Hey, if you’re looking for the best binoculars under 500, you’re in for a wonderful treat today!
We are giving you the Top 10 in this category – the best of those binoculars worth less than $500.
The criteria that we’ve used to come up with this list are pretty simple. They are:
- High user rating. If actual people who have used a certain binocular have rated it really good, then that model must be good!
- At least 10 user reviews. If at least ten or more people are saying similar things about a particular binocular then it is more credible.
- And of course, the price should be below five hundred dollars.
The list of binoculars that we ended up is filled with so many high quality models that the user rating ranges from 4.8 to 5 only. So expect that the binoculars in the list have made the customers extremely satisfied with their purchase.
With all the introduction done, let us dive in and take a look on which model made it to the list. Let us start with the last one first, number 10.
The Carson 3D Series HD binoculars occupy the 10th place in our list. It has a user rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
More than two hundred customers reviewed the product so getting that level of rating from a high number of users is simply amazing.
This means that customer satisfaction is really high for this product!
Summary of features:
- Available at various configurations – 8×32, 8×42, 10×42, 10×50
- Bak-4 prisms
- ED glass for brighter and sharper images
- Rubberized armor coating
- Waterproof and fog proof
- Ideal for bird watching, hunting, hiking, camping, concerts and sporting events
- Price range is between 250 to 300 (depending on the configuration that you prefer)
9. Vanguard Endeavor ED Binocular (8×42)
Occupying our 9th place is the Vanguard Endeavor ED 8×42 Binocular.
With a 4.8 out of 5 user rating and 289 user reviews, this is just one of those awesome models out there.
Similar to our 10th placer, Carson 3D, this binocular is very popular with more than 280 people left a great review for it and rated it really high!
Some of the features of the Vanguard Endeavor:
- 8x Magnification
- Objective lens diameter of 42mm
- FOV of 367 feet
- Eye relief of 19mm
- With ED glass
- Bak-4 phase-coated prisms and multi-coated lenses
- Waterproof and fog-proof
- With a three-stage twist out eyecups
8. Vortex Optics Crossfire II 8×42 Roof Prism Binocular
At 8th place on our list is the Vortex Optics Crossfire II 8×42. It is rated at 4.9 out of 5 stars by 13 customers.
Features include:
- With fully multi coated lenses
- Fog proof and waterproof
- Has a center focus wheel
- With adjustable twist-up eyecups
- Adaptable to use with a tripod
7. Nikon 16004 Prostaff 7S 10×42 All-Terrain Binocular
Next on our list at 7th place is the Nikon 16004 Prostaff 7S 10×42 all-terrain binocular. Out of 5 stars it is rated 4.9 by 17 users.
Some of its features are:
- Roof prisms with phase correction coating
- Fully multi-coated lenses
- Rubber-armored body
- FOV of 324 feet
- Waterproof and fog proof
6. Leupold BX-3 Mojave 10×42 Roof Binoculars
6th place is occupied by the Leupold BX-3 Mojave 10×42 model. It has an average of 4.9 stars out of 5 from twenty-two (22) users.
Features include:
- 10x magnification power
- 42mm objective lens size
- Close focus distance of about 7.5 feet
5. Vortex Vulture HD 15×56 Binoculars, VR-1556
Our 5th placer is the Vortex Vulture HD 15×56 binocular. Twenty-four (24) people rated this model at 4.9 out of 5.
Some of the features are:
- HD ED glass
- Fully multi-coated lenses
- Dielectric prism coating with phase correction
- Waterproof
- Fogproof
4. Celestron 71406 TrailSeeker 10×42 Binoculars
In 4th place is the Celestron TrailSeeker 10×42 binocular. It has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars from 60 customer reviews which is really impressive.
Some of its features are:
- Lightweight durable frame made of magnesium alloy
- Bak-4 prisms with phase and dielectric coatings
- Field of view of 341 feet
- Multi-coated optics
- Close focus of 6.5 feet
3. Nikon Monarch 5
The top three (3) of this list is the beginning of all 5-star rated products. The top 3 is only separated by the number of reviews each product have.
The third place belongs to the Nikon Monarch 5 series that is sold with some accessories included.
This may probably be one of the reasons that this unit is pretty popular and highly rated by customers.
The kit includes all brand new accessories with full US warranties which are:
- Op/Tech USA Bino/Cam Harness
- FogKlear Dry Anti-Fog Cloth
- PD Spudz Microfiber Cloth
The two most bought configurations for the Monarch 5 are the 10×42 and the 12×42 units.
Some of the features of the Monarch 5 are:
- Bright and high-resolution views
- Multi-coated eco-glass lenses
- Lightweight body yet rugged, waterproof and fog proof
- Rubber-armored coating
- With flip-down lens cover to protect the lenses
People who bought this package really love the value that this kit offers – it is indeed a knockout!
2. Pentax DCF SP 10×43 Binoculars
Our second (2nd) placer is another five star rated binocular, the Pentax DCF SP 10×43. It edged the Monarch 5 by only one customer review.
Users are amazed on how clear and bright this binocular is which is comparable to models worth more than a thousand dollars.
Some of its features are:
- Magnesium-alloy, waterproof body that is lightweight
- Rubber housing
- Awesome image quality with edge-to-edge sharpness
- High-resolution roof prisms with phase coatings
- Great eye-relief with the 4-stop eyepiece rings
- With diopter adjust lock-mechanism
People who bought the Pentax DCF are one in saying that you can never go wrong with this binocular.
1. Nikon Monarch 7
And the number one on our list of the Top 10 binoculars under 500 is the Nikon Monarch 7 series. It is a five star rated product with 15 customer reviews, just one review more than the Pentax DCF.
Same as the Monarch 5 in 3rd spot, the Monarch 7 comes with a package set of accessories. With a great quality product plus a bunch of awesome accessories, it is not shocking that this binocular set is in the top spot!
It comes in different configurations – 8×30, 8×42, 10×30 & 10×42.
Some of the key product features are:
- Lightweight body with durable armored coating
- Waterproof and fog proof housing
- With extra-low dispersion glass for a clearer, sharper view
- Roof prisms with phase correction
With picturesque views, a high-quality product, a great package set and an awesome manufacturer warranty, the Monarch 7 is rightfully in its place – the top spot!
Below is a tabulated summary of the Top 10 list of binoculars worth less than $500. It is a quick way to see and compare all the models in the list.
You can sort the table by clicking the up or down arrows in each column.
| Nikon Monarch 7 | ||||
| Pentax DCF SP 10x43 Binoculars | ||||
| Nikon Monarch 5 | ||||
| Celestron 71406 TrailSeeker 10x42 Binoculars | ||||
| Vortex Vulture HD 15x56 Binoculars, VR-1556 | ||||
| Leupold BX-3 Mojave 10x42 Roof Binoculars | ||||
| Nikon 16004 Prostaff 7S 10x42 All-Terrain Binocular | ||||
| Vortex Optics Crossfire II 8x42 Roof Prism Binocular | ||||
| Vanguard Endeavor ED Binocular (8x42) | ||||
| Carson 3D Series High Definition Waterproof Binoculars with ED Glass |
*** – The price is not exact but just to give you an idea of how much it cost more or less.
Top 10 Best Binoculars Under 500 Summary of Features
If you like to have an overview of each binocular features, we have provided a table below for that purpose.
You can manipulate or sort this table depending on what you like to find. Sorting by the ‘Weight’ column, you will end up with the lightest or the heaviest binocular on the list. Or if you want to find the one with the widest field of view, you can sort the ‘FOV’ column. You can sort any column that you prefer.
Clicking the up or down arrows in each column will sort the table accordingly.
| Nikon Monarch 7 10x42 | |||||
| Nikon Monarch 7 10x30 | |||||
| Nikon Monarch 7 8x30 | |||||
| Nikon Monarch 7 8x42 | |||||
| Pentax DCF SP 10x43 Binoculars | |||||
| Nikon Monarch 5 10x42 | |||||
| Nikon Monarch 5 12x42 | |||||
| Celestron 71406 TrailSeeker 10x42 Binoculars | |||||
| Vortex Vulture HD 15x56 Binoculars, VR-1556 | |||||
| Leupold BX-3 Mojave 10x42 Roof Binoculars | |||||
| Nikon 16004 Prostaff 7S 10x42 All-Terrain Binocular | |||||
| Vortex Optics Crossfire II 8x42 Roof Prism Binocular | |||||
| Vanguard Endeavor ED Binocular (8x42) | |||||
| Carson 3D Series HD 8x32 | |||||
| Carson 3D Series HD 10x42 | |||||
| Carson 3D Series HD 10x50 | |||||
| Carson 3D Series HD 8x42 |
Conclusion
Quality always comes with price, or so they say. We have, however, provided you a list of high-quality binoculars that is comparable to models with a higher price range but with a price of only less than $500.
The list that we have given you contains binoculars that are highly rated by customers, with the rating ranging from 4.8 to 5 stars. This means all the binoculars here are of great quality and highly recommended by users.
Of all the ten models, the Nikon Monarch 7 tops them all and is number one in our list in the <$500 range.
We know that people have different preferences and perhaps some preferred one type of brand over another. But in any case, you have a great list here to give you an idea on which model to start with. We also provided you some tables that you can use to easily compare each binocular.
You may have some features in mind as well that you really like for a certain binocular but you can never go wrong with any binocular in this Top 10 list.