Hunting season brings with it a thrill many other outdoor activities can’t beat, and as a hunting enthusiast having a good pair of hunting binoculars on hand is a must. The ideal hunting binoculars should combine great features like high magnification, a wide field of view, great ergonomics, and should be very portable. With the right hunting binoculars under $500, you can easily spot game from far away enough, zoom in, track, and never miss a kill shot.
Best Hunting Binoculars under $500
With a host of bands on the market, finding the ideal hunting binoculars for your needs can be quite tasking. We help streamline your choices as we take a look at our top five hunting binoculars under $500 to help you make an informed choice quickly.
1. Vortex Optics Diamondback 10×42
Vortex is known for outstanding optical gadgets and the Diamondback 10×42 lives up to the reputation with an impressive 10x magnification and large 42mm lenses for the best image quality. It is very compact and lightweight, comes in a durable, ergonomic casing, and is both fog-proof and waterproof. It comes with a wide 345ft. field of view and all the extra accessories you’ll to jump on the hunting train as soon as possible.
- Compact and lightweight.
- High magnification and wide field of view.
- Excellent image quality and ergonomics.
2. Carson 3D Series High Definition Waterproof Binoculars
The Carson 3D Series HD binoculars boasts of a camouflage exterior for added stealth, is completely fog proof and waterproof, and comes with a number of value-added accessories. It comes with large ED lenses for the brightest images and boasts of high magnification and wide 314ft. field of view for easy tracking. It is compact and lightweight and very easy to control.
- Camouflage design, fog proof, and waterproof seal.
- Comes with a host of extra accessories.
- Excellent image quality, high magnification, wide field of view.
3. Nikon 7549 MONARCH 7 10×42 Binocular
The Nikon 7549 MONARCH 7 stands true to its name and boasts of excellent magnification, handleability, and a wide 351 ft. field of view. Its large 42mm lenses and Porro prisms are multicoated to yield the brightest and crispiest images, with great color retention. Its rubberized armor ensures a comfortable, non-slip grip, and its adjustable eyecups and focus for excellent viewing flexibility.
- Excellent magnification and wide field of view.
- Great image quality and color retention.
- Ergonomic design with great viewing flexibility.
4. Upland Optics Perception HD Binoculars
The Upland Optics Perception HD binoculars boast of superb image quality and durability thanks to its ED glass and fog proof and waterproof seal. Its high magnification and large lenses will help you track game easily with the brightest optics. It also comes with a bunch of accessories for added value.
- Sleek, rubberized armor with fog proof and waterproof seal.
- Impressive magnification and great image quality
- Durable and comes with extra accessories.
5. Nikon 7572 PROSTAFF 5 10X50 Binocular
The Nikon 7572 PROSTAFF Binoculars pack impressive magnification, superb optical quality, and handleability into a compact, lightweight unit. Its large multicoated 50mm lenses ensure the brightest images and low-light performance, and it comes with excellent controls and ergonomic features for great viewing flexibility.
- Impressive magnification and superb image quality.
- Compact, lightweight and great handleability.
- Excellent controls.
Hunting Binoculars under $500 Buying Guide
With a budget of $500, you have access to some of the best hunting binoculars on the market that emphasize durability, excellent controls, high-quality images, among others. But with so many brands on the market, it is easy to get overwhelmed with the number of available choices.
This buying guide takes you through a list of our top five favorite hunting binoculars we have compiled that meet the criteria of excellent quality and functionality while staying under $500. We also take it a step further to point out a number of factors to look out for in a pair of hunting binoculars before you hit the ‘pay’ icon.
Magnification
When looking for a pair of hunting binoculars, you want to go for one with high magnification. The magnification measures how close a distant object appears through the eyepiece. Most animals people hunt, have very keen instincts and may pick up your scent if you’re too close.
With enough magnifying power, you can stay far away enough while keeping a close eye on your target. Magnification also plays an important in identifying game. You can zoom in to see whether it’s turkey, deer, a hiker, or another animal and not make costly mistakes.
Magnification, however, is inversely related to the field of view; the higher the magnification, the narrower the field of view. Finding the right balance between the magnification and field of view is, therefore, important.
Field of View
The field of view of whatever binoculars you’re getting is another essential consideration to make. The field of view on a pair of hunting binoculars is the size of the viewing area available to your eyes through the eyepiece at a fixed position. It is measured as the distance in feet or as an angle in degrees. In general, the field of view is inversely proportional to the magnification; as the magnification increases, the field of view decreases.
A large field of view is necessary to track and locate game quickly—generally, more scenery is available to your eyes. And for fast-moving animals, with a wider field of view, it will take longer for them to move out of view.
Comfort
Hunting requires patience and chances are you’ll be out in the fields for hours at a time. It is therefore necessary that your binoculars should be compact and light enough to carry around conveniently. Binoculars with accessories like harnesses and carrying cases are always a good buy as they give you added portability.
If you want to go for binoculars with very high magnification, then a tripod stand is also necessary to ensure image stability. You can quickly set up your equipment in your favorite hunting spot and make the kill shot every time.
Recommended Reading:
- Best Binoculars
- Best 8×32 Binoculars
- Best 8×42 Binoculars
- Best 10×32 Binoculars
- Best 10×42 Binoculars
- Best 12×50 Binoculars
- Best Horse Racing Binoculars
- Best Image Stabilization Binoculars
- Best Marine Binoculars
- Best Safari Binoculars
- Best Rangefinder Binoculars
- Best Compact Binoculars
- Best Digital Camera Binoculars
- Best Binoculars for Kids
- Best Night Vision Binoculars
- Best Binoculars for Sporting Events
- Best Binoculars under $50
- Best Binoculars under $200
- Best Binoculars under $300
- Best Binoculars for Hunting
- Best Binoculars for Birding