Are you considering the Celestron Nature DX binocular?
This optic is the BEST budget binocular money can buy. In fact, it’s the only binocular under $200 I recommend. There is really no other competition among binoculars in this price range.
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#1. An Excellent Balance of Price vs. Quality
You might be wondering how to decide if the Celestron Nature DX is the right binocular for you. If you want a crisp, clear image, easy-to-use functions, and a durable product, then the answer is probably yes! Celestron has done a great job balancing the cost of this optic with the quality of the product. There are four types of people that I think benefit the most from this balance:
The Beginning Bird Watcher:
One of the most important tips that I give to new birders is to get your hands on a decent set of binoculars.
Here’s how that usually goes: You know you need some binoculars to get started, so you head to Wal-Mart to find the least expensive ones you can find. You end up in the outdoor section and see some for $20 and think this is a cheap way to test if bird watching is for you.
Unfortunately, those $20 binoculars are going to be so frustrating to use that they may dissuade you from ever bird-watching again! Instead of seeing birds, you may just see blurry and foggy objects flying all over.
The Nature DX binoculars are not dirt cheap, but they won’t break the bank either. With these, you don’t have to commit to a $2,500 price tag to find out if birding is for you.
The Budget-Conscious Birder:
Price is important when selecting binoculars, but so is quality. The Celestron Nature DX binoculars are a good combination of a low price and pretty good quality. Unlike those $20 binoculars I mentioned above, you can count on these binoculars to help you enjoy your birding adventure, meaning they’re a much better way to spend your money.
The Celestron Nature DX represents the minimum investment you can make into optics and not be frustrated with the experience.
Parents With Kids Who Love Nature:
Most parents don’t want to spend $1,000 on binoculars for their kids just to see them drop them, lose them, or somehow damage an expensive piece of equipment. If you have a kid that loves birding or wildlife, these make a great birthday present and are good enough to make your child feel like an “official” outdoor expert.
Additionally, they’re relatively light and easy for kids to hold and wear around their necks. When my daughter is a few years older, she will be receiving these as her first binocular. ☺
Teachers and Instructors:
A common problem for many educators that want to teach about birding or ornithology is obtaining quality binoculars. I don’t know many schools that are loaded with extra money to spend on better optics.
The Celestron Nature DX could be the perfect solution for a teacher, professor, or birding instructor. They’re affordable and will allow your students to see the birds more clearly, hopefully fostering their interest in bird-watching!
#2. The BEST Image Among Entry-Level Binoculars
It’s a simple fact that most budget binoculars (under $150) do not perform well. The images leave a lot to be desired and may be so frustrating to use that you give up entirely. Unfortunately, these are just a giant waste of money.
Not the Celestron Nature DX.
There is a reason they are consistently ranked among the BEST budget binoculars year after year. It’s all about the image! Here are the reasons this binocular outperforms all of the competition in its price range:
Quality Prisms and Multi-Coated Lenses:
Celestron uses phase-coated BaK-4 Prisms in the Nature DX. These high-quality prisms are not found in many (if any) low-priced binoculars. In addition, they utilize fully multi-coated lenses.
These two features ensure a bright and clear image by letting as much light as possible make it through the binocular and reach your eye. Every step of the way, light is lost due to reflection, refraction, and absorption, which is a scientific way of saying the image gets less clear as it reaches your eyes. Binocular manufacturers, such as Celestron, develop different coatings to apply to the prisms, lenses, and glass that help diminish the loss of light.
In short, more light equals a better quality image, improving the resolution, contrast, and brightness.
#3. Tough Enough for Mother Nature (and Rowdy Kids!)
As the name suggests, the Celestron NATURE DX is made to survive weather extremes:
- First, they are waterproofed to protect against the occasional rainstorm or drop in the river.
- Then, they’re filled with dry nitrogen gas, which helps prevent fogging on your humid jungle adventure.
- Finally, the entire body is covered in rubber armoring, which helps absorb the impact of the inevitable drop.
All these features help make the Celestron Nature DX one of the most durable optics you can buy!
#4. Tailor-made for Nature Observation
The Celestron Nature DX has specifications that make it especially good for nature observation. This information is for the 8×42 model, which is what I use and recommend for birding and wildlife. Celestron Nature DX comes in other sizes too. Most notably, many people prefer a 10×42 binocular, which gives better magnification but a smaller field of view.
Close Focus: 6.5 ft / 2 m
A low Close Focus ensures that you can get very close to your subjects and still have a clear image. A Close Focus of 6.5 ft is very good, especially for such an inexpensive binocular.
Field of View: 388ft / 129m
Field of View (FOV) is crucial for watching nature. As you can imagine, animals normally don’t stay still very long. A wide field of view allows you a larger viewable area when looking through the lens, which allows you to track a bird or other animal longer.
The FOV on the Celestron Nature DX is better than many higher-priced binoculars.
Weight: 22.2 oz (629 g)
Remember: You may be carrying binoculars for multiple hours, either in your hands or around your neck. You don’t want your optics straining your neck as you walk.
At only 22.2 oz, this is one of the lightest binoculars that I recommend. It’s even light enough for most kids to use without any problem.
Dimensions (L x W x H) : 5.3″ x 4.9″ x 2″ / 135 mm x 126 mm x 52 mm
I consider any binocular that has a length under 6 inches to be compact, which is a good thing! The Nature DX fits nicely in my hand and is easy to hold.
Eye Relief: 17.5 mm
Do you wear glasses? If so, it can be hard to find an optic that sits at the right distance from your eye. The Nature DX has eyecups that twist up with multiple stops. This helps find the right positioning for your eyes.
#5. Celestron Specializes in Low-cost, Effective Optics
Every company has its niche, and Celestron is no exception. Some companies, like Zeiss, Leica, and Nikon, dominate the market for high-end, expensive binoculars.
Celestron is a bit different.
When it comes to offering quality products at low prices, it doesn’t seem like any other company does it better. The Nature DX is a great example, but their other products don’t disappoint. Check out my list of recommended spotting scopes, with two Celestron products featured!
It’s nice to see a company that makes quality products accessible to so many people!
#6. Limited Lifetime Warranty
One of my favorite things about this binocular is that Celestron gives a LIFETIME Warranty for the Nature DX. This covers manufacturing defects on the inside optical system.
Even though their product costs less than $150, Celestron guarantees the product for the rest of your life! The fact that Celestron chooses to stand by their products is, to me, a great reason to purchase this optic.
It’s important to note that Celestron does not cover any accidental damage or damage caused by normal wear and tear. To read the full details of Celestron’s Warranty, click here and then scroll down to Limited Lifetime Warranty.
- Also, make sure to keep your original receipt!
Next Steps:
1. Buy the Celestron Nature DX from one of these three places:
I have done a lot of research to find the best places to buy these binoculars.
- Support a local business!
2. Keep Researching!
Not convinced the Celestron Nature DX is the best choice for you?
I completely understand. Buying binoculars is a big decision, and it’s best to take your time and do your research!
I recommend checking out one of the following resources:
- The 8 Best Binoculars for Bird Watching
- This should give some ideas of other binoculars that would be a great choice for bird watching. It includes optics across all different price ranges. (From $125 to $2,600)
- Nikon Monarch 5 Binocular Review
- For a little more money, consider upgrading from the Celestron Nature DX to the Nikon Monarch 5 and enjoy Extra-low Dispersion glass!
Do you have the Celestron Nature DX Binoculars?
Tell us about your experience in the comments!
