner Predator 10×42
Steiner Predator 10X42
Image Credit: Steiner
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Optics Planet Price
The Steiner Predator 10X42 just barely earned a spot, but it deserves a mention for its CAT coatings, fully multi-coated lenses, and N2 Injection System technologies.
It also features an integrated Fast-Close-Focus center wheel on a Makrolon housing chassis.
READ FULL REVIEW
What to Look for in a Binocular in This Price Range?
You’re still playing around with a lot of money when you’re shopping around and below 500 bucks. The key to choosing the right binocular is being able to discern the right pick of the litter. Some binoculars will offer it all, and others, not so much.
Some manufacturers will focus in on one quality feature, where others will spread the quality around with several features.
For instance, you may have a feature-basic unit, but it’s been constructed with the best glass there is. Another binocular may offer a fancy gadget here and a fancy feature there, but there’s not really anything “high quality” about it as a whole.
Let’s take a peek at what you want to look for when shopping this price range.
Glass: The higher the quality, the better.
Coatings: The more, the better. Additional prism-specific coatings should also be expected in this price range.
High power 10X42: You want to make sure you get accurate distances with these binoculars by being brand-specific. Going higher-powered in this price range may result in poorer image quality.
Eye relief 13-18 mm: Ensure your investment is comfortable to glass with.
Exit pupil 3-5 mm: Smaller than 3 mm? Expect to lose out on a lot of light-gathering potential.
Quality Warranty: If you’re spending the best of what you can afford, ensure you have a warranty to match the quality of your investment.
Binocular Power Prism Type Glass
Nikon Monarch 5 10×42 Roof Prism Bak-4
Maven C.1 8×42 Schmidt-Pechan Prism ED Glass
Vortex Viper HD 10×42 Roof Prism Bak-4
Nikon Monarch ATB 8×42 Roof Prism Bak-4
Leica Trinovid BCA 8×20 Roof Prism Unspecified
Maven C.3 12×50 Schmidt-Pechan Prism Bak-4 ED
Zeiss Terra ED 10×42 Schmidt-Pechan Prism Schott ED
Steiner Predator 10×42 Roof Prism Bak-4
Power, Prism Type & Glass Type Comparisons
Binocular Power Eye Relief Exit Pupil
Nikon Monarch 5 10×42 18.4 mm 4.2 mm
Maven C.1 8×42 19.5 mm 5.25 mm
Vortex Viper HD 10×42 16.5 mm 4.2 mm
Nikon Monarch ATB 8×42 17.1 mm 5.3 mm
Leica Trinovid BCA 8×20 14 mm 2.5 mm
Maven C.3 12×50 15 mm 4.2 mm
Zeiss Terra ED 10×42 14 mm 4.2 mm
Steiner Predator 10×42 Unspecified 4.2 mm
Power, Eye Relief & Exit Pupil Comparisons
Make the Most of Your Buy!
In the end, it doesn’t matter if you’re spending $20 or $500, you still want the best of what you can afford. Focusing in on what matters to you most, be it glass, durability, or handle-ability, it will be the key to a well-informed buy.
This price category offers every hunter an activity-specific binocular. You don’t have to spend more to get the most out of your buy. Just stay on target, stay on budget, and you’ll be one happy Glasser!
Further Reading
Cheap VS Expensive Binoculars: What’s the Difference?
What Do the Numbers On Binoculars Mean?
Best Binocular Magnification For Hunting, Birding, Wildlife Observation & More
Maven B5 15×56 Binocular Review – Spot Ducks, Elk & More (Pics & Vid)
Maven C.3 12×50 Binocular Review (Tested Day & Night)
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