Christmas Shopping Guide 2014: Binoculars, Spotting Scopes & Accessories

Part 1: Low Cost Binoculars (under $150 / £150)

Whilst most of the binoculars I review and indeed recommend tend to cost more than $150 / £150, I still come across what I would call cheap binoculars, that in my opinion still perform to a reasonably high level.

So if you are on a tight budget this Christmas, take a look at my top recommendations for a gift that should put a smile on most peoples faces on Christmas morning and continue to bring them plenty of enjoyment for years to come.

Part 2: Mid Range Binoculars (between $150 & $300 / £150 & £300)

This section is probably the most competitive with a huge selection of binoculars to choose from. You can get a really good pair of optics at this price, but there are also many very ordinary products, so finding the gems in amongst the crowd can be difficult.

To help, I have only listed the binoculars that have really impressed me with their quality features, components and view. Also highlighted are any deals or sales currently on offer that will help you save even more money this Christmas.

Part 3: Mid-High End Binoculars ($300 – $500 / £300 – £500)

Within this price category you can get some real cracking pairs of bins that will definitely make someone very happy on Christmas morning.

Even though you are far less likely to find a really poor pair of optics at this price, just like mid range binoculars above, there are some that may not be quite up to scratch. Whilst on the other side of the coin there are also some that really stand up above the rest.

To save you time, I have placed what I believe to be the best that I have used and tested within this price range all on one very short list, so you can be sure that you get a cracker.

Part 4: The Very Best Premium Binoculars for Xmas (over $500 / £500)

In this section of my Xmas guide to binoculars, I take a look at the very high end of the market.

In this price range you are almost guaranteed very high spec, premium grade optics and coatings, but not every one gives you good value for money. So take a look at the ones that I recommend for Christmas that are not only amongst the very best, but still offer good value for money and will most certainly make one awesome Christmas gift.

Pentax Papilio 8.5x21 Binoculars

These compact Pentax binoculars have an ingenious system where the lenses converge on tracks as you focus on near objects, which gives them an incredibly close minimum focusing distance of only 1.6ft, making them an ideal gift for anyone taking a better look at butterflies, flowers, bees or birds from closer distances.

They are also incredibly useful to take to a gallery or museum, but can also be used very effectively at longer distances, just like any other compact, which makes them very versatile. Their small size also makes them easy to carry about and so they make great hiking, camping and general travel companions, as well as perfect for taking to most indoor or outdoor sporting events.

Celestron Astronomy Binoculars

Here I have two recommendations for Christmas depending on your budget, both from Celestron, the world leaders in great value instruments for astronomy:

Celestron SkyMaster 25x70 Binoculars

If someone you know wants to take a closer look at the heavens or indeed distant objects on earth, but you are on a tight budget this Christmas, then these Celestron Skymaster binoculars may be the perfect gift.

At only $90 / £80, they come with a waterproof body, more than decent quality optics, large 70mm objectives and a very powerful 25x magnification, making them an ideal low cost option for long distance terrestrial observation as well as perfect astronomy binoculars.

Celestron Echelon 20x70 Binoculars

Incorporating very high end Japanese glass, these premium Celestron Echelon binoculars are put together by hand in their plant back in the US where the focus is very much on precision and quality.

Large 70mm objective lenses combined with fully multicoated optics and a powerful 20x magnification the Echelon is fog & waterproof and comes with an included waterproof hard carry case.

At around $850, they are not cheap, but are still good value against other high end astronomy bins and if you really want to get one of the best long distance and astronomy binocular for Christmas, this is a great choice.

Binocular & Optics Accessories

If your a searching for a gift for someone who already has a binocular, then take a look at this section that contains many related Christmas gift ideas that I have reviewed:

Includes camera and smart phone adapters that enable you to take photos through your scope or binoculars, optical cleaning kits, tripod adapters, binocular harnesses, floating straps, eye-shields that block out unwanted light and bags specifically designed for your bins.

Teenagers & Children’s Binoculars for Christmas

As we all know that Christmas is really out the kids, but many "kids binoculars" are little more than cheap toys that really do not work. This is fine for very young children, but what if you are looking for a binocular that they can actually use?

Children and young adults have some special requirements when it comes to optics, which includes being able to set the ocular lenses to the closer distances between their eyes and having a bin that will survive their natural instincts to push everything to it’s limits!

In this guide I take a look at some of the best binoculars specifically designed for kids, as well as standard binoculars that will be ideal for your teenager.

Best Night Vision under $500 / £500

Someone recently contacted me looking for some advice as they were wanting to surprise their husband this Christmas by getting them a night vision device.

They have a good budget of $500 / £500 and also wanted to know if they should be opt for night vision binoculars or a monocular.

So in this document, I discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each and recommend the best night vision devices that I have tested and reviewed within this price range for Christmas.