“Is that a buck?”
“Looks like it might be but I can’t tell…”
I bet you wish you had binoculars so you could get a better look.
I get it. You want a pair of binoculars but you don’t want to break the bank.
No need to stress, you can get a quality set of binoculars even if you are on a budget.
In this article I review all the most popular binoculars under $200, including the pair that I personally own.
Editors Pick
- 12x magnification & 50mm objective lenses, these Crossfire HD binos are optimized with select glass elements to deliver exceptional resolution, cut chromatic aberration and provide outstanding color fidelity, edge-to-edge sharpness and light transmission.
- Fully multi-coated lenses increase light transmission with multiple anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces. Roof prism design is valued for greater durability and a more compact size.
- Adjustable eyecups twist up and down for comfortable viewing with or without eyeglasses. Center focus wheel adjusts the focus of both binocular barrels at the same time. Diopter (located on right eyepiece) adjusts for differences in a user's eyes.
Vortex Crossfire
I was actually blown away by how good these are. The optical quality is on par with much more expensive models from other manufacturers. Combined with the fact they come with a lifetime warranty, they are the clear winner. While I am quite happy with my Nikon ProStaffs, I will be replacing them with a pair for Vortex binoculars in the future.
Things to Consider in Choosing Hunting Binoculars
Weight
Since you will be carrying these around everywhere you go, weight is worth considering. On the flip side, when it comes to optics, weight does somewhat tend to correlate to image quality.
Magnification
This is the magnifying power of the binoculars. A pair of 8x binoculars produce an image that appears as if you were 8 times closer to the object than you actually are. All binoculars reviewed are 10x.
Objective Size
This is the diameter of the entrance lens. In general, a larger diameter allows more light in, making it easier to see in low light conditions. The image will appear both brighter and sharper.
All of the models reviewed are between 40-50mm. I recommend shying away from smaller diameter models at this price point because the image quality will suffer.
Optical Quality/Clarity
This possibly the most important. The whole point of having binoculars is so you can see better.
You want the image to be clear all the way out to the edge of the field of view. If the quality is poor they defeat the point. The better the quality and resolution, the more detailed the image will be.
Waterproof/Fogproof
Your binoculars should not fog easily. This means the lenses are sealed to prevent moisture from getting inside and causing a cloudy defect. The better manufacturers fill the internal cavities of the binoculars with gases like nitrogen to prevent internal fogging.
Warranty
A warranty on binoculars is a definite bonus. All manufactures reviewed offer some form of a warranty although some are better than others.
Top Pick for Budget Hunting Binoculars
Vortex Optics Crossfire
- 12x magnification & 50mm objective lenses, these Crossfire HD binos are optimized with select glass elements to deliver exceptional resolution, cut chromatic aberration and provide outstanding color fidelity, edge-to-edge sharpness and light transmission.
- Fully multi-coated lenses increase light transmission with multiple anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces. Roof prism design is valued for greater durability and a more compact size.
- Adjustable eyecups twist up and down for comfortable viewing with or without eyeglasses. Center focus wheel adjusts the focus of both binocular barrels at the same time. Diopter (located on right eyepiece) adjusts for differences in a user's eyes.
The Vortex Crossfire binoculars are exceptional for the price. They were the clear choice and might be the best binoculars for the money out there. When you look through these you will notice an exceptionally good picture when compared to the others below.
Vortex has become very well known over the past few years for their high quality optics at reasonable prices. They also offer a lifetime warranty. They will repair or replace your binoculars at no charge no matter how it happened.
Key Features:
- 50mm Objective
- Waterproof/Fog proof
- Unconditional lifetime warranty
- Weight: 30 oz.
Other Binoculars Reviewed
(And why they didn’t win)
Nikon ProStaff 3
- Multilayer-coated kenses for brighter images
- High-reflectivity silver-alloy mirror coatings for a bright and clear view
- Turn-and-slide rubber multi-click eyecups
The Nikon ProStaff 3 binoculars are my pick for runner-up. These are the binoculars I have been using for the past 8 years and I don’t have much bad to say about them. They are durable, the picture is good, and have held up to a lot of abuse. The only reason they did not win is because the picture quality of the Vortex Crossfires is noticeably better.
Key Features:
- 42mm Objective
- Waterproof/Fog proof
- Conditional Warranty
- Weight: 18 oz.
Bushnell Trophy Roof
- Features fully multi-coated lenses, BAK-4 Prisms and lead-free Glass
- Heavy-duty 100% waterproof/Fog proof construction
- Large center focus knob and 2-step twist-up eyecups
The Bushnell Trophy binoculars are a very popular budget hunting binocular. They are a well known brand and people seem to be generally happy with them. They pair I looked through seemed pretty crisp and clear, about on par with the Nikons. They are a little bulky compared to the others and slightly heavy.
Key Features:
- 42mm Objective
- Waterproof/Fog proof
- No Questions Asked Warranty
- Weight: 25 oz.
Leupold BX-1 McKenzie
- Model #181173 - BX-1 McKenzie HD 10x42mm Binoculars in Shadow Gray
- 100% Waterproof and fogproof and backed by Leupold's legendary customer care
- Fully multi-coated lens system ensures maximum brightness for clarity, contrast, and color fidelity
The Leupold BX-1 are another popular offering in the budget price range but I didn’t like them as much as the others. The image did not seem as crisp. Some colors looked a little “hazy” and the contours of whatever I was looking at were not as distinguishable.
Key Features:
- 42mm Objective
- Waterproof/Fog proof
- Lifetime Warranty
- Weight: 29 oz.
Bushnell PowerView 10×50
- Quality optics with stunning HD clarity
- 100% quality materials used and tested extensively
- Beautiful design and durability built to last
The Bushnell PowerView binoculars are the cheapest I reviewed and while they aren’t terrible, all the others I looked at were noticeably better. Just holding them in my hand I got the feeling that they aren’t put together as well. The image quality was decent but the Trophy were more crisp and clear. Unless you are really trying to save money, I would probably pass on these.
Key Features:
- 42mm Objective
- Waterproof/Fog proof
- Tripod Mountable
- No Questions Asked Warranty
- Weight: 32 oz.
What to watch out for:
Be careful trying to go too low in price. There are many Chinese companies using low quality lenses and construction techniques advertising all over the internet. I have heard many horror stories about these models showing up with problems like:
- Moisture trapped inside
- Black spots on internal lenses
- Terrible optical defects (aberrations)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What does 10×50 mean?
10×50 describes the magnification and objective lens size of the binoculars. The 10x refers to the magnification. This means the image will appear 10 times closer to the use than it actually is.
The 50 refers to the diameter of the objective (largest) lens and is typically expressed in millimeters.
How do I adjust the focus?
All binoculars reviewed above have a manual knob that needs to be turned to adjust the binoculars to the appropriate distance.
How close can the binoculars focus?
Depending on the model, the ones listed above range between 10 and 25 feet being the closest you can focus on.
Can they be mounted on a tripod?
The Bushnell PowerView are the only model reviewed that can be mounted to a tripod.
Conclusion
If you are on a tight budget but are looking for a quality set of binoculars, look no further than the Vortex Crossfire. The optical quality is unmatched in this price range. There is a reason they are also our favorite scope manufacturer for AR hunting scopes. I will likely be buying a pair for myself in the near future.