6 Great Binoculars under $300 for Stargazing in 2023
Don’t get me wrong: stargazing with our eyes is great. Nothing has the same effect on our mental state as starlight entering our eyes after billions of miles of light-speed travel across the galaxy. But there is something special about unlocking a deeper level of the night sky with equipment like binoculars or a telescope.
That’s why I’ve been working on a series about the best telescopes and binoculars for every budget, and in this post I’ll be highlighting the best binoculars under $300. (You can see the rest of the series here.)
But aren’t there more than just six great astronomy binoculars under $300, you ask? You’re right – there are. I also have lists of the best astronomy binoculars under $100 and under $200. Together this gives you lots of options to find the right pair of binoculars for you under the $300 mark.
If you’re not familiar with how binoculars work, there are two numbers provided for each product. The first is the magnification offered by the binoculars; the second refers to the size of the objective lens in millimeters. So for 7×50 binoculars – for example – they offer 7x magnification, and the objective lens is 50mm in diameter. The larger the objective lens, the more light is let into the lens – creating brighter and potentially clearer views. However, larger lenses weigh more which can be uncomfortable when stargazing – that’s something to keep in mind as you choose a pair of astronomy binoculars under $100 from this list.
Short on Time?
The best binoculars under $300 are the Nikon Monarch 5 8×42 Binoculars
Ready to see the best astronomy binoculars between $200-$300 – that sweet spot when you’re ready to upgrade but don’t have the budget for a more expensive pair yet? Read on for the best options.
Note: Lens and binocular prices have been very volatile in the past two years due to supply chain issues. Note that prices might vary widely from the prices I reported when this post was last updated.
This post was originally published in November 2021, and was re-ranked and updated in February 2023.
The Best Binoculars under $300 (Ranked)
When it comes to choosing astronomy binoculars, you want to keep a number of factors in mind, including price, (magnification) power, binocular style, and quality. This can be hard to compare on your own, so I put together a ranked list. To come up with this ranking, I considered price, popularity, and review scores from Amazon.com. Here’s the list of the best astronomy binoculars under $300, using updated data for 2023.
| Rank (2023) | Product | Change (from 2022) | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Athlon Optics Midas Binoculars | New! | ~$240 | Link |
| 2 | Vortex Optics Crossfire Roof Prism Binoculars | New! | ~$230 | Link |
| 3 | Vortex Optics Diamondback Roof Prism Binoculars 10×28 | ↓1 | ~$220 | Link |
| 4 | Celestron 20×80 SkyMaster Pro Astronomy Binoculars | New! | ~$220 | Link |
| 5 | Pentax SP 20×60 WP Binoculars | ↓2 | ~$220 | Link |
| 6 | Orion Mini Giant 15×63 Astronomy Binoculars | ↓1 | ~$230 | Link |
If these all sound interesting, you can read on to discover more of the details about each one and choose the pair of binoculars under $300 that’s best for you.
1. Athlon Optics Midas Binoculars
- Type: Roof Prism
- Price: ~$240
A favorite of keen birders, the Athlon Optics Midas Binoculars are the best astronomy binoculars under $300 in part thanks to their great price. The ergonomics on this product are also fantastic. The binoculars feature a lightweight magnesium chassis, preserving the strength of a metal chassis while reducing the weight by as much as 35%.
Thanks to the ED Glass and ESP Dielectric Coating, Midas provides unbelievable clarity and brightness of image – the stars pop into view with ease. The ED glass prevents chromatic fringe and minimizes glare and ghost images. The ESP Dielectric Coating reflects over 99% of the light to your eyes, bringing you a bright image that displays accurate color reproduction.
2. Vortex Optics Crossfire Roof Prism Binoculars
- Type: Roof Prism
- Price: ~$230
The Vortex Crossfire Binoculars are fantastic gadgets for anybody looking to get a high-quality observational tool without spending too much. You also get a carry case with purchase.
The Crossfire Roof Prism Binoculars feature a 10x power optic and a 42 mm objective, which gather lots of light–perfect for low-light situations. They feature a 325 foot field of view at a thousand yards. Its rubberized coating makes it super comfortable to hold, and its ergonomic shape fits in your hands nicely. They also feature twisting eye-relief cups.
It weighs 23.3 ounces, making it one of the lightest astronomy binoculars under $300.
3. Vortex Optics Diamondback Roof Prism Binoculars 10×28
- Type: Roof Prism
- Price: ~$220
The Diamondback from Vortex Optics is a must for stargazers who are frequent travelers or campers and like to take their binoculars with them. They are one of the smallest binoculars in the series, making them highly portable.
Needless to say, the price-performance ratio is astounding. These binoculars feature high-quality materials, deliver exceptional performance day and night, and they are only $149.
The Vortex features an HD optical system with select glass elements that deliver exceptional resolution, color fidelity, edge-to-edge sharpness, light transmission, and reduced chromatic aberration. They are also hand-friendly, waterproof, fog-proof, and have incredible optical features. The fully multi-coated 28mm objective lenses offer excellent clarity and superior low-light performance.
They also have an ultra-wide field of view, which efficiently covers the ground and acquires subjects easily.
4. Celestron 20×80 SkyMaster Pro Astronomy Binoculars
- Type: Porro Prism
- Price: ~$220
The SkyMaster Pro from Celestron is one of the best binoculars if you’re an amateur astronomer and your budget is around the $300 mark. Their large 80mm objective lenses have an excellent light gathering in low light conditions, delivering superior low light performance, even in the dimmest conditions.
The SkyMaster’s anti-reflective coatings and well-designed light baffles also help provide crystal clear views during astronomical observing. Their build quality is excellent with a sturdy design. The housing comes with protective rubber armor, which is extremely rugged and durable.
While they feature lightweight construction, you might want to get a tripod for a more comfortable stargazing session. The interchangeable eyecups are an excellent feature of these binoculars, offering two options: normal or winged.
5. Pentax SP 20×60 WP Binoculars
- Type: Porro Prism
- Price: ~$220
Another of the best binoculars under $300, the Pentax SP 20×60 WP is an update of the 20×60 PCF II. They are almost the same as their predecessor, except for their slightly heavier body and improved light transmission.
The brand has specially designed the new Pentax SP 20×60 WP for stargazers and birdwatchers so all the binoculars’ features cater to their viewing needs. It has large 60mm lenses with excellent light-gathering capacity, even in the darkest night. Their collimation is perfect, providing clear sky images to stargazers. They also applied multiple layers of coating to minimize light pollution and reduce reflection within the binoculars.
These binoculars also provide crisp magnification in most weather and lighting conditions, thanks to their high-contrast optics and light optimization.
6. Orion Mini Giant 15×63 Astronomy Binoculars
- Type: Porro Prism
- Price: ~$230
Despite their funny name, the Orion Mini Giant astronomy binoculars hit the spot when it comes to budget-friendly astronomy binoculars. These are an excellent pair of binoculars and a great place to start before buying your first telescope.
The Orion has powerful 63mm diameter objectives to grab more light and excel at astronomical and daytime viewing. Their multicoated lenses and BAK-4 prisms provide exceptional light transmission and bright images. The aluminum barrels are internally glare-threaded to eliminate ghosting and ensure rich contrast. Their lightweight structure is what sets them apart from many other binoculars in the “giant” category.
At 2.6 pounds, the Orion is the lightest and most easily hand-held among the binoculars of its category. Still, stargazers will get better viewing if they use a tripod. Stabilizing can be tricky due to the power of the optics.
Which of these great astronomy binoculars will you be investing in? Let me know any questions, comments, or feedback on these binoculars in the comments.
Valerie Stimac
Valerie is the founder and editor of Space Tourism Guide. She grew up in Alaska, has lived across the U.S., and traveled around the world to enjoy the night sky from many different perspectives. Join her on this journey to explore space right here on earth.
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