90-100%
The VERY Best |
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80-90%
Outstanding |
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70-80%
Excellent |
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60-70%
Very Good |
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50-60%
Above Average |
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40-50%
Below Average |
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0-40%
Poor |
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The Best Rated Binoculars
When I first started the Best Binocular Reviews website, my intention was to make it easier for people to sift through all the marketing jargon and select not only the best best binocular, but also the right one for their particular needs. Since then this site has grown a huge amount and so has the amount of binoculars that I review and whilst choice is great, it has become evident to me that it is also making it harder for people to decide between binoculars.
In order to rectify this, I have introduced the Best Binoculars Ratings, a score card that makes for a simple way for you to quickly narrow down your shortlist. I would still suggest that once you have narrowed your search down, you read through the review to make your final decision as the scores are just a guide and it must be stressed, just my opinion.
What Do the Individual Ratings Mean?
Body Construction Quality:
This is the score out of ten of the quality of the outer body of the binocular, the materials used, how well it has been made, if it is water and fogproof and generally how tough it is. How well does the diopter adjustment and focusing wheel work, it also includes the quality of the eye-cups and generally, does the binocular feel like a quality optical instrument.
10 = The Very Best,
9 = Outstanding, 8 = Excellent, 7 = Very Good, 6 = Above Average, 5 = Average, 4 = Just below Average, 3 = Poor
Body Stats:
This is a rating, again out of ten on the binoculars dimensions, weight and overall balance. This score is in relation to other binoculars in their size class. For example a compact biocular will always be smaller and lighter than a full sized one, so it would be unfair if you compared them without taking into consideration what class they were in.
10 = The Very Best,
9 = Outstanding, 8 = Excellent, 7 = Very Good, 6 = Above Average, 5 = Average, 4 = Just below Average, 3 = Poor
Optical Components Quality:
This score is a reflection of the quality of glass used in the lenses and prism. It also includes the quality of their coatings, if they are just fully coated or fully multi-coated and if they have any anti-reflection coatings on the prism. Do they used extra low dispersion glass or have any special lens coatings for example.
10 = The Very Best,
9 = Outstanding, 8 = Excellent, 7 = Very Good, 6 = Above Average, 5 = Average, 4 = Just below Average, 3 = Poor
Optical Stats:
This is an overal score of how wide a field of view a binocular has, the amount of eye-relief as well as it's minimum focusing distance. This score is in relation to others in their size and magnification class. I have done it this way because it would be unfair to compare the field of view of a 10x compact with an 8x full sized binocular. For more details on how I calculate each binoculars optical stats score click here.
10 = The Very Best,
9 = Outstanding, 8 = Excellent, 7 = Very Good, 6 = Above Average, 5 = Average, 4 = Just below Average, 3 = Poor
Image Quality:
With all my reviews I compare the view through the binocular with a benchmark binocular in their class. This gives me good feeling of where they sit in relation to other binoculars that I have reviewed in the past. They are rated on their brightness, sharpness, contrast, colour reproduction, amount of colour fringing (chromatic aberration) and the amount of softening of the image on the periphery of the view. The optical quality score is an overal reflection of these qualities in relation to other binoculars in their size class. I have done this because a small compact binocular, no matter how good it's coatings and quality of glass is never going to compete in brightness with a good quality full sized binocular and so it would not be fair to directly compare the two. So the score is in relation to others in their size class.
10 = The Very Best,
9 = Outstanding, 8 = Excellent, 7 = Very Good, 6 = Above Average, 5 = Average, 4 = Just below Average, 3 = Poor
Extras & Attention to Detail:
This score reflects the quality of the carry bag and the neck stap. Does the binocular come with a lens cleaning cloth and what about lens caps. Just all the little things that can make the difference between a good binocular and a really great one.
10 = The Very Best,
9 = Outstanding, 8 = Excellent, 7 = Very Good, 6 = Above Average, 5 = Average, 4 = Just below Average, 3 = Poor
Top Rated Binoculars
Below are the most recent rated binoculars that I have so far reviewed.
View >> All Rated Binoculars reviewed on Best Binocular Reviews.
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Kowa 8x30 YF Binoculars |
This 8x30 Kowa YF Series binocular is great low cost mid-sized porro prism binocular with fully multi-coated optics that produce an excellent quality image.
The body is tough, fully waterproof, fog proof and very lightweight.
Price: (2/6) Low Cost Binoculars
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Kowa 8x32 SV Binoculars |
These mid-priced, mid-sized lightweight binoculars from Kowa feature a tough waterproof exterior and fully multi-coated optics, with phase correction and high reflective coatings on the BaK-4 roof prisms.
Price: (3/6) Mid Priced Binoculars
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Helios 8x42 Nirvanna-ED Binoculars |
The Helios Nirvanna-ED binoculars feature a waterproof and lightweight magnesium body that houses Extra Low Dispersion glass and fully multi-coated optics as well as Phase-Coated high-index BaK-4 prisms that provide an excellent optical performance.
Price: (3/6) Mid Priced Binoculars
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Helios 8x42 Aero-ED Binoculars |
These rubber armoured open-hinge binoculars combine a O-ring sealed and nitrogen filled waterproof, fog-free magnesium alloy body with excellent optical components and coatings.
This includes the use of ED (Extra low dispersion) glass, high-index Phase-Corrected Bak-4 prisms and fully multi-coated optics.
Price: (3/6) Mid Priced Binoculars
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Pentax 9x28 DCF LV Binoculars |
A rather unique compact binocular with a 9x magnification that offers just a little more reach than those with 8x, but without sacrificing too much field of view.
The tough fog and waterproof body house quality optics that includes the use of Bak-4 Prisms with phase correction coatings and fully multi-coated lenses.
Price: (3/6) Mid Priced Binoculars
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 Discount Binoculars: These Pentax binoculars are available at a discount on their RRP at most online stores including Eagle Optics and Amazon in the US and Warehouse Express (WEX) and Amazon.co.uk in the UK.
>> Check Prices |
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Kowa 10x42 SV Binoculars |
Kowa's affordable 10x42 binocular that packs in a surprising amount of quality features into a lightweight, fog and waterproof body.
Optical highlights include the use of fully multicoated optics and phase coated Bak-4 roof prisms.
Price: (3/6) Mid Priced Binoculars
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Pentax 9x32 DCF BC Binoculars |
High quality optics, housed in a very lightweight, water and fogproof open bridge body, these 9x32 Pentax DCF BC binoculars are really good value for money and are ideal to take travelling, on safari as well as on most nature and bird walks.
Price: (3/6) Mid Priced Binoculars
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Celestron 8x42 Granite Binoculars |
High quality, yet affordable binoculars that feature a very wide field of view, a lightweight yet tough water and fog proof open hinge design body.
Excellent quality optics that includes the use of ED glass and phase correction coatings on the Bak-4 roof prisms.
Price: (4/6) Mid-High Value Binoculars
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Minox 7x28 BD Binoculars |
The fixed focus compact roof prism binoculars, come with a very comfortable open bridge design and are fully waterproof and filled with nitrogen gas to prevent internal fogging. They have a very wide field of view and produce a high quality image that makes these ideal take anywhere binoculars.
Price: (3/6) Mid Priced Binoculars
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Swarovski 8x32 EL W B Traveler Binoculars |
A lightweight & compact open-hinge magnesium body design combined with very high quality optical components and coatings that produce a view that is pretty much optically impeccable. There really are fantastic binoculars and definitely one of, if not the best mid-sized binocular on the market.
Price: (6/6) Expensive Binoculars
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Eden Quality 8x42 XP Binoculars |
A lightweight waterproof body covers some quality components like BAK-4 prisms with dielectric and phase-correction coatings that produce a high quality image.
Price: (3/6) Mid Priced Binoculars
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Eagle Optics 8x42 Ranger ED Binoculars |
These impressive Eagle Optics binoculars are packed with quality features like ED glass & phase corrected Bak-4 prisms combined with a very comfortable and functional open bridge body design that is both water and fogproof. They also have a very wide field of view, which should really appeal to birders.
Price: (4/6) Mid-High Value Binoculars
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Opticron 10x32 Traveller BGA Mg Binoculars |
Very compact and lightweight mid-sized binoculars that are fully water & fogproof. They also come with quality optics and coatings to ensure a high quality and bright image is produced.
Price: (3/6) Mid Priced Binoculars
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Opticron 10x28 BGA T PC Oasis Binoculars |
Quality compact binoculars that have a lightweight and very compact duel hinge design that is both water and fogproof. These roof prism compacts also feature high definition optics with PC Phase corrected prisms with Oasis prism coatings.
Price: (3/6) Mid Priced Binoculars
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Opticron 10x42 Imagic BGA SE Binoculars |
Designed and manufactured to feel as good as they look, these highly durable and waterproof Opticron Imagic binoculars include quality features like fully multi-coated lenses and phase correction coatings on the roof prism glass.
Price: (4/6) Mid-High Value Binoculars
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Opticron 8x42 DBA Oasis S-Coat Binoculars |
Designed for the birdwatcher and wildlife enthusiast, this tough, fully fog and waterproof roof prism binocular has quality features like fully multi-coated lenses and phase correction coatings on the prisms.
Price: (5/6) High Value Binoculars
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Eden Quality 8x42 ED Binoculars |
8x42 roof-type binoculars made from a light weight Magnesium body. They come with high quality optics that include Extra Low Dispersion Glass (ED) and phase correction coatings on the prisms for a very clear and bright image with a high edge-of-field-sharpness. 100% waterproof, these Eden Quality binoculars are filled with Argon to prevent condensation of air.
Price: (3/6) Mid Priced Binoculars
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Nikon 8.5x45 Monarch X Binoculars |
These Nikon binoculars with their larger than "standard" 45mm objective lenses and great quality optical elements and anti-reflection coatings make them excellent performers in low light conditions. On top of this they come with a tough high quality and comfortable open bridge body design that is fully fog and waterproof.
Price: (4/6) Mid-High Value Binoculars
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Discount Binoculars: These Nikon 8.5x45 Monarch X binoculars are being offered at a huge reduction in price at Warehouse Express in the UK and on Amazon, Binoculars.com and Eagle Optics in the USA
>> Check Prices |
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Opticron 8x25 Taiga Binoculars |
Budget compact porro prism binoculars that come with fully coated optics, long eye relief and a tough and ergonomic exterior. Overall I would say that they have an excellent performance to price ratio.
Price: (2/6) Low Cost Binoculars
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Steiner 10x42 SkyHawk Pro Binoculars |
These are tough take anywhere, nitrogen pressurised fog and waterproof binoculars that produce a bright image and come with many excellent features including twist-up eye-cups with side flaps are made of soft a silicone that comfortably fits the contours of the eyes and blocks out light from the sides.
Price: (4/6) Mid-High Value Binoculars
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