These have turned out to be my favorite pair of binoculars. The view is really nice, they fit very well into my hands, the focus is buttery smooth, and they seem really well made.
I was on the search for the best 8x42 I could find in my price range for bird watching and nature viewing, and in the process I've tried quite a few different brands/models. I did tons of research, reading every review, test, and recommendation I could find. My budget was up to $400, but I still tried more expensive binoculars just to have a good basis for comparison. The above-budget binoculars I tried were Vortex Viper, Vortex Razor, and Zeiss Conquest HD. Again, those were just for comparison and "benchmarking". These were tried in a store only, but it was a large store with many bright and also shadowed areas... plus lots of "stuffed" wildlife mounted high on the walls (deer, etc.).
The following binoculars were compared outdoors, I had each pair of these for one to two weeks, so I had time to do very thorough comparisons in many different lighting situations. Included were: Vanguard Spirit ED, Olympus Magellan EXWP I, Carson HD, Celestron TrailSeeker, and Atlas Intrepid ED. I also had/have some other sizes for comparison... Sightron Blue Sky II, 8x32 Alpen Apex 8x32, Alpen Shasta Ridge 10x42, Atlas Intrepid ED 7x36, and Kenko UltraView 10x42.
I have used many other pairs of binoculars for my other hobby, stargazing. Many of you already know that stargazing is very demanding on binoculars in terms of brightness, edge distortion, and resolution. I only mention this to show a bit more of my background, as some binoculars that are great for astronomy aren't the best for daytime... and vice-versa. These 8x42's were going to be strictly daytime use for me, so only casual testing at night was performed to get a better idea of resolution, brightness, and edge performance.
Ok, one of the BIG things I learned from all of this is that YOU have to try any prospective binoculars yourself. Just because an expert reviewer says a certain pair are fantastic doesn't mean they'll be fantastic for you. Everyone's eyes, face shape (which can affect required eye relief), priorities, etc. are different. The other big thing, for me anyways, is that resolution is king. It doesn't matter how great the edge performance is, or how bright the binocular is, or how much depth of field there is if what you're viewing won't come into sharp focus. I thought my Olympus Magellans were sharp and was totally happy with them, but after experiencing a bit more sharpness I can hardly stand using them. Those are considered really nice binoculars, especially in their "day". Now, saying that, the Celestron Nature DX were not the sharpest binoculars I tested when performing strictly resolution testing (using fine print, barcodes, etc. at close and far distances). They were very close compared to the sharpest of the group, though, and I doubt most people would notice any difference. However, in real usage, they're as sharp as any of the others and I couldn't notice a difference at all.
To cut to the chase, the Nature DX's were the only binoculars that really made me smile every time I used them. My eyes just seemed to effortlessly relax into the image. I would take several binoculars into the field at the same time, viewing everything from birds to pinecones, to clouds, to airplanes, to people. Each time, when I looked through the Nature DX's, I found myself actually enjoying the image, instead of just focusing on how well it looked from an analytical perspective. Every other binocular I spent the whole time adjusting focus and diopter settings, trying to get that little bit more of "great" view. Then I'd try the Nature DX's again... and again I'd sink into the image, being amazed by that Acorn Woodpecker and actually intently watching what he was doing, forgetting that I was testing all these different binoculars. THAT is what a great pair of binoculars for YOU will do... you'll feel like you're actually there, instead of just viewing from afar. Solely scientific testing won't determine the best for you. Like I mentioned, at first I wanted a bit more resolution, but found that in real world use they had just as much resolution as any of the others, even the ED models. They do everything very well, it just all comes together with these. Plus you can't beat the price. I was happily willing to spend the full $400 of my budget if I needed to, and to be quite honest if these were $400 I would've paid it, I absolutely love them. To top it off, they're very compact and lightweight, about the size of most other 8x32's. I'd buy another pair in a heartbeat if mine were ever lost.
Just for your info, I'm really happy with my Alpen Shasta Ridge 10x42. Fantastic resolution, great feel, and a great price (got them on sale for $99). Close runner ups for me after all this testing were the Atlas Intrepid ED 8x42 (very nice view and resolution, just a tad too long for me, plus I've found out I like the top hinge vs. the Atlas' open hinge design), the Atlas Intrepid ED 7x36, and the Celestron TrailSeeker (which are very close to the Nature DX... a tad bit sharper, but my eyes didn't sink into the image as much as they did with the Nature DX).
So, out of all of the ones I tested, the Nature DX 8x42 and the Alpen 10x42 are the ones I kept... not because of their lower prices, but because they were the ones that I really enjoyed using.
I hope this helps some of you!
Celestron – Nature DX 8x42 Binoculars – Outdoor and Birding Binocular – Fully Multi-Coated with BaK-4 Prisms – Rubber Armored
4.7 | 3,807 ratings
Price: 149.95
Last update: 01-10-2025
About this item
THE PERFECT BINOCULARS FOR EVERY ADVENTURE: The views through Nature DX rival those of more expensive binoculars, at a price to fit your budget. Nature DX 8x42 reveals image detail you won’t find with other entry-level binoculars.
TOP-RATED GLASS OPTICS WITH IMPRESSIVE SPECS: Fully multi-coated lenses boost contrast and resolution while phase-coated BaK-4 glass prisms maximize light transmission. These binoculars feature a comfortable 8x magnification and a 6.5-ft close focus.
DURABLE, WATERPROOF BODY: A rubber-armored, polycarbonate housing protects your binoculars from damage and stands up to the toughest weather conditions. They're also fully waterproof and nitrogen purged to prevent internal fogging of the lenses.
BONUS ACCESSORIES: Take this binocular with you anywhere. We’ve included a compact carrying case, objective lens caps, an eyepiece rainguard, a neck strap, a lens cloth, and an instruction manual.
UNBEATABLE WARRANTY & CUSTOMER SUPPORT: Buy with confidence from Celestron, a leading optics brand in California since 1960. Your purchase includes a Celestron Limited Lifetime US Warranty & US-based expert tech support.
TOP-RATED GLASS OPTICS WITH IMPRESSIVE SPECS: Fully multi-coated lenses boost contrast and resolution while phase-coated BaK-4 glass prisms maximize light transmission. These binoculars feature a comfortable 8x magnification and a 6.5-ft close focus.
DURABLE, WATERPROOF BODY: A rubber-armored, polycarbonate housing protects your binoculars from damage and stands up to the toughest weather conditions. They're also fully waterproof and nitrogen purged to prevent internal fogging of the lenses.
BONUS ACCESSORIES: Take this binocular with you anywhere. We’ve included a compact carrying case, objective lens caps, an eyepiece rainguard, a neck strap, a lens cloth, and an instruction manual.
UNBEATABLE WARRANTY & CUSTOMER SUPPORT: Buy with confidence from Celestron, a leading optics brand in California since 1960. Your purchase includes a Celestron Limited Lifetime US Warranty & US-based expert tech support.
Product information
| Product Dimensions | 5.3 x 2 x 4.9 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 1.75 pounds |
| ASIN | B00B73JONS |
| Item model number | 71332 |
| Customer Reviews |
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars
3,751 ratings
4.7 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #70 in Camera & Photo Products (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo Products) #42 in Binoculars |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | January 28, 2013 |
| Department | Unisex-Adult |
| Manufacturer | Celestron |
| Country of Origin | China |
Top reviews from the United States
Jay S
Finally found what I was looking for! Love the Nature DX 8x42!
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2015Naomi
They’re perfect
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2024
Brandons
8x42 - 80yr old parents love so I bought 1 for my family of 5. Wt = 2 pop can
Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2020
Brandons
Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2020
My parents are in their 80’s and their ~1972 Tasco/Kmart 7x35 binoculars they used finally gave out. So I researched binoculars that were a similar weight as those (or less preferably) that they could use for backyard animal watching. These seemed perfect and for $115, I felt were a very fair price. I had these shipped to my parents and they absolutely raved about them. The image quality is light years ahead of what they had before and the weight is just right. They were so impressed I order a pair for my family of five the next week. We love them too.
I love high end optics but only had a cheap pair of house binoculars for my own family (ie if the kids break them I don’t care). But that pair drives me nuts because the quality is just terrible. So I was very interested in getting a better pair.
Wow.
These do not disappoint.
These are much better than I would expect for $115. They comfortably, and quickly, adjust from my smallest kids (9yrs) eyes to mine. Our old kinky binoculars the kids had always mentioned about black spots appearing, it had to do with the difficulty in easily adjusting the settings.
My 9yr old was the first to dial in the Nature DX 8x42. He was looking out the back window at birds commenting “Nature is cool”. So I pulled out the binoculars and suggest getting them setup for him. So I had him:
* Turned out eyecups
* Adjusted for pupil distance
* Covered right lens
* Focused using left eye
* Covered left lens
* Adjusted right eye piece diopter
* Removed left lens cover
He then:
* Literally exclaimed “Wow!! Dad this Is awesome”.
When my daughter set them up I suggested she could try them without eyeglasses on (which she always has to wear). It took a little to get the pupil distance set but after she did she dialed in the focus, then the diopter. When she was done and took the right eye cup off and looked through them and was silent for a few seconds. I thought there must be something wrong and asked. She never took her eyes from them and just whispered:
“This is incredible!”
Then more excitedly “It is so sharp it almost hurts my eyes”. “Dad if you are still writing that review please say I give this a 10 out of 10”.
My experience with using them with a very strong prescription for eye glasses.
When I dialed them in for myself they were great. But I have a strong prescription (20/400) compounded by permanent double vision. So I decided to try to see just how far these binoculars could be pushed. I took off my thick glasses and turned out the eyecups. I closed my right eye and adjusted the focus. By turning it fully counter clockwise I was on the cusp of things being in focus. I closed my left eye and adjust the right diopter. I was genuinely surprised, actually shocked, that I was able able to get quite a sharp image.
Combined with the comfort of not having to wear glasses while looking through the binoculars and the relative sharpness I can see myself using these binoculars like this. Just for the joy of being able to use something without glasses. The *very slight* trade off in edge to edge sharpness (no default of the optics, that is 100% my eyes) is nothing compared to the relief of not having to wear glasses looking through something.
My opinion is that if you have a light to medium prescription you should be able to easily & quickly dial these in to use without your glasses. But even if you choose to wear glasses while using them, the image is fantastic.
The only thing I would like to see (but find it unlikely at this price point) for a family focused set of binoculars is engraved numbers of the focus wheel, diopter, pupil distance. Then in one of the caps have a place where family members can jot their numbers down so if passing them back and forth one could easily have it quickly dialed in for the next user.
Images in this review
cassandra York
its pretty good
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2024