Binoculars! Everyone needs a pair. A good pair of binoculars can be very useful for a wide variety of reasons. A not so good pair can hurt your eyes to use them. The best binocular brands of all time have made some outstanding optics.
Binoculars can be used for many jobs. Getting you closer to the sporting event you’re at or bringing wildlife in for a great view at a safe distance. Any outdoor adventure can benefit from binoculars, hunting, water sports, skiing, hiking. Backyard astronomy is well served by high quality binoculars. Even drone pilots find them useful for tracking their devices.
Several top brands have produced binoculars ranging from super powerful to opera glasses. From water resistant to ultra wide aperture to zooming optics. They have come in all sizes and price ranges. Here’s a look at some of the best brands:
Top 15 Best Binocular Brands of All Time!
1. Zeiss
Optics of all kinds is what Zeiss is best known for. From movie cameras to medium format film cameras to lenses for digital cameras, Zeiss lenses are among the best available. One of the most popular for nature lovers is the 10X54 Victory HT that offers superb brightness and clarity.
Carl Zeiss AG was established in 1846 in Jena, Germany. Current manufacturing is from several factories, including licensed ones, with most of their premium optics made in Germany. Zeiss binoculars can be purchased online or locally at camera stores, sporting goods stores, and specialty retailers.
Popular with people wanting the ultimate quality and willing to pay premium prices for it. Zeiss binoculars are valued by nature lovers, sports enthusiasts, astronomers, and photographers.
2. Leica
Leica Trinovid, Noctivid, and Ultravid binoculars, formerly branded as Leitz, are a premium brand. Leica makes lenses for several types of cameras, scientific instruments, and they have a pretty decent line of cameras. The 8X42 Trinovid binoculars are some of the best all around optics available.
Leica was formed in 1914 as part of the older Leitz company in Germany. Leica makes cameras and optics that fit a wide range of needs. One thing always stands paramount: quality. Available online direct, through online camera retailers, and in camera shops worldwide.
Leica binoculars are very high quality tools for discerning users. Loved by photographers, wildlife enthusiasts, and anyone else desiring the best optical performance.
3. Swarovski Optic
Swarovski makes fine crystal and other glass. The optical making part of the company continues the excellence for which they are renown. EL Range 8×42 W B is one of their better units.
Their optical manufacturing began in 1935, the separate company Swarovski Optic was formed in 1949. Sold through camera stores, direct, and through their regular distributors of other Swarovski brand items.
It’s a prestige brand name and the optical part of the company lives up to the reputation. Sailors, sportsman, and hunters are among those who enjoy these pricey optics.
4. Steiner
Steiner Optik makes rifle scopes and other optical equipment for the German Army and the US Army. Much of their product is for sale to the general public, including the 7X50 Commander marine binoculars.
Founded in 1947, Steiner Optik has been making rifle scopes, rangefinders, and binoculars for military contracts and for public consumption. You can find them in boating shops, hunting goods stores, and online through various retails.
Rugged, dependable, and having innovative features like compass readout, Steiner binoculars are used by professional sailors, tour guides, hunters, and all sorts outdoorsmen.
5. Nikon
Superb lenses for applications ranging from high power medical scientific imaging instruments to large format cameras is Nikon’s claim to fame. They make professional level digital cameras, too. Their 10X42 Prostaff 7S binoculars are both high quality and quite affordable.
Nikon started out making lenses for other cameras, their lens making skills are top notch whether intended for professional use or for personal enjoyment. Nikon binoculars are available direct from Nikon, at camera stores, and at sporting goods stores.
Balancing superior performance with excellent support, Nikon products are used by photographers, hunters, and anyone wanting great optics.
6. Meopta
Having made cinemagraphic equipment for decades, Meopta also makes high end sporting optics such as rifle scopes and binoculars. The MeoStar B1 15×56 HD is a very high powered binocular for hunters and sportsmen.
Originally founded in what is now the Czech Republic in 1933, the manufacturer was not well known outside of the old Soviet bloc. Meopta is very high quality and is now on everyone’s list of desirable optics. Sold online and through camera and specialty stores everywhere.
Cinematographers have been praising Meopta cameras, lenses, and projectors for decades. Now, anyone desiring excellent binoculars for hunting, exploring, and sports have another great option.
7. Vortex
Providing law enforcement with high quality optics, Vortex also has more budget friendly binoculars to complement their high end scopes and binoculars. A good example is the compact 8X32 Diamondback HD.
The original company dates back to 1989 making law enforcement rifle scopes and other sights. They have been Vortex since 2004. Located in Wisconsin, Illinois with local stores, you can also purchase them online from camera stores and sporting goods suppliers.
In the short time they have been making optics, Vortex has forged a reputation for sharp optics and rugged designs. Popular with hunters and other outdoorsy people, and anyone who needs clear magnified views.
8. Bushnell
With binoculars ranging from pocket sized to waterproof and high powered, the Perma Focus 7X35 Spectator Binoculars are easy to use and very budget friendly. A large number of Bushnell binoculars are budget friendly.
Founded in 1948 in Japan, the Bushnell Corporation is headquartered in Kansas. Bushnell is sold virtually everywhere. Discount stores and sporting goods stores are just some of the places to buy Bushnell.
With binoculars for every budget, some of their units are going to be better than others. But even the lowest priced optics are great performers. Bushnell binoculars are intended for anyone desiring a closer view of scenes.
9. Fujinon
Fujinon is the optical part of Fujifilm, making lenses for several formats of photography and videography as well as other optics. Fuji’s 25X150 MT-SX binoculars are one of the best large binoculars on the market. A whole range of different binocular types are made by Fujifilm.
Fujifilm originally started as Fuji Photo Film Company in Japan in 1934, Fujinon began lens making operations in 1940. Besides their very large aperture binoculars, Fujinon also makes sports optics for almost every need. You can find Fujinon sold in stores that specialize in astronomy, marine products, and camera stores.
Fujifilm is one of the major powerhouses in photographic equipment of all types, their lenses are among the best made today. In addition to astronomy, users of Fujinon scopes include commercial marine industries, law enforcement, and photographers.
10. Canon
One of the best binocular brands is Canon, a huge manufacturer of photographic instruments and optics of all kinds. The 10X42L IS WP is an image stabilized waterproof high performance binocular. Image stabilization is a relatively new technology used in many digital cameras.
Dating back to 1937 in Japan, Canon is often mentioned as one of the Top brands in professional photography. Canon binoculars can be purchased online direct from Canon, from camera retailers, and from the big box stores.
With products ranging from the highest quality professional equipment to consumer friendly lower priced items, Canon is firmly entrenched as one of the premier imaging companies. Users of their image stabilized binoculars will be people needing high performance and ease of use.
11. Pentax
It would seem that most people know Pentax makes cameras and lenses. They also make several different series of binoculars. The 8X43 ZD WP binoculars are great waterproof sporting optics.
From 1919 in Japan, the parent company of Pentax has been making photographic lenses, cameras, and lenses for eyeglasses. Pentax is now owned by Richoh Imaging. Pentax binoculars can be found for sale at online and local sporting goods stores, big box retailers, and camera stores.
Pentax has long been a favorite of professional and amateur photographers due to their innovation and high quality. Many Pentax binoculars are reasonably priced for their features and quality. They are used by outdoor enthusiasts and photographers as well as sports fans..
12. Celestron
Celestron makes telescopes for casual and serious astronomers along with all the accessories necessary for backyard astronomy. Also a manufacturer of binoculars and sport optics, their Skymaster 18-40X80 Zoom binoculars are popular with astronomers and bird watchers.
Founded in Torrance, California in 1964, Celestron has made optics for amateur astronomers that are high performance and affordable. Sold direct and by other retailers who sell sports optics and astronomy gear.
Some of the best and most innovative telesopes have come from Celestron. They use this expertise to make all sorts of fine sporting optics. Used primarily by astronomy lovers, Celestron binoculars are also good for nature lovers of all types.
13. Swift
Another of the best binocular brands, Swift makes a whole lot of sporting optics for various different needs. Swift Audubon 828 8.5X42 are a favorite of many birders.
Located in Colorado, Swift has been in business since the 1920s. Sold directly online, Swift optics are also available through sporting goods and outdoor equipment stores..
Swift optics are superior scopes and binoculars, well made, rugged, and sharp. Enjoyed by bird watchers, students and educators, and outdoor lovers.
14. Orion
One of the most popular makers and sellers of serious and hobbyist astronomy gear, Orion makes all sorts of sports optics, too. Orion’s ShoreView Pro 10×42 Waterproof Roof Prism Binoculars are very usable for endeavors besides astronomy.
Orion sells direct through their online retail store. They have been in business since 1975 in California, starting out as a mail order shop.
The company enjoys a fine reputation for making and selling some of the best astronomy gear available for serious and casual users alike. In addition to astronomers, nature lovers and sportsmen will make good use of their binoculars.
15. Tasco
Tasco makes affordable telescopes, spotting scopes, rifle scopes, and binoculars. Among their easier to use binoculars are the Focus Free 8×25 compact binoculars.
Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Tasco has been in business since 1954. Sold at discount retailers, camera stores, and sporting goods stores, as well as online through various portals. For more information on brands and products, check out our homepage.
Tasco equipment is enjoyable to use and very affordable to buy. Enjoyed by anyone wanting affordable binoculars for a wide variety of applications.
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