The 5 Best Astronomy Binoculars Under $50 (2023)
When most people think of stargazing with equipment, the first thing that comes to mind is a telescope. This certainly makes sense, as telescopes have a much greater range of use and can be made to peer much further into deep space. However binoculars should not be overlooked, especially for beginners who might not want to invest a ton or feel comfortable switching to an entirely new piece of stargazing equipment that’s only useful at night.
Binoculars – especially ones that can also be used for stargazing – are a great investment, and come at every price point. Even if you’re just getting started and don’t have a big budget, you can find good binoculars under $50 for astronomy.
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 $50 from this list.
Short on Time?
The best binoculars under $50 are the Celestron Cometron 7×50 Bincoulars
Ready to explore this list and discover your the pair of budget-friendly astronomy binoculars you’ll be investing in – though not spending more than $50? Read on for the list, which is accurate for 2023. (If you encounter any broken links or items now priced higher than $50, please let me know in the comments!)
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 in March 2022.
The Best Binoculars Under $50 (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 I came up with, using updated data for $50 or less.
| Rank (2023) | Change (from 2022) | Price | Link | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Celestron Cometron 7×50 Binoculars | – | ~$30 | Link |
| 2 | SkyGenius 10×50 Powerful Binoculars | New! | ~$40 | Link |
| 3 | Bushnell Falcon 7X35 Binoculars | New! | ~$35 | Link |
| 4 | UncleHu 20×50 High Power Binoculars | ↑1 | ~$45 | Link |
| 5 | USCAMEL 10×42 Binoculars | ↓1 | ~$40 | Link |
Read on to discover more of the details about each one and choose the pair of binoculars under $50 that’s best for you.
1. Celestron Cometron 7×50 Binoculars
Celestron is a well-established company, and their binoculars almost always appear in top lists of astronomy gear. Their Cometron 7×50 is no exception and is one of the best binoculars under $50 in the market – and stays at the top of my list for 2023
The Cometron 7×50 is an excellent companion to take your first steps into stargazing. These binoculars feature multi-coated Porro prisms to reduce glare and reflection and grant a clear view of the night sky. Their objective lenses are 50 mm and have an excellent light-gathering ability. The only downside is that the glasses are BK7 instead of BAK-4, but it shouldn’t interfere that much in your session, especially if you’re a beginner.
The most important thing here is: Can you see more stars than with the naked eye? You bet. Design-wise, they are lightweight and easy to hold. In fact, these binoculars could be suitable for kids as well.
2. SkyGenius 10×50 Powerful Binoculars
With the SkyGenius 10×50 binoculars, you will see the moon and stars 10 times bigger! Their multi-coated 50mm large objective lenses guarantee excellent light transmission; they also improve image brightness well enough for you to see the celestial bodies without distortion.
The SkyGenius 10×50 is easy to focus on thanks to their diopter System that adjusts the imbalanced vision of both eyes. Since they feature a 367ft/1000yds large field of view, these binoculars are ideal for watching wildlife and scenery as well.
3. Bushnell Falcon 7×35 Binoculars
You might recognize these Bushnell binoculars as classics – they are popular and affordable enough that you’ve likely held them if you’ve ever gone birding or out looking for other wildlife.
That said, the Bushnell Falcon 7×35 Binoculars are also good for astronomy if you are looking for a starter set. They come it at under $50 and have fully coated optics for superior light transmission – even the light of distant stars.
Additionally, they’re nice and lightweight at just 21 ounces; this means they’re good for longer sessions without wearing your arms out.
4. UncleHu 20×50 High Power Binoculars
The UncleHu 20×50 binoculars don’t have the words “high power” by mere chance in their name. These binoculars perform well in low light conditions. Their 26mm eye lens collects more light than others, delivering a clearer and brighter view of celestial objects.
They feature a multi-coated aspheric lens, reflecting light and reducing distortion for better image contrast and quality. The rubber finish makes the binoculars firm and comfortable to hold. As a heads up, while the company advertises them as waterproof, however you can’t use them in heavy rain for a long time.
5. USCAMEL 10×42 Binoculars
If you’re looking for a good entry-level binocular, the USCAMEL 10×42 binoculars won’t disappoint you – especially at this price. These stargazing binoculars under $50 are very solid, especially for the price. They come with a 42mm objective lens and 18mm ultra-wide-angle eyepiece, providing stargazers with clear, bright images and a wide field of vision.
The glasses are premium BAK4 prisms with FMC coating. The binoculars are also compact and lightweight, making them convenient to carry and use outdoors. Their construction is incredibly sturdy. So, I’d recommend these binoculars for anyone with children who may drop them, or stargazers who want to avoid carrying an expensive pair outdoors.
Have any questions about these budget-friendly starter binoculars under $50? Let me know 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.
2 Comments
kevan hubbard
How do you hope to hold the 20×50 binoculars still! You’d need to mount them.I have a pair of Tento 20×60’s with made in the USSR on them so guessing 1980’s build and you can only hand hold them for a very short time but on a tripod they give amazing views.I think that even the 12x binoculars are too powerful for hand holding but 10x down are ok.
Valerie Stimac
Thanks for your feedback, Kevan!