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The early hours before dawn or just after dusk are when you can catch many nature explorers, hunters, and stargazing enthusiasts doing what they love. Having a pair of binoculars that works excellently in low light conditions is very important to spot magical scenery that unfolds while most people have retired to their homes. This article explores the best optical companions on the market for the nocturnal explorer.
Best Low Light Binoculars
Below, we take a look at the best binoculars for low light conditions to help you make the right choice quickly.
1. Celestron – SkyMaster 25X100 Astro Binoculars
This top-rated gadget boasts of high 25x magnification and an outstanding 100mm aperture. It comes with BaK-4 prisms, and all you can expect is ultra-bright, clear images, and superb performance in low light conditions. It comes with a durable, water-resistant casing for sustained performance in the harshest weather conditions, and extra accessories for improved portability.
- Impressive magnification and large aperture.
- Ultra-bright images in the day and optimal performance in low light conditions.
- Durable casing and extra accessories.
2. Vortex Optics Razor HD Roof Prism Binoculars
This handy device stands as one of the best on the market and is a compact, very lightweight unit with high performance in low light. Its durable, low-density casing is built for high durability, comes with grooves, and is rubber-coated for the most secure, comfortable grip. Its eyecups are adjustable for comfort, and it comes with a dioptre to compensate for different eye strengths and is weatherproof.
- Compact, lightweight, and durable casing.
- Great performance in low light conditions.
- Ergonomic design and easy user adaptability.
3. Celestron 71008 SkyMaster 25×70 Binoculars
The Celestron 71008 SkyMaster is a powerful unit that comes with great magnification and a large 70mm aperture to accommodate the most light for bright images. Easily track objects with its 141ft. field of view, and get the sharpest images with its multicoated optics. It comes in a rugged, rubberized frame built for durability and superb ergonomics.
- Large aperture for bright and crisp images.
- Durable and highly ergonomic.
- High power and user adaptability.
4. Orion 9326 Giant View 25×100 Astronomy Binoculars
The Orion 9326 Giant View boasts of superb magnification a 100mm wide for the brightest images and optimum performance in low conditions. Its BaK-4 prisms with fully multicoated optics ensure maximum light transmission. It comes in a durable, reinforced casing, and a long eye relief to suit glass wearers.
- Superb light accommodation for the brightest images.
- Impressive magnification and wide field of view.
- Durable casing with long eye relief.
5. Celestron 20×80 SkyMaster Pro
This gadget from Celestron combines a large aperture and impressive magnification into a lightweight unit. It is designed to yield super bright images even in low light and comes with a detachable RSR rail that supports a finderscope. Its rubber-coated armour ensures superb ergonomics, shock resistance, and a tight water seal.
- Excellent light accommodation for bright images.
- Finderscope adaptability.
- Highly ergonomic, impact and water-resistant.
Low Light Binoculars Buying Guide
Low light binoculars are necessary gadgets for hunters and nature enthusiasts. They are specially designed to work in poor light conditions and offer a bright field of view when other models have fallen out of service.
Choosing the right binoculars for low light requires you consider a set of considerations we will now look at.
Our buying guide reviews the best low light binoculars on the market, giving you the means to compare them and go for the product that best suits your needs.
Aperture
The first factor you want to consider when choosing a pair of low light binoculars is its aperture. The aperture is the size of the objective lens (front lens) in millimetres. It also places a measure on the amount of light the binoculars can accommodate. In general, the larger the objective lens (higher aperture), the more light the binoculars can accommodate, and ultimately, the brighter the images.
Greater apertures also mean better performance in low light conditions. On average, binoculars for low light conditions should have apertures of at least 50mm. Keep in mind that the larger the aperture, the bigger the unit.
Field of View
You also want to consider the field of view of the binoculars you are getting. The field of view is the width of the viewing background available to your eyes through the eyepiece, and is measured in feet or as an angle. If you are hunting or need to track movement, then your binoculars should have a field of view as wide as possible.
This is also an important consideration for the stargazing enthusiast. A wider field of view means it’ll take longer before the star or celestial body you’re tracking to move out of your binoculars’ sight. The larger the aperture, the wider the field of view.
Magnification
The magnification of your pair of binoculars, also called the ‘power,’ measures how close or large a distant object appears through the eyepiece. Many people often think that the higher the magnification, the better, but it is not necessarily so.
By rule of thumb, the higher the magnification, the smaller the field of view and the less stable the image. If you want to invest in a pair of binoculars with very high magnification (anything above 16x), then you should be ready to buy a tripod stand to ensure image stability.
Balancing magnification and field of view falls on the aperture. A tripod also becomes necessary for binoculars with large apertures, as they can get quite heavy.
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