Celestron TrailSeeker ED 8x42 Binoculars: Compact for Birdwatching & Outdoor Activities with ED Objective Lenses & Fully Multi-coated Optics Review

Bird watching has become my new hobby. Admittedly I'm new to this field but wanted a decent pair of binoculars. I have read the Audubon recommendations. These binoculars were one of the cheapest. At this point I'm really impressed with the overall quality of the visuals and controls. Accessories supplied with the binoculars include a carrying strap, a safety strap, a carrying case and a cleaning cloth. The only comparison I can make is to an old pair of pocket sized Nikon 7x20s. They have…

I bought these mainly for bird watching. They were good for their intended use, but I can't say I was impressed. They take the look of a bird already in view and make it a little bigger and clearer. In 1-2 months of ownership there hasn't been a single instance where I thought I would never do an ID without them. However, besides birdwatching, I have used it for astronomy (last Jupiter/Saturn conjunction) as well as for terrestrial observation. In these qualities, especially the latter, they…

Great binoculars for the price. I tested them against 5 monarchs, 7 8x42 monarchs, whirlwind vipers, diamonds and razor. Returned everything except razors (10x42) and these. I thought they worked in low light compared to the Viper and Monarch 7, both of which are almost double the price. The razors blew them all out of the water (but for $1000 I expected that). All tested binoculars performed well in broad daylight. The real challenge with binoculars is in low light (dawn/dusk or a very…

I bought the 10x32 version and was very impressed with the 'clarity' of the binoculars. I have several pairs of mid-range Steiners, so I use them as bases. I think the Stiners are damn good binoculars for the price. You get what you pay for and you buy reliable equipment. My Stiner 10X32 binoculars cost about the same as these Celestrons, but the Celestron are sharper. Heck, they're sharper than my 10x42 Stiner and I'm not sure the light collection from the big tubes is that much better than…

When I first went bird hunting with them, the phrase "change the rules of the game” kept popping up in my head. I am amazed that I was able to purchase such great binoculars for less than $200. The clarity is fantastic. The field of view is excellent. It was difficult to follow the birds in flight with my old binoculars. With Trailseeker 8x42 I can do this without any problems. I like it very much when I can examine the birds closely. I was thinking about getting a 10x42 (my old binoculars were

I have four binoculars, each for a different purpose. I am very selective in my choice and of course in the correct use of each tool for its purpose. Compromises are made when it comes to looks. You want light weight? Be prepared to sacrifice high magnification and wider fields of view. Want a wide field of view? You have to make compromises when increasing. Want a super powerful zoom? Be prepared to carry a significant amount of weight. For these reasons, while I'm a huge fan of reading and…

As an amateur astronomer, I have long known Celestron's history of (mostly) excellent optics. So when my wife and I first got into ornithology about 20 years ago, we bought two pairs of Celestron 7x50 binoculars for about $50 each. It wasn't exactly "cheap" binoculars back then. We have been very happy with them and they have lasted about 5 or 6 years. Various mechanical issues, mostly after we dropped them or handled them carelessly, made it difficult to use. The optical quality has always…