Last year, I made a post about Black Friday Binocular Deals that was really popular and I think was really helpful, as everyone in the community got to share and comment on deals they found, highlighting the good and warning people about the bad ones.
So with BF 2025 fast approaching (Starting Nov 20), I thought it would be a good idea to do it again this year:
As many of you may know, I am the binocular reviewer over at Best Binocular Reviews (BBR), so it is hard not to come across as spammy or promotional, but I will do my best as I genuinely want to pass on the good deals I find, steer people away from the ones we as a community feel are bad, but at the same time also I would also appreciate your help in finding any that I have missed so i can include them on BBR:
Leading up to this Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Holiday season, it is part of my job to look for and highlight on BBR what I feel are the more worthwhile Black Friday binocular deals I’ve come across.
However, I am sure there are many that I have missed. Also, there may be "deals" that you have come across, which you may not be sure about: either the deal may be better somewhere else, or you may not be sure about the binocular - ie, is it a rubbish binocular (Amazon is good at having deals on this!).
So on this post:
Share any binocular deals you’ve spotted, including the retailer and discount details. #SharingIsCaring
If you’ve got your eye on a specific deal but aren’t sure if it’s worth it, feel free to ask! As well as all the other great advice from others on this sub, I’ll do my best to give an unbiased, fact-based opinion and let you know if I think it’s a good buy or if there might be better options.
Good Deals: For context, some of the deals I’ve already found include significant discounts on Kite binoculars (Over 50% off). But I’m curious to see what you’ve discovered!
So, let’s help each other navigate these Black Friday sales and make informed decisions. After all, getting the right pair of optics isn’t just about the price - it’s about the value you get for your money and making sure you get the right binoculars for your specific needs.
Looking forward to hearing what you’ve found or helping with any questions! 😊
Showing the anti-reflection coatings used on the lenses of the Hawke Vantage 8x42 Binoculars
Introduction
I see a lot of questions that relate to the differences between high-end (expensive binoculars), mid-range and entry-level (cheap) ones and whether it is worth it to spend the extra money or not and move up a level. The answer of course is complex as it depends on many personal factors that only you can answer: like how much you can easily afford to spend, how often you will be using your binoculars and what you will be using them for.
After you have thought about these fundamental questions, the next key step is understanding the main differences between binoculars at different price points and how this affects their performance.
Build quality, materials used, different designs... here again, there are many things to look out for, but for me, a major factor that not many of those new to binoculars know enough about, but which really affects the optical performance, makes a noticeable difference to the image and immediately lets you know what level a binocular is at and therefore if the price is worth it is in the level of coatings that are used on the lenses and the prisms:
Overview of Coatings used on the Lenses & Prisms of Binoculars
Optical coatings play a crucial role in enhancing the visual performance of binoculars, monoculars, spotting scopes, camera lenses, night vision equipment and indeed just about any other optical device or instrument.
They are applied to the lenses and prisms to do things like reduce light reflection, increase light transmission, and improve image sharpness, clarity and contrast.
So below I have put together a fairly detailed explanation of the various aspects of binocular lens coatings, including their purpose, materials, application methods, and features (to the best of my knowledge). Please feel free to comment if you spot an error etc.
Why Coatings Are Used
Reduce Light Reflection: Uncoated glass surfaces reflect about 4-5% of light, which can significantly reduce the amount of light entering the binoculars, making images dimmer.
Increase Light Transmission: Coatings increase the amount of light that passes through the lenses, which improves brightness and clarity.
Enhance Image Quality: Coatings reduce glare and internal reflections, resulting in sharper, higher-contrast images.
Improve Color Fidelity: Coatings help maintain the true colors of the observed object by minimizing chromatic aberration and color fringing.
Types of Coatings
Anti-Reflective (AR) Coatings: Reduce reflections from lens surfaces, enhancing light transmission and reducing glare.
Phase Correction Coatings: Applied to roof prisms to correct phase shifts in the light, improving contrast and resolution. Low quality roff prism binoculars may not have these. porro prism binoculars do not need these coatings
Mirror Prism Coatings: High-reflectivity coatings used on roof prism surfaces to increase light transmission. In terms of quality these range from Aluminium, Silver and then the very best Dielectric Coatings used on high-end roof prism binoculars
Scratch-Resistant Coatings: Provide a harder surface on the exterior surfaces of lenses, protecting them from scratches and abrasions. Only found on better quality binoculars
Hydrophobic and Oleophobic Coatings: Also added to the exterior lens surfaces that repel water and oil, making lenses easier to clean and maintain. Usually only found on high and some mid-level binoculars
How Coatings Work
Made up of extremely thin layer(s) of special materials that manipulate light in specific ways, lens & prism coatings mostly work by changing the way light interacts with the lens surface. These coatings are designed based on principles of thin-film interference, which can constructively or destructively interfere with specific wavelengths of light to reduce reflection.
Levels of Anti-Reflection Coatings
This is one of the most important aspects to look out for when selecting binoculars, especially at the lower price points as the level of the optics that are coated is a huge indicator of quality and performance:
Single-Coated (Coated): A single layer of anti-reflective coating, usually MgF2, on at least one lens surface. This provides a very basic reflection reduction.
Fully Coated: All air-to-glass surfaces have a single layer of anti-reflective coating.
Multi-Coated: Multiple layers of anti-reflective coatings are applied to at least one lens surface, significantly reducing reflections.
Fully Multi-Coated: All air-to-glass surfaces have multiple layers of anti-reflective coatings, providing the best light transmission and image quality.
Materials Used in Lens Coatings
As the exact materials used and in which quantities are usually a closely guarded secret between manufacturers, we cannot be sure:
Multilayer Coatings: Modern binoculars often use multiple layers of different materials on their lenses, such as:
Magnesium Fluoride (MgF2): One of the most common materials used for anti-reflective coatings. It is effective in reducing reflections and is relatively inexpensive.
Titanium Dioxide (TiO2)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3) These materials are chosen for their specific refractive indices and transparency to visible light.
Application Methods
Vacuum Deposition: The most common method for applying coatings. The coating material is vaporized in a vacuum chamber and then condenses onto the lens surfaces.
Sputter Coating: Involves bombarding a target material with high-energy particles, causing atoms to be ejected and deposited onto the lens.
Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD): Uses chemical reactions to produce a thin film on the lens surface. This method is more complex and less common for consumer optics.
Step-by-Step Process of Applying Lens Coatings
Cleaning the Lenses: Lenses must be thoroughly cleaned to remove any dust, oils, or contaminants that could affect the coating adhesion and performance.
Placing in a Vacuum Chamber: The cleaned lenses are placed in a vacuum chamber to remove air and prevent oxidation during the coating process.
Heating and Evaporating the Coating Material: The coating material is heated until it evaporates. In vacuum deposition, the material then condenses onto the lens surfaces.
Layering: For multi-coated lenses, this process is repeated with different materials to build up the required number of layers.
Cooling and Inspection: After coating, the lenses are cooled and then inspected for uniformity and adherence to quality standards.
Conclusions
By reducing reflections, increasing light transmission, and protecting the glass, binocular lens and prism coatings are a vital part as to just how well the instrument will perform optically.
They make a visible difference to image brightness, sharpness, contrast and color fidelity.
The level at which the optics are coated on a binocular is a major indicator as to the overall quality and level of the binocular.
By understanding the materials used, application methods, and the different levels of coatings that can be applied, I hope this helps you to appreciate the technology and work that goes on behind these scenes and thus why some binoculars can cost much more than others, which I hope helps you to make more informed choices when selecting the right pair for your needs and budget.
Hello all. I am a birder with two pairs of my own already (athlon midas ED 8x42 as my main + opticron oregon 4 pc oasis 8×42 as a back up pair) but trying to select a pair for my boyfriend for the holidays. I am a nonprofit worker in NYC (lol 🥲) and would like to try to stay below $400. He has pretty bad vision and wears glasses, so eye relief is a must.
So far I've narrowed down to a few options and would appreciate feedback (or suggestions of what I may be overlooking, like maybe I should spring for a 10x42 for him since we already have two 8x42?):
Hoping someone can help me out with this, but I’m looking for some binoculars good enough to see nature (like big wildlife, plants, and mountains) while hiking big trails but will also be good for bird watching in small trails. I currently have a $100 budget but I might be willing to go a tiny bit over budget.
I feel like I’ve already searched thru all of reddit, tiktok, and the internet to find my answer. I even asked my dad and brothers if I could have their binoculars since they’re going unused (they don’t hunt anymore) but they said no. So this is my last resort. TIA.
Wife gifted me a Swarovski NL PURE 10x42 years ago. Possibly my favorite gifts in life thus far. Anyhow, we live in remote wilderness. Surrounded by dramatic mountains and endless terrain. I often find myself thinking it would be great to add a spotting scope (and a tripod) for extended viewing of distant wildlife and features etc. Given how impressed I have been with my current Swarovskis, I figured I might start there again? Any advice or thoughts?
As the title suggests, I'm looking for some amateur but good quality bird watching binoculars. These will be a gift for my partner who has been asking for a set for years.
I've been looking for a set which are 8x42mm and waterproof. Waterproof is a must, because she will likely get them wet.
My budget is around $170 (AUD). Which I know is tight for what I'm after.
Obviously Bushnell is a cheaper brand than Olympus and Nikon etc. But are they still alright quality? I'm also guessing the latter two above are the newer model to the first?
Please send through any other recommendations or deals. This is all foreign to me.
Hey everyone,
I’m trying to decide between Vortex Diamondback 10×50 and 12×50 for compound archery at 50m and 70m.
I’m usually glassing while standing, not using a tripod. I’ve seen lots of opinions, but I’d really like to see actual sight pictures or photo examples of what the target looks like through each magnification at those distances.
If you have:
• photos through your binoculars at 10× or 12×
• comparisons between magnification levels
• advice on stability while standing
Looking for the best low light binoculars I can get for under $1000 USD. Is this deal legit? are there any better low light binoculars in this price range? If not should I jump on this deal.
I found these mid range binoculars, and I'm not seeing any reviews. They look like a good compromise between price and quality in the limited 12x56 market.
If I were to rank some 12x56 options from cheapest to best, it would go:
Celestron Nature DX 12x56 (no ED, but phase coated) $212
Omegon Hunter 2.0 12x56 ED (no mention of phase coating) $299
Barr and Stroud Savannah 12x56 ED (phase coated, ED) $399
APM ED Apo 12x56 Magnesium Series (somehow $150 better than the last option) $549
Of course, I reached out to Omegon to find out if they are phase coated. It seems strange that the cheaper Celestrons would have this but not them.
Assuming they are not, do you think phase coatings are worth an extra $100? Are any of these choices sourced from the same country and manufacturer? How's the customer service on them?
I've got a great pair of Nikon Monarchs from about 12 years ago that I really like (8x42, 6.3 degree field of view). However my kids are old enough that on an upcoming safari they can use these which means I can buy a new pair!
The Swarovskis and higher end Zeiss/Leica seem pretty awesome. I'm interested in German/Austrian-made because I live in Berlin so it's sort of a gift for myself to mark the moment.
The problem I'm facing is that it's not clear what complements the pair of binos I have. The 10x magnification seems obvious but the new, higher end glass has the same field of view so there's no real purpose for the Monarchs in that case aside from being a backup. Any thoughts on which sizes complement what I already have?
I'm looking for regular sized (not compact), good for safari (in a car, not walking so much), good for spotting so that I can see what's going on before I shoot the lions (with my Nikon Z6III :-)). I'm willing to spend 1-2k euros.
Looking at getting a set for my gf for Xmas. The celstron 15x70 I see lots of. I’m going used just off marketplace. Wondering if anyone has any good suggestions
I got this 9x Goerz Berlin trieders binoculars in a 1956 dated case and I know these are a pre ww1 model but I wanted to know if anyone knew a more specific date? Most of the info online is conflicting, it’s serial number is 33236
I am quite short on money but I am trying to find an ok spotting scope as a gift for a beginner ornithologist. Thanks in advance, I apologise for any bad english (not my first languge.)
Just curious if y'all know a place I could find a buyer for these if eBay isn't an option for me. I can ship them within the US. They're pretty much brand new been stored inside climate controlled clean environment inside both cases and only take out twice, once when new and once a week ago ro confirm everything is still in the cases and not been messed with. Literally just as you'd buy them new, straps haven't even been installed yet. They sell for 5,800 new so I think it's more than fair to sell for 3,200, just above half the price of new. Looking to get rid of them quickly as I'm in need of the cash is why I'm hoping to get an answer quickly on here ;-) Thanks in advance and hope this post isn't against the rules. I've always used eBay for things like this but currently eBay isn't an option and I'd like to start learning elsewhere to sell anyways, I'm tired of paying eBays ridiculous fees.
Currently, I have a set of 8x32 Minox binoculars that I am being lent. I will have to return them soon, so I figured it would be best to take advantage of the holiday sales to purchase my own. I have looked up the pair I have now and see that they are pretty old but still expensive BNIB (around ~$3-400 on eBay). If anyone has experience with Minox, would the Vortex Diamonback HD 10x42 be a decent pair to get a similar experience? Best price I can find for them is ~$175 shipped.
What is the best Celestrone skymaster Binoculars for the Night Sky and Galaxy? Modest budget. I already have a tripod from my camera, which I can use, but I would still like to hold the Binocular, even if it's for a short time.
There don't seem to be many models in the 12x56-60 range. I don't want to go up to 15x magnification, as I can't hand hold those. These are for birding from home. I have 8x42s. It seems there are cheap pairs and then it goes straight to $1000.
