Smart telescopes like the Seestar S30 Pro have changed astrophotography and, arguably, urban astronomy. The Seestar S30 Pro Total Solar Eclipse Edition takes that same compact, automated imaging concept and packages it for one of the biggest astronomical events of the decade — continental Europe’s first total solar eclipse since 1999.

This is not a ground-up redesign for the August 12 event. Internally, it’s very close to the standard Seestar S30 Pro, combining a 30mm apochromatic refractor, motorized mount, dual cameras and image-processing software into a compact unit controlled entirely from a smartphone. Within minutes of powering on, it can align itself to the sky, slew to a specified target and begin stacking exposures to reveal galaxies, nebulae, star clusters and, of course, the sun and moon.

What changes here is the presentation. The Eclipse Edition adds a black-and-gold finish, a diamond-ring eclipse graphic, limited-edition numbering, themed packaging and a new magnetic solar filter. That makes it particularly appealing to eclipse chasers and collectors who want a travel-friendly telescope that easily fits in a camera backpack that’s ready for solar observing out of the box.

Specifications

Price

The standard Seestar S30 Pro is priced at US$699/£649/AU$1,000, while the Total Solar Eclipse Edition costs US$799/£719/AU$1,150. That makes this limited model US$100/UK£70/AU$150 more expensive. The Seestar S30 Pro includes a more basic solar filter, but is the teardrop-shaped solar filter provided with the Total Solar Eclipse Edition worth the extra money? It’s not — a third-party, 3D-printed solar filter made with Baader AstroSolar film is available for around US$32/UK£27/AU$52 and is of better quality. What you’re paying for with the Total Solar Eclipse Edition is a new black-and-gold finish, a numbered edition, eclipse-themed packaging, a custom app experience and an all-round collectible appeal. This is less a standard upgrade path and more a special-edition purchase for eclipse season.

For deep-sky imagers, its EQ mode — which compensates for the Earth’s rotation — is an option, though that does require the purchase of the Seestar TH10 Fluid Tripod Head (costing US$79) (or any equatorial wedge).

Design & Handling

At first glance, the Seestar S30 Pro Total Solar Eclipse Edition looks far more distinctive than the standard white model. While the regular Seestar S30 Pro has a clean, Apple-like appearance, this limited-edition’s black finish feels more appropriate for astronomical equipment. Many users will prefer the darker color, particularly on a device intended for night-sky and solar work.

The eclipse decoration is tastefully executed. The body features an image of an eclipsed sun at second contact — the “diamond ring” moment — with “Total Solar Eclipse Edition” written underneath in gold. There is also gold S30 Pro branding on the narrow side, while the Seestar name and logo are picked out in gold on the reverse. ZWO has extended the theme to bespoke packaging, so it feels like a complete commemorative edition rather than a standard model with a sticker applied.

Each device also comes with limited-edition numbering and a commemorative plaque, reinforcing the sense that this is aimed at collectors as well as users. There is also a device-locked themed app experience, with eclipse-specific visuals and connection animations. None of this changes image quality, but it does make the edition feel more special.

The practical design advantage is the official solar filter. It is teardrop-shaped, supplied in its own small case and attaches magnetically to the front of the telescope. It’s exactly the kind of accessory eclipse travelers need: compact, quick to fit and properly integrated.

The telescope itself remains highly portable. At 3.6 lbs (1.65kg), it’s small enough to fit in a camera backpack alongside a mirrorless body and a couple of lenses. The included tabletop tripod is solid, though users working from a backyard, balcony or crowded eclipse-viewing location will likely prefer to mount it on a full-size photographic tripod for better height and positioning.

Performance

For night-sky imaging, performance is essentially that of the standard Seestar S30 Pro. After powering on and connecting through the smartphone app, the telescope automatically plate-solves the sky, determines its position, slews to a selected object, focuses and begins capturing short exposures. These are stacked in real time, gradually improving detail and reducing noise as the total integration time increases. The 8.3MP Sony IMX585 telephoto sensor gives more scope for cropping and post-processing than the original 2MP Seestar S30, while the Sony IMX586 wide-angle camera supports alignment and wide-field imaging modes.

The Total Solar Eclipse Edition’s real focus, however, is solar imaging. With the magnetic solar filter attached, the Seestar can locate and track the sun through the app, then capture still photos, video or timelapse sequences. A still photo is the quickest way to record sunspots and is saved directly to a smartphone. Timelapse mode is especially useful for eclipse work, with selectable intervals of 1-60 seconds, making it possible to document the changing partial phases with minimal intervention.

For crisp solar results, though, technique matters. The Seestar’s autofocus needs a high-contrast feature to lock accurately, so the best approach is to tap directly on a prominent sunspot and perform autofocus there. That should be possible on Aug. 12. Focusing on the edge of the solar disk is tempting, but it can leave the center slightly soft. Manually increasing gain can also help the system lock focus more confidently.

The supplied solar filter is convenient and well integrated, but it is not the sharpest option available. It produces an orange view of the sun, and filters of this kind are generally not as fast as white-light filters. In practice, that can mean slower exposures and a little softness compared with a good white-light filter. We placed a homemade solar filter made with Baader AstroSolar film, which gave a noticeable improvement in the sharpness of both sunspots and the solar limb.

The best workflow is not necessarily a series of still images of the sun, which would mean staring at a smartphone during the precious seconds of totality (when, of course, the solar filter must come off). Switching to video mode and capturing around 10-15 seconds of footage gives better material for post-processing. Video is saved to the Seestar’s internal memory and can be accessed by connecting a computer to the USB-C port, with ZWO’s ASI Studio software used to include, extract and stack the best frames to produce a cleaner, sharper final image.

For the 2026 total solar eclipse, the appeal is obvious. Eclipse photography is stressful because the critical phases happen quickly, particularly second contact, totality and third contact. A small automated telescope that can track the sun — perhaps while the photographer manages a separate camera and long lens — may be extremely useful. It will not replace a carefully planned high-resolution eclipse rig, but it makes a lot of sense as a guided, compact solar imaging companion. Just remember to remove the solar filter at second contact!

Functionality

If you plan to capture images of the partial phases of the solar eclipse — whether you’re going to be in the path of totality or not — get in place well ahead of first contact. That’s because the Seestar S30 Pro can take a little time to find the sun. In our tests, it immediately slewed away from the sun twice before giving up, then asked us to perform a calibration — a laborious process in which the entire telescope must be turned about 40 times before its sensors get a grip on where it is. However, once it was locked on to the sun, it stayed there.

The Seestar app is central to the entire experience. It acts as the controller, sky atlas and imaging interface, handling alignment, target selection, focusing, capture and processing. The telescope has very few physical controls, so anyone buying into the Seestar system needs to be comfortable with full smartphone operation.

For deep-sky imaging, the app offers the familiar automated workflow: select an object, allow the telescope to slew, and watch the stacked image build on screen. FITS export is available for users who want to process deep-sky images in software such as Siril, PixInsight, DeepSkyStacker or Photoshop. That gives the Seestar S30 Pro more longevity for users who start with one-button imaging but later want more control over the final result.

As with all app-dependent devices, there is a long-term caveat. Without the app, the telescope cannot meaningfully operate, so this is not the kind of optical instrument likely to be passed down for generations in the same way as a traditional refractor. It’s best thought of as a compact, capable and collectible imaging appliance for the solar eclipse and beyond.

Verdict

The Seestar S30 Pro Total Solar Eclipse Edition is best understood as a limited, eclipse-ready version of the standard Seestar S30 Pro. It does not bring a major optical or sensor upgrade, so anyone expecting a fundamentally different telescope will be disappointed. Its strengths are portability, automation, solar-readiness and its eclipse-themed presentation.

For eclipse chasers, the appeal is strong. Critically, it’s small enough to travel with, simple enough to operate quickly, and capable of tracking the sun while capturing stills, video or timelapse sequences. For collectors, the numbered black-and-gold finish gives it an appeal the standard white model does not have. For general astrophotographers, the decision is less clear. The standard Seestar S30 Pro plus a third-party Baader film solar filter may be the better-value route, especially if sharp solar detail matters more than collectability. The supplied magnetic filter is convenient, but not the last word in solar sharpness.

Alternatives

See our complete guide to the best smart telescopes

Leica has made smartphone photography through binoculars a whole lot easier, thanks to a new partnership with US company Ollin.

The result is the Ollin snapshot adapter for Leica Geovid Pro binoculars, a simple but clever accessory designed to let users quickly capture what they are seeing through their binoculars using a smartphone. Whether it is wildlife, birding, hunting, or simply recording a memorable sighting in the field, this adapter turns the Leica Geovid Pro into something far more versatile.

The idea is simple: the adapter holds almost any smartphone securely in place using magnetic brackets, allowing the phone’s camera to line up with the binocular eyepiece. Once attached, users can shoot stills and videos directly through the binoculars, effectively turning their smartphone into a powerful telephoto camera.

Leica says the smart magnetic system ensures precise alignment with repeatable accuracy, which should make the whole process far less fiddly than traditional digiscoping setups. Different smartphones can be connected using the Ollin snapcase or magnetic tab, both of which are available separately. Better still, the adapter’s flat design means it can be left on the eyepiece during normal binocular use, making it quick to switch between observation and photography.

Alongside the new Ollin adapter, Leica Sports Optics has also introduced the Leica Geovid Pro 8x42 and 10x42 binoculars in a new olive green finish. Going forward, olive green will be used to identify the Geovid Pro line, while the Geovid R range will remain in black, and the top-end Geovid AB+ models will appear in Flat Dark Earth. It is a small change, but one designed to make Leica’s rangefinder binocular lineup easier to understand.

The Leica Geovid Pro range is already one of the most advanced binocular systems in Leica’s sports optics lineup, combining premium optics with over 30 years of rangefinding experience. The models feature Pro Applied Ballistics Ultralight ( a specialized, entry-level ballistic solver tier that calculates long-range shooting solutions) with G1/G7 support and more than 740 factory-loaded cartridges preinstalled, along with access to Leica’s wider database.

The Geovid Pro binoculars also feature Leica’s open-bridge design for a secure grip, as well as a built-in compass. This allows users to target and retrieve terrain points for navigation using Leica Pro Track, making the binoculars as much about precision and fieldcraft as they are about pure observation.

The Leica Geovid Pro 8x42 and 10x42 binoculars in olive green are available now from Leica Stores, the Leica Online Store, and specialist retailers, priced at $3,639 / £2,470.

The new Ollin snapshot adapter for Leica is priced at $229 / £129, with additional models also available for other Leica binoculars and Leica spotting scopes.

Birdwatching has always been an accessible hobby – and the binoculars and, occasionally, monoculars that aid it are steady sellers. But its clichéd image of bearded middle-aged men hiding in undergrowth looks in danger of being increasingly usurped by younger Gen Z ‘twitchers’.

Indeed, in the UK, the RSPB currently offers free admission to its reserves to anyone aged between 16 and 24. Surprising to me, birdwatching is claimed to be the second biggest hobby for those within the Gen Z age bracket (second only to jewellery making). But RSPB research suggests that birdwatching has risen by 47% for people of all ages this past decade.

As with the sometimes ‘zen’ aspect of photography itself – and the world, and my busy mind, seeming to slow down as I compose my shot – birdwatchers similarly talk about not thinking about anything else as they observe our feathered friends.

They also speak of the observation of wildlife as a way in which to reconnect with nature and themselves. According to a recent BBC article, apparently just hearing birdsong can boost serotonin levels – making us happier overall.

If only there was a way to combine the two disciplines of birdwatching and photography to achieve maximum nirvana – and have some great images to show for it.

Well, there actually is, in the shape of binoculars that also feature an integral camera. These allow for the capture of stills and video, either to a removable media card or a smartphone via remote app.

Of these my top choice, if money was no object, would be the Swarovski Optik AV Visio 10x32 (review here), binoculars with an integrated 13MP camera that I’ve previously tested for Digital Camera World.

The further bonus here is on-board AI identification of birds and animals that mostly gets it right, if pointed at wildfowl and wild deer, although it did struggle identifying a turtle in my local pond. However, the optical quality is simply stunning – and you won’t need a bulky camera and massive telephoto lens to get up close and personal to skittish wildlife.

Another option I have personal experience with is the HikMicro Habrok 4K HE25LN, a 4K resolution device that incorporates a digital camera, offers infrared night vision and a distance-measuring laser rangefinder to boot.

Our guide to the best binoculars with cameras currently describes it as having the best night vision on the market; perfect for when you don’t want failing light to curtail observation. Fortunately, it is also suitable for daylight observation. Weighing less than the Swarovski alternative, this choice is also almost a third of its price.

So, if you want to both observe birds, general wildlife and capture a photo or video of your visual quarry, while leaving behind the bulky camera kit, a pair of binoculars with a built-in camera can make for an ideal alternative.

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Check out the best binoculars, best monoculars and best image-stabilized binoculars.

GoBirding is preparing to enter the smart optics space with the Vision Master Smart AI Spotting Scope, a new all-in-one birding device that combines long-range observation, 4K imaging, subject tracking, and AI-powered bird identification in a lightweight handheld design - and to me, that sounds awesome!

The Vision Master, model APL-ETF-M1, is being billed as the world’s first professional AI-powered smart spotting scope and camera, and also the first spotting scope with native hardware AI.

Designed for birders, wildlife watchers, and outdoor creators, it aims to replace the traditional combination of scope, camera, phone, field guide, and notebook with a single connected device.

At the heart of the Vision Master is its AI bird identification system, which uses both on-device and cloud recognition. GoBirding says the scope can identify more than 1,500 bird species offline, with that expanding to more than 10,000 species when connected through the companion app. Sightings can also be automatically recorded, helping users build and manage their own personal bird encyclopedia over time.

The optical and imaging specifications are equally ambitious. The Vision Master offers 30x optical zoom and up to 120x hybrid zoom, giving users the reach needed for distant subjects, while 4K/30fps video, high-resolution stills, slow-motion, and time-lapse modes bring it closer to a dedicated imaging tool.

Hardware optical image stabilization is also included, which should make handheld observation far more usable at longer focal lengths than software-only stabilization systems.

GoBirding has also built in intelligent autofocus with real-time subject tracking, designed to help keep birds sharp and centered even when they are moving. The wider ecosystem is handled through a dedicated app, which brings together bird maps, data management, social sharing, and encyclopedia tools. Wi-Fi and cellular dual-link support should also make it easier to share images and sightings from the field, even when birding in more remote locations.

Battery life is rated at up to six hours of continuous use or 72 hours on standby, with fast charging and external power bank support for longer days outdoors. Backed by 15 years of optical research and development through Apexel, the GoBirding Vision Master Smart AI Spotting Scope is expected to launch on August 31, 2026, with pricing currently listed between $699 and $999, though the expected retail price is also being quoted at $699 to $799 depending on configuration and bundle options.

A big magnification is great when I want to pull the faraway up close and personal. Unfortunately, the higher the magnification, the narrower the field of view. This means it’s sometimes hard to track subjects once they start moving about.

But what would happen if there were one catch-all device that didn’t necessitate a compromise? Enter zoom binoculars, of which the Nikon Action Zoom 10-22x50 is the latest example. If you’ve ever wanted to shift from a wide field of view to a higher-powered close-up – and back again – then here’s an example worth considering. There’s also the added enticement of a large multi-coated 50mm objective lens to let in as much light as possible and thereby allow observation to continue for longer, even into the hour of dusk.

As with the rest of its non-zoom Action range, which succeeds the previously available Aculon A211 series, Nikon is marketing these Chinese-manufactured binoculars as beginner-friendly. Part of that is down to the asking price, which looks very reasonable indeed on paper. But a specification like the one quoted above has resulted in a large, not particularly light pair of binoculars, with a very traditional – perhaps dated – look. So, potentially it’s not all good news, especially if portability is a key concern.

On a more positive note, there will be those who actively prefer a chunkier pair of Porro prism binoculars (as opposed to typically more compact roof prism alternatives), including those with bigger hands. The increased size and weight also help to maintain a steady view when handheld. It’s worth noting there’s no image stabilization mechanism built into these binos, and there’s no tripod screw thread either. Ultimately, whether the Nikon Action Zoom 10-22x50 delivers for you will be partly a matter of personal taste.

What I’m concerned with for now is how they perform and whether the very affordable asking price has meant any corners have been cut. We shall see…

Nikon Action Zoom 10-22x50: Specifications

Nikon Action Zoom 10-22x50: Price

Though the price puts the Nikon Action Zoom 10-22x50 at the top of Nikon's seven simultaneously released Action binoculars series for 2026, at $179 / £179 / AU$299, it’s still not going to break the bank.

And even if this were a 10x50 specification model without the option to vary magnification up to 22x, what’s being asked still seems very fair. I found this newer model to be cheaper than the older Nikon Aculon A211 series binos with similar specifications, which likewise received praise at the time for their value-for-money proposition.

If you need the ability to vary magnification in one device and don’t mind a chunky and weighty build in comparison with compact roof prism binoculars, I believe you won’t go far wrong in checking out the Nikon Action 10-22x50.

Nikon Action Zoom 10-22x50: Design & Handling

With a regular Porro prism-type design, my first impression of these binos is that they look and feel distinctly old school – despite their newness. However, there is a trick up the manufacturer’s sleeve that raises them above a traditional viewing device for pulling the faraway closer. As noted in my introduction, Nikon is affording us the option to smoothly zoom between a standard 10x magnification and a generous 22x with a flick of our thumb. And another plus: a body big enough to house a 50mm objective lens has ensured that it can be used handheld without any slight hand tremor causing visible image judder. At least at lower magnification.

In practice, grip is further aided by the soft yet firm rubber-armored exterior, while weight is kept down – yet solidity supplied – via an aluminum alloy construction. However, they still weigh as much as a regular bag of sugar, so I wouldn’t want to be hand-holding these to observe for longer than strictly necessary. One option would be to use them with a tripod. No screw thread for direct attachment is included, but Nikon does offer adapters to allow this, as optional extras.

Also found in the box is a soft canvas carry pouch the size of a primary school satchel, a shoulder/neck strap, and protective caps for both front lens elements and rear eyepieces. Although these binoculars are physically big at a width of 7.9in (200mm), length of 8in (202mm), and depth of 2.6in (66mm), a central folding mechanism allows for the variation of interpupillary distance between 56–72mm, so they best match up with my own eyes.

Instead of the familiar dioptric adjustment ring encircling the right eyepiece, there’s a lever for incrementally adjusting magnification from the minimum 10x to the maximum 22x option. This can be operated via the forefinger or thumb when hand-holding. It's slightly stiff to the touch, but this promotes a slow and steady zoom transition that is probably easier for my brain to cope with, especially if going between the two extremes of magnification and back again.

Further incremental settings marked on the same ring are set at 12x, 15x, and 18x magnification. There’s no 'click' when we arrive at each setting, meaning that the zoom operation is smooth.

Nikon Action Zoom 10-22x50: Performance

With a huge objective lens potentially gathering lots of light and multilayer lens coatings further maximizing transmission and doing a great job of it, in my opinion, the Nikon Action 10-22x50 binoculars are a definite option for those wanting flexibility when it comes to magnification, plus clear and crisp views in a variety of conditions.

It’s worth noting, however, that zooming in immediately presents a noticeably narrower field of view and a tunnel-like effect, particularly pronounced at the maximum 22x setting, with the requirement to re-adjust focus as you do so.

It’s at the minimum 10x magnification that the view appears brightest and sharpest, with a good level of contrast and three-dimensional depth delivered. Indeed, at this setting, as with the Nikon Action 10x42 binoculars I was testing out at the same time as these, results seem to transcend what I would expect of 'budget' binoculars. I struggled to find any instances of chromatic aberration/purple fringing, either, despite looking for it in bright conditions; so, bravo to Nikon for that.

One further caveat, though: the more I increased magnification, the trickier I found it to hold the binoculars sufficiently steady to be able to avoid image judder and a shaky-looking view. So that’s something to take into consideration when weighing up whether this option is right for you.

If you’re regularly going to be using the maximum 22x magnification option, especially for prolonged periods of observation, investing in Nikon’s optional tripod adapters for this model may prove a must. It’ll also give your hands and arms a rest.

Nikon Action Zoom 10-22x50: Verdict

Allowing for both wide-angle viewing and detail-rich close-ups, there’s flexibility in these zoom binoculars for sure. But unfortunately, I found them a little too big and heavy at just shy of 2.2lbs (1kg) for my personal taste. That’s despite the aluminum build attempting to keep the setup relatively light and manageable, as well as reassuringly solid-feeling.

Clarity and brightness of image, at least at the 10x setting, is particularly impressive – and their value for money really cannot be faulted. So, if you have larger hands or bulging biceps and are prepared to handhold these binoculars for extended periods (or invest in Nikon’s TRA-2 and TRA-3 adapters so they can be tripod-mounted), then go for it.

Alternatives

Why would I choose to pay an amount for a monocular that could, if I chose another brand, get me either a very capable, sturdy, and long-lasting pair of binoculars or five budget-priced monocular alternatives?

Well, sometimes the ultimate in portability combined with benchmark-raising performance is what I’m after.

Enter the freshly tooled Leica Monovid 8x25 monocular, its key specifications being an at-first-modest-sounding 8x magnification wedded to a 25mm objective lens.

Like the simultaneously released Noctivid Compact 10x25 and 8x25 binoculars from the same manufacturer, this monocular comes with a knurled leather finish, which not only looks great but provides a nicely firm grip.

A compact cylinder measuring 112x40mm, this monocular comes with an attachable wrist strap, a brief instruction manual, and a lens cleaning cloth included, along with a cylindrical, zippered carry pouch fashioned from soft leather to keep my investment protected.

What’s further appealing about this monocular is that it is supplied with an additional, separate, close-up lens. This coin-sized optic has its own placeholder sewn into the lining of the supplied pouch.

When attached to the main body of the monocular, it provides a closest viewing distance of between 25-30cm, whereas, without it, the closest focus distance is a more standard-sounding two meters.

So, while the Leica Monovid 8x25 may be 'just' a monocular at initial glance, is it, in fact, a more versatile and flexible viewing accessory than first meets the eye?

Leica Monovid 8x25: Specifications

Leica Monovid 8x25: Price

While not in any sense 'cheap', the manufacturer’s suggested asking price of $699 / £510 / AU$1,050 here feels almost reasonable for a Leica optical product with that iconic red dot. I, however, need to mention that I could alternatively pay a fifth of that asking price and still bag a well-performing monocular from a recognizable rival. But then it wouldn’t be a Leica.

At the time of writing, I also spotted marginally better deals to be had online if hunting around (fortunately, our widget below does the hard work for you). You’re never going to make massive savings on a Leica – it’s not that sort of product – but, as ever, it pays to do a little consumer research before purchase.

Leica Monovid 8x25: Design & Handling

The single-tube design of this black-liveried monocular might have you thinking at first glance it would be tricky to achieve a tight – not to mention level and steady – grip. Yet in practice, the almost industrial-looking knurled leather surface prevents fingers from sliding about.

I found myself using it with both hands: one to hold the device steady and the other to adjust the focus wheel to achieve critical sharpness. Once I’d alighted on a sharp image, however, I found the monocular could be used single-handedly, further supported by the rubber surround of the twist-up eyecup resting against my eye socket. Attaching the provided strap would also aid stability.

It certainly feels weightier in the palm than the official 152g weight quoted by Leica suggests on paper. The fact that the focus ring is also large and ridged makes finding this crucial control very easy when my eyes are otherwise engaged on the subject matter. Overall, handling is very intuitive. The Leica Monovid 8x25 monocular’s design is very minimalist and pared-back, after all, so it’s not like there are a load of operational options to distract or confuse, aside from the ability to add a close-up lens.

Because this additional/optional lens fits the core slender setup so well, there were a couple of times I forgot I’d previously attached it – and then wondered why I couldn’t focus properly on subjects further away.

Leica Monovid 8x25: Performance

The compactness here suggests a device that potentially could take the place of opera glasses if attending the theater, as well as being used as a general travel device for bringing the faraway closer when sightseeing or on a city break.

It’s also a perfect tool for taking on walks through the countryside, as it won’t weigh me down. And if I spot an unfamiliar and interesting bird in a nearby tree and want a closer look, so much the better. Commendably, I didn’t notice any instances of chromatic aberration when using the Leica Monovid 8x25 monocular, though I was actively searching for such artifacts on bright days and when training its lens on high-contrast subjects.

Despite the diminutive size, there is sufficient rigidity and heft to the monocular that I found it possible to hand-hold the device steady enough to get a commendably wobble-free view of subjects. Okay, so an 8x magnification is not going to be particularly challenging, but it does feel like Leica has attempted to maximize the pleasure and performance that can be had from a unit of this modest size. Fortunately, the degree of detail and clarity here feels exceptional enough to justify the equally exceptional asking price.

If adding the provided extra 25-30cm close-up lens, keeping the intended portion of your subject in frame and in focus is a little trickier, but again detail is such that I was able to pick out the veins in the leaves of the magnolia tree in my garden, and get a close-up of a bee collecting pollen from the bluebells that seem to be almost an invasive species this spring season. That said, I can’t see myself using this lens as much as the core 8x magnification lens that is integral to the device, but I do admire the thought and flexibility provided.

Leica Monovid 8x25: Verdict

Most of us will automatically opt for a pair of binoculars when we want to bring the faraway up close and personal without moving an inch – or when we physically cannot get closer to the subject under observation. By default, then, that makes the even more portable alternative of a monocular a specialist tool. Add the additional cost of owning a Leica-branded monocular, and we are narrowing the possible target market further.

However, there is no denying that in terms of giving a performance that belies its diminutive size and, on paper, an average 8x25 specification, the Leica Monovid 8x25 monocular is one of the sharpest monoculars I’ve handled. Handling of contrast is such that views pleasingly take on an almost three-dimensional depth.

The close-up/macro lens sewn into the carry pouch that can be screwed into position to change close focus to 25-30cm, rather than two meters, adds to the versatility and appeal for any amateur botanist or wildlife watcher. In effect, we are getting a two-in-one tool, which means spending big on this pocket-sized viewer hurts a little less than it would otherwise.

Alternatives

As a purveyor of luxury optical goods, Leica is the go-to German brand for anyone wanting premium binoculars delivering a dizzying level of sharpness, but who maybe doesn’t want to step up to the eye-watering cost of an alternative pair from Swarovski for even greater clarity.

Like its rival, Leica appeals to me not just for its class-leading clarity but, potentially, for offering a product that should last a lifetime of use. Yes, they may be priced at a premium, but there’s no way they’ll make me feel short-changed. Not in the long run.

Leica’s latest Noctivid Compact 10x25 binoculars are all about a small size, yet a big performance. At least that’s the idea. From first pulling them out of the box, they fortunately match the billing by being no bigger in the palm, when folded, than a cassette Walkman. Which means I can slide them easily and conveniently into a jacket pocket for transportation.

Rather than a conventional rubber surround – alternatively available for this unit – I plumped for the even more premium version with a leather finish. Leica says this is the same leather used on its camera models. The surface has an almost industrial-looking, knurled finish, which means it doesn’t slip through the fingers.

Unusually, it also means the device smells great – at least fresh out of the box. I’m not sure how long that will last with prolonged use. However, the price should ensure this is a device that will be taken care of.

Stylish exterior and diminutive form factor aside, the other core points to focus on here are that this Leica product offers a respectable 10x magnification plus a standard-sized 25mm objective lens. But being a Leica, I’m expecting performance that raises the bar above what I’d expect from binoculars with outwardly identical specifications from a regular brand.

So, what I want to drill into now is, does the compactness compromise visibility and operation at all, or does the performance live up to – or exceed – expectations?

Leica Noctivid Compact 10x25: Specifications

Leica Noctivid Compact 10x25: Price

As I’d expect from Leica, its premium look and feel Noctivid Compact 10x25 binos are reassuringly pricey at a manufacturer’s suggested price of $1,099 / £890 / AU$1,790 for the leather-armored version I'm testing. Mind you, that counts as relatively affordable for this brand and the personal status of owning that iconic red Leica logo. There is also a (slightly) cheaper rubber variant at $999 / £765 / AU$1,590.

Interestingly, the equally new Noctivid Compact 8x25 alternative is retailing for the same price at the time of writing. The physical dimensions of this lower-magnification variant are the same; it just weighs fractionally less and has a slightly wider field of view.

More affordable than both these Leica options is the recent, excellent-performing Kenko VcSmart Light 14x30. This portable alternative boasts greater magnification and a larger objective lens, plus built-in image stabilization. The downside is that it does mean a slightly larger and heavier pair of binoculars, but not by much. Check the alternatives at the end of this piece for more.

Leica Noctivid Compact 10x25: Design & Handling

Supplied with a snug soft leather carry pouch, strap, and slide-on plastic eyepiece protectors, the roof prism-type Leica Noctivid Compact 10x25 binoculars are a thing of minimalist beauty in terms of design. At the same time, there’s nothing that feels extraneous or overly flashy to me; everything feels solid and well-made.

Despite being small, the aluminum construction has a definite weight to it that immediately reassures, even if the official 13oz (359g) is comparable to that of a basic point-and-shoot pocket camera. Curiously, the rubber-armored variant of this model weighs slightly more at 13.5oz (379g).

It’s also worth noting that this premium pair is nitrogen-filled to prevent fogging, furthering its suitability for use in the wet and the wild. Leica claims they’ll remain watertight at a depth of 16ft (5m).

The lenses here are tethered to a static metal frame from which they fold outwards or back inwards. This allows for interpupillary distance adjustment, enabling them to line up comfortably and precisely with my own eyes, so what I’m seeing is a perfect circle. Twist-up rubber eyecups also provide a degree of operational comfort and can be adjusted depending on whether you’re wearing glasses.

A familiar non-slip, ridged focus ring is located dead center between the eyepieces. I found this had just the right amount of 'give' to it – not too loose nor stiff – to allow me to tweak focus precisely without having to take my eyes away from the subject being observed. A dioptric adjustment ring encircling the right eyepiece allows for further fine-tuning, if needed.

I don’t have particularly large hands, so I found the Leica binoculars sat well in mine. The sausage-fingered may prefer a larger pair, however.

Operation here is as intuitive as you’d expect a pocket device to be; I plucked these binoculars out of their posh black box and was using them within seconds.

Unobtrusive metal loops to the underside of each lens provide a means of attaching the provided neck strap; the package also includes a lens cleaning cloth and plastic eyepiece caps.

And that’s it – what you see here is what you get. Leica has stripped the Noctivid Compact 10x25 back to the essentials in the aim of compactness and portability, yet, as we’ll see, with little compromise when it comes to performance.

Leica Noctivid Compact 10x25: Performance

A 25mm objective lens size might suggest that, while okay as a general-purpose viewer, the Leica Noctivid Compact 10x25 binoculars might not be the best candidate for low-light work. However, using them toward the end of the day, I was surprised by how sharp, high-definition, and relatively bright they remained.

They consistently deliver a very crisp, contrasty image – so much so that the view appears three-dimensional. While I was mainly using them outdoors, their portable size also presents the option of using them at a concert or in a theater to bring the faraway closer than my ticket might otherwise afford.

My main worry with compact binoculars is always that observation is compromised, with portability being the key deciding factor in their development. That said, I would not expect Leica to put out a product that is in any way sub-par, and fortunately, that’s not the case here.

In fact, I found the outwardly stripped-back Leica Noctivid Compact 10x25 to deliver even better performance than I expected – and to my mind provide a brighter image than some contemporaries with physically larger glass.

Field of view is also respectable, in that I rarely found myself having to remove my attention from the eyepieces when tracking a subject to try to relocate it. The official stats are that the field of view at 1,000 meters is a respectable-for-its-class 100 meters.

Due to the lower magnification of the 8x25 model released at the same time as this one, the field of view at 1,000m is an even wider 120m, which might be preferable for users consistently needing to track flighty subjects.

Similarly impressive is the lack of a noticeable loss of definition toward the edges of the frame. This underscores my impression that the binoculars' performance exceeds what I’d expect from a viewing device of this relatively diminutive size, going some way to justify the price being asked.

Leica Noctivid Compact 10x25: Verdict

The diminutive Leica Noctivid Compact 10x25 binoculars may be pocket-sized, but they go big on performance. Okay, I’m always anticipating great things from one of the best optical brands out there, but still, there seems to have been very little compromise made in bringing these binoculars to market at their weight and dimensions.

If compactness is a key concern, but you don’t want to compromise on quality and can afford the high-ish ticket price, then you won’t go far wrong with the Leica Noctivid Compact 10x25. Particularly if seeking a premium everyday observational device, rather than a specialist tool for a niche viewing purpose.

Alternatives

Get ready for Action! Do these conventional-looking binoculars live up to Nikon’s reputation for optical excellence or seem old hat? It’s certainly the case that if anyone asked me to picture a standard pair of binoculars, I’d visualize something very close to the Nikon Action 10x42.

Boasting a traditional – some might say 'classic' – Porro prism-type design and a specification marrying a regulation-issue 10x magnification to a bigger-than-average (and theoretically brighter and crisper) 42mm objective lens, Nikon is pitching these chunky binoculars at beginners. In truth, that’s just a nicer way to say the Nikon Action 10x42 is a budget offering.

An added masterstroke, then, to call this series 'Action'. Put the word 'Action' beside anything, and it immediately sounds more exciting, with barely a need to mention that this is the successor to Nikon’s Aculon A211 series.

So, is this an option that will get those seeking an affordable, solidly built pair of binoculars from a recognizable, respected brand hot under the collar? Will it satisfy those who are not only searching for an everyday observational device but one especially suited to twitchers and wildlife watchers, thanks to a respectably wide field of view and decent lens size?

Nikon Action 10x42: Specifications

Nikon Action 10x42: Price

The first surprise is that anything this sizable and solid from Nikon is this affordable, though the 'Made in China' box sticker may partly indicate why. The manufacturer’s official suggested price for Nikon Action 10x42 binoculars is a very reasonable-sounding $129 / £129 / AU$189, which, on initial inspection, feels like a lot for very little, and is very much in line with the pricing of Nikon’s existing Aculon A211 series, which this succeeds.

A shoulder strap and soft carry case are also included in the box, along with front and rear lens caps. Hold these binoculars in your hand, and even before using them in earnest for the first time, you’ll feel like you've got yourself a real bargain, with a cost much lower than expected given the build. A very good start!

Nikon Action 10x42: Design & Handling

As noted in my introduction, the Nikon Action 10x42 binoculars feature a classic Porro prism design with an aluminum-alloy construction. A little chunky and unwieldy, they’re not the pocket binoculars that many of us would typically choose to start with.

But of course, squeezing in a large-ish 42mm objective lens was always going to necessitate a pair of binoculars of a certain size, as the preceding Aculon A211 range proved.

Plus, with a rubberized exterior enabling a firm grip and protecting against accidental knocks, the build quality is excellent for the price. Impressively, held in both hands, the Nikon Action 10x42 binoculars in no way feel like a 'budget' option.

A welcome extra that's not always guaranteed at this price is the inclusion of multi-layered lens coatings to maximize light transmission, contrast, clarity, and overall crispness. Also present are turn-and-slide rubber eyecups to aid visibility and enhance personal comfort, allowing for adjustment depending on whether I’m using them when wearing glasses or not. The right-hand eyepiece is encircled by a dioptric adjustment ring for fine-tuning focus. While this control feels a little stiff, that very fact does allow for precise adjustment.

Sitting directly between the eyepieces but lifted significantly above them is a large, ridged focus dial, which I feel has just the right amount of give. While it’s easy to locate this control by feel with eyes pressed against the binoculars’ eyecups, those with smaller hands may find it a bit of a stretch due to the device’s overall breadth. Happily, I can manually adjust interpupillary distance to line up exactly with my own eyes – the binoculars featuring a familiar folding mechanism – while the 16.1mm eye relief is generous.

Should potential purchasers be considering tripod-mounting this pair for prolonged periods of observation – if operating out of a hide, for example – then think again, as no screw thread for direct tripod mounting is provided. However, Nikon offers optional TRA-2 and TRA-3 tripod adapters at an additional cost.

More generously, Nikon has included both rear eyepiece and front lens protectors in the form of plastic caps that can be slid off or peeled off, respectively. I can see these getting lost fairly easily, however, as they managed to detach themselves from the binoculars when I was transporting them in my rucksack.

Handling feels intuitive from the get-go. These binoculars feel reassuringly sturdy when gripped with both hands, and surprisingly, given the low price, they seem like they will last for a while. What we don’t get, however, is a waterproof construction, so that is something to bear in mind if you’re envisioning using these in more challenging conditions.

Nikon Action 10x42: Performance

One of the key claims from Nikon for these binos is a wide field of view of 119m at 1,000 meters, making them a potential choice for wildlife watchers and birders needing to pan with and track flighty or skittish subjects, rather than closer subjects – especially as the minimum focus range is a so-so 16.4 ft (5m).

In practice, while I was able to pick out birds on branches, I found them ideal for general-purpose daylight viewing. If you’re going to be regularly continuing observation into the early evening, going for the larger 10x50 model in this range for marginally improved low-light performance might be a better bet.

Having tested a pair of Leica-branded binoculars directly before handling the Nikon Action 10x42, which is roughly a sixth of the Leica Noctivid Compact 10x25's asking price, I wasn’t expecting to be particularly impressed by the Nikon’s image quality. But I was very pleasantly surprised. Larger glass has resulted in a bright, crisp, and clear image; plus, even though I was searching for instances of chromatic aberration, like purple fringing on branches of a tree where it meets a clear blue sky, I found it hard to find fault.

Overall, the Nikon Action 10x42 delivers a performance that belies its budget price tag. It adds up to a great deal for anyone wanting sharp views who doesn’t mind bulkier binoculars to go with it – or perhaps is deliberately looking for a sturdy, robust option.

Nikon Action 10x42: Verdict

What appeals to me most about the Nikon Action 10x42 is that I get a well-specified pair of binoculars from a major brand at a very affordable, cost-of-living-crisis-conscious price.

On the downside, they feel bulkier and weightier to me than most beginners would want, especially if sightseeing rather than staying relatively static, and the design is rather old-fashioned without appearing to be deliberately retro. I guess it’s a matter of personal taste as to whether that appeals.

More positively, the chunky size and weight ensure they sit well in the hand, and viewing is largely free from image judder caused by any slight hand tremor, without necessarily needing a tripod, after all. These excellent binos are an ideal choice for budget-conscious wildlife watchers.

Alternatives

Are you after the best budget binoculars for the total solar eclipse that is coming up this summer? If you've ever seen a solar eclipse, you will know how fiddly solar eclipse glasses can be.

Sure, protecting your eyes from dangerous infrared light, UV light, and bright sunlight is imperative while looking at the sun. However, simple solar eclipse glasses get easily damaged, and they obviously don't offer any magnification.

Cue solar binoculars, which have built-in solar filters on their objective lenses to allow in only safe levels of sunlight so you can observe the sun directly and magnified to a size where you can see it in more detail.

On August 12 this year, parts of Spain, Portugal, Greenland, and Iceland will be able to witness the 'once in a generation' spectacle of a total solar eclipse – the last in continental Europe was back in 1999. But there won't be such a long wait for the next one, which will be visible on August 2, 2027, from countries including Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt.

With Lunt having discontinued its SUNoculars range, Celestron is now the only real choice for those who want a safe way to get a magnified view of the sun, without investing in a telescope or a telephoto camera lens, both of which will need to be fitted with a solar filter.

Happily, the products available cover all kinds of magnifications, from portable and pocket-sized 10x25 binoculars (that’s 10x magnification and 25mm aperture objective lenses) to heavier, more powerful 20x50 binoculars.

Within the small range available, you’ll find both roof prism (for small, portable binoculars) and Porro prism (for large yet affordable) designs. Crucially, the solar filters used all conform to the ISO 12312-2:2015(E) international safety standard.

Although solar binoculars make it safe to view the sun, it pays to know an extra safety technique. After all, when bringing solar binoculars up to your face, it’s all too easy to look at the sun – and that goes double if you have problems locating it through the otherwise very dark optics. A good technique here is to wear a wide-brimmed hat, which will instantly block the sun from getting in your eyes while you find the sun and adjust the binoculars.

The best solar eclipse binoculars

Best value

Light enough to hold steady while also offering decent magnification, these binoculars are excellent for watching the progress of an eclipse while also being good for studying the surface of the sun.

Low-priced and with just the right amount of magnification for stunning close-ups of sunspots while also being easy to hold steady, the Celestron EclipSmart 10x42mm offers the perfect balance for those wanting something impressive without being too big and bulky. Crucially, it’s easy to find and focus on the sun, with a nice, bright, and sharp view, although we did notice both a blue and yellow line around the limb, telltale signs of color fringing.

Although it’s the most impressive of Celestron’s three Porro prism binoculars in its EclipseSmart range – including a slightly better build quality – the Celestron EclipSmart 10x42mm has a lot in common with both the 12x50 and 20x50 models, both good and bad.

All have thumb pads underneath the barrels that make it easy to grip and offer plenty of eye relief. However, the shoulder case included is of very basic quality, as is the neck strap, while the separate lens caps on both the lens caps and eyecups are easy to lose. What this model does lack is an adaptor for attaching a tripod, though that’s something that simply isn’t required at this easy-to-handhold 10x magnification.

Best portable

If you just want to keep track of the progress of the moon across the sun during an eclipse and you’re not interested in seeing sunspots, then the Celestron EclipSmart 10x25mm roof solar binoculars are for you.

A tiny pair of binoculars not much bigger than the footprint of a smartphone, these roof prism binoculars offer 10x magnification, but only 25mm objective lenses. That means a small bluish-white image of the sun that lacks brightness, though the wide-angle of view makes it very easy to locate the sun quickly. In my test, I could just about see some sunspots, though not nearly as many – and not as clearly – as larger, higher magnification, brighter solar eclipse binoculars.

It’s a no-frills package, with a simple string for a neck strap, but since they’re so lightweight, the Celestron EclipSmart 10x25mm roof solar binoculars can hang effortlessly around the neck during an eclipse. Also in the box is a pouch that has a belt loop, but they can just as easily live in a pocket. The only real downside to these travel-friendly solar binoculars is the lack of eye relief.

Best for tripods

Many people find binoculars that magnify 10x or higher quite difficult to hold steady, and that certainly applies here. Although almost identical to the 10x42 and 12x50 Celestron models, this 20x50 binocular is just too heavy to hold for longer periods of time.

What’s more, the narrow field of view makes it very hard to quickly find the sun. This is why the tripod jack between the barrels of this Porro prism binocular is so useful. When held steady on a tripod, the Celestron EclipSmart 20x50 offers fabulous close-ups of sunspots on the surface of the sun amid a blueish-white view of the solar surface. I also didn’t notice many traces of blue and yellow color fringing around the sun.

Impressive when mounted on a tripod, the Celestron EclipSmart 20x50 is best thought of as a travel-friendly alternative to taking a small telescope to see an eclipse rather than as solar binoculars for hand-holding.

As with the others in the range, the Celestron EclipSmart 20x50 comes with thumb pads underneath the barrels and lots of eye relief, but with loose lens caps, a thin neck strap, and a basic shoulder case.

Best high-magnification

If you want as much magnification as possible for finding sunspots on the solar surface, then the Celestron EclipSmart 12x50 is a tempting proposition. With 12x magnification and solar filters permanently attached to its 50mm objective lenses, these Porro prism binoculars offer a bright, blueish-white view of the sun with only a trace of blue and yellow color fringing.

It’s easily possible to find sunspots and even split sunspots in dense areas of activity, but there are some caveats. The main issue is that while it is possible to hold the Celestron EclipSmart 12x50 in the hand to use at an eclipse (or just for sunspot viewing), it’s a wobbly affair.

The weight of these binoculars is such that it’s better to mount them on a tripod (using the built-in tripod jack and an L-shaped binocular adaptor) or, at the very least, sit on a reclining chair when you use them.

By using either a tripod or yourself to support some of the weight, it becomes easier to keep them steady. That’s if you can find the sun with them, something that takes a little practice at this magnification – it’s certainly something you should master before eclipse day.

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Leica has launched its new Noctivid Compact binocular and Monovid monocular, revealing a redesigned line that aims to bring the optical performance of its flagship Noctivid series into a smaller form..

The new Noctivid lineup includes the Noctovid Compact 8x25 and 10x25 binoculars – , as well as the Monovid 8x25 monocular. Each model emphasizes portability and usability, geared towards a range of scenarios from travel and hiking to urban observation.

According to Leica, the new Noctivid line represents a “complete redesign,” pairing updated optical construction with a more compact, lightweight build. Most notably, the company says the new range boasts a wider field of view, despite the pocket-sized build.

Compared with the original Noctivid series, which already offered competitive viewing, the new models are designed to deliver a more immediate and expansive visual frame. This wider perspective allows users to take in more of a scene at once, particularly useful for tracking wildlife or scanning detailed environments without constant repositioning.

Crucially, Leica maintains that this broader field of view doesn’t compromise optical precision. Wider viewing angles in compact binoculars often result in edge distortion or reduced sharpness, but the company says the Noctavid range preserves edge-to-edge clarity.

Both binoculars and monocular are waterproofed with a depth rating of 16 ft / 5m.

Both pairs of Leica Noctovid binoculars are available for $1,099 /£890 / AU$1,677 in a black leather finish. Alternatively, you can get them in a black rubber-armored $999 /£765 / AU$1,677.

The leather-armored Monovid monocular will retail for $699 / £510. Australian pricing is not yet available.

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See our guides to the best compact binoculars and our guide to the best monoculars

Zeiss has launched its latest spotting scope, the Conquest Apia 65, a lightweight and compact optical device designed for wildlife enthusiasts on the go.

Coming in as a mid-tier-priced scope but touted to feature high-end optics, Zeiss puts forward the Conquest Apia 65 as an affordable solution to the tradeoff between optical quality and compact design when it comes to the most portable spotting scopes.

The second model in the Conquest series, the Apia 65 features a 65mm lens diameter which Zeiss claims achieves an 87% light transmission rate, closely rivaling its big brother scope, the Conquest Gavia 85, itself boasting an 88% light transmission rate.

Touted to have a “HD optical system” made up of aspherical elements and extra-low dispersion glass, the Apia 65 should deal with aberrations well while enabling you to see both a wide view and the finer details thanks to a 20-50x zoom range.

Zeiss has coated the Apia 65 lens with its proprietary LotuTec, which creates a hydrophobic and oleophobic layer for maintaining optimal performance in adverse conditions.

Bolstering durability is the magnesium and aluminum housing, with the entire device measuring 11.7inches and weighing 47.5oz.

Although not the shortest nor lightest higher-end compact spotting scope on the market, it still looks like the Apia 65 is set to give its smaller and more premium competitors, notably the Swarovski ATC 17-40x56, a good run for their money and at a much lower price.

The Swarovski ATC 17-40x56, which measures 10 inches, weights 43oz and achieves 88% light transmission, but costs around $2,900 / £2,150, while the Zeiss Conquest Apia 65 comes in at around $1,700 / £1,275.

With the release of the Conquest Apia 65, Zeiss continues its efforts to meet the growing demand for lightweight, smaller spotting scopes that don't sacrifice optical quality while keeping ergonomics in mind.

You can buy the Zeiss Conquest Apia 65 at major photography retailers including B&H Photo (US), Park Cameras (UK) and London Camera Exchange (UK).

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See how the Zeiss Conquest Apia 65 compares to other kits available by reading our expert guide to the best spotting scopes.

Japanese brand Kenko’s boast for its Vc Smart Light range is that they’re its smallest and lightest binoculars to offer built-in ‘Vibration Control’, more commonly termed as 'image stabilization'.

'VC’ or 'IS' aside, the core features are a decent 14x magnification married to a large-for-its-dimensions 30mm objective lens. The larger the magnification and lens, the larger the binoculars’ dimensions, traditionally, especially when there’s a built-in gimbal to provide a steady view. So, I’m on a constant quest to find that sweet spot between a good specification, a practically portable size, and, of course, a great performance. Has Kenko provided that here?

Specs aside, of course, we must also weigh up the cost. As anyone who has considered buying an image-stabilized pair before will know, adding ‘IS’ typically makes them more expensive than regular unstabilized binoculars. So, it’s worth considering whether you really need this feature.

It can certainly come in useful for reducing visual judder due to hand tremors and easing eye strain with it, making for a more comfortable viewing experience if hand-holding for long periods.

Let's see if Kenko's Vc Smart 14x30 Light binos are ultimately worth looking into…

Kenko Vc Smart 14x30 Light: Specifications

Kenko Vc Smart 14x30 Light: Price

I’m well aware that adding image stabilization to any binoculars immediately pushes up the price. So, while it helps make a 14x magnification twinned with a 30mm objective lens very usable in practice, the Kenko Vc Smart 14x30 Light is rather pricey. At the time of writing, the cost was settling in the region of $1,275 / £790 / AU$1,600.

That makes these more of a mid-range IS-equipped binoculars option, rather than a budget one. As ever, it will pay to shop around to get the best deal.

Kenko Vc Smart 14x30 Light: Design & Handling

Classic roof prism-style image-stabilized binoculars can weigh a ton. But powered by a single AA battery, the Kenko Vc Smart 14x30 Light lives up to its name by feeling manageable when held in the palm. Its 462g weight is broadly comparable with a compact mirrorless camera and pancake lens.

My review unit came without an AA battery included – native Japanese buyers apparently get two – however, this isn’t an issue, as I always have a handful of rechargeables at home, and most of us have spares lying around. Amazingly, the claim is that just the one cell will last 28 hours of continuous use, which is impressive given that rivals typically manage half that.

In some ways, that’s just as well, as I found unscrewing and re-attaching the cap for the battery compartment to be awkward, due to snug positioning up against the lens.

Overall, I do like the Vc Smart’s flat profile, with its slightly coarse surface aiding finger purchase when held. I don’t have huge hands, but the sausage-fingered might be advised to try it out in person before buying, as not everyone is seeking the most compact pair possible.

The binoculars arrive with a padded carry pouch with a Velcro-style fastening and a neck strap included out of the box. The eyepieces are protected by slip-on plastic eyecups, but there was no protection provided for the front lenses with my review sample. Luckily, then, these are recessed and possess a generous lens surround to prevent scratching or finger smears when in use. In addition, a small lens cloth is provided in the box.

As with many examples of their ilk, the inter-pupillary distance between the eyepieces can be manually adjusted to a limited extent to better line them up with your own eyes. The right-hand eyepiece features a dioptric adjustment ring for fine-tuning focus, with the main ridged focus wheel located between the front two lenses and falling ergonomically under my middle fingers as the binoculars are gripped by both hands, for the steadiest hold possible.

While using both hands feels most comfortable, the weight is manageable enough to allow for single-handed operation, if preferred. The expected feature of twist-up eyecups is present and correct here too, allowing for further adjustment for comfort, dependent on whether the user is wearing spectacles or not.

As with any binoculars worth their salt, operation is very intuitive, and, for me, the components have just the right amount of ‘give’. They feel neither too loose nor too stiff when adjusting on the fly.

There’s no screw thread for tripod mounting for anyone engaged in longer periods of observation, but, in fairness, given the compact dimensions and manageable weight, I didn’t expect to find one provided.

Kenko Vc Smart 14x30 Light: Performance

It’s not just the better-than-average 30mm objective lens that lets light flood in to boost image clarity, but the expected inclusion of fully multi-coated optics maximizing light transmission. Once focus has been precisely determined, we get an almost three-dimensional-looking image, where the subject matter sharply stands out against the foreground and background. This was particularly noticeable, I found, when observing a bird perched on the branches of a tree, where there might be potentially distracting leaves or twigs in proximity.

I flicked the top plate on/off switch with my thumb once I’d located my subject, and it immediately felt like I had my own Steadicam operator. While there’s sufficient heft to the Kenko Vc Smart 14x30 Light that they can be used without too much visible image wobble/judder even without two-axis gimbal-equipped image stabilization activated, once it is, use becomes noticeably more comfortable and, yes, smooth.

To give one example of its usefulness, at one point during testing, I couldn’t make out from afar whether a black blob on the surface of the water was a piece of wood or a young bird. But upon activating ‘Vibration Control’, I was able to determine in an instant that yes, it was just a piece of flotsam.

While a small and unobtrusive ‘pilot’ light at the back illuminates in green when ‘Vc’ is active, there is a small sliding cover that can be nudged with the thumb to obscure it – especially useful if observing subjects at night, where a distracting light wouldn’t be welcomed. Interestingly, Kenko has removed the automatic power-on/off feature on this model, so it no longer deactivates after 10 minutes. Observation can continue uninterrupted for longer stretches.

If being picky, I did notice occasional instances of purple fringing when observing contrasty subjects in bright conditions: for instance, a white feathered swan nudging against the deep green of a riverbank, or a grey bird on a tree branch set against a clear blue sky. But in fairness, any instances of chromatic aberration were only noticeable when I was actively looking for them.

Overall, I was as impressed by the clarity of these binoculars as I have been by past Kenko iterations. If you’re looking for a decent device at a fair price that has the bonus of built-in image stabilization, then you can’t go far wrong here.

Kenko Vc Smart 14x30 Light: Verdict

The Kenko Vc Smart 14x30 Light hits the sweet spot where compactness, a rugged build, a good performance, a decent specification, and price meet, which isn’t the easiest to achieve.

While not quite a sharpness match for much more expensive binoculars I have used from the likes of Swarovski or Leica, I was immediately impressed by the clarity provided here, with the image stabilization feature allowing me to more accurately identify subjects from afar, free from any visible judder magnified by using them handheld. It all adds up to a good mid-range option for those seeking a high-quality performance without breaking the bank.

Alternatives

If you’ve been thinking about exploring astrophotography but are put off by the expense — and the usual requirement for telescopes, tracking mounts, cameras and laptops — the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro smart telescope may be exactly what you’re looking for.

Small enough to sit comfortably in a camera backpack alongside a mirrorless body and a couple of lenses, the Seestar S30 Pro is closer in size to a chunky telephoto lens than a traditional telescope — but nowhere near as heavy.

Designed by Chinese imaging specialist ZWO, which has been making a name for itself in astrophotography accessories, the S30 Pro is an upgraded version of the original Seestar S30. Conceptually, they’re identical. Once powered on and connected to a smartphone via Bluetooth and WiFi, it automatically aligns itself to the night sky as it slews to your chosen celestial object, captures a series of exposures and stacks them to create colorful images — from galaxies, nebulae and star clusters to the moon and even the sun.

What makes the Pro model interesting for astrophotographers is its upgraded imaging system. While the original Seestar S30 used a 2MP Sony IMX662 sensor for Full HD resolution images, the S30 Pro introduces larger Sony IMX585 and Sony IMX586 sensors — both capable of capturing 8.3MP 4K images — for telephoto and wide-field imaging, respectively. That’s a big leap in detail — and there’s more. It’s also got an equatorial mode that puts the ‘scope in sync with Earth’s rotation, enabling longer exposures.

Although it requires an equatorial wedge ball head and polar-aligning, together with the jump in resolution, it helps make the Seestar S30 Pro the first pro-level portable smart telescope.

Specifications

Price & availability

ZWO’s Seestar concept was the first entry-level smart telescope to catch the zeitgeist with the release of the Seestar S50 in 2023. The more portable Seestar S30, priced around UK£419/US$399/AU$699, quickly became one of the most affordable smart telescopes available when it was released in 2025.

The Seestar S30 Pro is an effort to keep the same form factor but slightly upgrade the experience, with new sensors and improved resolution responsible for an uptick in price to US$599/£599/AU$820.

For astrophotographers who care about resolution and post-processing potential, the upgrade from a full HD sensor in the S30 to 4K sensors in the S30 Pro makes the latter far more appealing.

Build and handling

The Seestar S30 Pro is remarkably portable. Its compact design means it can easily fit inside most camera backpacks — something that would have been unthinkable for traditional astrophotography setups — though its carry case also comes with a shoulder strap.

Build quality is solid rather than luxurious. The main body uses a tough white plastic chassis paired with a small but very capable tripod. That tripod works well on a tabletop and is ideal for travel and wide-open spaces, but for use in the average backyard, you’ll likely want to mount the telescope on a full-size photography tripod. It’s got a 3/8-inch thread, but there’s a converter in the box to make it 1/4inch.

Alternatives

The device itself has very few physical controls — just a power button and a USB-C charging port. Everything else happens through the smartphone app. That’s a no-brainer in the short term, though there is always the nagging thought about how long app-based devices will last. After all, without the app, the Seestar S30 Pro is nothing; this likely isn’t a telescope you’re going to keep in the family for generations.

During testing, the app worked smoothly, though it occasionally informed us of large firmware updates and downloads for its built-in sky atlas. It’s worth setting it up at home before heading out to darker skies.

Performance

In the field, the Seestar S30 Pro performs impressively for such a compact and automated device. At night, the process is simple: place the telescope on its tripod, power it on, connect a smartphone and select a target from the built-in sky atlas. The telescope then plate-solves the stars, slews automatically to the chosen object, focuses and begins capturing exposures. Each image is stacked automatically, gradually revealing more detail as the integration time increases. The longer it runs, the cleaner and sometimes more colorful the final image becomes.

We tested it on a host of different objects, from the Pleaides (M45) and the Orion Nebula to the Leo Triplet and Bode’s galaxies and the Cigar galaxies. Happily, the Seestar S30 Pro can create FITS files for deep-sky objects, which astrophotographers can then export to image-stacking software. That’s what to do to reduce noise and maximize detail.

However, the S30 Pro still has limitations. Its 30mm aperture and alt-az mount restrict exposure lengths, which limits ultimate detail. Cue its EQ mode, which compensates for the Earth’s rotation. It necessitates the purchase of the Seestar TH10 Fluid Tripod Head (costing US$79) (or any equatorial wedge).

To use it, set the dial to your latitude and point it towards north, either using Polaris, the North Star, or just the compass on your phone. There’s then an in-app guide to fine-tune the positioning. Once completed, the app goes into EQ mode, enabling much longer exposures for objects.

If you want to image large areas of the night sky — either for large nebulae or for the Milky Way (or constellations) — there are two choices. Milky Way mode is the easiest and quickest, whereby the wide-angle camera takes images quickly, or the slow mosaic mode, during which the telephoto takes lots of smaller images and stitches them together. The latter, of course, is how to create higher resolution images.

Lunar imaging is very simple, while daytime imaging with the solar filter is straightforward, allowing quick captures of sunspots using the telephoto camera for close-ups.

ZWO Seestar S30 Pro: Verdict

The ZWO Seestar S30 Pro proves that astrophotography doesn’t need to involve complicated equipment or a huge financial investment. For photographers curious about capturing the night sky, it offers an incredibly simple way to start. Setup takes minutes, the automation handles the difficult parts, and the results can be surprisingly good with much integration time. Compared to the original Seestar S30, the 4K sensor, improved optics and expanded imaging modes make the S30 Pro a much more capable photographic tool, particularly for anyone interested in editing their images.

Check out our full guide to the best smart telescopes

A new generation of intelligent optics has arrived in the UK as Matata Xplore debuts its AI-powered binoculars at The Photography & Video Show.

The company’s Solvia ED 8x32 series binoculars are being showcased publicly for the first time to UK audiences at the event, marking the brand’s official entry into the UK and Ireland through exclusive distribution partner Swains.

For visitors attending the show, it will be an early opportunity to experience binoculars that blend traditional optics with modern digital technology and artificial intelligence.

The launch follows a strong global debut of the Solvia platform, which first gained attention during a successful crowdfunding campaign back in 2025. The Kickstarter project raised more than £250,000 from over 1,000 backers, highlighting growing interest in smart outdoor observation tools that combine viewing, imaging, and AI-powered recognition.

With the UK launch now underway, Matata Xplore is positioning the Solvia range as a new category of optics aimed at birdwatchers, wildlife enthusiasts, outdoor explorers, and content creators.

At the core of the system is an 8x32 optical setup designed to deliver both traditional viewing performance and integrated digital capabilities. The binoculars feature ED glass elements, BAK4 high-refractive-index prisms, and fully multi-coated optics. At the same time, an 8-megapixel 1/2.7in CMOS image sensor allows users to capture photos and video directly through the binoculars. Electronic image stabilization and wide dynamic range support help maintain clarity when observing or recording subjects in challenging lighting conditions.

A Pro version of the binoculars will be available that offers the additional benefit of a GPS unit, which can record your precise location.

What sets the Solvia binoculars apart is their integrated AI technology. The system includes AI-powered object recognition that can help identify wildlife in real time, alongside image enhancement features designed to improve captured footage.

A built-in 2.8-inch touchscreen allows users to adjust settings manually, view images instantly, and control shooting functions, while Wi-Fi connectivity links the binoculars to a companion app that expands functionality and enables firmware updates over the air.

The two versions of the binoculars will be available with the basic Solvia ED 8x32 Plus binoculars is priced at £429.99 (around $570) and offers the full optical and AI experience in a compact and versatile package designed for everyday outdoor use.

The Solvia ED 8x32 Pro, priced at £529.99 (around $700), includes the Solvia Field Kit, which adds the GPS positioning unit, a 4000mAh external battery pack, red and white illumination, an electronic compass, and a polarizing filter designed to reduce glare during observation.

In comparison, the first-ever AI binoculars, the Swarovski Optik AX Visio 10x32 cost significantly more at $5,499 / £3,695.

Visitors to The Photography & Video Show (which ends March 17) will be able to see the binoculars demonstrated in person and place pre-orders during the event. Deliveries are expected to begin in May 2026.

While many smart telescopes focus on ease of use at the expense of precision, the DwarfLab Dwarf Mini carves out a different niche. With its flask-sized form factor and basic resolution, it’s clearly not aiming to replace a full-size astrophotography rig, but for those looking for a compact, capable, and self-contained imager to take on the road, it’s a compelling option.

The Dwarf Mini is built around a 30mm f/5 apochromatic refractor, with a Sony IMX662 image sensor and a fully-motorized mount that handles both object tracking and image stacking. Like most smart telescopes, there's no eyepiece — all interaction is via a smartphone app — and it’s designed to make the process of capturing nebulae, galaxies, and clusters as seamless as possible. 

From solar imaging with the included filter to deep-sky observations through its built-in filters, the Dwarf Mini performs well across the board, but never excels. Crucially, it supports equatorial (EQ) tracking for up to 90-second exposures. 

For more serious astrophotographers — or simply those who want to travel light — this feature alone will set it apart from many of its competitors. For others, the chance to take images of the sun and moon with a pocket-sized device will be enough to justify its place in a camera bag—or even a pocket. 

Specifications

Optical design: Apochromatic refractor

Sensor: 1/2.8in Sony IMX662

Resolution: 2 megapixels

Aperture: 1.18 inches / 30mm

Focal length: 150mm / 5.91 inches (f/5)

Field of view: 50.59 x 45.06° (wide) / 2.45 x 2.14° (telephoto)

Battery life: 4 hours (7,000mAh)

Weight: 1.8lb / 840g

Mount type: Motorized alt-azimuth / EQ mode

Accessories: USB-C cable, solar filter

Price and availability

The Dwarf Mini is available for around £359 / $399 / AU$595, making it compete in competition with other entry-level smart scopes like the ZWO Seestar S30. While it undercuts the larger Dwarf 3 and Seestar S30 Pro, it lacks a carry case or tripod (though custom-made add-on products are available from DwarfLab). For astrophotographers who already own tripods and camera bags, these omissions may be irrelevant, as the Dwarf Mini uses a standard 1/4-inch thread (making it compatible with any basic tabletop tripod or travel tripod) and is easy to store in a camera bag or even a jacket pocket. 

Build and handling

In the hand, the 1.8lb / 840g Dwarf Mini is surprisingly dense for its size, but remains impressively compact — smaller than most long lenses and easy to pack alongside other camera gear. It’s sensible to use it with a tall tripod to achieve a wide-field view of the night sky, but it’s so small that it can be mounted on a tripod support arm alongside a DSLR or mirrorless camera.

About half the size of a credit card, the included solar filter attaches magnetically and is well-made, though there’s no case or drawstring pouch to protect it from bumps or scratches. More concerning is the lack of any hard case for the scope itself, which would benefit from sturdier travel protection given its purpose-built portability. Again, one is available on the DwarfLab website — though we used a large sock. 

One issue we did encounter was with the built-in sky atlas — planetarium software that can be used to locate an object, or frame an image of the wide-field night sky. Although it works very well, it does require an initial large download and often a top-up, so it’s worth logging in to the app while still on WiFi before venturing to a remote location. The same applies to common firmware updates. 

Performance

The Dwarf 3 is very easy to use and has some advanced modes that make it much more than a quick-hit novelty device. Initial setup is refreshingly quick. Power on the Dwarf Mini, connect your phone to its WiFi signal and launch the DwarfLab app. When using an iPhone, we did experience some connectivity issues that made the process longer than we had hoped — not something we encountered with an Android device. Once it’s connected, its built‑in star atlas can be used to select a target, with the scope using plate solving to automatically align itself with the night sky to find the object. 

Like all smart telescopes, the Dwarf Mini captures short exposures (typically 10 seconds). She stacks them automatically in real time to reduce noise and enhance contrast, producing vibrant, usable images of bright deep-sky objects within minutes. The images improve constantly, but you can’t see the current image until it’s saved. It makes no difference for astrophotography, but it does make it less appealing for outreach when you want to share images of the night sky in real-time. 

During testing from a suburban location, we successfully imaged popular winter targets such as the Orion Nebula (M42), the Pleiades (M45), and several open clusters — all from under heavy light pollution.

While the 2MP resolution is modest, results are crisp and colourful on phone and tablet screens. DwarfLab’s own Stellar Studio can make adjustments within the app, though it’s worth noting that this tool only works when connected to the scope, and processing is slow. It’s rather time-consuming and cumbersome, though for open clusters, the “star correction” tool finally plate-solves all the images in the stack and produces a sharp-looking result. It’s also possible for advanced users to export low-res JPEG, mid-res PNG and hi-res FITS files for post-processing.

One standout feature is EQ (equatorial) mode, which allows a telescope to track the sky in sync with Earth’s rotation. Once manually aligned with Polaris — something the app walks you through — the Dwarf Mini can track objects for up to 90 seconds per exposure. That’s a significant improvement over the 15 seconds or so typical of alt-azimuth mounts. This is especially useful for imaging objects near the zenith, where field rotation can cause star blurring and streaking. For more casual users, EQ mode is not strictly necessary. Without it, you still get share-worthy results with minimal effort.

Unlike most smart telescopes, the Dwarf Mini can also be used by day. Solar imaging with the included magnetic filter revealed detailed sunspots. At the same time, results with the moon, both in the day and after dark, were sharp and well-defined considering the scope’s compact optics. 

Verdict

For seasoned astrophotographers looking to travel light — or spend less time setting up — the DwarfLab Dwarf Mini is a tempting solution. It doesn’t offer the resolution or flexibility of a full imaging setup, but for wide-field targets, solar and lunar imaging and deep-sky snapshots, it’s hard to resist as a supplementary travel-friendly astro-rig. 

Alternatives

Check out our full guide to the best smart telescopes

NASA has detected a precursor or progenitor to a supernova for the first time – and it's all thanks to old photos. Researchers have now been able to study some of a supernova's progression by comparing images from the James Webb Space Telescope.

The star, designated 2025pht, was located in the galaxy NGC 1637 and died some 40 million years ago. It took the light from the cosmic explosion this long to reach the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN) – NASA’s multi-telescope system for detecting supernovae.

Researchers first spotted the supernova in June of 2025, but, most importantly, the exploding star is in a region that the telescope has photographed before. Researchers then got to work identifying the progenitor – the star that died – by aligning and analyzing archive images of Galaxy NGC 1637 taken by the Hubble and James Webb telescopes before it exploded. It's the first time that a supernova progenitor has been photographed by Webb, NASA says.

NASA has photographed a supernova before, but this time, researchers had old photos to use as a reference and gather data about what happened before the star became a supernova.

"We’ve been waiting for this to happen – for a supernova to explode in a galaxy that Webb had already observed," explained the study's lead author, Charlie Kilpatrick of Northwestern University. "We combined Hubble and Webb data sets to completely characterize this star for the first time,”

The researchers found that the supernova progenitor star was a “surprisingly red” supergiant in 2024, indicating that it was surrounded by dust blocking shorter wavelength blue light.

“It’s the reddest, most dusty red supergiant that we’ve seen explode as a supernova,” said graduate student and co-author of the results paper published on the analysis, Aswin Suresh of Northwestern University.

The James Webb Telescope uses a MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) and NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) to create images of the night sky.

NIRCam observes near-infrared light with wavelengths (0.6–5 microns) slightly longer than those of visible light to capture crisp images of stars and early galaxies, while MIRI observes longer mid-infrared wavelengths (5–28 microns) to detect cooler cosmic dust, gas, and proto-stars.

NASA launched the James Webb Telescope in 2021 with the mission of studying “every phase of the history of the universe” from the Big Bang to the formation of solar systems that can support life.

Since then, the telescope has captured unbelievable images, including of the most distant galaxy ever photographed and previously undiscovered planets.

Earlier this year, NASA announced it'll launch a new space telescope by May 2027. The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will boast a 288MP camera and work in collaboration with James Webb to reveal ”billions of stars, hundreds of black holes and hundreds of forming planetary systems."

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Check out these mesmerizing images from the James Webb Telescope, enabling you to gaze into a black hole and see the “jewelled ring” in the cosmos.

Nikon has expanded its popular Monarch lineup with the introduction of the Nikon Monarch M5 10x50 and Nikon Monarch M5 12x50, two large-objective binoculars designed to deliver serious optical performance without the usual penalty of added bulk. Announced by Nikon Vision Co., Ltd. in Tokyo, the new additions round out the Monarch M5 family, which has been a firm favorite among birders and outdoor enthusiasts since its launch in 2021.

At first glance, 50mm binoculars often signal weight and heft, but Nikon is making a bold claim here. Through refined optical engineering and structural design, the company says these are the lightest binoculars in their class to feature 50mm objective lenses with ED glass. The 10x50 tips the scales at just 640g, while the 12x50 comes in at 650g. For anyone who has spent hours glassing a ridgeline or scanning a shoreline, those grams matter more than the spec sheet might suggest.

The large-diameter objectives are where these binoculars really start to shine. A 50mm front element gathers a significant amount of light, translating into brighter, more detailed views in low-light conditions. Whether you’re watching birds at dawn, tracking wildlife at dusk, or simply enjoying the last light of day across open countryside, that extra light transmission delivers a dynamic, high-resolution image that feels immersive rather than flat.

The 12x50 model, in particular, pushes the experience further with an apparent field of view exceeding 60 degrees. That wide viewing angle gives you a sweeping, almost panoramic perspective, making it easier to follow moving subjects or simply lose yourself in the scene. For stargazers, that expansive field adds another layer of drama, turning a clear night sky into something truly cinematic.

As with the rest of the Monarch M5 series, both models use extra-low dispersion glass to control chromatic aberration and boost contrast. Every lens and prism surface is fully multilayer coated, while dielectric high-reflective multilayer and phase-correction coatings work together to enhance brightness and maintain natural color fidelity. The result is a crisp, high-contrast image that feels clean and true to life, rather than artificially boosted.

Beyond the optics, Nikon has kept real-world usability front and center. The bodies are waterproof and nitrogen-filled to prevent fogging, with O-ring seals to handle challenging conditions. Long eye relief makes them comfortable for eyeglass wearers, while turn-and-slide rubber eyecups help you quickly find the correct eye position.

Add in rubber armoring for grip and shock resistance, a fiberglass-reinforced polycarbonate body to keep weight down, and optional tripod compatibility, and these new Monarch M5 models position themselves as versatile, serious tools for anyone who takes observation seriously.

Check out our guides to the best binoculars, and to the best compact binoculars

Nikon has announced the new Action and Action Zoom binocular series, expanding its affordable optics lineup with updated designs and newly developed optical systems.

Aimed at birders, hikers, and everyday outdoor explorers, the new range promises dependable clarity across a wide range of viewing distances without pushing into premium pricing.

The Action series replaces Nikon’s long-running Aculon A211 models, introducing meaningful refinements in both optical performance and handling.

Seven models make up the new lineup - 8x42, 10x42, 7x50, 10x50, 12x50, 16x50, and the variable 10–22x50 - covering everything from casual wildlife watching to longer-range observation. Nikon says the newly developed optical systems deliver improved image quality, while the refreshed exterior design enhances comfort and usability in the field.

Several models in the range qualify as wide field of view designs, with the 10x42, 12x50, and 16x50 offering apparent fields of view of 60 degrees or more. Eye relief has also been extended across most of the series, reaching 15mm or greater to ensure comfortable viewing for eyeglass and sunglass wearers, making them well-suited to long observation sessions.

Build quality has been given clear attention. The binoculars feature an aluminum alloy body wrapped in rubber armor, providing a secure grip alongside the durability needed for regular outdoor use. The ergonomic form is designed to sit naturally in the hands, reinforcing the Action series’ positioning as reliable, everyday binoculars rather than entry-level throwaways.

Optically, the series combines multilayer-coated lenses with large objective diameters to deliver bright, clear images in a variety of lighting conditions.

Turn-and-slide rubber eyecups help users quickly find the correct eyepoint, while the Action Zoom 10–22x50 model adds a smooth zoom lever for flexible magnification. Most models are also compatible with optional tripod adapters for steadier, long-term viewing.

The Nikon Action and Action Zoom binoculars are scheduled to arrive in early March 2026. Pricing starts at $119.95 / £119 for the Action 8x42 and rises to $199.95 / £179 for the Action Zoom 10–22x50, positioning the range as an accessible option for newcomers and experienced users alike who want dependable performance without stretching their budget.

Check out our full guides to the best binoculars and to the best Nikon binoculars

NASA is set to launch its latest mind-blowing space telescope, which the agency says will “expand our understanding of the universe".

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, officially slated for launch in May 2027, but on track to enter space from as early as fall 2026, will be NASA’s flagship telescope. NASA says it will reveal ”billions of stars, hundreds of black holes and hundreds of forming planetary systems".

In part, this will be achieved thanks to the Wide Field Instrument, a 288MP camera with the power to create images of our cosmos from the solar system almost the entire way to the edge of the observable universe.

The Wide Field Instrument will enable each of Roman's images to capture a section of the sky bigger than the apparent size of a full moon – that’s to say, how big the moon appears to the human eye.

NASA says that the Roman and recently-launched James Webb telescopes will work together in different but complementary ways to “trace the evolution of the universe”.

Roman will scan larger portions of the universe, creating images many times bigger than what James Webb does, enabling rapid surveying.

While James Webb will hone in on precise locations within these surveys using its higher-resolution system to capture infrared images of specific cosmic bodies light-years away.

The Roman telescope mission will last five years with a key focus on discovering microslensing signals – when gravitational forces of other planetary bodies warp the light emitted from a background star.

In theory, this should allow the telescope to identify planets within the habitable zone of a star's orbit radius.

Regardless of what it identifies, the images that the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will capture are bound to be unbelievable.

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The 10-year, 2.5 billion pixel image of the Andromeda Galaxy and the forming star ‘fireworks’ captured by the James Webb Telescope.

Kite Optics has unveiled the Stabi One, a pocket-sized image-stabilized monocular that quietly rewrites what compact optics are capable of. Roughly the size and weight of an egg, the Stabi One 10x20 delivers a level of stability and clarity that until now has been reserved for much larger binoculars and tripod-mounted scopes. It’s a small object with a big ambition: true, high-definition observation that can go anywhere.

At the heart of the Stabi One is advanced image stabilisation technology derived from Kite’s premium APC binocular range. At 10x magnification, even the steadiest hands usually struggle to hold a clean image for more than a moment, but the Stabi One removes that familiar shake entirely. The result is a calm, locked-in view that feels closer to looking at a photograph than peering through handheld optics, allowing for long, comfortable observation without fatigue.

What makes the Stabi One particularly striking is just how small it is. Measuring only 5 × 4 × 7 cm and weighing just 130 g, it’s smaller than a wallet and lighter than most smartphones.

Yet Kite claims sharpness and contrast that challenge instruments many times its size. It’s the sort of device that disappears into a jacket pocket or hangs unnoticed from its quick-release neck strap until the moment you need it.

While birders, wildlife watchers, and hunters will instantly see the appeal, the Stabi One is clearly designed to reach far beyond traditional optics users. Hikers can scan distant trails, cyclists can take in landscapes without stopping to unpack gear, and city travellers can study architecture and landmarks in crisp detail. At concerts and sporting events, it promises a steady, close-up view from any seat, turning it into a discreet but powerful companion.

Where the Stabi One really breaks new ground is in its smartphone integration. Using a clip-on mount, it transforms into a fully stabilized digital scope for your phone. A 5x smartphone camera effectively becomes 50x, a 10x camera jumps to 100x, and even extreme magnifications are possible thanks to real optical zoom paired with stabilization. No tripods, no heavy telescopes, and no setup rituals - just clip it on and shoot. In Kite’s vision, the telescope now hangs on your phone, not the other way around.

Built for real-world use, the Stabi One operates in temperatures from –20 °C to +55 °C, is weather-resistant, and runs on a single AAA battery that lasts for months. It’s designed to be always with you, whether that’s a casual family bike ride, a city break, a safari, or something more tactical. The idea is simple: if optics are this small and this capable, there’s no reason to ever leave them behind.

The Kite Stabi One 10x20 is set to begin shipping in April 2026, with a recommended selling price of $499. Kite describes it as a world first, and the claim doesn’t feel overstated.

By combining serious optical performance, full image stabilisation, and pocket-friendly size - with the added twist of smartphone digiscoping — the Stabi One introduces a genuinely new way of seeing the world, wherever you happen to be.

When we first covered Vaonis' Hyperia back in 2021, it sounded almost mythical – a "domestic Hubble" promised for wealthy amateur photographers, carrying an eye-watering price tag and an ambitious feature list. Now, Hyperia is no longer a concept. It's real, refined, and significantly more expensive...

Officially revealed in its final form, Hyperia answers a question posed by Vaonis and Canon: what happens when you remove every limit?

The answer: a $99,000+ all-in-one digital observatory, built for museums, science centers, and also professional public outreach – and it may be the most ambitious imaging instrument ever aimed beyond traditional observatories.

Canon & Vaonis

Canon optics + Vaonis engineering: an alliance that changes everything

Hyperia marks a pivotal moment for Vaonis: a deep technical partnership with Canon. It's simple. Canon brings the optical DNA. Hyperia's optical system is built around a 150mm aperture and fast f/4 focal ratio, optimized to capture faint light with maximum efficiency.

Inside, 17 precision-engineered Canon lenses work as a single optical system, correcting distortion, chromatic aberration, and field curvature before light even reaches the sensor.

Each element is treated with Canon's most advanced anti-reflective technology: Air Sphere Coating. It minimizes internal reflections and preserves contrast.

The result is deep blacks, controlled highlights, and remarkably even sharpness from center to edge – critical for large-format astrophotography. This imaging is designed pixel-for-pixel, without compression or compromise.

Hyperia

With Hyperia, tracking, derotation, imaging, and processing are fully integrated into a single instrument. The dedicated app manages everything from planning and guided sessions to multi-night image stacking, object catalogs, and AI-assisted support – making Hyperia suitable for expert and public discovery and education.

Key features

1. Field Derotator: Perfectly aligned stars
Keeps stars motionless during long exposures, ensuring sharper and more accurate astrophotography.

2. Filter Drawer: Filters at your fingertips
Swap filters in seconds and adapt instantly to any sky conditions or imaging style.

3. Direct-Drive Tracking System: Precision in motion
Delivers ultra-smooth, silent, and backlash-free tracking. Up to 60°/s - Full rotation in 6seconds.

4. Full-Frame Back-Illuminated Sensor: A 45MP full-frame
3.30° × 2.20° field of view, capturing faint details with exceptional clarity and depth.

5. Aluminum Body: Engineered for endurance
A rigid and thermally stable aluminum structure designed to perform flawlessly in demanding environments.

6. Seamless Ground Mounting Plate: Stability built in
A clean, integrated base that mounts and levels instantly for vibration-free, hassle-free observing.

Price & Availability

Hyperia is available from $99,000 (approx. £73,480 / AU$147,240). Production is strictly limited, with pre-orders opening in January 2026 and deliveries expected in 2027. Find more info here.

Your Alternative

For most, Hyperia will remain a dream instrument. The good news? Vaonis also offers far more realistic products, like the Vaonis Vespera II.

The Vespera II is compact, portable, and dramatically more affordable, available from $1,590 / £1,395/ AU$3,215.

It delivers automated deep-sky imaging with minimal setup. It's ideal for solo imaging, group sessions, and photographers curious about astrophotography without committing to observatory-level hardware.

Because, in the end, Hyperia shows what happens when you remove every limit and let engineering take over – and the six-figure price makes sure you don't forget it.

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Browse the best smart telescopes, best telescopes for astrophotography, and best star tracker camera mounts for astrophotography.

DVX has unveiled the Night Storm X3, a next-generation night-vision binocular system built to push far beyond the limits of conventional low-light imaging. Designed around a dual-sensor architecture and a 20 TOPS AI Fusion Engine, the X3 captures true 4K color footage from as little as 0.0001 lux, preserving natural tones and ambient detail even in near-total darkness.

Its two specialised CMOS sensors work in tandem: the Luma-X sensor lifts structure, edges and micro-detail, while the Chroma-X sensor restores full colour, with the AI engine aligning and merging both streams at the sub-pixel level. For users who need even more resolution, optional AI upscaling claims to expand output to 6K without sacrificing clarity or accuracy.

Beyond its imaging pipeline, the Night Storm X3 introduces an upgraded invisible 950nm infrared module that delivers crisp monochrome visibility up to 1,500 metres (that's almost a mile) - entirely without visible glow. Paired with a built-in laser range finder offering precise distance readings at the same range, the X3 becomes a powerful tool for wildlife observers, hunters, security teams, and field professionals who rely on long-range accuracy. DVX says the new system was engineered to overcome the compromises typically associated with night-vision gear.

“The result is a system that preserves color in conditions where standard cameras fail and maintains clarity at distances where most devices lose structure,” explains Alex Hui, the company’s Chief Technology Officer.

The X3 arrives with a suite of practical features designed for real-world use: a close-to-eye viewfinder for long sessions, illuminated controls for operation in total darkness, and a robust 24-hour battery life with IR disabled. Its IP65-rated construction ensures durability in rough weather, while TF card support up to 512GB and built-in Wi-Fi make the unit suitable for extended field recording.

Dedicated daylight, starlight, and total-darkness modes allow the X3 to adapt seamlessly to changing conditions, and its 8x digital zoom expands reach when tracking distant subjects.

Inside, the advanced optical system includes a 42mm f/1.4 lens with a 13-degree field of view and a picture-in-picture mode for maintaining situational awareness while zoomed in. Electronic and gyro stabilization help maintain clean, stable footage when shooting handheld, and a boosted 950nm IR beam provides long-range visibility without alerting wildlife or compromising a user’s position.

Despite its advanced feature set, the unit remains field-ready at 750 grams, with a streamlined body, tripod mount and fast USB-C charging that brings the battery to 80 percent in 45 minutes.

The Night Storm X3 marks the next chapter for DVX, a team of engineers and field specialists responsible for the award-winning Night Storm X1. After raising more than 1.7 million dollars for earlier models, the company says the X3 represents years of refinement and intensive field testing.

The new system will launch on Kickstarter, with early backers receiving access to a limited Super Early Bird price before the unit reaches full retail. 

As ever, we should warn, there is an inherent financial risk in backing crowd-funding campaigns such as those on Kickstarter.

Check out our full guide to the best night-vision goggles and binoculars

Outdoor and hunting enthusiasts have plenty of choice when it comes to their craft. HIKMICRO helps narrow the search with a comprehensively best-in-class product line up, the strength of which is constantly refined in pursuit of technical excellence, with enhancements inspired by real-world feedback.

As the world has shifted from purely analogue to comprehensively digital, HIKMICRO has taken the lead, with digital imaging capabilities now an intrinsic element of its binoculars. The 2024 launch of the HABROK 4K, a device that combined thermal imaging and CMOS sensor technologies in the one dependable unit, was a quiet revolution.

The advantage was immediate and obvious. A visual heat signature provides the ability to spot quarry in the dark, even when partly obscured by foliage or buildings. This is backed up by pin-sharp, color-rich viewing during daylight and at twilight. Add infrared night vision for when light levels fall further, and users have the full package, delivering round-the-clock surveillance without compromise. And all from an easy-to-carry unit that looks and handles much like traditional binoculars, avoiding a steep learning curve.

While the original device revealed the all-in-one potential of such tech, hot on its heels arrives an even more user-friendly solution: the HIKMICRO HABROK 4K 2.0.

Truly offering an unparalleled experience, the new model builds on a trusted legacy, delivering all of the above and more at a widely accessible price.

The new, improved version 2.0

Rugged and substantial while conveniently portable, with the HABROK 4K 2.0’s launch HIKMICRO has significantly ramped up usability and responsiveness, the fruits of which are harvested via enhancements including the Rear Focus feature.

Such innovative functionality has resulted in a product that is clearer, smarter and steadier, while simultaneously delivering quality, control and comfort. Major advancements have been made where nature observers need them most.

For example, one-handed operation has been enabled, allowing for the other hand to stay free and keep a tight grip on other outdoor gear.

The Rear Focus wheel now sits closer to the eyepiece, giving observers more of the familiar feel of a traditional pair of binoculars, making for an operational experience that immediately feels second nature. Minimal adjustment now brings a subject into sharp focus, without the user needing to adjust how the binocular is held.

Likewise falling to hand on the HABROK 4K 2.0 is a new Thermal / Digital switch. This easy and seamless swapping between the two settings – and to go from spotting a heat signature to full colour or infrared viewing. The instinctive control allows for full concentration on the subject.

Further enhancing one-handed operation is HIKMICRO’s image stabilisation algorithm, plus freely adjustable magnification in both thermal and digital channels.

Without suffering any visible shake, blur or image lag, a crystal-clear view can be maintained while zooming in or out, whether to scan the open countryside or focus in on a subject to make an accurate identification.

Avoiding any interrupted visuals or missing a decisive moment, shutterless technology has been added to the <18mK NETD thermal channel on the HABROK 4K 2.0 for a smoother and quieter viewing experience.

Finally, a further advantage is a new ballistic calculation system to keep any shot humanely on target. Distance readings from the device’s laser rangefinder are combined with pre-set parameters to provide precise aiming. A feature previously only associated with premium optics, the HABROK 4K 2.0 now places it within everyone’s reach.

Continue your journey with a brand you can trust

Constantly innovating, HIKMICRO is brand in which outdoors enthusiasts feel confident in placing their trust. It’s not just here for the journey: its products offer the ultimate end destination.

The advancements implemented on the HABROK 4K 2.0 combine to provide an all-in-one viewing experience that outdoors enthusiasts can have real confidence in. After all, such enhancements have been prompted by real-world feedback.

HIKMICRO remains committed to leading the revolution in digital optics. Its core ethos is to take the best of the traditional and combine it with technological advancements to deliver a best of all worlds’ solution.

Facing nature’s toughest challenges, the HABROK 4K 2.0 raises the bar once again, building on the success of the first-generation binocular and stepping up a gear in providing simplified operation, improved viewing, enhanced precision and total adaptability.

It’s not about replacing traditional methods and uses – it’s about simply taking observation to the next level.

Find out more about the new HIKMICRO HABROK 4K 2.0

Just in time for panto season, Nikon’s 4x10D CF binoculars have arrived on the DCW test slab. With their dinky, almost business-card-sized length and width, plus 19mm ‘thickness’ comparable to my thumb, they could also be described as opera glasses.

Availability is currently offered in black, ivory-white, or amber-brown, though I have also seen wine-red, navy, and champagne-gold alternatives online. I was sent the black option for review, which would be the colorway I’d personally choose, especially for surreptitious use in a theater setting where I don’t want to be a distraction and annoy my seated neighbours.

Like opera glasses, they’ve obviously been designed to fit easily into a pocket or handbag. There's no need for a thick supporting neck strap here, as with binos designed for birdwatchers. However, Nikon has been thoughtful enough to include a very slender wrist strap for threading through a left-hand lug, which is useful for avoiding mislaying your investment when watching a show in a busy venue.

When folded to their narrowest proportions, the 4x10D CF will fit within the tub of an overpriced theater ice cream, so alternatively they’ll slip into a pocket without a second thought.

And yet, has achieving such a compact, lightweight construction compromised performance? Is the asking price fair, or would it be better spent on a pre-theater dinner and taxi ride home, or a cheaper, near-doppelganger from a lesser-known brand?

Nikon 4x10D CF: Specifications

Nikon 4x10D CF: Price

Having handled and used these binoculars before looking up the price, I was surprised to find them retailing for a manufacturer’s suggested $224.95 / £199 / AU$299. Okay, so we’re getting Nikon's optical expertise here and are paying a premium for it, rather than the cost of a budget, no-brand offering. But they do feel very highly priced in the current market.

For example, alternatives such as the Carson 4x10 Operaview, which are even lighter at 62g, can be had for a third of the asking price of these Nikons. As ever, it pays to shop around. Discounts, should they come over time, may help tip the balance more in favor of a purchase for those reassured by a more widely known brand with a long and illustrious heritage.

Nikon 4x10D CF: Design & Handling

With a roof prism design and multi-coated lens and prism construction, the chief claim here is that these are Nikon’s smallest and lightest binoculars to date, at a ‘thickness’ of 19mm and a mere 65g in weight.

The design is more low-key than your typical opera glasses, which tend to opt for more obviously classical styling and gold-rimmed lenses. By contrast, Nikon’s effort is distinctly modernist and practical rather than posh. Although the house lights reflected in the glossy, lacquered look of my review sample as I took my seat, spotlighting an understated elegance.

The slick finish hides some more disappointingly plasticky elements, including the focus dial. This is readily adjustable in the dark and offers just the right amount of resistance. But it still looks a little like it has tumbled out of a Christmas cracker when examined in less forgiving daylight.

More positively, the operation of these Japanese-made binoculars includes a central folding mechanism that instantly adjusts the interpupillary distance between the eyepieces to best match up with your own eyes. A soft rubber surround on the eyepieces adds a tactile feel while also preventing injury if accidentally jabbing them into your eyes in the dark. That’s a possibility, as they’re far narrower than the large, rounded eyepieces of more conventionally sized binos.

To be picky, the focus wheel can also butt up against the bridge of the nose when in use, as that control sticks out at the back. Its positioning does, however, allow for quick-and-easy focus adjustment without affecting concentration – useful when panning across a stage and shifting attention between actors in a play.

Nikon 4x10D CF: Performance

What I did notice, in the theater, is that the view I had through these binoculars was dimmer than the same view seen with the naked eye. However, unlike my own eyes, they did allow me to zoom in closer to the action. The delivered view was clear enough for me to more easily ‘read’ actors’ expressions from my seat in the upper circle than I would have been able to without them.

Partly because of their modest magnification, the field of view here is wider than some more professional binos. So I was able to keep subjects within my frame and follow them around the stage – even during complex, choreographed dance sequences involving multiple performers.

In this sense, the binoculars did allow me to enjoy the performance more, and while I didn’t feel the need to hold them up to my eyes constantly, they added an extra dimension to what I could take in.

Whether this means these ultra-compact binoculars/opera glasses are worth the asking price is another matter entirely, however. The Nikon 4x10D CF is a costly pair of binoculars. You’ll feel this too, if looking at an outwardly very close alternative in the Carson 4x10 Operaview. There are also Nikon’s own compact Aculon T01 10x21 binos, with higher magnification and larger objective lenses, at less than half the price of the 4x10D CF.

Nikon 4x10D CF: Verdict

To my mind – and eyes – the Nikon 4x10D CF are useful but not without compromise. Sure, ultra-compact pocket binoculars appeal for their extreme portability and unobtrusive size; they're certainly convenient. But small optics also mean a rather dingy view at a venue, unless the stage lights are spectacularly bright.

While a perfect size for theatergoers and smaller, even, than those found latched to the back of some theater chairs, the compact dimensions and plasticky finish also make these Nikons appear noticeably toy-like.

Plus, smaller, when it comes to tech, is not necessarily always better. A bigger lens means a brighter view – which is what I want in a dark venue, although this necessitates bigger binos overall. Here, Nikon gets the job done, but you’d have to really want to go as small as possible to part with the cash.

Alternatives

DwarfLab has revealed the smallest smart telescope to date – and significanly lighter and more portable than its existing Dwarf 3 model. Weighing just 820g or 29oz, new stargazing device has been designed to be as easy to use and convenient as possible. DwarfLab tells us that you can go from unboxing to shooting in just three minutes.

With a 360° motorized mechanism, it can find stars, planets and galaxies via the control of an app on your mobile phone. Despite its size, it offers a 7000mAh battery running time of up to four hours of running time. There is 64GB of built-in storage.

The resolution of Mini is lower than the Dwarf 3, offering a 1080P image from a 1/2.8in Sony IMX662 with 2.9µm pixels. The telscope has a150mm f/5 telephoto lens with 30mm aperture.

The scope comes equipped with three built-in filters. A dark-frame filter suppress thermal noise, an astro filter is designed to boost contrast of nebulae, and a narrow band filter suppresses city and lunar glow. An external solar filter is supplied in the box. Exposures of upto 90 seconds are possible using its equatorial mount mode.

The DwarfLab Mini 3 is available for pre-order now for $399 / £359 with shipping expected to start from December.

Check out our guide to the best smart telescopes and see our pick of the best Black Friday telescope deals

When it comes to choosing binoculars, I can survey good-value options from the likes of Bushnell and Celestron, step up to consumer favorites bearing the Fujifilm, Canon, Nikon, and Olympus logos, or really get serious and see what Leica, Zeiss, and Swarovski have to offer.

Why choose Zeiss binoculars? Well, if it’s searingly sharp optics, a classic design, and a robust build I’m after, which should last years of use out in all elements, then the brand’s offerings are pretty much peerless. Unless, that is, I pit them against manufacturers such as Leica or Swarovski, who will give Zeiss a run for its money. And from the outset, that’s the key issue here: cost. But then, near-perfection never comes cheap.

With their heroic-sounding name, the Zeiss Conquest HDX 10x32 examined here are smaller and more affordable than the larger objective lens-incorporating Zeiss SFL 10x50 binos, yet still have sufficient heft and rigidity to feel premium when held in the hand. The main attributes to focus on – no pun intended – are that standard, albeit useful, 10x magnification, married to a 32mm objective lens size.

Compact dimensions overall require compact optics, and in theory, a 32mm lens will gather less light and project a noticeably less-bright view than a 50mm or even 42mm option. Still, we do get its maker's much-venerated T* lens coating here, and the Zeiss will slip into a jacket pocket without feeling like a dead weight. So, in theory, I could take it to gigs and sporting events, not just the great outdoors for wildlife watching and nature observation.

If I start thinking of these as a single pair of binoculars with lots of potential uses, then the outlay seems a lot more reasonable. So how do the Zeiss Conquest HDX 10x32 shape up in terms of versatility, practicality, and performance? Will they, indeed, conquer all observational challenges, or fall at the first hurdle?

Zeiss Conquest HDX 10x32: Specifications

Zeiss Conquest HDX 10x32: Price

When checking out competing compact binoculars from more consumer-oriented brands, the Zeiss Conquest HDX 10x32’s price tag may seem rather large in comparison to its compact size. Cost-wise, we’re looking at around £899 / $979.99 / AU$1,569, although marginally better deals may be had by shopping around.

However, for a rugged, well-built Zeiss-branded device that performs excellently, to me, it feels like value for money. Compared to Zeiss’s own SFL 10x50, at twice the price, the smaller Conquest HDX 10x32 delivers a comparably just-as-clear and impressive viewing experience; this model seems more enticing.

Zeiss Conquest HDX 10x32: Design & Handling

Small yet mighty appears to be the ethos here. While the design is conventional, the Zeiss Conquest HDX 10x32 binoculars not only offer a degree of waterproofing, like peers from rival brands, but are shockproof, too. Subtle rubber armor provides sufficient grip to the exterior that I could achieve a steady hold, despite these binos' compactness, giving rise to judder/wobble-free views handheld.

With no built-in image stabilization or any screw thread at the base to allow mounting on a travel tripod, these binos are all about staying active and ready for any observational opportunity. They are a device that I can whip out from my pocket in seconds, should a suitably inviting subject suddenly appear on the horizon.

Spongy rubber front and rear caps are provided to protect the binoculars' precious glass when in transit. The cover for the eyepieces can be tethered to prevent accidental loss, while the front caps hang down when in use, attached to an elastic lens surround. The lens caps are removable, should one wish, which might well be the case, as I found these caps had to be squeezed tightly into place to prevent them from accidentally popping back open; a very minor irritation in terms of handling.

Otherwise, the conventional design here gives rise to intuitive use. I could hand these to anyone – as I did to a friend I bumped into walking back from taking product photographs – and they’d immediately be up and running. The large, ridged rubber focus wheel sits directly between the eyepieces, where it’s impossible to miss. The body of the binoculars has a degree of give to it, whereby it’s possible to quickly adjust the interpupillary distance between the eyepieces to best line up with your own eyes and provide a clear, large circular view of whatever’s being observed. Twist-up eyecups and a dioptric adjustment encircling the right eyepiece complete the compact yet superior package. In terms of practical usage, these Zeiss Conquest HDX 10x32 binos handle like a dream.

Zeiss Conquest HDX 10x32: Performance

Fortunately, it’s a dream I don’t need to wake up from. A close-focusing distance of a mere 1.5 meters proves very respectable when wanting to bring something closer that is not necessarily very far away, and ideal for observing skittish squirrels and wildfowl. As the magnification is a standard 10x, I found that the field of view is also wide enough that I don’t have to keep taking my eyes away from the eyepieces to locate the subject and then re-focus, saving time and allowing me to continue doing what I picked up the Zeiss Conquest HDX 10x32 to do: observe.

The quality and clarity here is such that I was able to view a jackdaw on a neighbour’s roof attempting to pluck small flies out of the air. Not only the bird but also the insects buzzing around it were sharply rendered, which is impressive indeed from what appears, on the face of it, to be ‘humble’ pocket binoculars.

With image sharpness ably maintained edge-to-edge, I found it very hard to spot instances of chromatic aberration/purple fringing, even when actively looking for it. Views through the Conquest HDX 10x32 display plenty of color and contrast, with the device punching above what I’d expect of a 32mm objective lens, in terms of light-gathering ability and overall clarity. Yes, these are premium binoculars, with Zeiss’s much vaunted T* lens coating, but the performance is visibly premium too.

I expected to be impressed with anything Zeiss, but even when handling it straight after testing the same manufacturer’s SFL 10x50 model, it more than holds its own against its more expensive sibling.

Zeiss Conquest HDX 10x32: Verdict

Those sifting through binoculars to find the one that delivers the goods as a compact all-rounder will find their grail in the Conquest HDX 10x32. Not too big or too small, not too lightweight nor too heavy, just about everything here – including, especially, the class-leading optical performance – feels just right. Comfortably ergonomic and well-constructed, it really is hard to find fault, except, perhaps, in the cheapest elements, such as the stretchy rubber lens caps that have a habit of popping open.

But it’s the views provided that count. And here the Zeiss Conquest HDX 10x32 binoculars really deliver, with punchy contrast, color-rich, razor-sharp results. There’s no need to squint to pick up on the finest of details, from a bird’s shiny nostril to the fluffy hairs on a squirrel’s tail, whether the subject under observation is near or far. These come highly recommended as premium yet compact performers.

Alternatives

Zeiss is a world-renowned expert in optics, so anything featuring its glass inevitably comes with a premium price tag, including its own SFL 10x50 binoculars. But why ‘SFL’? In Zeiss’s world, this stands for ‘Smart Focus’ and ‘Lightweight’. While the 'Lightweight' aspect is self-explanatory, the Japanese-made binos' blurb suggests ‘Smart Focus’ relates to the positioning of a large, ridged focus wheel between the eyepieces. There’s nothing unusual about this control’s centralized location, or anything noticeably ‘smart’ about it, but its maker insists its ergonomics enable fast focus adjustment. Which I wouldn’t argue with: its tactile and responsive functionality is undoubtedly useful for tracking moving wildlife.

I believe the jewel in this model’s crown, however, is its ultra-high definition 50mm objective lenses. The manufacturer says that it has managed to squeeze these into a traditional 42mm frame size. What’s more, the combination of 50mm lenses and larger exit pupils is claimed to allow for 42% more light than competing 42mm binoculars. The result, to my eyes, is a noticeably brighter image than expected from a device of this size.

But, given the sizeable cost of investing in a pair, do the Zeiss SFL 10x50 provide birdwatchers and nature lovers with an equally large return, in terms of not only usability, but also performance? Read on to find out.

Zeiss SFL 10x50: Specifications

Zeiss SFL 10x50: Price

While their specification packs a punch and the performance promises to be top-notch, at £1,899 / $1,799.99 / AU$3,273, the cost of these Zeiss binoculars reflects their sophistication. For slightly less money, a sensible alternative would be image-stabilized binoculars like the Fujifilm Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 2040, with smaller 40mm objective lenses yet a more powerful 20x magnification. That said, I feel the observational quality of these Zeiss binoculars, in terms of achievable clarity, is a step up from the Fujifilm.

A closer performance, in terms of sharpness and clarity, comes from the premium Swarovski NL Pure 10x42, though they are a fair whack more expensive than even these Zeiss binos as a result. Ultimately, it feels like this model sits between the very, very good and the absolute best when it comes to high-powered premium binoculars; a very respectable market segment to sit in. Further options in the Zeiss SFL range exist in the simultaneously released 8x50 and 12x50 models.

Zeiss SFL 10x50: Design & Handling

Rendered in serious black, these SFL 10x50 binos have a very conventional-looking yet classy design. The quality of their construction feels high. A big lens usually means additional weight, but Zeiss claims a magnesium body construction has ensured they are around 19% lighter than competing binoculars with a 50mm lens.

They certainly do not feel heavy in the palm, but nor are they so lightweight that holding them steady proves a problem. There’s enough real estate here that I was able to get a nice firm grip on the rubberized surface and experience judder-free viewing handheld. That’s just as well, as there is no screw thread on the unit for possible tripod mounting if arms get tired or shoulders stiffen.

The focus wheel is much chunkier than expected. That and its central location enabled me to find it easily with my fingertips, without needing to take my eyes away from the eyepieces. Here, focusing is possible from just shy of six feet to infinity. The official claim is that it takes 1.4 ‘turns’ of the wheel to move through the entire available range. I find a lot of focus wheels to be very stiff in use to prevent accidental jogging. On the Zeiss, by contrast, the action feels just right, so I can quickly find critical focus a second or two after sighting a possible subject.

It’s not just the larger-than-average 50mm objective lenses that aid light transmission, but also the various coatings applied to the lens elements, including what Zeiss terms its T-Star multicoating, which claims to boost light, color, and contrast, plus a hydrophobic coating that allows for use in all weathers. That’s welcome, as I don’t want to be constantly stopping to wipe binoculars clean if I’m using them in the rain. The body is nitrogen purged, which means it should not fog up in damp conditions, either.

For added comfort, there is a bit of give to the binoculars’ central mechanism, which allows for the interpupillary distance to be adjusted to better suit one’s own eyes. Eyecups are of the twist-up variety, and there is a dioptric adjustment dial encircling the right eyepiece for fine-tuning, if needed. I found this control a little stiff to turn, but I didn't feel the need to use it anyway.

Zeiss SFL 10x50: Performance

Capable of focusing from just under six feet away to infinity, these Zeiss SFL 10x50 binoculars are practical, versatile, and, in terms of quality of image, deliver a real wow. I came to use them after recently testing the rival Fujifilm Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 2040 and 1640, and though they are capable performers in the image-stabilized binocular segment, the difference these Zeiss binoculars made was immediately noticeable and very positive. In my view, these Zeiss are second only to the more expensive Swarovski NL Pure 10x42 in terms of naturalistic, life-like results.

Peering through these binoculars not only gave me a brighter view than expected, but one that was crystal clear, right into the edges of the frame. Suddenly, I was up close and personal to the beak of a yawning seagull resting on a post, some six feet from me. I could also zoom in on people taking in the air on their apartment balconies on the other side of the river, without any visible softness or distracting judder when using the binocular handheld.

Chromatic aberration is well controlled, though on very bright days, I did very occasionally spot flashes of purple fringing between areas of high contrast. In fairness, that was only because I was actively pointing the binoculars at more challenging subjects and actively seeking out possible instances. Overall, the Zeiss SFL 10x50 punches above its size and weight in terms of performance.

Zeiss SFL 10x50: Verdict

Sometimes quality costs, and that’s certainly the case with these Zeiss SFL 10x50; their decent magnification is wedded to generously sized objective lenses that let in plenty of light. This adds up to razor-sharp images with a real natural depth and a wow factor that justifies the asking price. I found they assisted me in the identification of fine, distinguishing details from afar. It makes these binoculars a top choice for birders, nature, and wildlife fans who want premium quality while also providing a slightly more affordable alternative to luxury binoculars from the Swarovski brand.

Alternatives

Most binoculars struggle at close distances. Point them at something nearby and you'll see double vision or a misaligned view between your left and right eyes. Pentax's Papilio binoculars solves this with a clever mechanism that physically shifts the front lenses as you focus closer, keeping the view comfortable and aligned. Turn your attention to distant birds or a faraway stage, and the lenses automatically return to their normal position for long-range viewing.

Now Pentax has updated this line with a weatherproof design, making them more practical for outdoor photographers and wildlife watchers.

The new Papilio III WR binoculars retain the party trick that made the original models popular: they can focus on subjects just 50cm (20 inches) away. That's roughly the length of a standard ruler, making them useful for examining tiny wildflowers, insects, or museum displays in extraordinary detail; things you'd normally need a magnifying glass to see clearly.

This versatility has made Papilio binoculars a favorite among photographers who want to do things like scout locations or study wildlife behavior up close. The previous Papilio II models, though, lacked any weather protection, limiting their usefulness in damp conditions. The new Papilio III changes this with weather-resistant construction that keeps water and moisture from penetrating the body. An anti-stain coating on the lenses also helps water and dirt bead off rather than smearing across the glass.

This upgrade makes the Papilio III more practical for birdwatching in misty mornings, photographing wildflowers after rain, or any outdoor activity where weather can't be controlled. While not submersible, the weatherproofing should handle typical outdoor conditions photographers encounter.

Quality construction

Pentax has equipped both models with fully multi-coated optics and high-quality BaK4 prisms; the same glass found in premium binoculars. Some elements receive Pentax's HD coating, which reduces reflections more effectively than standard coatings, delivering sharper images in challenging light.

The optics include aspherical lens elements to maintain sharpness across the entire view, avoiding the fuzzy edges that plague cheaper binoculars. A generous 15mm of eye relief means eyeglass wearers can see the full field of view comfortably.

The Papilio III comes in two magnifications. The 6.5x model ($159.95) offers a wider field of view and steadier handheld viewing; useful when tracking moving subjects like butterflies or birds. The 8.5x version ($169.95) provides more magnification for studying distant details.

Both models feature 21mm objective lenses, keeping them compact and lightweight. The rubber-armored body improves grip and protects against bumps, while a tripod adapter (sold separately) allows steady viewing during extended observation sessions.

Who should buy them?

The Papilio III WR fills an unusual niche thanks to its unique close-focusing ability: a feature that remains rare among binoculars. The weatherproofing makes this third generation considerably more practical than previous versions, though anyone wanting traditional long-range binoculars might find better value elsewhere. Both models are available now in black or olive finishes, with Pentax continuing to sell the older Papilio II alongside the new weather-resistant ones.

Check out our guide to the best binoculars - and if you want to gift a pair to a younger member of the family, check out our rundown of the best binoculars for kids

I think it’s fair to call Unistellar’s Envision Binoculars the smartest pair of binoculars on the planet, and while limited stocks last, US customers can pre-order and get $500 off the RRP, while UK buyers can save £400. That’s roughly a third off the RRP!

And while the reduced prices of $999 / £899 are still a significant outlay for a pair of binoculars, the Envision isn’t your average pair of ‘bins’. They boast Unistellar- and Nikon-integrated tech, for an augmented reality experience that’s set to deliver like none other. The first batch of pre-orders has already sold out, and the second batch is selling fast, so make sure you check them out if you're interested.

Envision works in conjunction with a companion app and is said to draw from a database of millions of elements, providing information via augmented reality on a huge variety of outdoorsy objects, including trails, peaks, and celestial objects. It can even pinpoint Apollo landing sites on the moon.

Target Lock mode allows you to lock onto a target, hand the binoculars over to a companion, and the AR will guide the person to your point of reference. You can also turn the tech off and use the binoculars the old-fashioned way.

This offer only applies to a limited number of 350 units, off which, at the time of writing, only around 60 are left. The binoculars are currently due to be delivered in November 2026. Along with the binoculars, you get a carrying bag, neck strap, and charging cable.

The Kickstarter for Envision finished in July 2024, as of right now, the company states that the binoculars have been designed, mass-production tools are being built, and components required to manufacture thousands of units have started to be ordered.

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Take a look at the best binoculars. If you require more reach, here are the best telescopes. And if you're into stargazing, here are the best cameras for astrophotography.

If seeking a pair of binoculars of such quality that I can pick out individual feathers in the tuft of a crested duck and get a searingly sharp, almost three-dimensional view as I pan with them, then my go-to brands are typically Leica, Zeiss, and the one rated here: Swarovski.

Sure, I’m likely to pay handsomely for the privilege of owning a device from this manufacturer, as the build, optics, and performance very much define the word ‘premium’. But one could argue the investment is worth if, in return, these may be the only binoculars I’ll ever need.

On paper, the most appealing aspect of these Swarovski NL Pure 10x42 binoculars is their generous 42mm objective lenses. The bigger the lens, the more light is let in, runs the rule of thumb, resulting in optimal clarity. Increased light gathering is particularly useful when it starts to dim at the end of a day of wildlife watching.

As ever, what I want to determine is: do these binoculars live up to the promise that the specification and price tag propose? Read on to find out…

Swarovski NL Pure 10x42: Specifications

Swarovski NL Pure 10x42: Price

The burnt orange version of these binoculars was released in summer 2025, but the fact that they arrived in time to match the color of leaves in fall – or, for those Down Under, the Australian Outback – feels like perfect timing.

While there's no denying that these binos look fantastic, particularly in this new color, the sticking point for many will be the price. It’s fair to say Swarovski won’t be high on anyone’s wish list who’s aiming for a pair of budget-priced binoculars that merely ‘does the job’. These are very much for serious users seeking the wow factor, for whom a price of $3,199 / £2,450 / AU$4,190 is 'reassuringly expensive' rather than 'totally off-putting'.

While the cost may further raise some eyebrows, given these binoculars' relatively diminutive stature, especially when viewed alongside Fujifilm’s high-quality Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640 and 2040 image-stabilized binoculars at half the price, it starts to make more sense when instead viewed through the prism of Swarovski’s own lineup.

For example, they are more affordable and portable than their maker’s AI-enhanced AX Visio 10x32 model. And, I reckon, if I am ever on a pay grade where purchasing my own NL Pure 10x42 might seem justifiable, then I’ll buy them with the knowledge that they will likely be the only binoculars I’ll ever need.

Swarovski NL Pure 10x42: Design & Handling

Available in an alternative deep green rubberized outer coating to the burnt orange version pictured here, my first impression of the Swarovski NL Pure 10x42 is that they are diminutive and elegant. They are smaller than their press shots and price tag might suggest. Stood upright, their height is comparable to a small plastic bottle of water. And though they will fit in an inner jacket pocket, the only thing stopping me is their 850g weight.

This, along with a magnesium build, lends them a substantial and well-constructed feel. They're robust enough that I felt able to hold them steady and achieve wobble-free viewing handheld, despite their compact dimensions. At that weight, however, I would not want to be handholding them for prolonged periods. Fortunately, a thick, high-quality, padded shoulder/neck strap is provided out of the box for added support and comfort.

In addition to the exterior rubberized surface, the contoured shape of the barrels ensures they sit nicely and firmly in the hands, whereupon the chunky and ridged focus wheel falls ergonomically under the forefingers of both hands for quick and easy adjustment.

Providing further comfort are twist-up eyecups, while there is a dioptric adjustment ring just behind the focus wheel for additional fine-tuning. Here, tweaks can be made to best suit the vision of each individual eye. Furthermore, as expected, I can adjust the inter-pupillary distance between the eyepieces to line them up perfectly with my own eyes. Operation is intuitive, without any need to delve into the very brief printed manual supplied.

In terms of protecting my investment, these Swarovskis come with both eyepiece and objective lens covers, the latter of which can be tethered or detached as per personal preference. My review sample arrived well used; so much so that the rubber covers were a little loose and occasionally dropped off entirely, if left dangling down.

In terms of weather-proofing, a gas-filled construction in part allows for the unit to be theoretically submerged up to four meters in depth and avoid moisture ingress. The overall impression given is that while the Swarovski NL Pure 10x42 are relatively small in stature, in terms of construction and design they are impressively mighty.

Swarovski NL Pure 10x42: Performance

Designed for serious wildlife watchers, birders, and nature lovers, the generous 42mm diameter objective lens ensures these Swarovskis are ideal for observing subjects in fading light or on overcast days. I was lucky enough to use them in fall sunshine, giving rise to long shadows, and in such conditions, the results are knockout.

The 10x magnification on offer here may seem modest on paper, but it proves practical in use. The field of view at 1000 meters is a relatively wide 133 meters, ensuring that, if I’m panning with the erratic movement of a bird or animal, I’m able to keep them within view. I rarely felt the need to remove my eyes from the device to try and pinpoint a particular subject, as I have done with binoculars with a higher magnification but narrower field of view.

At the other end of the scale, and useful for observing close-up subjects, is a two-meter minimum focus distance. Observing a herd of deer from around 20 meters away at 10x magnification, I was able to get the entirety of the body of the nearest animal in view.

In terms of clarity, as I often find with very high-end binoculars, I almost forgot that I was peering through glass. The sharpness and realism of the image projected made it appear as if I had zoomed in with my own eyes, or that the subject itself had suddenly been brought closer to me.

With the Swarovski NL Pure 10x42 offering natural color and great contrast, subjects are very well defined, allowing subtle detail to be picked up, which is exactly what wildlife watchers and nature lovers will be looking for from such a sizeable investment. I didn’t spot any fall-off in sharpness towards the corners, nor did I come across any instances of chromatic aberration, such as purple fringing between areas of high contrast. I expected from the outset to be impressed by these binoculars' performance, and I am happy to report that I was.

Swarovski NL Pure 10x42: Verdict

Having in mind that the Swarovski is the Rolls-Royce of binoculars meant that I was actively looking for anything that would allow the deduction of points with the NL Pure 10x42. Smaller than imagined, given the sizable cost and generous lens specification, the device is practical and very usable. The weight of their build reassures, both in terms of the asking price and in the ability to hold them steady enough to avoid image judder at 10x magnification.

Delivering smooth and steady observation handheld, I didn’t miss the lack of an in-built stabilization mechanism, as found on some alternative units, nor that a screw thread for tripod attachment isn't provided on these binoculars. Offering a big performance in a tightly compact package, if you’re willing to release the moths from your wallet (and then some), the NL Pure 10x42 comes highly recommended as a pair of binoculars for serious observers.

Alternatives

In case you’re wondering, ‘Techno-Stabi’ doesn’t refer to a new extreme genre of dance music. In this context, it’s a Japanese reference to image stabilization. And yes, while adding an anti-shake mechanism to binoculars usually bumps up the price and increases overall bulk and weight, experience has taught me that, for the most part, such compromises are worth it. Especially if I get a wobble-free image at a generous magnification, without needing to lug a tripod around. I want to concentrate on my subject more than fiddling with my gear. So, could this latest Fujifilm example deliver most of what we want – great results, but with compact and lightweight dimensions at a fair price – while minimizing any of these traditional compromises?

Compared with the existing Fujifilm Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS16x28WP, the Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640 arrives with a bigger and potentially brighter 40mm lens, theoretically allowing for clearer visibility of far-off subjects. While omitting that waterproof indicative ‘WP’ suffix, its IPX7 rating still offers more than adequate resistance for stress-free outdoor use. I would not want to risk submerging these binos for prolonged periods, but I felt reassured when getting caught in the rain and by the odd splash of water.

Like other Fujifilm binoculars I’ve handled, upon sliding it out of its case, the TS-L 1640 appears to have the usual mix of high-quality construction and convenient portability. But does a relatively high 16x magnification – making it the junior partner to a 20x alternative announced alongside it – result in a restrictively narrow field of view? Or does the Fujifilm Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640 have the perfect blend of practicality and performance that could rank it among the best image-stabilized binoculars? Read on as I investigate further…

Fujifilm Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640: Specifications

Fujifilm Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640: Price

Announced in January 2025, the Fujifilm Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640 has only now made it from Japan to the Digital Camera World test lab. Simultaneously arriving alongside it is Fujifilm’s 20x magnification TS-L 2040, priced at just a fraction more for those who want extra reach, albeit with a slight trade-off in terms of a narrower field of view at 1,000 meters. Oddly, despite pulling the faraway even closer, the TS-L 2040 is also a few grams lighter.

With a $1,399.95 / £1,049 / AU$1,949 price tag, there is no denying that you pay a premium for its decent specs, impressive build quality, and upmarket design. And it would make sense for anyone considering a purchase to compare the current pricing for the newer TS-L 1640 and TS-L 2040 with the similarly designed Fujifilm Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS16x28WP from last year. At the time of writing, there were some very keenly priced deals for the latter.

Fujifilm Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640: Design & Handling

As with prior iterations, the build and look of the Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640 is minimalistic and contemporary. Adjustable eyepieces aside, which resemble frogs’ legs at their widest setting, it has little in the way of protruding elements. Obviously hoping for two sales in one, Fujifilm is suggesting this latest iteration is a good match for its X-series cameras in terms of construction. The curved sides of the binoculars resemble a very ‘hip’ hip flask, albeit one with ‘legs’. Such quirks aside, to my eyes the design is lovely.

At 856g, the device weighs less than a typical bag of sugar, yet feels surprisingly robust when handheld. I certainly felt its heft when transporting the Fuji in a roomy jacket pocket, too. Curiously, the higher magnification 20x40 model weighs a fraction less, at 853g, despite its dimensions being an identical 185.5x122x72mm. Providing a decent amount of grip, the main body of the binoculars has a ridged, subtly rubberized surface. Combined with its weight, I felt confident of being able to hold it steady and get a good, clear view of my subjects, with or without image stabilization deployed.

Although the size here means that operation with one hand is possible, it still feels more natural and practical to grip the binoculars with both. A bundled neck strap and hand strap provide an additional means of holding the unit, while adding comfort. The crucially important part of focusing the binoculars is achieved by turning the narrow-ridged dial atop the device, where it ergonomically falls under the middle fingers, as eyes remain glued to the eyepieces. As I would expect at this price and model class, the Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640 lens construction includes ED – extra-low dispersion – glass elements, for boosting optical clarity.

Sadly, my one design gripe on a device that otherwise is almost flawless – if Porsche designed a pair of binoculars, they might look something like this – is that when the hand strap is attached, it partially covers the compartment housing the batteries required to power its image stabilizer. This makes access unnecessarily awkward. The said compartment is located on the right-hand side of the binoculars when viewed top-down, so those who are left-handed can simply move the strap to the opposite side and not be affected. With more of us right-handed than left-handed, the answer isn’t obvious as to why Fuji’s engineers didn’t simply shift the battery compartment to the other side.

On a more positive note, rubber eyepiece and lens covers are provided in the box, along with a padded, zippered carry pouch, to protect the binoculars when not in use. Twist-up eyecups further aid comfort. Annoyingly, I found that the lens cover kept falling off when placing the binoculars in a bag or retrieving them. Since there is no way of tethering it (unlike the eyepiece cover, which provides lugs to the side), I can imagine the lens cover easily being lost.

Fujifilm Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640: Performance

Fujifilm claims that the Fuji Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640's core image stabilization feature can be used continuously for up to 30 hours, which is longer than I’d personally want to be out in the wet and wild, especially if using the binoculars handheld without a tripod, which is the intention here. A small, unobtrusive bulb glows green to confirm, if needed, that ‘IS’ has been activated, although this bulb is rendered invisible outdoors in daylight.

Power comes not via a rechargeable cell or even the small CR2 battery used by the Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS16x28WP alternative, but a pair of bog-standard yet conveniently sourced AAA batteries. Usefully, the ‘IS’ feature is automatically powered down after 60 consecutive minutes to prevent the batteries from being drained if you forget to turn it off when slipping the device back into a bag or pocket.

As I’ve noted, accessing the battery compartment is a little fiddly if the hand strap has been secured to the right, so it’s reassuring that batteries won’t need to be replaced too often. Plus, as I found when I tested the TS16x28WP previously, the controls on the Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640 are stiff enough that accidentally jogging either the focus wheel or the inter-pupillary distance between the adjustable eyepieces is nigh-on impossible.

Should you want to eke out battery life further, it’s perfectly possible to get a good result with these binoculars without activating the image stabilization feature. The size and weight alone ensure I can get a comfortable and steady enough hold to avoid whatever I’m observing jumping around in my field of view. And you will have to handhold these binos; there is no screw thread provided for tripod mounting. That said, the difference when turning the dial to switch IS on is noticeable. Any wobble is immediately smoothed out, wildfowl appearing to glide even more majestically across the surface of my local pond. As well as giving me a clearer view of whatever I’m observing – especially useful if trying to identify unique markings – a lack of jitter also helps avoid eyestrain, making for a more comfortable experience overall.

In terms of the view through the eyepieces, the Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640 binoculars are impressively sharp and clear, but no less so than I expected, given their price and class. Any instances of chromatic aberration are kept well under control. The only very slight purple fringing I noticed was along the edge of a white car parked on my local common, its bright outline set against the deep green of its grassy background. But this would only be noticeable to anyone actively looking for fault.

Fujifilm Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640: Verdict

The Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 1640 is another good-looking, well-performing addition to Fujifilm’s burgeoning Techno-Stabi range, albeit one that comes at a premium price. On a practical note, shoehorning an image stabilization mechanism into a relatively compact chassis powered by two AAA batteries has resulted in sufficient heft that I was able to hold it fairly steady in both hands and enjoy a clear view, even without ‘IS’ activated.

But at the same time, I can appreciate its use in smoothing out the effects of any hand tremor when using the TS-L 1640 for longer periods. Having the option available just means we’re more likely to pick it up, take it out, and experiment with it, which some will doubtless consider makes it worth every penny.

Alternatives

When choosing any binoculars, I always weigh up size, price, and performance. My ideal is a large magnification to pull any far-off subject up close and personal, plus a big objective lens to gather sufficient light to ensure the crispest, sharpest image. Additionally, I’d like build quality to be robust, preferably with on-board stabilization to counteract any hand tremor, plus the device not to look or feel ‘cheap’ when handled. Unfortunately, to realize all this, the trade-off is often a large and bulky unit costing a king’s ransom.

Not so in the case of Fujifilm’s ‘Techno-Stabi’ binocular range, the name appearing less eccentric when you realise ‘Stabi’ is simply an abbreviation of ‘Stabilizer’. This series is impressively compact and priced fairly when compared to similarly premium-built Swarovski, Leica, and Zeiss products. Plus, in the case of the new 20x magnification Fujinon TS-L 2040 and its 16x Fujinon TS-L 1640 sibling, I’m getting a rather lovely, contemporary design that might warrant a similar TikTok frenzy to that of Fujifilm’s X100VI camera, if it weren’t for the fact that binoculars are even more niche.

I’m confident the focus on design, as much as performance, is deliberate here. This is a device that seems begging for an Instagram post as much as it is to be taken outdoors and pointed at a herd of deer or a sturdy-beaked tit. Ultimately, what I want to know is whether the Fujifilm Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 2040 binoculars perform as well as their posh looks and price indicate they should, earning their place among the best image-stabilized binoculars, or if they are a classic case of style triumphing over substance.

Fujifilm Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 2040: Specifications

Fujifilm Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 2040: Price

Originally announced in Japan in January 2025, I had to wait a good few months for the Fujifilm Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 2040 binoculars to land in the test lab. Now they've arrived in the rest of the world with a $1,499.95 / £1,149 / AU$2,099 asking price.

There is no getting away from the fact that this is a premium-priced piece of kit. Yes, I could save a little by going for the 16x TS-L 1640 instead, but the price differential is so modest it’s probably not worth opting for that lower-specced alternative on cost alone. Compared to other premium binos with class-leading optics from Leica, Zeiss, and Swarovski, this pair from Fujifilm, while not inexpensive, still seems like fair value overall.

Fujifilm Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 2040: Design & Handling

With IPX7 rating waterproofing allowing it to be theoretically submerged a meter underwater for 30 minutes, the Fujifilm Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 2040’s build is of the expected high quality that its price tag suggests. Usually, implementing an image stabilizer means a bulbous appearance, but by contrast, the TS-L 2040 is sleek and relatively slender, with a contemporary, almost minimalist design. While this may suggest it can be held in one hand, it still feels more comfortable and practical to grip the 853g unit with both hands, my two middle fingers resting on the slightly raised focus wheel, while the twist-up eyecups press against my eye sockets.

Despite the inclusion of gyro-sensor image stabilization, powered by two bog-standard AAA batteries for up to a class-leading 30 hours of continuous use, it’s perfectly possible to use the binocular without this feature activated and get a relatively wobble-free view, even at 20x magnification. That said, turn the dial just in front of the eyepieces to activate ‘IS’ and the difference is immediately noticeable. Subjects seem to glide rather than judder as I pan the binoculars through the scene in front of me. It's not too much of an issue if you forget to turn the feature off before placing the binoculars back in a bag or pocket, either, as an auto feature powers down the unit after 60 minutes.

The distance between the eyepieces is individually adjustable to better match your own facial features. Adjustment is quite stiff, which means it’s slow and deliberate, and I didn't feel at any point that I might accidentally nudge them from my preferred setting. The action of the focus wheel is similarly stiff, again allowing for careful, precise adjustment. Ergonomics aside, operation is as intuitive as one would expect, with no need to search online for a manual. You can pick these binoculars up and be zeroing in on visual quarry in a few seconds, which is exactly what I want out of such a device. At all times, the TS-L 2040 feels robust in the palm and feels like it will withstand years of regular use.

As with its TS-L 1640 sibling, Fujifilm supplies slide-on rubber covers for the eyepieces and a separate flat slip-on lens cover. However, I found the latter to be easily detachable, so much so that it slipped off a few times when retrieving the TS-L 2040 from my rucksack, and I can envisage it being quickly lost, which is disappointing. Introducing a small lug and thread with which to tether it would resolve such an issue.

Fujifilm Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 2040: Performance

As with the simultaneously issued TS-L 1640 binoculars, when the image stabilization feature in the TS-L 2040 has been activated via a turn of the top plate dial, a small bulb between the eyepieces at the rear illuminates in green. But I never felt the need to check this, as the difference through the eyepieces is immediately visible anyway.

While I feel the additional magnification over the TS-L 1640 is useful – at 20x as opposed to 16x – be aware that the field of view provided is narrowed. For this reason, I found it most practical to try and locate a subject with my own eyes first, before raising the binoculars for a closer look.

I was also watching out for instances of chromatic aberration, such as purple fringing between areas of high contrast. Thankfully, I found such instances reassuringly hard to spot.

The performance here is very respectable for its class. Though the view didn’t totally wow me, it’s sufficiently three-dimensional and sharp to be able to pick up subtle details, which will be a boon for birders and nature lovers of all persuasions.

Fujifilm Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 2040: Verdict

As with other Fujinon Techno-Stabi series binoculars I’ve handled, the construction of the high magnification TS-L 2040 feels immediately premium. Just as well, as these binoculars are priced at a premium.

Thankfully, the performance is equally of note, with the clarity of the image provided capable of satisfying the demands of keen enthusiasts. However impressive the performance is, I’m drawn back to the inspired design that makes the Fujifilm Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS-L 2040, along with its TS-L 1640 sibling, something of a contemporary classic. Unlike the latest TikTok trends, this one shouldn’t go out of fashion any time soon.

Alternatives

Nikon has just introduced new color options for its 4x10D CF binoculars, now available in Dark Navy, Ivory White, and Amber Brown. I’ve long admired the 4x10D CF for its slim, lightweight design; at just 19mm thick and 65g, it’s the thinnest and lightest ultra-compact binocular Nikon has released.

With these new finishes, these Nikon binoculars feel even more personal, without changing the practical qualities that have made them so appealing.

The specifications are familiar but effective: 4x magnification, a close focusing distance of 1.2 metres, and multilayer-coated lenses and prisms for a bright, clear view. Nikon has removed the dioptre adjustment, so you only need to set your interpupillary distance and focus. For anyone who wants something quick and simple to use, this makes the binoculars easy to pick up and operate immediately.

Where the 4x10D CF really stands out is its combination of portability and clarity. The flat, slim body slips easily into a coat pocket or bag, making it convenient for daily carry. I can see these being ideal for art galleries, museums, and theatre performances, where you need a compact way to bring distant details closer without disrupting your surroundings. The ability to focus down to just over a metre also makes them versatile for observing smaller objects up close.

The new colour options are a subtle but welcome addition. They’re small choices, but they make the binoculars feel less like generic gear and more like a personal accessory; something you might enjoy carrying on a walk or taking along to an event.

For me, the 4x10D CF represents a balance between practicality and design. They’re not about extreme zoom or heavy-duty field optics; rather, they’re about convenience and clarity in everyday use.

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Check out our guides to the best Nikon binoculars, the best opera glasses, and the best binoculars.

Chief boast for the Leica Televid HD spotting scope is not just best-in-class performance, but, according to the German brand, ‘the world’s highest image brightness’. A bold claim indeed. Available with either 65mm or 82mm objective lenses – I had the latter to look at – it’s the baby brother to Leica’s APO-Televid series.

That line-up likewise offers 65mm or 82mm optics. Theoretically, the bigger the lens, the more light let in, and the sharper and brighter the view. So I’m expecting the Leica Televid HD 82 to be a good option for when natural light isn’t in my favour.

The scope differentiates itself further via a current kit that sees it twinned with a 20-60x magnification eyepiece, set at a comfortable-to-view 45° angle when screwed into place. That’s the option I had to test here.

The German-designed, Portugal-manufactured Televid HD 65 and 82 duo is priced slightly more competitively than its simultaneously announced APO-Televid 65 and 82 scopes. But it’s not cheaper by much. The close naming convention means it’s easy to mix them up when researching online, and indeed, a couple of Leica’s own sites we visited listed one product but carried the specification for the other.

Whichever option we go for, we do so in the knowledge that Leica products command a premium – and here’s where we start paying.

So, ultimately, is the Leica Televid HD 82 worth the big investment that its sizeable 82mm objective lens requires, whether for wildlife watching, digiscoping or star gazing? Read on to find out.

Leica Televid HD 82: Specifications

Leica Televid HD 82: Price

Unveiled in July 2025, at a core unit cost of £1900 / $2469 without eyepiece, the Televid HD 82 scope is fair value compared to the £2500 / $3239 suggested for the simultaneously released APO-Televid 82 from the same manufacturer.

If we don’t need such a large objective lens, then the alternative of the equally new Televid HD 65, is a better value than both. After all, it costs the same, including the 20-60x eyepiece I had on test, as the 82mm model does without it.

That said, a £2420 / $3129 combined cost for adding the 20-60x eyepiece to the Televid HD 82 looks less eye watering when contrasted with the £3140 / $4069 being asked for the APO-Televid 82 with the smaller magnification 25-50x eyepiece at the time of writing.

As ever, you pay your money and make your choice. But do shop around to find the best current deals that may even out the original price difference.

Leica Televid HD 82: Design & Handling

Manufactured in Leica’s Portugal facility, the slightly more affordable Televid HD 82 is being sold on its class-leading light gathering ability when compared to Leica’s pricier APO-Televid; the pitch for the latter being its stated ability to deliver the highest degree of detail in its class.

The Televid HD 82 is also slightly lighter than its premium APO series brethren at 1505g, compared with 1550g, but to my mind feels no less robust because of it. Both scopes boast die-cast magnesium, nitrogen-filled construction to avoid any fogging, and are claimed to be watertight to a depth of five metres, so using them in the rain is not a potential issue.

In hand, the device immediately feels chunky and weighty, thanks to that large 82mm lens. Still, I managed to squeeze it into a small-ish backpack for transporting it to the park for some wildlife observation. I also took a portable tripod with me, as I knew the size and weight of this unit would make additional support and stabilisation a must.

Plus, I found that the angled eyepiece means that viewing is simply more comfortable from an upright, standing position when the scope is tripod-mounted. A tripod foot is integrated into the base of the unit, so quickly attaching or detaching it from a tripod plate is possible.

As with the APO-Televid models, the Televid HD 82 features a dual focus system, with a large, ridged, centrally located dial for ergonomically finding focus. Adjacent to this, we also get a smaller dial for fine-tuning sharpness, if needed, which does appear to make a slight difference. I found my forefinger intuitively settling on these dials, while my eye remained glued to the eyepiece and my attention on the subject under observation. Closest focus distance is 3.9 metres when paired with the Leica Vario 20-60x eyepiece I had to use on test, but given the maximum magnification at my fingertips, I was using the scope for subjects much further away.

Leica Televid HD 82: Performance

Leica claims the 20-60x Vario eyepiece, itself weighing 370g, allows for zeroing in on smaller subjects and details than its current 25-50x alternative, which, by contrast, delivers a larger field of view. If a 60x magnification isn’t quite enough, however, then an optional 1.8x Leica Extender can help achieve up to a 108x magnification. Adapters are also available for those who want to take photos via the scope, aka ‘digiscoping’, to suit various Leica and third-party cameras, as well as smartphones.

Best practice I found when using the Leica Televid HD 82 and eyepiece was starting out at the 20x setting to first locate my subject in the wild, and then gradually working my way through the settings to arrive at maximum 60x. While at 20x magnification, I was able to get the full body of a deer in the frame along with its nearest neighbour, at 60x I was able to make out flies on the face of the animal; its head fully filling my view through the eyepiece.

One thing I did notice when using the Televid HD 82, which I failed to find any instance of when previously playing with the Leica APO-Televid 65, was occasional flashes of purple fringing between areas of high contrast. For example, dark green leaves against an almost featureless sky. Here, such a jagged outline displayed distinct purplish edges at maximum magnification.

Its manufacturer boasts that even at maximum magnification, this scope can deliver bright, sharp, and high contrast images with neutral, natural colours. But to be picky, I could have done with more contrast at the highest 60x eyepiece setting to really snap key details and markings sharply into focus. For example, it would have aided identification when attempting to pick out a smaller bird of prey nestled among the branches and foliage of a tree in Richmond Park and determine whether it was a sparrowhawk or a rarer merlin. In my head, I settled on the latter, but a degree of detail beyond what this Leica was giving me would have helped me clearly decide.

Leica Televid HD 82: Verdict

You’ll be considering the Televid HD 82 if you want a premium Leica spotting scope that delivers a large 82mm objective lens for maximum light gathering, yet one that remains manageably portable. At the same time, it’s one that saves us a few groats over the cost of its maker’s APO-Televid version. Performance is impressive, though instances of purple fringing suggest that the APO-Televid alternative is the one to go for if such artefacts prove an issue for you. Respectable and competent, rather than awe-inspiring, is my conclusion here.

Alternatives

If we don’t want to pay a king’s ransom for the Leica Televid HD 82 with an optional 20-60x zoom eyepiece, there is a plethora of alternatives when it comes to spotting scopes, which means we don’t have to.

As mentioned in my review of the very similar, if pricier APO-Televid 65, companies including Celestron and Bushnell boast very good value and surprisingly well-made alternatives if you don’t covet that bright red Leica signature roundel.

While it’s not as critically sharp to my eyes as this Leica example, the mid-priced Bushnell 20-60x65 Prime scope offers plenty of bang for the buck. With a similar ruggedized look and feel to Leica, the Bushnell offers a zoom range of 20-60x alongside a decent-sized 65mm objective lens too.

Theoretically, providing a brighter view still is the Celestron Ultima 100. Here we get a generous 100mm objective lens married to a generous 22-66x zoom range. The only downside, once again, is that a bigger lens often means a heavier product overall, at 2Kg for the Celestron. However, pair it with a tripod and it’s another fairly-priced alternative.

However, my favourite recommendation for a close alternative to this Leica is probably the Zeiss Conquest Gavia 85. Yes, we again pay a premium price, but for the outlay we get a superior 85mm objective lens plus a comprehensive 30-60x zoom range, at a reasonable weight of 1.7kg combined. If you can stump up the cash, the quality and clarity of the Zeiss is nothing short of exceptional, making it a true rival to the Leica Televid HD 82.

The best smart telescopes have come a long way in the past five years, evolving from curious gadgets into serious astrophotography tools. The Vaonis Vespera Pro sits in the middle of this new class of automated instruments, promising deep-sky astrophotography without the bulk, complexity or set-up time of traditional gear. Designed in France and fairly portable — though significantly heavier than budget smart telescopes — the Vespera Pro targets those who want to capture galaxies, nebulae, clusters, the sun and the moon with minimal fuss.

It’s essentially an upgrade on Vaonis’ previous Vespera smart telescopes. Built around the same 50 mm f/5 quadruplet refractor optics, here it pairs them with a higher-resolution Sony IMX676 sensor, a massive boost in onboard storage, and a battery capable of running all night. 

Like its siblings, it’s controlled entirely through the ever-evolving Singularity app, which handles alignment, focusing, and tracking automatically, and now offers advanced tools like CovalENS mosaics, multi-night stacking, manual exposure control, master dark calibration and planning features that make observing and capturing the cosmos easier than ever. 

However, the Vespera Pro is a significant investment over the capable and cheaper Vaonis Vespera II. Is it worth it? Here’s everything you need to know about the Vaonis Vespera Pro.

Vaonis Vespera Pro: Specifications

Vaonis Vespera Pro: Price & accessories

Vaonis smart telescopes are not cheap — and nor are their accessories. The Vespera Pro costs US$2,990 / £2,499 / AU$4,579, which puts it in the mid-range of smart telescopes along with the Unistellar Odyssey. 

Far below it in terms of cost are the likes of the SeeStar S30, ZWO Seestar S50 and the DwarfLab Dwarf 3, while above are Unistellar’s Odyssey Pro, eVscope eQuinox II and eVscope II, and the Celestron Origin. 

There are three filters available; a solar filter (for observing the sun) sells for $215/ £159 / AU$330, a dual band filter (for nebulae) goes for $500/ £370 / AU$769 and a CLS filter (designed to reduce the glow from light pollution) on the market for $297/ £219 / AU$455. 

All but the solar filter are included in a “filter bundle” package with the Vespera Pro, which sells for $3,618/ £3,088/ AU$5,540. A package available in the US adds just the solar filter and sells for US$3,169. A custom-made padded backpack for the Vespera Pro is sold for $215 / £159 / AU$330. 

Vaonis Vespera Pro: Build and handling

Like a lot of smart telescopes, the Vespera Pro has sleek, curved, minimalist styling very much in the Apple aesthetic. The glossy, sculpted chassis is clean, with just an on/off switch on display, with a USB-C slot hidden on the undercarriage. 

At just under 5kg with its small, extendable tripod, it’s light enough to carry into the garden or pack in the car, yet solid enough to feel stable during operation. Would we hike with it into the wilds? Probably not, but the included hard-shell carry case that protects the optics during travel is ideal for a camping or campervan trip. 

Although the tripod is compact, quick to deploy, and stable, it demands a wide-open sky. When used in an urban setting, it’s likely that a larger tripod will give it a better view of some objects. Either way, it needs stabilising. There’s a bubble level that sits between the Vespera Pro and the tripod for just that purpose. 

Set-up is simple. Press the power button, wait for the Wi-Fi signal, connect a phone or tablet, then launch the free Singularity app. From there, the scope handles the rest — alignment, focusing, target acquisition — in a matter of minutes (unless there’s cloud, which can slow or cancel the process). The app’s interface is clean and intuitive for first-timers, but also hides advanced modes for experienced users: mosaics, multi-night sequences, manual gain/exposure and even master dark calibration (the app simply requests you put the lens cap on at the end of the night while it shoots a quick dark frame). 

Although it can take a little time to plate-solve the stars and figure out where it is and where the target object is, once it’s settled, it slews quietly and accurately. 

Vaonis Vespera Pro: Performance

Like most smart telescopes, the Vespera Pro is built for exploring and imaging the deep sky. Using an alt-azimuth mount to find its targets, its optics and sensor shoot and stack 10-second exposures to bring star clusters, galaxies and faint nebulae into view. Crucially, it does all this from light-polluted urban skies. 

Its view of a 1.6 x 1.6 degree portion of the night sky is typically ample, but doesn’t quite fit in larger objects, such as the Andromeda Galaxy. Cue CovalENS mosaics to expand the field to 2.6 x 2.6 degrees. 

In practice, more useful is the option to build multi-night stacks, effectively meaning the user can study objects at different times and under different sky conditions to create an ever-improving image over time. 

The Vespera Pro can therefore be taken on trips to dark skies to add some better data to an existing image of, say, a faint nebula. It’s worth saying that the additional filters, particularly the dual-band filter (which selects wavelengths of Hydrogen Alpha (H-alpha) and Oxygen III (O-III) to increase contrast), work well. 

However, the first filter to invest in is the solar filter, which allows some excellent white-light images of sunspots and solar eclipses. Lunar images are equally impressive (and require no filter). However impressive solar and lunar images are, what you see is what you get — they can only be saved as JPEGs. 

As with all smart telescopes, planets don’t impress, with the Vesper Pro’s 250mm focal length just not suited, though with manual gain and exposure control, Jupiter, particularly, can be attempted. 

Is the Vespera Pro better than the Vespera II? Both share the same aperture, so light-gathering is identical, though the Vespera Pro’s smaller pixels mean a finer resolution. The downside is slower image acquisition. There are other differences — such as battery life and storage — but the decision will come down to price — the Vespera II is about half the cost, but offers more or less the same experience for beginners. 

Vaonis Vespera Pro: Verdict

The Vespera Pro is a premium smart telescope that solves the biggest barrier to deep-sky astrophotography – time. There’s no set-up beyond placing it on its tripod, no complex alignment and no delays. The Singularity app works well, images impress, and there’s a near-constant addition of new features and more advanced image processing. 

For those after maximum resolution, storage, and battery life, the Vespera Pro is a worthy upgrade on the lower-cost Vespera II, though beginners will likely not notice much difference. For those with more time, money, patience, and processing know-how, a traditional astrophotography rig will still outperform either, but if time, portability and ease of use are imperative, the Vaonis Vespera Pro is a fine choice of smart telescope.

Alternatives

Also see our guide to the best smart telescopes

Akaso has unveiled its latest innovation in outdoor imaging – the Sight-300, an ultra-light digital monocular that offers true-to-life color night vision, even in conditions as dark as starlight.

Tailored for wildlife watchers, night hikers, and outdoor explorers, this compact device delivers an advanced night viewing experience without the bulk or glare of traditional infrared systems. It’s a fresh take on how we see in the dark – lightweight, discreet, and remarkably effective.

Instead of relying on IR beams to illuminate the night, the Sight-300 taps into a powerful optical engine and a next-generation image processor to render full-colour scenes in as little as 0.001 lux of light – roughly the equivalent of a starlit night. This means users can observe and record the world around them without disturbing it, making it especially suited to moments where stealth matters. Whether you’re quietly observing wildlife or moving through remote terrain after sunset, this monocular keeps you in the shadows while showing everything in detail.

Central to its performance is a second-generation quad-core AI-ISP chip, designed to process each frame in real-time. It actively reduces noise, removes motion blur, and restores colour accuracy up to 99%, delivering a clean and vivid image, not the murky green hue you might expect from traditional night vision tech. The Sight-300 also features a large 1/1.79-inch CMOS sensor paired with a fast F/1.0 lens, which works together to capture more light and detail in near-complete darkness. It records in 4K at 30fps by day, and crisp 2K at 60fps by night, with an 8× digital zoom on hand when you need to get closer.

Weighing just 260 grams, the Sight-300 is built for all-night comfort. It’s modular and helmet-ready straight out of the box, with brackets and mounting rails included for hands-free use.

Whether mounted to a helmet, clamped to a tripod, or simply handheld, its lightweight and balanced feel make it easy to carry – no neck strain, no faff, just sharp visuals and freedom to move.

To suit different environments and activities, the Sight-300 offers two modes: an Observation Mode for static clarity, and an Action Mode for blur-free viewing on the go. A 60-degree eyepiece field of view gives excellent peripheral awareness, while the 120-degree capture field ensures you don’t miss a thing. The unit is also IP65-rated against dust and rain, runs on a hot-swappable 3,250mAh battery, and connects via Wi-Fi to your smartphone for remote viewing or recording.

Akaso plans to launch the Sight-300 through Kickstarter, with early backer shipments expected to begin in November 2025.

Pricing details are yet to be announced, but this looks set to be a game-changer for anyone looking to see the night in a new light.

Check out our guide to the best night vision goggles and binoculars

When you write about cameras, you don't just get to test the glamorous mirrorless and DSLRs – or, as an expert in drones, the best flying cameras. You also get to experience the full range of possibilities that optics offer, and one of the technologies I use to help around my home – and that I regularly test for Digital Camera World – is increasingly common (which is great) and increasingly being called 'endoscopes' (which I find a bit strange).

Here's the thing. When a technology is new, it's expensive and not many people can get hold of it. So it goes where it is really needed and where the resources are high. That makes sense.

Tiny cameras that can be navigated carefully from a distance to give you a look inside things, well, that is obviously something of immense use to doctors. And so the first time I ever heard the word 'endoscope' it, and you'll have to bear with me as I pause, well… it involved being put up somebody's 'end' to check for signs of bowel cancer.

These days you can now buy cameras that take the same basic principle – tiny camera on an extending, flexible rod – and get hold of them for less than $50 and turn them to all kinds of purposes.

They're ideal if you've lost a key down the drain, or want to see what is blocking the drain. You can use them to check for signs of mice under the bed, or examine the car's engine to determine how the parts are wearing.

At first there was quite a clear distinction, too, between the products. These devices, for DIY or practical purposes, were called 'inspection cameras' or 'borescopes'. For me that was great, because I didn't have to picture them being inserted anywhere too fleshy and human.

In fact, we call our guide the best borescopes and inspection cameras.

The thing is, now, when I look through these products on popular internet retailers, I now see that there has been a bit of a shift. Clearly the term 'endoscope' doesn't evoke such prudishness in most people, but it has got the most public attention – because there are a huge number of what I think of as borescopes listed with terms like "industrial endoscope."

The word "industrial" seems to be gently warning people that they shouldn't be inserting it anywhere about themselves, but scroll further and you'll find plenty of others that omit it and are still definitely not medical grade.

This does not mean that they aren't incredibly useful things to have around the home. You can even get versions that save money by plugging into your phone screen, and even wireless ones (though wireless can introduce a bit of lag).

Just remember that some tasks – not many, perhaps, but some – are best left to the professionals!

Post pandemic, there’s been an uptick in interest in telescopes and their typically more compact and manageable brethren, the spotting scope.

The Leica APO-Televid 65 is the latter; another premium look and feel professional-grade scope for nature and low-light observation.

Worth focusing on here is a generous 65mm objective lens, with a 45° angled eyepiece providing the opportunity to vary magnification between 25-50x. Simultaneously released by Leica is an 82 model incorporating an 82mm lens for those who want to go larger, and theoretically brighter, still, though there’s additional weight with it. The alternative for either model is a further eyepiece option offering 20x to 60x magnification for an extended reach.

Like anything Leica, impressive features and top-tier positioning mean the APO-Televid 65 arrives with a large-ish price tag. But in return, we get German design, optical excellence, a sturdy build, razor-sharp close-ups from a distance, a large field of view, and more unusually still, not one but two focus wheels for fine-tuning image sharpness.

Should photographers want to get more creative still and attach a Q-series full-frame camera, or even a smartphone, to indulge in the art of digiscoping, optional adapters are available from Leica and Ollin, respectively. Leica also offers a compatible 35mm digiscoping lens to allow use of its SL and M system cameras.

So, is the Leica APO-Televid 65 a scope that those wanting a serious observational tool should make a point of looking into? Read on to find out.

Leica APO-Televid 65: Specifications

Leica APO-Televid 65: Price

Unveiled in July 2025, the Leica APO-Televid 65 with 65mm objective lens arrives alongside an 82mm alternative, plus two further identical lenses incorporating Televid-HD models, sitting just below its APO-Televid duo. While the Leica APO-Televid 65 is by no means inexpensive, the cost here includes the 25-50x zoom eyepiece, with the option to buy without. Given this, it’s less of a shock to anyone looking for a premium-end, portable scope with that familiar Leica red button logo. Plus, there’s the slightly more affordable Televid HD 65 if I want a comparable specification but can live without its sibling’s top-tier optical quality.

As ever, I’d take the above prices as a guide only. An online search while undertaking this review indicated some sizeable savings to be had over the manufacturer’s own suggested price on this spotting scope kit, if shopping around independent retailers.

Leica APO-Televid 65: Design & Handling

As I’d expect from anything made by Leica, its nitrogen-filled, magnesium construction APO-Televid 65 scope feels sleek yet sturdy when gripped in the palm.

There’s a tripod foot provided at the base for additional stabilisation, or otherwise this premium, rubber-exterior scope requires two-handed use. The right hand can be used for adjusting magnification and fine-tuning focus, via the larger and smaller focus dials, respectively, while the left hand cradles the front end of the scope.

Alternatively, of course, this scope can be set on a tripod, which will be a preferable option for extended observation periods, especially as the 25-50x eyepiece I was using adds another 435g to the overall weight.

The size and heft at 1.2Kg without eyepiece mean that while I could fit it in my messenger-style sling bag at a pinch, a small backpack proves a more suitable means of transportation.

I’m told from a glance at the spec sheet that front and rear lens caps are provided upon purchase, though the front cap was missing from my sample. Still, the extended, adjustable lens hood helps shield the front glass to an extent.

As a scope designed for use in the great outdoors, the Leica APO-Televid 65’s lens elements feature what it terms ‘AquaDura’ coating, an anti-reflective, anti-static, dust-resistant coating that’s water and dirt repellent.

Furthermore, this model’s construction claims to be watertight to a depth of five metres. I only encountered light rain/drizzle during my test period, so I cannot attest to its performance in such extreme circumstances. But it does provide extra peace of mind, backed up by the fact that the housing here is nitrogen purged and thus fog-proofed. Pretty standard stuff, expected at this price.

Leica APO-Televid 65: Performance

I used this scope on dim, overcast, and bright, sun-kissed days. Compared with Leica’s simultaneously re-jigged and released 65mm and 82mm Televid-HD models, which sit below the 65mm and 82mm APO-Televid scopes in its current line-up, this ‘APO’ example promises what its maker describes as the very lowest level of colour fringing.

In practice, it’s so minimal that I was hard pressed to spot any at all between areas of high contrast, even at the maximum 50x magnification provided by the eyepiece, which is a big positive. This model also promises Leica’s highest image quality and sharpness, whereas the Televid HD alternative instead promises the best brightness for its class.

The sharpness via the supplied 25-50x WW ASPH eyepiece certainly makes it a decent option for nature and wildlife observers. I found I was able to clearly make out specific markings on animals and wildfowl from afar, thanks to its 440mm equivalent focal length. Alternatively, ‘close’ focus is down to a respectable 2.9 metres.

While the view through this scope is impressively sharp if the device is considered standalone, to my eyes it’s not quite as crystal clear as the view provided by a rival top-end brand also known for optical excellence, such as Swarovski or Zeiss, even when tripod mounted. In fairness, that’s being quite picky. A chunky, sliding lens hood on the Leica helps keep rain off the glass and avoid any possible lens flare – not something I encountered either.

Although inevitably there is some image ‘judder’ visible at the base 25x level of magnification when hand holding this scope, it’s not to an off-putting or uncomfortable degree. However, as we rotate the magnification ring through the incrementally marked 30x, 40x, and 50x settings, our view through the eyepiece gets incrementally wobblier with it, without additional support.

If buying this for the 50x setting, then best to invest in a tripod to go with it. Luckily, Leica has brought out an optional carbon fibre tripod of its own alongside this very model, featuring a fluid video head. That said, my 20-year-old Velbon tripod did the job just as well.

In practice, the APO-Televid 65’s rigid magnification ring is so stiff that it requires a bit of elbow grease to turn; it’s not a control that will be accidentally jogged in the process of fetching the scope out of a bag. In other words, precise adjustments can be slowly made, as desired, in the process of observing and attempting to track our visual quarry.

The angled view provided through the attached eyepiece makes for more comfortable viewing, especially if using the scope mounted on a tripod, which also avoids visible judder at the maximum 50x zoom setting. Obviously, the more you zoom in, the narrower the field of view, so I found it best to first broadly locate my subject in the landscape and then adjust magnification for a closer look.

Leica APO-Televid 65: Verdict

A decent sized 65mm objective lens coupled with the ability to adjust magnification from a useful 25x to a generous 50x makes the APO-Televid 65 scope with 25-50x WW ASPH zoom eyepiece suitable for observing a wide variety of subjects, while the angled eyepiece aids comfort for prolonged periods – especially if I’ve got the scope tripod mounted, so can merely bend my neck to observe rather than crouching down.

Artefacts such as purple fringing between areas of high contrast did not prove an issue for me – in fact I struggled to find any at all – and, while sharpness may not match the performance of glass from the likes of Swarovski or Zeiss, taken as a standalone product the Leica APO-Televid 65 scope is impressive indeed and should endure years of faithful use.

Alternatives

Spotting scopes offer an increased magnification compared to their closest sibling, the monocular, while being less cumbersome than a telescope, their popularity ensuring there are a range of attractive alternative options out there if we don’t want to pay a premium for the Leica APO-Televid with optional 25-50x WW ASPH zoom eyepiece.

While they may not be as critically sharp as the Leica example here, to my eyes, Bushnell and Celestron offer tried and tested and typically great value for money scopes. For instance, there’s the mid-priced Bushnell 20-60x65 Prime scope. As it sounds, this offers adjustable magnification of between 20-60x alongside a large 65mm objective lens. It also has a similar ruggedized shape, look, and feel to the Leica example here.

Offering more power than the Bushnell and a brighter view still is the Celestron Ultima 100, its suffix referring to a 100mm lens size, suggesting a perfect choice for stargazers or lower light observation, when wedded to a generous 22-66x zoom range. Weighing 2Kg it is less portable, but that isn’t an issue if using it tripod mounted for longer periods of observation, whether our subjects are wildlife or the heavens above. Another very fairly priced choice.

More manageable in terms of size and 590g weight, as indicated by the bird that inspired its name, is the Celestron Hummingbird 9-27x56 ED scope. Yes, its lowest magnification level at 9x puts it on a par with a bog-standard monocular. But the camera-adaptable design still allows for digiscoping, and at maximum 27x magnification, its performance is more than respectable.

The above being said, probably the closest to the construction, performance, and price of our Leica option here, and my near namesake, is the Zeiss Conquest Gavia 85. This sturdy, premium offering boasts a powerful 30-60x magnification plus the bright beauty that is its 85mm objective lens, at 1.7Kg, all-in. If you can cope with the weight and the price, the reward is exceptional clarity for birdwatchers, nature lovers, and astronomers looking to bring the faraway up close and personal.

In the past 18 months, AI-enabled camera glasses have moved from novelty to a contested hardware category. Meta’s Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, launched last year, have already sold over 2 million units, proving that there is consumer appetite beyond niche technophiles.

Meta is doubling down through the performance-focused Oakley Meta HSTN model, which adds an IPX4 rating, a 3K camera and an 8-hour battery.

The surge has emboldened smaller players, too. Snap persists with its developer-only Spectacles line, while startups such as Loomis’ AI Glasses and Solos’ AirGo V incorporate generative AI helpers into ordinary-looking acetate frames.

Into this crowded field steps Xiaomi. Unveiled in Beijing on June 26, the company’s succinctly named Xiaomi AI Glasses start at CH¥1,999 (around $280 / £200 / AU$420), marginally undercutting Meta’s pair of RayBans.

Despite the lower price, the spec sheet is competitive: a 12MP IMX681 camera records up to 10 minutes of 2K 30p video, while a Snapdragon AR1 chip and Xiaomi's in-house Vela OS software enable live translation, scene recognition and QR code payments.

At just 40g the glasses weigh a little more than standard shades, yet still squeeze in open-ear stereo speakers, 5 microphones and a 263mAh battery that Xiaomi claims delivers 8.6 hours of mixed use – twice that of the Meta glasses, although always take battery estimates with a pinch of salt.

The glasses are also available with optional electro-chromic lenses that flip from clear to tinted in 0.2 seconds, and a trio of frame colors.

So, are AI camera glasses actually ready for the mainstream? Technically, further miniaturization, wider compatibility and true all-day batteries might be a stumbling block.

However, in social terms, privacy discomfort around always-on cameras and their potential misuse remains, which holds the potential of camera glasses just being outright banned.

Yet with giants and startups alike pouring resources into the space, and such widespread public adoption, it might be time for camera glasses to step into the spotlight.

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Check out our Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer review and our Ray-Ban Stories review to see how they stack up to the likes of our Oho Sunshine Camera Glasses review.

Even the performance of the best binoculars out there suffers incrementally as light levels fall. One way around this is to go for an infra-red night vision or thermal imaging-equipped binocular, allowing me to magically keep track of subjects, particularly skittish wildlife, when it’s almost pitch black out.

Because of the need for an internal power source and digital architecture, night vision binoculars tend to be bulkier than a regular daytime pair. That’s the case with the HikMicro Habrok 4K HE25L, which also has its near doppelganger in the US as the AGM ObservIR LRF 25-256.

However, anything lost regarding portability is repaid by the fact that I’m getting a regular daylight binocular, a night vision binocular, and a thermal imaging binocular combined. Its maker sums this up as a ‘multi-spectrum binocular’.

What’s more, though outwardly the HikMicro Habrok 4K HE25L nods to the look of a traditional binocular, it features an optical camera in one lens and a thermal camera in the other, each with its own focus ring at the front. Excitingly, this gives me the ability to record still images of whatever I’m observing – again, day or night – plus, via the same button, alternatively capture video clips with audio.

So, for those who really do need to maintain the ability to observe whatever hour it is, is the added bulk, weight and expense over a standard bino worth it? Read on to find out more about the HikMicro Habrok 4K HE25L.

HikMicro Habrok 4K HE25L: Specifications

HikMicro Habrok 4K HE25L: Price

The HikMicro Habrok 4K HE25L binocular has been available since spring 2024. For those seeking value for money, it appeals by virtue of not only being considerably cheaper than the premium likes of Swarovski and Leica, but also very competitively priced when it comes to models in its own maker’s lineup. For example, given that its HQ35L predecessor currently retails for much more, this budget-friendly alternative seems fair indeed. But while there are more expensive options around, there are far cheaper ones too, if you don’t need all the digital bells and whistles that this unit provides and want to prioritise clarity of observation over being able to identify and track animals via heat signatures and hotspots.

HikMicro Habrok 4K HE25L: Design & Handling

With six springy and chunky function buttons arranged in two rows, falling within reach of the fingers of both hands when the binocular is gripped, the HikMicro Habrok 4K HE25L’s build is the usual solid mix of magnesium alloy chassis with rubber detailing. These six top plate controls comprise the power button, capture button, a ‘measure’ button for the built-in rangefinder, a ‘mode’ button for switching between day, night, or auto mode, a self-explanatory menu button, plus a zoom button for increasing or decreasing magnification. A couple of these buttons serve dual functions in allowing me to tab between and select operational settings. However, they aren’t marked as such, meaning an initial period of familiarization is required. The quick start guide provided in the box wasn’t much help in this regard, so downloading a PDF of the full manual is a must.

Feeling broad in the hands at a similar size and width to a hardback blockbuster novel, undoubtedly because of the need to accommodate all its digital architecture plus two rechargeable batteries, this device is especially suited to those with long Nosferatu-like fingers. Batteries are claimed to last eight hours of continuous operation; not a wow, but not egregious either. With an IP67 protection level, its manufacturer suggests it’s able to withstand ‘various’ weather conditions; good job, as I’d expect to be using it almost exclusively outdoors.

Batteries need five hours of charging before initial use. There’s the ability to juice up the batteries when they’re already housed within the device, via a flap on the underside hiding a USB port, but our review unit also helpfully came with a standalone mains charger. There’s space to load two batteries into the HikMicro Habrok 4K at a time, though the device will stay functional with just one. I liked that it helpfully comes with a generous four HM-3632DC batteries out of the box, with sufficient mains charger space for all four simultaneously if desired. A USB Type-C cable and soft carry pouch also come bundled.

Though the body of the HikMicro Habrok 4K HE25L doesn’t feature a central folding mechanism, I appreciated that its eyepieces can still be individually nudged closer or wider apart, adjusting interpupillary distance to best match my own eyes. Twisting the diopter rings of the same eyepieces also fine-tunes focus; useful if switching between operating with or without glasses.

Given the binos’ relative bulk and weight, for those intending extended periods of observation a screw thread for tripod attachment is helpfully provided dead centre of the base. Unlike some premium binoculars, there is no gyro sensor-powered mechanical image stabilisation to help avoid image judder at maximum magnification; however, weight and size meant I was able to hold them sufficiently steady as a viewing aid.

For those spending a lot of time in the great outdoors or who want to precisely measure the distance from their subject, a built-in compass and laser rangefinder capable of measuring up to 1000m are further accessible, the latter with a single button press.

Interestingly, what at first appears to be a camera lens sitting between the two front lenses of the binocular transpires to be the infrared light, with a window for its laser rangefinder just beneath. The right-side front lens, if viewing the unit from the back, is used for thermal imaging, while the left lens is used for optical imaging.

Without a central focus dial as we’d conventionally find on a standard binocular, initially, I was searching for what I should be using to sharpen the image visible through the eyepieces. In fact, each lens is encircled by a focus ring, as would be the case with a digital camera.

HikMicro Habrok 4K HE25L: Performance

Unlike a regular analogue binocular with a fixed magnification married to an objective lens, I found the HikMicro Habrok 4K HE25L further operates more like a digital camera in providing the ability to zoom between 5.5x magnification and 22x, its optical module offering a f/2.2 aperture lens with 60mm focal length, wedded to a 1/1.8-inch CMOS sensor.

Minimum working distance is eight metres, while working distance at night is 400m. By contrast, the adjacent thermal module has a detection range of 1200m and a minimum focusing distance of three metres, with 4.3x to 17.2x magnification. Either way, I was able to observe subjects at some distance, though the further away they were, the trickier it was to achieve critical focus, especially at night with a moving subject and when using these binoculars handheld.

In a daylight setting, up to 4K resolution is offered via the optical module. Once we lose the light and switch to the thermal setting, resolution drops to a much more modest 256x192 pixels.

There is no removable memory card slot provided here, so any photos and videos with sound are stored directly on the device, with a generous 64GB of internal storage provided. Naturally, there’s also an optional app allowing smartphone syncing. Alternatively, when it comes to transferring images across to another device, I could simply connect one end of the USB cable to the binocular and the other to our PC to simply drag and drop whichever images I wanted from the on-board cache straight onto my desktop. The content of various date-stamped folders can be reviewed within the device via the eyepieces as a series of thumbnails, but obviously downloading and enlarging them provides greater clarity.

Like most of us, I’ve been guilty of leaving a lens cap in my bag or back pocket. Fortunately, there’s no danger of losing the rubber lens caps here, because they’re tethered. These simply hang beneath the lens when the binocular is in use. No caps are provided at the other side for the eyepieces, but I found the soft rubber eye cups do a good job of keeping dust off the glass as well as making for a comfortable viewing experience generally.

In use, as this is a digital device, it did feel like I was looking at a high-resolution video image – in fact, a 0.49-inch OLED display with a 1920x1080 resolution – through the eyepieces, without quite the degree of clarity I’d get from high end binocular glass from Zeiss or Swarovski.

Inevitably, image judder is more pronounced when hand-holding at higher magnifications, too. But without attaching a travel tripod, this is unavoidable. I found sticking to 5.5x magnification when hand holding the device seemed to be the sweet spot for a wobble-free image with maximum clarity, especially if it’s also one you want to take a photo of and commit to the internal memory.

To be picky, when used in daylight conditions, I’d have liked a brighter and sharper view through the eyepieces than what is provided. I sometimes found it hard to tell whether the image was as sharply focused as I could get it.

In terms of operation and usability, it doesn’t seem like a great idea either that the power on/off button is adjacent to the image capture button. This meant that with eyes pressed against the eyepieces and fingers feeling for the controls, I sometimes accidentally pressed down on the power button when I was attempting to take a photo. Also, on a handful of occasions when powering up, I was met with a completely white live screen via the eyepieces, free of any information. Something that I could only rectify by the failsafe of removing and reinstalling the batteries.

Still, with everything up and running, the advantage of using the HikMicro Habrok 4K device at night is as clear as subjects’ heat signatures in the dark. Once I’d identified and zeroed in on them, it was then possible to switch to optical mode and capture a better-quality nighttime image, albeit in monochrome.

That said, whether we’re talking day or night capture, I won’t feel compelled to hang any of the pictures I’ve taken with this device; they’re best viewed as being for reference/identification purposes only. While at night reasonably sharp monochrome images are achievable via the optical unit in contrast to the fuzzy captures via the thermal camera, it’s hit and miss in the dark without a tripod. That said, when it comes to daytime observation, colours are vivid and realistic.

Judged as a device used to make a record of something, rather than to construct a pretty image, has me viewing the HikMicro Habrok 4K HE25L more favourably.

HikMicro Habrok 4K HE25L: Verdict

We live in a 24-hour society, so why not have a binocular/image capture device that can similarly function around the clock?

Because it offers a multitude of functions, I found it takes a period of familiarization before the HikMicro Habrok 4K HE25L can be used to its fullest extent. However, as my confidence grew regarding nighttime observation and image capture and navigating the buttons and selections in the pitch dark, I started to have fun using it. I can really see the advantage for those who want to track and observe wildlife at all hours, and in a variety of ways, without paying a king’s ransom.

It’s not perfect: I found peering through the eyepieces while my fingers felt blindly for the buttons needed to adjust settings on the fly a bit hit and miss. But such awkwardness is not unique to this model or manufacturer. Neither is the fact that thermal images or those highlighting hotspots on an animal are fuzzier and more indistinct than monochrome or colour images; that’s literally the nature of the beast.

As a single device for around-the-clock observation and tracking, the convenience and price of the HikMicro Habrok 4K HE25L means it’s well worth considering alongside a night vision monocular or goggles.

Alternatives

Our example aside, there are more than a handful of recommended night vision / thermal imaging binoculars, monoculars, and goggles for those who want to see in the dark. If it’s a camera binocular for nighttime observation without breaking the bank, you’re after, a recent contender at an almost pocket money price is the Akaso Seemor 200. The downside, though, is no onboard storage and flat-looking colour images. A step up is the Bushnell Equinox Z2 6x50 night vision monocular. This boasts a generous objective lens size and the ability to commit 8MP stills or 1080P video to a removable microSD card, even if we wished, as here, operation was less clunky and viewing sharper. It is, however, pretty good for tracking at night and retails for a lot less than the HikMicro if you don’t mind viewing via a single eyepiece.

If, however, you don’t need a binocular that can see in the dark or capture images with it, there are plentiful alternative options, including battery-powered, gyro sensor-equipped image-stabilized binoculars. Worth checking out here are the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP binocular, the Nikon Stabilized 10x25 and 12x25 models, plus the higher-end Fujifilm Techno-Stabi (stabilized) TS 16x28 WP, which, as its suffix indicates, is waterproof. Alternatively, if it’s premium you want, there’s the beefy Canon 12x36 IS III. Flick a switch or press a button on each, and that swan, which without ‘IS’ appeared to be at a disco, so pronounced was the image judder, now suddenly glides across the water like a professional ice skater.

If it’s ‘just’ a very high quality yet compact and portable binocular for scrutinizing the finer details of birds and wildlife you’re after, then the Swarovski CL Companion 10x30 would be an excellent place to start your investigation, its asking price slightly less expensive than the all-encompassing HikMicro example here. Bird watchers on a tighter budget should examine the Celestron range. Its Trailseeker 8x42 is ideal both for birdwatching and general outdoor use and comes at an almost pocket money price when compared to the above.

Night vision binoculars have long been associated with the image of tactical gear or high-end wildlife observation tools - often bulky, expensive, and out of reach for casual users. But every so often, a product comes along that changes the landscape, offering solid performance without the premium price tag. The Akaso Seemoor-200 is exactly that.

Priced firmly in the budget category, it promises full-color daytime viewing and recording, coupled with reliable night vision with adjustable infrared, video, and photo capture. It also benefits from a rugged build that feels more serious than its price suggests.

I’ve spent time testing it across various light conditions and real-world use cases, and what I found was a surprisingly capable and thoughtfully designed device, especially for those new to the world of digital optics.

Akaso Seemoor 200: Specifications

Akaso Seemoor 200: Design & Handling

The Akaso Seemoor 200 is what I’d call a functional, fuss-free device, and in this price range, that’s exactly what you want. It’s made entirely from solid, heavy-duty plastic, and while it lacks the premium finishes of higher-end optics, it feels sturdy enough to handle the rough-and-tumble of field use.

There’s a satisfying weight to it - enough to inspire confidence, but not so much that it becomes a burden when you’re out on long walks or overnight camps.

The controls are intuitive, and while the interface isn’t flashy, it’s easy to get to grips with. The LCD display inside is large enough to give you a clear view, and the buttons have decent tactile feedback.

One thoughtful touch that I really appreciated: Akaso includes not one, but two rechargeable batteries in the box. It’s a little detail, but one that goes a long way, especially if you’re planning longer excursions. The only caveat is that there’s no onboard storage, so you’ll need to pick up a MicroSD card separately.

Akaso Seemoor 200: Performance

This is where the Seemoor 200 punches above its weight. In daylight or well-lit conditions, you get the benefit of full-colour viewing and capture. The colors are vivid, though I found that both stills and video could come out a little washed out, with a flat tonal range and not much contrast. That said, for the price point, the overall quality is more than acceptable – it’s just not going to rival a DSLR or a dedicated daytime optic.

Where this unit really shines is in night vision. The infrared system kicks in automatically as light drops, and with seven IR brightness settings, you can dial it in depending on how dark it is and what you’re trying to see. Whether it’s dusk, the dead of night, or just before dawn, you’ve got enough flexibility to make out fine details. Subjects are clearly defined, and while there’s some grain, as you’d expect, the sharpness and contrast are much better than I anticipated for a device at this price.

The 16x digital zoom is a bit of a mixed bag. It’s handy in theory, but image clarity does suffer at full zoom. I found that staying below 10x gave me the best balance between reach and resolution.

Sample images & videos

Above: Sample videos shot with Akaso Seemor 200

Akaso Seemoor 200 Final Verdict

The Akaso Seemoor 200 is, quite simply, one of the best-value digital night-vision binoculars you can buy right now. It’s not perfect - color footage can lack contrast, and you’ll need to bring your own MicroSD card - but those are small trade-offs for what you’re getting. For that $200 / £200, price range you get solid build quality, a proper dual-mode viewing experience, decent video recording, and impressive night vision capabilities.

Factor in the included USB-C charging and the thoughtful addition of two rechargeable batteries, and this feels like a product that’s been built with the user in mind.

If you’re just getting into night vision optics or you want an affordable pair of digital binoculars that genuinely deliver, the Akaso Seemoor 200 is a smart place to start.

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Check out our full guide to the best camera binoculars, and our rundown of the best night-vision goggles and binoculars

The Vixen Optics Polarie is Bresser’s solution as a standalone unit, which was tested as a standalone unit for the purposes of this review.

Why do astrophotographers use star trackers? Over the course of the night, the positions of the stars and constellations appear to move. This is due to the rotation of the Earth on its axis, which, over prolonged exposures, results in star trails (in exposures that typically exceed 30 seconds).

A unit such as a star tracker is designed to do the opposite: to track the stars. They operate on the basis of polar alignment - in short, they are aligned to what is known as the celestial pole; the north celestial pole (NCP) for those in the northern hemisphere, the southern celestial pole (SCP) if located in the southern hemisphere.

Each has its own unique forms of alignment with known constellations and asterisms. Once aligned, the speed of your tracking mount can be dictated by the subject you are tracking. This could be different speeds for the sun, the moon, the stars themselves, or, as the Vixen Polarie attempts, a unique (½) ‘sidereal’ speed is adapted to capture images where both foreground and background stars are sharp and focused.

Once aligned, images can be acquired over prolonged periods in time (on heavy-duty mounts in particular - to utilise images of deep-sky objects - DSOs) to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of images. Boosting detail and limiting noise.

Constructed in mind as an ultra-compact effort, equatorial star-tracking unit. This portable unit produces a number of various speed settings, allowing for both wide-angle astrophotography as well as solar and lunar tracking.

Vixen Optics Polarie: Specifications

Vixen Optics Polarie: Price

Compared to other portable models on the market, the Polarie is rated as being slightly better value compared to other comparable models on the market, justified by its extensive compatibility when imaging and tracking multiple celestial targets, as well as being machined to a quality design.

Vixen Optics Polarie: Design & Handling

Overall, the design and handling of the Polarie are excellent. Appearing no larger in size compared to a conventional smartphone, the Polarie has been designed with portability in mind and is not overly heavy as a single unit.

The built-in tilt meter is a great feature to consider, as not only does this adjust the unit to the correct relative position of the celestial pole from your geographic location, but the built-in ‘preparation’ mode illuminates this dial using a red LED. So not only preserving your night-vision, but it can easily be adjusted with the use of a geared head mounted onto a durable tripod.

My only consideration, however, in accordance with Vixen's instruction, is the use of the QHD-33 Ball-head adapter (not included). Therefore, the photographer will need to either invest in a ball-head with a ¼ adapter, or if already in the kit bag, consider the unit incorporating a ¼” mounting. Therefore, a 3/8 - ¼ bracket will be needed for smooth operation.

Another consideration is the M-155MA Tripod (with built-in equatorial mount - not included). Whilst this is not necessary for the operation of the Polarie, a geared head can be used in its place as a secondary, durable solution, when pointing the unit towards the celestial pole.

Vixen Optics Polarie: Performance

The performance of the Polarie was good in terms of alignment in the context of its payload capacity and available features included with the unit. In the instance of using the polar sight-hole, it can only be used to perform a rough polar alignment. Therefore, it is a good option for an introductory unit to star tracking, but ideally, the optional POLARIE polar scope is needed to perform a more perfect polar alignment, when measuring in arc-minutes, at an extra cost.

The Polarie was operated using 2 conventional AA Alkaline batteries. So whilst offering an operating time of 2 hours would benefit standalone tracked images of the sky, an external power source is recommended if needing to operate the unit for greater periods of time (if, per say, to capture hydrogen-alpha emission over an extended period of time). The base plate was easily removed to attach an external ball head with a ⅜ to ¼ “ adapter when attaching a Sony A7SII and Sigma 20mm F/1.4 DG DN lens.

What I thought was a great consideration was the ½ sidereal speed consideration. As is typically with star trackers, images are captured from a static perspective to obtain foreground data and tracking at a sidereal rate for the stars, blending both images together. However, this speed makes it possible to retain a somewhat clear image of both the stars and to eliminate the diurnal motion of the stars.

Vixen Optics Polarie: Verdict

Overall, I would rate the Vixen Polarie as a great unit to attune more avid photographers to the process of star tracking and for taking longer exposures of the stars. Between 6-8 minutes on a rough polar alignment when adapted to wide-field astrophotography with a 20mm focal length. I would note, however, that those wishing to extend their exposure times will need to consider the optional accessory of the additional polar scope for a more attuned alignment.

Alternatives

If you’ve been thinking of getting into astrophotography but the expense and the need for telescopes, laptops and gear galore puts you off, check out the SeeStar S30. Small enough to pack alongside a DSLR or mirrorless camera in a photography backpack, this smart telescope is more lens-sized than telescope-sized, and is designed to put deep-sky photography in reach of absolute beginners. 

Built by Chinese company ZWO — a respected name in specialist astrophotography cameras  — and a follow-up to the larger Seestar S50, this diminutive smart telescope is built around a smaller 30mm/1.18 inch aperture refractor telescope. Automatically slewing to, and taking image after image of, deep-sky objects, it auto-stacks to remove noise and creates colorful images of galaxies, star clusters and nebulae. What’s the catch? 

ZWO Seestar S30: Specifications

ZWO Seestar S30: Price

The first generation of smart telescopes, from Unistellar and Vaonis, were large and expensive high-end objects, but in the last few years the trend is to the small and affordable — and that trend surely finds its peak with the SeeStar S30. 

At around £419 / US$399 / AU$699, it’s the most affordable smart telescope yet, undercutting the similarly sized Dwarflab Dwarf 3  (UK£492 / US$599 / AUS$811). Until recently, the most affordable smart telescope around was ZWO's SeeStar S50, at around £539, US$499 and AU$949. 

ZWO Seestar S30: Design & Handling

A small telescope with a CPU and a 64GB flash drive attached, the Seestar S30 is all an incredibly lightweight all-in-one astrophotography rig that’s exclusively controlled by a smartphone app. After selecting an object either from a list of recommended targets or from a planetarium-style virtual atlas, it auto-aligns and then tracks objects, taking away some major pain-points for beginners who don’t yet know the night sky. 

There’s more to the Seestar S30 than night photography. Its dual-lens telephoto and wide-angle system allows for both telephoto and wide-angle imaging, allowing both photos and videos in daylight and, once darkness falls, the ability to easily locate, say, the moon in the sky. 

At its core, the Seestars S30 is a 30mm/1.2 inch refractor that records images using its high definition-capable Sony IMX662 sensor, stacking and integrating them as it observes to create an ever-changing, ever-improving image.  

It comes with a USB-C cable to recharge its six-hour battery and a surprisingly compact tabletop tripod, as well as a handy magnetic solar filter for imaging sunspots on the solar surface. The product as a whole is so compact and lightweight that you could be forgiven for thinking that it’s a novelty, but there are some advanced features. Perhaps the standout feature is framing mode, which allows the telescope to pan, rotate and stack images over several hours to create mosaic images of the larger celestial structures, such as the Andromeda Galaxy. It also includes built-in UV/IR cut and dual-band filters that help it image nebulae even when drowned in light pollution, while the app has AI noise reduction built-in.

Weighing just 1.65 kg and measuring 210mm x 140mm x 80mm, the Seestar S30 is remarkably portable. Its compact size allows it to fit comfortably in most camera bags, making it an excellent companion for photographers on the go. Eclipse chasers, in particular, should consider it for global travel — with the easily removable magnetic solar filter a particular attraction. 

Build quality is reasonable, with a tough plastic chassis and an aluminium tripod. It’s a tiny support; you’d be better off mounting the Seestar S30 on a proper photographic tripod to give it some height (it has a standard 1/4-20 tripod thread), particularly if you want to use it in a crowd. 

That chassis is adorned only with an on/off switch and a USB-C slot for recharging. All other controls are in its smartphone app, which worked well during our test. After selecting the first target, the Seestar S30 paused briefly to align itself with the stars it could see, plate-solving them with what it has in its database. It’s impressive stuff, though we did notice that it required a hefty 160MB data download to allow its sky atlas to be used. Paired with its propensity to require frequent firmware updates and we’d recommend powering up the Seestar S30 for a brief dry run to make sure it’s packed with the latest firmware before driving out to find dark skies. 

ZWO Seestar S30: Performance

In the field, the S30 is an impressive performer — especially when you consider how compact and automated it is. First, I imaged the sun, which was a point and shoot affair that required using a virtual joystick to zero-in, using an inset image from the wide-angle lens for context. 

Setting it up at night involves placing it on the tripod, powering it on, connecting a smartphone then picking a target in the app. The telescope then plate-solves, slews to the object, focuses, and begins capturing and stacking frames automatically. The longer it’s left for, the more images it takes, and the better the result. 

I tested with the help of Stéphane Picard at Cliff Valley Astronomy, shooting the deep sky from Broadleaf Ranch, a Dark Sky Destination in New Brunswick, Canada. The S30 was left to capture the Pinwheel galaxy (M101), with no filters, for 50 minutes. The result — once processed lightly in  Siril, Photoshop and LightRoom — shows the tenuous spiral arms of the outer galaxy. Next up was the Horsehead Nebula and Flame Nebula in Orion with similarly spectacular results. Finally, an early rise to point the the S30 at the Antares/M4 region in Scorpius, using the framing mode and 75 minutes of integration, resulted in a gloriously colorful image complete with dust lanes. 

The Sony IMX662 sensor captures high-quality images with minimal noise, and can be left alone to shoot while you do something else, which is always welcome if you’re kind of astrophotographer that likes to have multiple projects going on simultaneously. 

What the S30 lacks is ultimate resolution — the images you get are fairly small — while its alt-az mount restricts exposure lengths. It’s also not adept with planets. However, its limited field-of-view, which could be a shortcoming, is mitigated by its framing mode. 

ZWO Seestar S30: Verdict

So easy to use is the Seestar S30 that it’s tempting to state that it’s all about point, shoot and share, but there’s a lot of explore for anyone interested in doing serious astrophotography. Sure, the images you end up with won’t be particularly high resolution, but with many hours of integration and some time spent in post-processing, it’s possible to produce spectacularly colorful images to be proud of. Add the new framing mode, and the beautiful sun and moon images it’s capable of, and the Seestar S30 begins to look like the kind of tool that should be in the camera bag of every outdoor photographer. 

Alternatives

Check out our full guide to the best smart telescopes 

Do you need a smart telescope? You do if you fancy taking images of deep-sky objects like galaxies, star clusters and nebulae, but live in a light-polluted town or city. Cue the Dwarf 3 (£418 / $520), a smart telescope that is exceptionally small. Weighing a mere 1.3 kg / 2.87lbs, it’s light and narrow and, crucially, able to fit into a camera bag.

Its big trick is to take short exposures of “faint fuzzies” such as galaxies, nebulae and globular clusters and stack them in real-time, improving them with every additional image. It can also shoot the moon and the sun, the latter thanks to a solar filter shaped like a pair of solar eclipse glasses that snap into place across the Dwarf 3’s two lenses — one a 3.4mm wide-angle (principally for finding objects) and one a 35mm zoom.

As well as being able to image celestial objects, Dwarf 3 can take photos and videos of the daytime world, with birds and other animals the perfect targets. Is Dwarf 3 one of the best smart telescopes or one of the best budget telescopes? Here’s why it’s a great addition to the camera backpack of any landscape photographer who often finds themself out in twilight or night.

DwarfLabs Dwarf 3: Specifications

DwarfLab Dwarf 3: Price

Dwarf 3 does have a slight price problem. It costs $599 / £492 / AU$811, which may seem like a relative bargain — particularly when compared to high-profile and expensive smart telescopes like the Unistellar Odyssey and Vaonis Vespera 2 — but the smart telescope market is changing so fast.

Dwarflab’s main competitor in this entry-level smart telescope market is ZWO, which recently followed up its larger ZWO Seestar S50 with the smaller Seestar S30, a very similar product to the Dwarf 3, and for a considerably more affordable $399 / £419 / AU$699. Dwarf 3’s telescope does have a slightly larger aperture than the Seestar S30, but it doesn’t come with a tripod. That’s a shame, though it’s not likely to most photographers. It has a 1/4-inch tripod thread and can be put on a tabletop tripod if placed somewhere with a big-sky view.

DwarfLab Dwarf 3: Design & Handling

The Dwarf 3 is tiny, but not especially lightweight. At 2.87lb/1.3 kg, in the hand, it feels like the equivalent of holding a heavy wide-angle lens. It may be heavier in your camera backpack than you might like, but it’s so narrow it fits easily alongside other equipment. Although when used to scan the heavens and take deep-sky images, it is much easier on a tall tripod, with as few obstacles in its way as possible, Dwarf 3 is so small it could even be mounted on a simple tripod support arm alongside a DLSR or mirrorless camera. That’s particularly true if it’s used to shoot the sun or moon or to take video.

The build quality is excellent, and a high-grade solar filter is also supplied. Arranged like a pair of eclipse glasses to protect both the wide-angle and telephoto lens, it’s got an impressive magnetic design, but it would be nice if there were a proper protective case for them instead of the drawstring bag, which doesn’t add much protection.

DwarfLab Dwarf 3: Performance

In use, the Dwarf 3 is mostly impressive. Although connectivity issues between the smartphone and telescope dogged early review sessions, once the link was made, the set-up was straightforward. For shooting the sun and moon, I found the dual-lens system helpful, with the wide-angle lens easy to move manually into position — using a virtual joystick in the app — before selecting “sun track” or “moon track” to keep it in the field of view.

For deep sky objects at night, the app's built-in sky atlas is useful for selecting targets, though before it can find them, Dwarf 3 has to align with the stars. Once done, it shows the target — usually looking very dim and indistinct, before getting to work taking and stacking long exposure images, with presets, defaults and its built-in filters producing very impressive results. With its real-time stacking and AI-powered noise reduction, it cleverly mitigates light pollution to capture faint nebulae including the bright Orion Nebula (M42) and the Horsehead Nebula.

There’s a handy “recommended” list of objects to image, though you do need to ensure you have a clear view of as much of the sky as possible to rely on that (or, better still, learn the night sky so you’ll instinctively know what’s within reach). At any point within the image process, you can see the name of the target, the shutter speed, gain, and how many separate images have been taken.

For galaxies and nebulae, the longer you leave Dwarf 3 alone, the better the composite image. To that end, it’s also important to take dark frames, which the app does prompt you to do.

You could leave it on default mode and enjoy the Dwarf 3 perfectly, well, but astrophotographers who want to go deeper can extract the image files as FITS and indulge in manual stacking and post-processing. There’s also a new EQ mode that enables the Dwarf 3 to ape an (expensive) equatorial mount. That necessitates aligning the telescope with Dwarf 3, with the principal advantage being longer exposures.

DwarfLab Dwarf 3: Verdict

Compact and well-built, the Dwarf 3 smart telescope is a great tool for all kinds of photographers and wannabe astrophotographers. It makes deep-sky astrophotography easy and, just as importantly, it’s small and portable enough to be taken to the very darkest night skies as an afterthought in a camera backpack. However, while it impresses on both ease of use and image processing, as well as advanced manual options, it faces stiff competition from rivals, which offer similar features at a lower price, something not helped by its lack of a tripod.

Alternatives

From $229 at Move Shoot Move

Astrophotographers attach their cameras to star‑tracking mounts to counteract Earth’s rotation. Because the planet turns, stars drift across the field of view; in exposures longer than roughly 30 seconds, they form noticeable trails. A tracker rotates the camera at the same rate as the sky, only in the opposite direction, so the stars stay fixed and sharp.

To achieve this, the tracker must be polar‑aligned. Its axis is aimed at the celestial pole: Polaris (the north celestial pole) for observers in the Northern Hemisphere, or a point near Octantis (the south celestial pole) for those in the Southern Hemisphere. Built‑in polar scopes or mobile‑app overlays help match the reticle to familiar constellations and asterisms.

After alignment, you choose a drive rate that matches your target. Standard sidereal speed follows the stars; solar and lunar rates compensate for the Sun's or Moon’s slightly different motion. Some devices, such as the Vixen Polarie, even offer a half‑sidereal setting that keeps both foreground scenery and background stars acceptably sharp in a single shot.

Accurate tracking makes multi‑minute and on heavier equatorial mounts, multi‑hour exposures possible. Stacking these long integrations dramatically improves the signal‑to‑noise ratio, bringing out faint detail in deep‑sky objects while suppressing image noise.

The MoveShootMove Nomad is a popular choice amongst the astrophotography community in terms of portable approaches to star tracker technology. Current contenders on the market involve multiple components, requiring a more elaborate understanding of polar alignment and setup. The Nomad breaks boundaries as a portable solution, where size is no object in providing payload as a unit purely designed for landscape astrophotography. Not only is the NOMAD a desired tool in the astrophotographer’s kit bag, but it is also well adapted to a number of travel applications: from overseas assignments and long-distance photo shoots.

MSM Nomad: Specifications

MSM Nomad: Price

For its level of compactability, aesthetic, design, and purpose - I would rate this as the best value example of a star tracker listed on the market, compared to other variants within a similar price bracket. The MoveShootMove Nomad also offers a number of included accessories with the unit.

You can buy the Nomad in a range of kit options directly from Move Shoot Move, starting from $230.

MSM Nomad: Design & Handling

Constructed from CNC-machined Anodised aluminium, provides a quality first impression of the unit and its characterful design. As a single mechanical component, its construction is built to a high-quality standard that is built to last and withstand impact and potential damage during transit.

MoveShootMove prides itself on the key design consideration to provide a portable star-tracker solution - a concept designed for backpackers, capturing images from some of the most remote regions of the world. Size and storage being a key design consideration, MoveShootMove stating, this model is “called NOMAD for a reason”. It is “designed to travel with you wherever you go”.

The approach to polar alignment is simplified and rather unique when compared to other star tracking methods. The supplied laser pointer is screwed on to an external mounting bracket on the tracker and further attached to a bracket that houses a polarscope utility. As is the case with any means of polar alignment, some minor knowledge of astronomical objects is required to locate the north celestial pole (NCP - Constellations: Ursa Major and Ursa Minor) for northern hemisphere users, and the south celestial pole (SCP - Constellations: Octans and Crux) for southern hemisphere users. A 24-hour polar clock utility is integrated into the internal polar scope graphic, enabling fine-tuned polar alignment.

Consultation provides instruction in using Nomad alongside the latest astronomy smartphone apps and software, in locating the position of the pole star, Polaris, or Octans on a night of observation. With each hemisphere requiring different methods for polar alignment, MoveShootMove has all bases covered. For the purpose of this review, PS Align Pro was used to locate the North Celestial Pole. A Fluorescent tube is also included, which is attached to the front lens of the polar scope to naturally illuminate the polar clock utility. This provides a unique approach to illuminating the polar clock utility, used to preserve night vision as an alternative option of using a red light source.

MSM Nomad: Performance

In terms of performance, Kit C was selected for the purpose of this review, with a primary focus on landscape astro-imaging. There are a number of different packages available, depending on your preferred imaging setup, that include optional wedges, Z and V Mounts (which are more commonly used to process Milky Way panoramas), ballheads, unit only, as well as rechargeable headlamps.

Compared to its predecessor, the MSM Rotator - the design consideration required specific weight positioning to keep the ball head secure. This concept has been ‘eliminated’ for the Nomad, allowing for a more user-friendly interface. The unit is attached to a tripod, using an industry-standard quick-release plate that is now fixed in two positions - to prevent unnecessary movement and twisting of the tracker once secured to the mount.

The hardware of the Nomad is built to withstand twice the amount of torque compared to the Rotator model. Offering a payload of up to 7.7lb (3.5kg) is a more considerate design aspect for the use of heavier, wide-angle lenses.

The laser pointer housing has been improved, using the external attachment to screw directly into the tracker and prevent ‘wobble’ during operation. One observation made is that collimation of both the polar scope and laser pointer are required, to provide a central pivot on all axes. This can be tested by fully rotating both the laser pointer and the polarscope around a single fixed point. The position of both the laser and polar scope can be collimated using the hex key supplied. The laser pointer is projected onto a wall space, marking the current position for the laser, applying the adjustment, and turning to the unit to assess movement is central to the projected laser. A similar process for the polar scope. Pointing at a distant object, such as a telegraph wire, can be used as a target when performing minor adjustments. Again, assessing central movement to the polar clock graphic.

For timelapse astrophotographers, however, this is not a design consideration that has but built into the Nomad. MoveShootMove states, this model provides “a solution, as the easiest to use, most portable and inexpensive star tracker”. Targeting both vid and professional astrophotographers. Weighing up the odds of being the easiest to use and most travel-friendly model.

MSM Nomad: Verdict

Overall, I would advocate the MoveShootMove Nomad as the leading example of a portable star tracker option. Not only has the unit been designed with astrophotographers in mind, in terms of versatility, quality, and use, with modern quirks to its design and operation for polar alignment, whilst simplifying the process of alignment to the north celestial pole in a short period of time.

Once familiar with the individual components, it allows for quick setup and teardown times, whilst providing generous tracking capability for the purpose of a landscape astrophotography-style tracker. I would therefore highly commend the Nomad as a firm consideration in my camera bag when out shooting under the stars.

From $229 at Move Shoot Move

Alternatives

Leica Sport Optics has introduced a new addition to its renowned Ultravid series, launching the Leica Ultravid Compact Colorline binoculars in vibrant Capri Blue and Apple Green. Designed for style-conscious adventurers, urban explorers, and nature enthusiasts, these binoculars offer the legendary optical performance Leica is known for in a sleek and portable format. With their compact design, they are ideal for travel, events, and everyday exploration.

The Ultravid Compact Colorline builds on the acclaimed performance of the Leica Ultravid series, delivering the same high-quality optics in a bold, fashionable package. The lightweight construction ensures ease of use, while the precision-engineered lenses provide bright, high-contrast images even in low-light conditions. Leica’s AquaDura coating on the outer lenses repels water and dirt, maintaining a consistently clear view.

Designed for portability, the new Ultravid Compact Colorline binoculars fit easily into pockets or small bags, making them the perfect companion for travelers who need high-performance optics without the bulk. Their robust aluminum construction ensures durability, while a smooth-focusing wheel allows for precise adjustments. The ergonomic shape also ensures a comfortable grip, even during prolonged use.

Each pair of binoculars in the Colorline range comes with a premium black leather case and a color-coordinated leather carrying strap. Specially designed eyecups accommodate eyeglass wearers, ensuring a comfortable viewing experience for all users. The lineup includes 8x20 and 10x25 models in both Capri Blue and Apple Green, with prices ranging from $1,099-$1,129 / £950-£990.

The Leica Ultravid Compact Colorline binos are now on sale at the Leica Online Store, and authorized retailers.

Check out our guides to the best binoculars, and to the best compact binoculars

Camonity's 12x32 digital binoculars are in the niche but handy category of binoculars with cameras. The device includes a 5MP still and 1080t handy category of binoculars with cameras. The device includes a 5MP still and 1080P video-capable camera. However, the binoculars and digital camera essentially operate as separate devices, and what you see through the lenses isn't quite what you'll capture.

I can think of many scenarios where you might want a binocular-camera combo, not least to save on weight and space in your bag and allow you to travel lightly when hiking or at an event. But does this product compromise on both elements?

The 12x indicates the device's magnification power, making objects appear 12 times closer than they would to the naked eye. This relatively strong zoom is suitable for observing distant objects like birds, wildlife, and individual players at sports games. The number 32 is the diameter of the lenses at the front of the binoculars in millimeters, which is, on paper at least, great for daytime viewing but insufficient for low light.

I've been a keen birdwatcher for years and always rely on my trusty Nikon Prostaff P3 8x42, which we rate in our best binoculars guide. While this entry-level pair has brilliant optics, I still have to carry around my mirrorless camera and one of the best telephoto lenses if I want to take photos of flighty and faraway subjects. Cue Camonity's relatively cheap and portable alternative.

Binoculars with cameras are also helpful for general surveillance and observation and can be more intuitive than handling binoculars and a camera separately. Given the price of the Camonity 12x32 digital binoculars—which, like many cheap Amazon purchases, are sold under several brand names—my expectations weren't staggeringly high. Still, I love affordable gadgets, and I tested the device for almost a month to see how it worked as a compact, take-anywhere magnifying option.

Camonity 12x32: Specifications

Camonity 12x32: Price

If you've ever tried shopping for niche photography gadgets on Amazon, you've probably noticed something odd: the same product listed under different brands, with prices that jump around wildly. 

The Camonity 12x32 binoculars can be found with multiple names (including Dreamy, Ansee, and Acuvar), meaning it's easier to give a price range than a specific RRP. Expect to spend around $86-$130, or £95-£135 in the UK, with the higher price options often bundling basic accessories like a storage pouch or dustblower.

The Camonity 12x32s are cheap by any measure of binoculars, where an entry-level pair can start at $120, and a mid-range pair like the Nikon Monarch M7 8x42 costs upward of $400. Add the 5-megapixel camera into the mix, and they look like an absolute bargain.

But you're partly paying for the camera at the expense of optical quality and rugged construction. If you know you won't use it and have a decent smartphone zoom range or a 'proper' camera, I can think of better value, better-built options on the market.

Camonity 12x32: Design & Handling

Cheap and cheerful is a British expression that sometimes has negative connotations. But it’s a fitting description for the Camonity 12x32 binoculars, whose design offers a perfectly satisfactory experience but not much more.

When I got the binos out of their cardboard box, I noticed how lightweight and compact they were straightaway. The low weight (450g) is partly due to their almost entirely plastic construction, rather than using a metal alloy for the exterior or glass lenses. While the top plate feels slightly brittle and plastic-y, rubberized grips on the focus wheel and the side of the lenses offer a nice feel for your fingers to slide over.

The binoculars I received didn’t come with a case, nor were there any caps to protect the front of the lenses. I wrapped them up in a scarf inside my bag, as I didn't have anything else to hand, but I’d suggest getting a basic carrying case to avoid them getting scratched or dented over time.

A strap is included, and it comes pre-mounted to rings on each side of the binocular, which means you can wear them around your neck comfortably while out and about. The strap is quite thin, but because the product is so light, this isn’t a problem. Even mid-weight binos can feel heavy after a day around your neck, and I found 450g just right for a few hours' wear on walks in nature.

This is an unusual thing to say when writing about binoculars, but next, let's look at what the buttons, ports and menus are like. Camonity gives you a paper guide in the product box, outlining what each mode – photo, video or playback – does and how to change basic settings like the white balance. The mode and shutter buttons are found on top, toward the back of the unit, and you can just about reach your finger and fire a shot while looking through the binoculars.

In front of this is the rubber wheel for shifting focus, while twisting the end of the right-hand eyepiece adjusts the focus of those. Both have enough friction that you won't rotate them accidentally, but I found they took longer than I wanted. Too many times, the bird had flown off by the time I'd brought the image into focus.

There's a small speaker between the lenses at the back, and while tinny, it’s loud and clear enough for playing back clips. There's also a microSD slot for up to a 32GB card. The card was already fitted snugly in my binoculars, but I found it stiff to get it in and out when I wanted to retrieve my images.

As mentioned, there's a 2-inch LCD that flips up and down easily to reveal four more plastic buttons underneath it. There's one for power, the menu and two back and forward buttons, which act as zoom toggles and up and down navigation through the settings. The screen is pleasingly bright, even if the refresh rate (anecdotally, as no specs are provided here) is laggy.

What bothers me most about the build is the lack of (official) waterproofing. The MicroSD slot is open to the elements, as is the micro USB slot. It’s unlikely you’d want to use this device in the pouring rain, but several times, I was caught in an unexpected shower and thrust them inside a waterproof coat for protection. As nature-watching usually occurs outside, it's worth considering what you'll use these binoculars for and whether you'll need something more rugged and drop-resistant long-term.

Camonity 12x32: Performance

The performance of the Camonity 12x32 binoculars with the digital camera is difficult to summarise, not least because the price point is low, the brand is unknown, and the product's promises are vague. But try, I shall.

Starting with the binocular element, I found the 12x magnification brilliant for viewing birds across a vast lake from a hide. It was too strong for garden dwellers just a few meters from the kitchen window, but that's because the minimum focus distance is 8m rather than an inherent fault. 

Although there's no true built-in stabilization, viewing was steady. I also found that the 32mm objective lens allowed a decent amount of light to enter the binoculars – important for image brightness and clarity – but it's best for daytime viewing and fairly hopeless at resolving subjects at twilight.

Looking through the binoculars is a mixed experience, though. I'd have liked each lens to have more of a hood, as I struggled to slot my eyes into the lens to block out light and view the scene more intimately. Once you've focused, though, the clarity of the image isn't bad, and I could pick out the textures of individual feathers from around 400 meters away. On the downside, when using the binoculars on a sunny day, I noticed strange white marks, almost like the effect of light leaks, appearing at the edges of the frame.

Since I don't wear glasses, I asked my Dad, who does, to test the Camonity 12x32 binoculars. He found it tricky to get a comfortable view because the eyecups aren't adjustable and don't retract enough, making it difficult to position his eyes correctly. It's also worth nothing that in some online reviews, users have struggled to get the binoculars close enough together for both eyes to reach the lenses.

Unlike higher-end binoculars that are nitrogen-purged to eliminate moisture and prevent fogging, the Camonity doesn't have such a construction. And that's a shame because it makes them vulnerable to condensation in damp conditions. Living in the UK and testing during winter, I experienced this firsthand during one misty morning birdwatching session at my local river. 

The lenses fogged and obscuring my view, and by the time they'd cleared, the heron I'd hoped to observe more closely had flown off. I wouldn't expect pro-level fog-proofing for the price, and you could probably reduce the effect by storing the binoculars in an airtight plastic bag.

Now, onto the camera performance. I don't think anyone would buy the Camonity 12x32 binoculars for its camera, but you'd like to think it was usable for the odd record shot of a wildlife sighting or a snapshot of a sports match. In short, I found both the method of taking photos and the results themselves, frustrating.

Because the view through the lenses and the camera is slightly off-kilter, what you see isn't quite what you capture, and you have to rely on the LCD to compose your images. Pressing the shutter requires quite a bit of force, so my first few images were jogged by doing so, and it took a bit of practice to capture a photo without wobbling the device entirely.

There's a tripod mount on the underside of these binoculars, and I'd highly recommend using it if you can watch wildlife from somewhere static like a bird hide. My handheld video was incredibly shaky, particularly when zooming in. I can forgive the lack of image stabilization given the budget price, but the constant video freezes were a real problem. Plus, the zoom buttons were very noisy while recording.

The biggest turn-off for the camera is that you can't control the focus. It's not auto, it's not manual, and it also doesn't seem to follow the pattern of what's sharp in the lens. All of my images are blurry, even when they looked sharp at the time of capture through the binoculars, and that's a problem for a product that promises to be a reliable photo recorder, even in small resolution.

Camonity 12x32: Sample video

Above: sample footage from the Camonity 12x32 binoculars' digital camera

The above footage was captured at 1080P resolution using the camera's automatic white balance. No editing was done. Note that the timestamp is incorrect and should read 2025, which is my user error during testing.

Camonity 12x32: Final verdict

What I like about the Camonity 12x32 digital binoculars is that they don't try to do anything too clever. The general operation and the menu structure are simple to understand, and you can get usable snaps from the camera without fiddling with tons of settings. In short, they lived up to my (low) expectations given their price and jack-of-all-trades use case.

The camera itself was very poor quality when compared to my iPhone, and I didn't like the lack of focus control. Although the operational range is said to be 500 meters, images taken at this distance were blurry and pixelated. Fortunately, they were sharper at the closest operational range.

The Camonity product listing suggests that these binoculars can be used at concerts, but unless that concert is in the daytime or very well-lit, you'll struggle to see a clear picture (I know because I tried).

If you're a hobbyist wildlife-watcher or know someone who is, these binoculars with a camera might make a fun gift. For the seriously budget-conscious who want the ability to view and snap their sightings, there are few alternatives for this price. But if you're serious about image quality and already have a camera with zoom capabilities, this probably isn't the right product for you.

Alternatives

When seeking a pair of binoculars as a tool to bring the faraway closer, I’m always looking to find the ideal balance between size, weight, and performance. The bigger the magnification and the brighter the objective lens, normally the bigger and heavier the bino, resulting in me taking it out less. So, something compact and portable that will get some actual use is preferable.

Yet the trouble with physically smaller binos with a decent magnification is the potential for visible judder when looking through its eyepieces, meaning subjects under observation appear to ‘dance’ before our eyes; an amplification of any hand tremor from the user.

Enter the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP binocular. Photographers will know this brand because of Kenko’s Tokina lenses, but the main talking point here is the built-in AA battery-powered image stabilization system, aiming to cancel out any effects of hand wobble and deliver a smooth and steady image. Of course, everything today has to be termed ‘smart’ – even vibration control.

Once Canon ruled the roost for this binocular market segment and charged what it wanted, but now Fujifilm with its Techno-Stabi series and Nikon with its ‘Stabilized’ 10x25 and 12x25 options offer strong alternatives.

Just as the letters ‘VC’ indicate vibration correction is on board, it will come as no surprise to find the suffix ‘WP’ on this latest Kenko pretender nods to the fact this one also boasts a degree of waterproofing. It’s been primarily designed for outdoor use and for hobbies such as birding or star-gazing. If you’re wondering, ‘Cellarto’ alludes to the Latin word ‘Celeritas’. Its maker has interpreted this as meaning ‘to select and switch quickly’.

Looking sufficiently high-tech yet 70s retro that it could be utilized in some Star Wars spin-off, given all of the above, does the high-tech Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP binocular prove to be one binocular worth looking into?

Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP: Specifications

Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP: Price

Though released July 2024 in Japan, the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP is newly available in the West at the time of writing. Listed at 100,000 Yen, the equivalent of £520 or $650 here, this is obviously a premium product that falls into line in terms of sophistication, price and performance with rivals from Canon, Nikon and Fujifilm; to name but three key players in this segment, I’d always expect to be paying more for a binocular with on-board vibration correction and, given this, what Kenko is asking seems fair, if unsurprising.

Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP: Design & Handling

Broadly the width of a paperback novel, while a quarter shorter in height, the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP will squeeze into a roomier jacket pocket, though a Velcro-fastened carry pouch with a loop at the back to thread a belt through is provided. While this is fashioned from inexpensive-looking fabric with what I presume to be faux leather detailing, we also get a lens cloth and neck strap, so the basics are covered.

To drill a bit more into the main selling point here, this binocular is ‘smart’ not just because it offers the user vibration correction at the flick of a top-mounted on/off switch, but because it claims to automatically select the optimum type of image stabilization. This device determines this dependent on whether the user is actively panning with the bino, which its maker classifies as ‘large vibration’, or viewing a stationary object, where there might just be minor hand tremble classified as ‘fine vibration’. There’s no need for us as users to actively swap between one mode or another, we just continue to re-frame and re-focus on our subjects as necessary.

Of course, if the inserted AA battery runs out of juice or we simply want to preserve power when out and about for whenever we need it most, then there is the option to use the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP just like any other standard binocular, with its image stabilization turned off. The optical performance alone impresses me, as I’ll get to in a moment.

Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP: Performance

In fact, the performance of the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP binocular is expectedly better than most budget models, even without its battery-powered gadgetry, and notably on a par with, if not slightly better than, similarly priced alternatives. It shows its premium mettle in the sharp and clear observation it provides, thanks in part to all its lenses and light-reflecting prisms being fully multi-coated. This helps enhance and maximize light transmission and deliver a bright image.

The binocular’s relatively flat design – give or take the handily raised and ridged focus control – has been enabled by the battery compartment being placed to one side, rather than in the middle, sitting almost unobtrusively next to the objective lens at the front. If there’s a minor gripe, I found retrieving and inserting the battery a little fiddly, due to it being flush up against the lens housing. There is also a subtly roughened surface to the green-colored main body of the binocular without it being coarse. This reassured me that I could maintain a firm grip, even if the device itself was being dampened by light drizzle outdoors. Also enabling a steady hold is the polycarbonate resin constructed body’s total weight of 533g. This leaves the device feeling solid, yet not unmanageable.

When we do want to activate the Kenko’s onboard vibration correction, we’re told the single AA battery should last us a very generous 28 hours of continuous use. On a practical note, that should last the casual user for months. Should we forget to flick the lever to ‘off’, and an auto power-off function kicks in after an unspecified period? There’s also a small pilot light that shows the binocular has power/ is in use, next to which is cleverly a sliding plastic shutter, for hiding said light if we’re viewing a concert performance for example, and don’t want to prove a distraction. Or any more of a distraction than fellow audience members using mobile phones might be!

Also allowing for a more comfortable and optimal viewing experience is the fact that the inter-pupillary distance between the binocular’s tactile rubber-encased eyepieces is adjustable. In my mind these have just the right amount of ‘give’, allowing for swift and easy adjustment without feeling so loose that we’ll have to keep re-positioning them when fetching the unit out of a jacket pocket or bag.

Performance with or without ‘VC’ active is sufficiently impressive as to render the yellow irises of the tufted ducks on my local reservoir with a pinhead-like sharpness. Detail was also such that I could observe the fact that their beaks, which look white at a distance, are in fact a subtle shade of egg blue when viewed through the Kenko. Similarly, what appear to be black feathers also glow a little purplish when reflecting sunlight. These are subtle details that can’t be picked up at normal viewing distance, but can, thankfully, at 10x magnification. I would have no hesitation therefore in suggesting this device as a good means of identification for any dedicated birder. As expected, activating the vibration correction feature even when standing stock still and viewing fairly stationary wildfowl does make for greater comfort and a more natural three-dimensional viewing experience. It’s as if we have ‘zoomed’ in with our own eyes rather than getting a secondhand view through prisms and lenses.

Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP: Verdict

While it’s great to have the option of on-board image stabilization/vibration correction in theory, it could be argued that given the magnification of the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP is a fairly modest 10x, the need for the feature is not as essential in practice as it would be for, say, a 16x model. There are plenty of 10x binoculars without on-board IS that are perfectly usable and cost a fraction of the price. If you’re looking to undertake observation for prolonged periods, however, then having vibration correction is less tiring on the eyes, and here’s where it comes into its own a lot more, even on a 10x30 bino.

Build quality is as high as we’d expect to find on a product that proudly proclaims it is Japanese-made, while sharpness enables an impressive level of identification of subtle details on subjects, from afar, which is what most of us will be considering a binocular for in the first place.

Alternatives

Canon, Fujifilm, and Nikon are the bigger name brands to beat when it comes to weighing up if the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP binocular is the right choice for you if binos with built-in image stabilization are a must. Recent options from Nikon, with which it re-entered the market in 2024 include its ‘Stabilized’ 10x25 and 12x25 models, identical save for differing magnifications. Powered by two AA batteries, that last 12 hours, stored beneath a latch between the eyepieces, Nikon’s offering is more compact and more portable than what we’re looking at here. That’s partly thanks to smaller objective lens, although the design is likewise more basic and less swish-looking than Kenko’s in my opinion.

Boasting a closer form factor to Kenko’s offering is Fujifilm’s Techno-Stabi (stabilized) TS 16x28 WP model, which at the same time offers a more powerful magnification that more keenly justifies its on-board ‘IS’, along with a decent level of brightness thanks to its 28mm objective lens. Powerful, compact, and waterproof with it, I’d recommend trying this Fuji option out for size alongside the Kenko before sealing the deal.

Canon’s comparable offerings are typically older, and bulkier, as well as being rather expensive, partly due to the virtual monopoly on ‘IS’ equipped binos it has enjoyed up until recently.

One of its more recent examples however is the made-in-Japan Canon 12x36 IS III, which resembles its Fuji and Kenko rivals on steroids. Again, we get a decent magnification and a large objective lens, suggesting a best-of-both-worlds performance in terms of reach, sharpness, and brightness, while pricing is likewise similar. I have to say though, I do prefer the handling and the feel of the Kenko, as opposed to Canon’s rather more basic-looking rubberized tool.

If you want to see in the dark, the best night vision goggles, binoculars, and monoculars can be a great investment. I often go camping, wildlife watching and dog walking after sundown (you can't avoid it if you live in the UK during winter). Because of my nocturnal hobbies, I've long considered getting an infrared monocular like the Rexing B1 Basic to view my surroundings and feel safer.

There aren't many reviews of the B1 Basic, meaning that for once, as a camera reviewer, I had no expectations going in. It's pitched as an affordable tool for night surveillance and can store and capture 1MP images and HD videos (limited to 960 30fps video) on a MicroSD up to 32GB (not included).

Rexing USA is a prominent brand in the dash camera market but makes a host of other camera-adjacent specialized gadgets, like trail cameras, fishing cameras and binoculars. Its naming conventions get confusing, though. There are also the 4K B1 Pro binoculars, B1 Mini binoculars and B1H night vision goggles in Rexing's lineup – and they look remarkably similar.

But while all use infrared lighting for night vision and can zoom in on faraway subjects, the B1 Basic works up to 200m (650ft), with a 10x optical zoom and f/1.2 25mm lens. It was released in 2020 and is an entry-level 'monocular' for hunting, hiking, camping, surveillance or just navigation when you find yourself in a poorly lit location.

The manufacturer is known for making lower-price point photography products for hobbyists, and the B1 Basic is one of the cheapest monoculars available. But is it cheap and cheerful? Or cheap... and a bit useless? I tested it out on my nighttime activities for several weeks to find out.

Rexing B1 Basic: Specifications

Rexing B1 Basic: Price

The Rexing B1 Basic costs around $140 in the US and £250 in the UK. Significantly cheaper than most other night vision binoculars on the market, it offers an affordable way to buy an infrared digital camera. However, that value for money decreases when you think about the image quality you get from the tiny sensor. There are also even cheaper, unbranded models on Amazon, which have backlit buttons for easy handling in the dark.

Rexing B1 Basic: Design & Handling

The B1 Basic is built for extensive outdoor use, with an IP56 rating that officially means it's protected from dust ingress and powerful water jets from all sides. In practice, this translates to excellent weather-sealing, and a tool that can be used in rain and other wet conditions – although it is not submersible.

The B1's footprint is the same as my iPhone 15 Pro (although it's much deeper), making it perfect for stashing in a backpack or pocket when exploring. It fit in my Barbour jacket over the weeks of testing and was therefore always at hand when I wanted to investigate an animal noise or find my way down a dark footpath.

Built like a mini camcorder, with an adjustable strap on the side for your right hand, it's comfortable to use and hold steady. It's a shame there's no attachment for a neck strap, though, as it's light enough for this and would give some added security against dropping it in the pitch-black. Rexing does say there's shock resistance should this happen, but it's hard to know how well it'd fare against rocky ground at standing height.

The exterior is made from matte black plastic, which doesn’t exude luxury but certainly feels solid enough for amateur use. My only real concern about the design is the flimsy rubber cover that locks in the microSD card port and micro-USB. Given its IP rating, this flap looks like a danger point for dampness and dust to creep in.

The controls are few, with six buttons in total. Up top and front is the shutter button to take a photo or start a video recording, followed by two buttons to increase or decrease the zoom. On the left is a power button, a mode button to switch from stills to video and playback, and the menu.

The buttons are raised, smooth, and solid rather than rubberized. Unfortunately, they're all the same size and have black labels, which makes them difficult to identify in the dark without a torch or phone light. They also produce a noticeable clicking sound when pressed, which might be a concern for whisper-quiet activities like wildlife tracking. However, their distinct feel does make them easy to locate by touch once you've memorized their positions.

The lens of the B1 Basic requires you to focus it manually like a pair of binoculars, and a smooth rubberized ring allows the focus to be fine-tuned from near to far in smooth increments. Checking the focus (and footage) is more of a challenge on the LCD, which is bright and clear but on the small to check whether an image is critically sharp.

Despite its name, the B1 Basic monocular is designed for use with two eyes rather than holding it up to one eye and peeking through. I don't wear glasses, but I wonder if the display's fixed focus might be an issue for eyeglass wearers, requiring them to hold it at an awkward distance.

Overall, operating the Rexing B1 Basic is delightfully simple. Powering up takes a few seconds, but there's nothing you have to set up or optimize before you can start capturing footage. Total beginners should have no trouble using it, but Rexing provides a clear instruction manual if you need more guidance.

Rexing B1 Basic: Performance

If I mark performance against what it's designed to do, I can't harshly criticize the Rexing B1 Basic. You can't adjust the image settings apart from lowering the resolution – and I'd recommend against that – or tweaking the night vision sensitivity. And that's a good thing because this camera is ready to use as soon as you've added the batteries and MicroSD card and updated the timestamp (something I forgot to do, as you will see from my sample video and stills). It's refreshing to use a camera with so little prep or faff.

That said, it takes time to get used to how much you need to adjust the distance of the IR light when you're out at night. But again, this is very straightforward thanks to the plus and minus buttons on the top of the unit. The zoom function is also enabled with these two buttons, and holding these down enlarges the image fairly smoothly. At the far end of the zoom end, the picture gets incredibly grainy and reminds me of my first mobile phone camera, but it's a useful range for bringing small birds or faraway objects into clearer view.

Focusing is completely manual on the B1 Basic. The focus mechanism, which involves rotating the rubber lens, doesn't make it quick, either. The focal range is like being zoomed in at all times, and the screen is small and square, meaning it often took me a while to get the right area of the scene in the frame. I haven't found the same when holding a pair of binoculars up to my eye, as the viewing angle is more natural.

What's great is how bright the screen is, a positive for distinguishing between subjects amongst a dark background, playing back footage and monitoring it while walking. However, at quite a low resolution, I sometimes found it hard to check whether the image was in focus. 

Without any built-in stabilization, the footage from the B1 Basic monocular is hard to keep steady – although the tripod mount on the bottom will solve this if you're filming in one place. The footage isn't unwatchable or unusable for identifying subjects, but you should expect some wobbling unless you have a very still hand.

This monocular is designed for viewing subjects in the dark up as far away as 300 meters (984ft), and it excels at that job. One evening, I asked my partner to stand at the other end of a 400-meter sports field, and he was still visible with the strongest infrared setting, even if his shape wasn't as distinct at half that distance.

The B1 Basic let me view foxes in my parent's garden, even if they had run away before I could get a focused shot. It also enabled me to see footpaths and branches clearly when I was caught on a walk in the woods after sunset one evening.

This compact gadget doesn't promise to track or focus on animals, to recognize them with AI software, or to adjust any settings for chances of a batter shot. In short, the Rexing B1 Basic fits exactly its name. It's a simple, useful, if not particularly impressive, digital night vision binocular at a low price.

Rexing B! Basic: Sample video

Above: sample video show with Rexing B1 Basic 

I used the Rexing B1 Basic at the maximum image resolution (1MP) and 960p, 30fps video capture. I tried out the full zoom range, infrared strengths and also took images in daylight with the infrared light off.

Rexing B! Basic: Final verdict

The Rexing B1 Basic is a genuinely helpful tool, worth buying if you enjoy wildlife watching at night (or go hunting) as well as outdoor adventures like camping. I think it would also be an ideal companion for astrophotographers, where walking to the right shooting location might be in pitch black and over calamitous terrain.

I found the B1 Basic best for viewing and monitoring my surroundings, rather than taking photos to keep. And that's because the quality and size of the 1MP CMOS sensor is as basic as its name suggests. The images are fine for identification purposes, but it's time-consuming to refocus and reframe.

Still, this is a good option if you need basic night vision capabilities on a budget, want a super simple setup and don't require the highest level of performance or durability. Think of it as a decent night viewer with the added benefit of a camera, and you (probably) won't be disappointed.

Alternatives

Why would anyone want a pair of stabilized binoculars? Well, if you’ve ever tried to hold a binocular with a higher magnification than, say, 8x steady without the aid of a tripod, you’ve probably encountered the effects of hand wobble; namely an eyepiece image that appears to judder or dance about, as the effects of any hand tremor on behalf of the user are themselves magnified.

If, by contrast, you’ve tried an image-stabilized binocular then you’ll have witnessed that shaky image nigh-instantly transformed into a smooth and steady one, as if we were viewing subjects at a distance of just a few feet away, rather than hundreds of meters.

In recent years, if we’ve been shopping for a pair of high-quality image-stabilized binoculars then pretty much only Canon had such an offering. With little or no competition, that meant a premium price tag to match. And because of the requirement for an onboard image stabilization mechanism and battery to power it, Canon’s IS-equipped devices have inevitably been chunkier in build than a standard non-stabilized binocular.

Now Nikon, having taken its foot off the gas in this category in recent years, is stepping back into the frame with a pair of Canon-baiting alternatives. Its new 12x25 S and 10x25 S are nigh identical save for a barely noticeable size difference and slightly differing magnifications in each case. And our first impression is that these are, impressively, a lot less bulky overall than its closest competitor’s devices. In fact, they’re pretty much the same size we’d expect of a regular non-stabilized binocular.

So, its own premium price tag aside, has Nikon cracked it? Does it now offer wobble-free, easy-on-the-eye viewing of subjects at a distance, without obvious compromise elsewhere? Read on to find out…

Nikon Stabilized 12x25 S and 10x25 S: Specifications

Nikon Stabilized 12x25 S and 10x25 S: Key Features

Leaving aside the Nikons’ stabilized ‘S’ factor for a moment, as with any binocular, the most important feature here is slap bang in the name of the units themselves, namely 10x25 or 12x25. Most casual observers are aware this denotes a 10x or 12x magnification wedded to an objective lens 25mm in diameter. The usual trade-off is that the higher the magnification and the bigger the objective lens, then typically the physically larger and heavier the binocular is.

So the impression given here is that Nikon has kept a modest 25mm lens size to maintain compact proportions overall. We’re already adding weight and bulk courtesy of the 2x AA batteries required to power the image stabilization/vibration reduction feature of each.

The battery life of both 10x25 and 12x25 models is said to be good for up to 12 hours of use, but in practice, we’re highly unlikely to be using the feature non-stop all day long. It’s more likely that if we’re traveling abroad for a week’s holiday, with casual daily usage when sightseeing, we’ll have sufficient juice to see us through.

As it’s Nikon’s intention to provide image stabilization without the bulk normally associated with binocular shoehorning in such a feature, there aren’t quite all the bells and whistles we might find elsewhere. For example, there is no screw thread provided here should anyone want to add a tripod for hands-free use. So with both Nikon binoculars, it’s all about hand-held operation.

Nikon Stabilized 12x25 S and 10x25 S: Design & Handling

As mentioned in our intro, with a relatively slim and compact construction, the roof prism type Nikon 10x25 S and 12x25 S are not that dissimilar in size to a regular non-stabilized analog binocular, and one that doesn’t need to have a pair of AA batteries on board to power it.

Along with the expected anti-reflective, multi-coated lenses, a central folding mechanism features here. This allows for the distance between the eyepieces to be manually adjusted to provide the best fit with our own, as well as the unit to be made as small and compact as possible for transportation when not in use. Both 10x25 and 12x25 options will fit in the pocket of a jacket or coat, though they are a little weighty, if not prohibitively so, because of the integral anti-shake mechanism, batteries, and solid-feel construction overall.

Slip-on plastic cups protect the eyepieces when not in use, while a neck strap is also provided out of the box. Turn and slide rubber eyecups likewise feature, which can be adjusted for our personal viewing comfort. The knurled focus ring is also located directly between the eyepieces, where it can be adjusted between the forefinger and thumb when the device is held up to our face.

Overall, the level of construction is of the high standard we’d expect from Nikon. Both binocular variants feel rock solid when held in the palm and are of obviously good quality. If we’re picking holes however a potential Achilles’ heel is the plastic cover and latch for the battery compartment at the base of each unit, which in being plastic-y isn’t of the same quality as the rest. As the plastic here needs to be flexed to insert or retrieve batteries we can imagine this becoming weakened over time.

Nikon Stabilized 12x25 S and 10x25 S: Performance

Nikon claims the that advantage of having built-in stabilization here, and ultimately us paying a premium for the feature, is that it can counteract the effects of any hand tremor by up to a sizeable 80%.

Of course, given the binoculars already have a decent weight and solidity to them despite the diminutive proportions, it’s perfectly possible to achieve a comfortable viewing experience without the built-in stabilization being activated, especially if resting the extended eyepieces against our eye sockets or the rim of a pair of spectacles.

However, if we hit the power button situated atop the device, located at the midpoint between the lenses, then stabilization kicks in so rapidly the contrast is both marked and surprising. What was subject to a little visible tremor before, even if not distractingly so, now immediately becomes smoothed out. Subjects appear to glide as if on ice as you pan with them, rather than looking ever so slightly jittery.

Operational peace of mind is provided by an automatic power-off function that kicks in after 60 minutes if we do accidentally leave the stabilized function on while we’re not using the binoculars. However, a green light on the top does illuminate to indicate the stabilization is active.

So yes, it does work and works well. Now the question that needs to be asked is will we be using the binoculars often enough, as well as for long, extended periods of time, to be able to justify the spend here?

In use, the field of view provided is relatively modest. Essentially if you want a slightly wider view to help keep your subject in the frame go for the 10x25, or if you prefer a marginally closer view, instead sacrifice that aspect and go for the 12x25.

We found it best to first pinpoint our subjects with our own eyes before raising the binocular to get a more detailed, closer view. Sharpness is impressive and even on a dull, overcast day, we were able to achieve plenty of clarity and detail, with any occasional instances of purple fringing kept well under control.

To the untrained eye, there’s not that much of a discernable difference in terms of field or view, or sharpness when switching from one of these Nikon binoculars to the other. And certainly the higher magnification 12x bino doesn’t seem any shakier given its additional reach, whether used without stabilization or with it deployed. You might therefore use price to determine which one of the Nikons you choose, but here too the difference is so negligible that doesn’t really help in selecting one over the other.

Nikon Stabilized 12x25 S and 10x25 S: Verdict

A steady, clear field of view when we look through our binoculars so we can fully focus on the intended subject – whether music gigs, wildlife, or sporting events – is all any of us wants. Here Nikon provides this to such a degree of competency that, when panning with the device and stabilization is activated, subjects appear to glide, as smoothly rendered as if they were performing on ice.

The construction of both these binoculars also impresses us for the most part, suggesting the possibility of an initial sizeable investment will potentially be rewarded with years of continued use. The relatively compact size and weight here make them pocket-friendly too. We’re more likely to take the Nikon Stabilized 12x25 S and 10x25 S binoculars out with us on a ramble, field trip, or sightseeing expedition than bulkier alternatives from chief rival Canon. But ultimately increased competition in the stabilized binocular market is what Nikon is now offering, which is good news for all of us.

Alternatives

As we mentioned in our introduction, Canon has long ruled the roost when it comes to image-stabilized binoculars for the enthusiast and professional – largely unchallenged by its closest historical rival until now.

One of the nearest pretenders to the Nikon Stabilized 12x25 S and 10x25 S binoculars is the Canon 12x36 IS III. While the magnification is similar the Canon benefits from a larger objective lens to go with it. The bigger the lens, the more light gets in and so, as day follows night, the clearer the image in the eyepiece should be. Like both Nikons this Canon model is also powered by two AAs. But it’s weightier at 660g without batteries, as well as being chunkier, albeit not prohibitively so. Dimensions are still manageable 5x6.9x2.8-inches or 127x70x174mm for this rubber-armored Canon.

If the plan is to be out in all weathers, or if you’re a serious birder and ‘power user’, then it could also be worth taking a look at Canon’s high-end 10x42L IS WP flagship binocular. This likewise offers body integral anti-shake but has that bonus ‘WP’ at the end of the model name to indicate protection in the wet and the wild. At the other end of the scale for everyday use it’s also worth checking out current pricing on the bulbous 8x20 IS and 10x20 IS models from Canon. As is the case with Nikon’s latest, the benefit of body integral anti-shake is however less pronounced/effective on these lower magnification models.

Leaving Canon aside, a more recent option for image-stabilized binoculars comes with Fujifilm’s Fujinon Techno-Stabi TS16x28WP. We described this water-proof option as good-looking, well-built, and conveniently portable in our review. That said, we also had minor gripes about a narrow-ish field of view – because of the higher magnification – hindering us if we were trying to track wildlife, and we didn’t feel they were quite as bright as some we’d tested.