Celestron 8x42 TrailSeeker ED Binoculars

I bought these binoculars after seeing some excellent reviews. They are way better than my budget binoculars. Frankly, I was shocked at how much better they are. I don't have a ton of experience with binoculars but I know good optics through my photography experience. I got the 8x42 binoculars. The field of view is great for general use and especially birding. The optics are sharp and bright allowing me to clearly see a barred owl perching and hunting in the low light just after sunset. I could not see this activity with any clarity with the naked eye. I noticed some color fringing on a couple of occasions but a slight shift of my eye cleared it right up. I would highly recommend these binoculars and they are an excellent value.

Purchased at recommendation of NYTimes Wirecutter. They are excellent, but not as fabulous as my old, lost or stolen Zeiss 10X40s. The back harness was not a Celestron branded item (as shown on Celestron website) and the oculars safety cap was slightly broken but still quite usable. Still, I expect 100% on a (presumably) new item. I have made an inquiry with but haven't heard back yet (holiday).

I just bought these amazing Celestron 8x42 binoculars and am astounded at the quality, finish, and comfort of these optical wonders at this price point! I use optical aide for both nature (birding) as well as astronomy and I own several pairs of binoculars as well as telescopes for both hobbies. These binoculars are lightweight, have excellent optical clarity, and excellent eye relief (I wear glasses), they are achromatic and glare-free, and feel great in the hand when observing the night skies and birds. They compare very favorably with my Swarovski 8.5 x 42 mm binoculars, and the only significant difference I see between these two binocular brands is the edge-of-field sharpness, which is better in the Swarovskies (however, those are also 3x the price!). For the mid-priced binocular user, I dont think you will find a better pair of excellent binoculars than the Celestron TrailSeekers in terms of build, comfort, and optical quality.

My purchase of the 8x42 TrailSeeker ED was a bit of an upgrade for me. I'm very happy and satisfied that I did that. I guess I'm a 'backyard bird-watcher' that includes my front yard, too. I try to identify everything I see moving and these binoculars help me do that. I've had them less than a month and I'm sure I'll find other advantages besides the light weight, excellent light gathering and brilliant colors. I'm quite satisfied.

I selected this item because the reviews were excellent and they particularly praised bright visual field. I found that the review was correct. It has bright visual field and very good resolution. I own a Nikon Aculon A211 (10X42) which I bought several years ago. I liked the Nikon, but it is bulky and heavy. Besides it has a shoulder strap that cannot be easily removed. In that regard this Celestron is much more compact, light and easy on arms and hands. The shoulder strap does not need to be attached. Particularly for in-door birds viewing we don't need any shoulder strap. The Celestron's resolution and magnification are about the same as those of the Nikon. I believe that price of the Nikon is much lower than this Celestron. So if one goes by price alone, I would choose the Nikon, but convenience-wise, this Celestron is better. In particular if a child is to use, this one is more handy, and easy to maneuver.

If you love to watch birds and wildlife this set of binocular's is just what you need. I am blown away by the clarity, and ease of use of this set. This set is well worth the extra money if you really want to enjoy bird and wildlife watching. Wish I had taken the plug years ago. Can not say enough good things about this set.