With binoculars popularity seemingly ever increasing, professional standard binoculars are becoming commonplace in the average household.
The prospect of getting closer to nature is a tantalising one, and the simplest and safest way to achieve it is through binoculars.
But what if you are on a budget?
Click here for more reviews of Celestron Nature DX Binoculars
Professional level binoculars aren’t exactly cheap – some pairs easily push into the four-figure price tags. Not exactly easy to afford.
Well for those on a budget Celestron may have made the perfect binoculars for you, with their latest entry in the form of the Celestron Nature DX 8×42 Binoculars.
Celestron Nature DX Binoculars Video Review – Watch Below
The Celestron Nature DX is specifically targeted at beginner to intermediate binocular users. They aim to achieve the perfect balance between ease of use and quality, giving an excellent image quality without all of the features of professional standard binoculars the everyday person would never use.
But do they achieve a good standard of viewing? Are you really getting what you pay for?
Celestron Nature DX Binoculars Specifications
Let's dive in real quick to the specifications of The Celestron Nature DX's most popular configurations.
| Celestron Nature DX 8x42 | Celestron Nature DX 10x32 | Celestron Nature DX 10x42 |
|---|---|---|
Size8x42 | Size10x32 | Size10x42 |
Lens CoatingFully Multi-Coated | Lens CoatingFully Multi-Coated | Lens CoatingFully Multi-Coated |
Field of View388 ft. | Field of View304 ft. | Field of View304 ft. |
Close Focus6.5 ft | Close Focus6.5 ft | Close Focus6.5 ft |
Eye Relief17.5 mm | Eye Relief14 mm | Eye Relief14 mm |
Weight22.2 oz | Weight18 oz | Weight22.2 oz |
Dimensions5.3 x 4.9 x 2 inches | Dimensions5 x 4.9 x 1.8 inches | Dimensions5.3 x 4.9 x 2 inches |
| READ REVIEWS | READ REVIEWS | READ REVIEWS |
Main Use For The Celestron Nature DX Binoculars
The configuration we are reviewing in this review is the Celestron Nature DX 8x42 magnification. Generally, the other configurations will be very similar with just some slight changes.
8x is perfect for most hunting and birding applications. Paired with a 42mm objective lense, it is one of, if not the most popular configurations.
If you want something a bit more compact, you can go with the 10x32 as well.
While these are good for hunting and birding, they are also surprisingly good for viewing stars and constellations. While these should not be considered astronomy binoculars, they are fairly decent for their price range.
Glass/Lens
The Celestron 71332's use fully multicoated optics, which is excellent to see in a sub $150 pair of binoculars.
By employing the use of BaK-4 Prisms with phase correcting coatings, image contrast is increased along with resolution for sharper more detailed images.
With built-in lens covers, this premium glass also protects against accidental damage that may occur on the more rigorous hikes.
Overall, the Celestron Nature DX uses a lot of technology that is usually reserved for binoculars that are at least $100 more than what they are selling for.
Celestron Nature DX Binoculars – Watch Below
Magnification
Celestron offer a basic 8x magnification with their Nature DX binoculars. 8x is a really popular magnification for birders and hunters, especially over a 42mm objective lens. With this size lens and magnification, it gives a sharp, bright image.
If you want a smaller and more compact binocular, you can opt for it but you’ll get a darker image.
Also, being an 8x set of binoculars, you’ll get an excellent and wide field of view of 388 ft at 1000 yards. This will let you scan the horizon, take in the entire forest in front of you, or see a small bird jump from branch to branch.
What 8x magnification is perfect for however, is up close observations of birds, insects and plants.
Image Quality
The quality of image offered by these binoculars is generally good.
However, with a pair of binocs specifically designed for beginner to intermediate users, the image quality is not going to be up to the same standard as some professionally targeted pairs.
Whereas these are good for their price tag being under $150, but they are still no comparison to a pair of Nikons above the $300 range. At this price range you should expect some blurring around the edges and not a perfectly smooth focus ring.
Eye Relief
As standard, binoculars tend to allow enough space for the visually impaired to be able to use them without having to change from their glasses to contact lenses.
This is again the case with these binocs from Celestron with twist-up eye cups there is plenty of space and comfort provided when it comes to viewing, enabling you to focus on the image rather than on what to do with your specs.
Celestron Nature DX Promo Video
Celestron Nature DX Size and Weight
We normally don't have a category just for weight, but we felt it was important in this situation.
The Celestron 71332 Nature DX Binoculars are surprisingly light, coming in at only 22.2 ounces! While they don't pack in the craziest prisms and lenses as higher end binoculars do (driving up the weight), they do have a respectable setup that normally weighs more in this price range.
Also, they come in at 5.3" x 4.9" which is relatively compact at any price range.
So, you are getting a decent quality pair of binoculars that are actually pretty light and an acceptable size.
The major plus points with these binoculars is the price, along with the versatility.
With the features it includes along with it's accessories, for the price tag of under $150, you really are getting a lot.
It’s tough to find a binocular that is cheap, that hasn’t cheaped out on the standard of glass, but this offering from Celestron is one of those rare finds.
With budget pairs of binoculars, some faults are to be expected. Unfortunately, a few have crept into this pair.
The major issues reported are to do with some image blurring when it comes to viewing the finer details at the full extent of the magnification.
The set up for adjusting the width of the eye pieces requires some fiddling and is a little clunky.
Conclusions
Designed specifically to target beginners on a budget, these binoculars achieve what they set out to do.
However, if you really want a top quality image, you should look at extended your budget, and going elsewhere.
Sometimes, products escape the saying of ‘you get what you pay for’ and unfortunately, this stellar effort from Celestron falls into that category.They are durable, affordable, and easy on the eye.
Having said that, as a first pair of binoculars, you can do a lot worse, and these will serve you well for getting up close and personal with nature, but not a great deal else.
Celestron Nature DX 8x42 Review
Other Reviews of the Celestron Nature DX 8x42
By Michael Laferriere
These Celestron Nature DX binoculars were recommended by Cornell Ornithology as one of the best economy binoculars at one point, and definitely I agree. They're not as good as the $1,200 set of binoculars that absolutely blew my mind when I borrowed a pair from a naturalist on a hike a while back, but they are way better than the cheap ones that I have been buying year after year.
So, I decided to get a good pair this time. The Celestrons are fairly good close focus (good for birds that are only 8 or 9 feet away when you want to see every feather). They are sturdy and don't feel like they'll break at all. They aren't really that heavy either and the lens caps don't automatically fall when you take them off.
If you're still economy minded like me, these are a very good step up from the cheapies. They don't compare to the high end binoculars, of course, but are a huge improvement.
By Timothy Byrne
It's hard to fault The Celeston Nature binoculars with anything, especially at this price point. I'm a beginner birder and they've done everything I have needed or wanted. I'm not a huge fan of the micro adjustable eye relief. There are two settings and you can fine tune in between those two settings, but I find that I have to mess with it and filed with it a bit here and there. It was a little frustrating to me when I first got them because I wasn't sure what was causing the tunnel vision problem. Once I figured it out, it became just a little annoying but not the end of the world. It's only a little annoying and it's only an issue if you wear glasses.
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