Best 10x50 Binoculars (2024) for Birdwatching, Hunting, Astronomy
Looking for the best 10x50 binoculars?
Here are our top three picks in three price ranges for bird watching, hunting, and astronomy stargazing.
Nikon Aculon 10x50 Binoculars (Under $100)
We like the Nikon Aculon 10x50 Binoculars for bird watching, hunting, and for star gazing.
For marine binoculars, we prefer the 7x50 model since the lower magnification and wider field of view is better for use on a moving boat.
The porro prism design in these Aculons, although not streamlined like roof prism binoculars, keeps the price down while delivering sharp images.
Nikon Aculon 10x50 Features:
- Aspherical Multicoated Eco-Glass Lenses
- BaK-4 Porro Prism Glass for bright, clear images
- Turn and slide rubber eyecups
- Smooth central focus knob
- Wide field of view: 341 feet
- Lightweight for its size: 31.7 ounces
Nikon Aculon Review
Want a pair that are waterproof and fogproof under $200?
The Nikon Action EX (Extreme) 10x50 Binoculars are also a good choice in the $175 range if you want a pair that are waterproof and fogproof.
We review the 10x50 EX on our Nikon Action Binoculars page.
Vortex Diamondback HD 10x50 Binoculars (Under $300)
At this price point, you get a lot of higher quality features, such as HD glass, in the Vortex Diamondback 10x50 binoculars.
These are a great mid-priced binocular for birdwatching, hunting, and stargazing.
Vortex Diamondback HD 10x50 Binocular Features:
- HD Optics - Delivers exceptional resolution, cuts chromatic aberration and provides outstanding color fidelity, edge-to-edge sharpness and light transmission
- Fully mulit-coated, anti-reflective glass coatings and dialectric prism coating for bright, clear, color-accurate images
- ArmorTek � lens coating protects against scratches, oil, and dirt
- Waterproof/Fogproof/Shockproof rubbor armored protection and non-slip grip
- Adjustable twist up/down eyecups
- Field of View: 315 ft
- Weight: 30 oz
Vortex Diamondback HD Review
The Fantastic Vortex Optics Warranty
Vortex has an excellent warranty:
"We will repair or replace your Vortex� product in the event it becomes damaged or defective�at no charge to you. If we cannot repair your product, we will replace it with a product in perfect working order of equal or better physical condition."
Vortex Viper HD 10x50 Binoculars
If you have a little more flexibility in your budget, the Vortex Viper HD 10x50 Binoculars are also an excellent choice.
For an additional $300 more than the Diamondbacks, you will get better quality optics including a high density optical system with XR anti-reflective lens coatings which provides exceptional resolution, edge to edge clarity, and bright images even in low light situation
Bushnell Falcon 10x50 Wide Angle Binoculars (Under $40)
The Bushnell Falcon 10x50 Binoculars are budget category binoculars that won't give you the same level of clarity and crispness as in more expensive binoculars, but they still will allow you to view wildlife and some level of details at a 10x magnification, but not as clear and bright with higher quality glass.
Bushnell Falcon 10x50 Features:
- Very lightweight for 10x50 binoculars - only 27 oz!
- Close Focus - 25 feet
- Wide Field of View - 300 ft
The Bushnell Falcons are cheap porro prism binoculars that are best for casual backyard-type birding, or birding and/or hunting that doesn't require a lot of detail for identification.
But like the wide angle name explains, the field of view at 300 feet, provides a wide view to locate and easily follow objects, like birds, through the lenses.
The Bushnell Falcon has BK-7 prism glass instead of the higher quality BaK-4 glass. Where you'll notice this is distortion around the edges of the lenses.
Get the Bushnell Falcon's only if your budget doesn't allow for anything in the $100+ range.
You can also view more reviews here on our Best Cheap Binoculars page.
Best of the Best High End 10x50 Binoculars
If you can spare no expense, any of the below 10x50 binoculars which include the Swarovski EL, Vortex Razor HD/UHD, Leica Ultravid HD Plus, and Zeiss Victory HT would be great choices.
The higher-end prism glass, coatings, and optical design is what makes a binocular cost thousands of dollars vs tens of dollars.
Vortex Razor HD vs UHD Review
What does 10x50 binoculars mean?
10x50 binoculars have a 10x magnification with a 50 mm objective lens.
Dividing the objective lens by the magnification equals the exit pupil size.
The bigger the diameter of the exit pupil, the better you'll see in dim light.
So for 10x50 binoculars, 50/7 equals an exit pupil size of 5 mm.
We recommend an exit pupil of 4 mm or more, so 5 mm is acceptable.
Best 10x50 Binoculars for Birding? Hunting?
For a mid-priced binocular, we recommend the Vortex Diamondback or the Nikon Monarch for birding and/or hunting.
They both have relatively wide field of views for a 10x binocular and the lens and prism quality is good for details and the 50 mm objective lens allows enough light in for low light conditions, especially for those early or late day birding outings and hunting at dawn and dusk.
Best 10x50 binoculars for Astronomy?
If you go too cheap, stars will be appear as blurs instead of pinpoints, especially near the edges of the lenses.
We like either the Nikon Aculon or the Vortex Crossfire HD in the mid-price range.
Also take a look at our high power binocular reviews for magnifications of 16x, 20x, and 25x.
10x50 vs 20x50 Binoculars
Although 20x50 binoculars will provide more magnification than 10x50s, the field of view will be very narrow and the exit pupil will be small, images won't be very bright and they will not be very useful in low light conditions.
Also, 20x50s will be difficult to hold steady and will magnify the shake of your hands.
If you want binoculars with 20x magnification, we don't recommend 20x50 binoculars.
Get a larger objective lens size, otherwise the field of view will be extremely narrow.
We suggest a minimum of 20x56, or if you want to use a monopod or tripod, try 20x70 , 20x80 or 20x100 binoculars.
You can view more here at our 20x binoculars reviews.
Related Binocular Pages
How to Choose Binoculars - What features to look for according to your needs
Best Binoculars for Bird Watching - in 4 price ranges
Best 7x50 Binoculars - Top 3 Picks. Good if you don't need the 10x magnification and prefer a wider field of view and more light gathering capacity for low-light conditions. Because 7x binoculars are less magnified than 10x, there will be less visible shake and less need to hold them as steady.
10x50 Binoculars - Nikon Action EX product page
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