This post may contain affiliate links which means we may get a commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please read our disclosure for details.
"Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn a commission."
Binoculars in the $100-200 range are much superior compared to the low-end products, but they can also make even some high-end products look pale in comparison. Find out what the best binoculars under $200 are capable of.
Binoculars under $100 can compete even with the most expensive counter products in terms of image quality, but the side effect of that would be low durability. Stand under the rain for 10 minutes with your binocular, and you might have to buy a new one. The next low range is 100-200, and you will have a perfect ratio of image quality and durability this time.
We have reviewed ten best binoculars under $200 to give you an idea of how paying just a bit more than $100 can pay off.
Our Top Ten Picks For Best Binoculars Under $200
Bushnell Legend L-Series
From its coating material to the armor, Bushnell Legend certainly goes beyond the basics, but this expansion is only on the inside. Bushnell Legend comes across as a small and light binocular due to the Bak4 roof prism, which is seen mostly in the most expensive products. It owes its lightness to the magnesium alloy within the armor, also displaying resistance to corrosion, water, and fog.
Looking through Bushnell Legend, you will see every object with the exact true color. This is attained by the multicoated lenses processed with ED fluorite glass. This type of glass reduces chromatic aberration while increasing the color contrast. This exceptional performance passes on to the night time thanks to the 42mm diameter.
Pros
- Being lightweight despite the wide lense
- 42 mm-wide lens for improved low-light viewing
- Enhanced image quality.
- 340 feet field of view
- Eliminates chromatic aberration
Cons
- The twist eyecup is difficult to adjust with one hand.
Nikon Prostaff 7S – Corrosion-Resistant Best Binoculars Under $200
Nikon’s Prostaff 7S is another proof that by saving up a little more, you can have the optimum level of high quality on the inside and outside. Most of Nikon’s products have roof prism, and Prostaff 7S one of the cheapest products with that feature. The reflective coating around the lens helps to attain brighter image colors even in extreme light conditions.
The material of the casing made of polycarbonate ensures flexibility and resistance to corrosion, with additional nitrogen compression to alleviate damage from water or fog. There is an extra touch on the eyecups with the addition of a rain guard. With extra protection from all sides, Prostaff 7S is perfectly suitable for boat trips and water sports.
Pros
- Fully waterproof
- Easy-grip and resistance to impact
- Coated lenses for true colors
- Low-light viewing with 42 mm lenses
Cons
- The only downside is the uncomfortable neck strap that comes with the kit.
Wingspan Optics NaturePro – Best Binoculars Under $200 with a Large Field of View
Regardless of the price range, it is a challenging mission to find a binocular fit for birdwatching. A suitable binocular should have a large field of view to catch the sight of fast-moving birds without losing focus. Wingspan Optics NaturePro beats all the other products with a FOV of 430 feet at 1000 feet away.
The 8x magnification helps you zoom into the bird, while the 42 mm lens optimizes the brightness smoothly so that you don’t lose sight of the bird.
Wingspan NaturePro’s casing is one of the strongest. It can endure any external hardship, be it raindrops, extreme temperatures, or impact. Nevertheless, it comes with a lifetime warranty so that you can use it to its full potential comfortably.
Pros
- Extremely durable
- Super-large FOV for bird-watching
- Wide lens for low-light viewing
- Waterproof
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- The tightness of the focus wheel.
Redfield Rebel 10×42
There are very few pairs of binoculars in this price range that are suitable for hunting. Redfield’s Rebel is much cheaper than its rivals possessing similar qualities, and it is perfectly designed for hunting. The optical performance is satisfactory, displaying 10x magnification and 42 mm objectives for sufficient zooming and lighting. The Bak-4 prism with fully multi-coated optics ensures excellent color saturation.
The real magic of this product is the 65-degree viewing angle for easy tracking of distant animals and birds. The 16 mm eye relief, as well as locking diopter correction and twist-up rubber eyecups, makes the handling easy like a child’s play during the hunt.
Pros
- Long eye relief
- Fully waterproof and weatherproof
- 65-degree viewing angle
- Easy-grip with rubber armor and textures in between
Cons
- The difficulty of image steadiness in maximum magnification.
Gskyer AX14-7X50 – Best Binoculars Under $200 with 7x Magnification
Gskyer might be a lesser-known brand, but its binocular models can ascend and even exceed some products of the top brands. Unlike most of the items on this list, AX14 boasts a Porro prism with 7x magnification and a 50mm objective lens for exceptional low-light performance.
Despite shifting gears from roof prism binoculars to Porro, Ax14 still displays fully multicoated optics. The 357 feet FOV at 1000 yards makes it feasible for just about any travel-related activity. If you want to hold on to your sunglasses, that’s more than fine because the twist eyecups and the 17 mm eye relief will eliminate unnecessary friction between the lens and your glasses.
Pros
- 17 mm eye relief
- Twist eye-cups for lens protection
- 357 feet FOV
- 50 mm lens for viewing in the dark
- Shock-absorbing rubber armor
Cons
- Only short term warranty (1 year)
Vanguard Spirit XF
A common deficiency of most pairs of binoculars is the loss of focus upon zooming in. Vanguard Spirit XF tackles this issue by using an enhanced definition for edge-to-edge clarity at all times. The must-have features, such as BaK-4 prisms, phase-correction, and multicoating lenses, optimize the clarity.
The open bridge design is excellent for hunters, as it provides ease of handling with one hand. The textured rubber armor shows resistance to impact and water. Still, Vanguard Spirit XF will have your back with their lifetime premium warranty.
Pros
- Open-bridge design
- Edge-to-edge clarity
- Phase coated prisms and fully multi-coated lenses
- Color reproduction
Cons
- Slightly bigger than average compact binoculars.
Nikon 7245 Action 10×50 Extreme ATB
A refreshing feature amongst the best binoculars under $200 is the lens diameter. You will find lenses as full as 50 mm in this price range, and the binocular will still have an overall portable size. Nikon’s 7245 Action is one such product.
As one of the pioneering brands, Nikon brings some superior features to the product, the most remarkable being the 17.2 m eye relief, a central focus knob for immediate focus, and O-ring sealing and nitrogen filling for waterproof quality.
With amazing low-light performance, durability, and a 25 year-warranty, Nikon 7245 action is a product that will lead you through decades of traveling.
Pros
- Waterproof & Fogproof
- Multicoated Bak4 Prism for crisp images
- Extra-long eye relief
- Low-light performance with 50mm diameter
Cons
- On the heavier side
Bushnell Marine 7×50
While a lot of pairs of binoculars under $200 are waterproof, not all of them are perfect candidates for viewing marine life. Also, it doesn’t mean you can indefinitely expose them to water. In that regard, Bushnell’s Marine binocular diverges from its usual pattern and goes the extra mile to cater to sailors.
Aside from the O-ring filling with nitrogen compression, Bushnell Marine comprises an airtight seal to protect the interior from moisture. While most binoculars will sink when dropped into the water, this one will stay afloat, which is perhaps what makes it the best candidate for boat and sailing.
Other features worth mentioning include the 18mm eye relief, and a 3-Axis compass for easy navigation of objects, especially in water.
Pros
- Waterproof, resistant to salt-water, fog, and moisture
- Floats on water
- 50mm: Amazing low-light performance
- Compass for easy navigation
- 18mm eye relief
Cons
- The compass doesn’t work well when the boat is on the move.
Celestron 71404 TrailSeeker
As a manufacturer of astronomy binoculars, Celestron is as trustworthy as it gets when it comes to optical excellence. Lucky for you, it has launched a few binoculars under $300, and 71404 Trailseeker is one of their cheapest. Like their other binoculars, TrailSeeker uses a magnesium alloy shield to protect the Bak-4 roof prism and omit any blurring.
Celestron also goes quite generous with phase and dielectric coatings for maximum light transmission and optimum brightness. Finally, the anti-reflective multicoating helps accentuate the details. With the enhanced quality of optic approaches from all sides, Trailseeker provides edge to edge sharpness despite the large FOV.
Pros
- Effective light-transmission for brightness
- Great image detail
- Large FOV with edge sharpness
- Waterproof and fog proof
- Multi-stop twist eyecups for correct positioning
Cons
- The neck-strap is difficult to attach and feels uncomfortable
Vortex Optics Crossfire
Vortex products are the number one choice of many hunters, and it is easy to see why. Looking at Vortex Optics Crossfire, one can realize the emphasis of smooth handling for precise navigation necessary for hunting the trophy. Crossfire’s vast field of view helps you scan the picture without moving around a lot. Then, you can easily adjust the focus with twist eyecups and give a final touch with the eye diopter and central focus wheel.
The rubber armor reduces the chances of slipping to almost zero, but even when you drop it, the protective barrels with nitrogen purging will protect Crossfire from the impact, not to mention water or extreme heat. Overall, Vortex Optics will not let you down on the hunting ground.
Pros
- Waterproof
- Non-slip rubber armor
- Ease of focus with the central wheel
- 8×42, excellent light transmission
Cons
- Lenses can go loose and get foggy over time.
Buying Guide For Finding The Best Binoculars Under $200
The best binoculars under $200 will present you with a lot more privileges compared to the budget binoculars. Still, not all of them have the same level of excellence in all aspects. Here is what you should look for in the top binoculars in the $100-200 price range.
Power (magnification x lens)
You will encounter binoculars with various levels of magnification and lens diameter. The gut feeling is to go for the maximum power, but we urge you to do the opposite, as overly-powerful binoculars are hard to handle by hand. The optimum power you will see in this price range is 8×42 or 10×42, which should be more than sufficient for hunting and safari.
Glass
In almost all products in this price range, you will find excellent glass technology with full multi-coating for optimum image quality, as well as novel glass material like ED fluorite.
Prism
The pleasant surprise about the prism in this price range is that you can actually find A LOT of roof prisms. The main advantage of these prisms is the lightweight and compactness, but they are also easier to implement Bak-4 reflectivity and phase-correction. In almost all the products you browse, you can easily find these two specifics.
Field Of View
Another advantage of the best binoculars under $200 is the unbelievably large FOV that can go up to 450 feet in 1000 yards. For your travels, opt for at least 340 feet FOV.
Eye relief
Most products in this price range will have decent long-eye relief up to 18mm for ease of use with sunglasses. Opt for at least 16mm.
Ergonomy and durability
Most products will have rubber armor with extra material such as magnesium, and polycarbonate for protection from corrosion and impact. Also, you should choose products that will boast nitrogen purging for waterproofing.
Summing Up the Best Binoculars Under $200
Although you can find many binoculars under $100 with decent quality, they will likely give in because of the lack of protective material. By saving up a bit more, you can choose among the products of optics’ world-leaders, where there is also great care on the strength and quality of the material. By spending less than $200, you can still find numerous binoculars as tough and durable as a mountain.
To know what else to pack for your trip to African countries, consider reading our posts on:
- South Africa packing list
- Egypt packing list
- Morocco packing list
- Safari packing list Botswana
- Kilimanjaro packing list
