For higher 10X magnification, the Nikon Action 10x50 binoculars (*est. $75) and waterproof/fogproof Nikon Action EX Extreme ATB 10x50 (*est. $145) also get good reviews, even though 10X binoculars are usually not recommended in this price range. The Nikon Action 10x50 EX Extreme binoculars are an Outdoor Life "Great Buy," not only for the wide field of view, but also depth of field, which makes focusing easier. Testers there find the cheaper Nikon Action 10x50 heavy (33.8 ounces), but praise their low-light performance, important both for hunting binoculars and for birdwatching. They're also recommended for astronomy, where their ability to focus only as close as 23 feet doesn't matter. A 2005 review in Astronomy magazine disagrees with the Outdoor Life criticism of the ergonomics, saying "the binoculars have a sculpted feel that makes holding them easy." This review also praises the optics as exceptional, saying that "Aberrations are well-corrected, as evidenced by a sharp, flat field of view and good image contrast."

Also at 10X, for more money but closer focus and less weight, the Cornell Lab review recommends the Bushnell NatureView 10x42 binoculars (*est. $120) as "the best choice for a truly inexpensive 10X binocular," though the review didn't test the more expensive Nikon Action EX Extreme in this size. Like the Nikon Action EX, the NatureView 10x42 are porro-prism binoculars with fully multicoated Bak-4 lenses, but the NatureView binoculars have a closer minimum focus of 12 feet, and weigh only 26.6 ounces. However, eye relief is only 15mm, and the Cornell review rates them rather low for eyeglass wearers. The 315-foot field of view is also narrower than the 342 feet offered by the Nikon Action 10x50 binoculars.

According to reviews, $50 is about the minimum you should spend for decent binoculars. We found a few comments for binoculars costing less, and these might be fine for occasional use. The Astronomy magazine review recommends the Celestron UpClose 10x50 binoculars (*est. $40) as a rock-bottom choice for astronomy binoculars: "Despite the low price, images are more than satisfactory for someone just starting out. Admittedly, contrast is lower and astigmatism is greater than in some other models. However, providing beginning observers fully coated optics for under $40 is a great manufacturing accomplishment."

A few cheap binoculars get some decent comments from owners posting to Amazon.com. None are waterproof or fogproof, and the prism glass is usually Bak-7 rather than Bak-4. They have eye relief that's below the 14mm minimum, so eyeglass wearers may experience some "tunnel vision" that loses part of the field of view.

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