Black Friday is here again, as retailers open up deals all week ahead of the biggest shopping event of 2023. While it’s a great time to buy binoculars or a telescope, choosing or deciding which one to buy can be difficult. or something is actually a good suggestion.
Thankfully, we’ve been focusing on these products all week to compile the best deals on telescopes and binoculars, sorting out the good from the not-so-good. Whether you’re sky-gazing, wildlife-watching, or anything in between, we’ve checked all the major retailers to make sure you’re getting the cheapest price right now.
We pride ourselves on testing the many options available for the best telescopes for stargazing and the best binoculars for skygazing and wildlife viewing, so we’ve actually used most of the models below.
In this section, you’ll find our favorite deals on optics. For telescopes, you’ll spend up to $250 for a model to get you started, or up to $800 once you find your feet. For $1,500 and up, you can reasonably expect the moon and stars.
Binoculars can start at $100, but you’ll usually get more the more you pay—with discounts on more premium options, ideal for Black Friday. Build and weight, glass quality, and extra features are all things to keep in mind, but you can expect to pay up to $2,000 for the best star binocular options.
The best telescopes
Best binoculars deals
How to choose your binoculars
Not sure which pair of binoculars are right for you? Here are some things to consider: How do you plan to use the binoculars: bird and nature watching, or sky gazing? Some binoculars are made for being out in nature when the sun is shining, for example, or maybe the rugged, impact-resistant casing is designed for a heavy-duty adventure. Once you’ve calculated this, as well as your budget, here’s what to look for when scanning stores for the best binocular deals:
Magnification and lens size: The two numbers that describe the binoculars refer to the magnification (the first number) and the lens diameter. For example, a set of 10 x 52 binoculars is equipped with 10x magnification and 52 millimeter lenses. Both 8x and 10x zoom are considered optimal for avoiding shake and showing a stable image near and far. Lens size determines the amount of light entering. In low-light settings, you may want binoculars with lenses larger than 42mm.
Field of view: FOV refers to how wide the image is visible through the binocular lenses. The wider the FOV, the easier it will be to find what you’re looking for. However, there are trade-offs. The higher the magnification, the lower the FOV. According to Bushnell, companies measure the FOV in feet at 1,000 yards, or the field of view you’ll get if you measure it from 1,000 yards.
Size/Shape: Depending on where you plan to wear your binoculars, physical size and weight can be important. It may be big and bulky for one adventurer, while another is still interested in pocket-friendly binoculars with powerful optics.
If you’re ready for an outdoor adventure, keep checking back for more binocular deals for 2023.
How to choose your telescope
If you are buying a telescope for the first time or are looking to upgrade from a beginner model, there are a few things you should know before deciding which model to buy. If you’re ever unsure and want to know your options, be sure to visit our best telescope guide.
Aperture: The aperture of your telescope is usually measured in mm, and the higher the number, the wider the aperture. A wider aperture lets in more light, which is important for viewing the night sky. If you’re a beginner, you’re fine with about 90mm, but more advanced telescopes will have 120mm-300mm, which will allow you to pick out more distant objects more clearly. Obviously, a wider aperture comes with a higher weight and monetary cost.
Magnification: This is essentially a rating of how far you can see while maintaining a clear image. This is the focal length of your telescope multiplied by the magnification of your eyepiece. If you don’t want to crunch the numbers, as a rule of thumb, your telescope’s maximum useful magnification will increase the aperture by about 50 times, and the longer the magnification, the better the image you’ll get when looking at distant objects. This is affected by the eyepiece the telescope uses, so if you want to change the types of object you’re looking at, you’ll need to make sure you have a range of eyepieces, such as 10mm and 25mm.
Focal ratio: This is actually the width of your field of view. A higher focal ratio number (represented as an f/number) allows you to really zoom in on specific objects like planets, stars, and the moon. A lower focal ratio gives a wider field of view, so it’s better for groups like the Milky Way or the Horseshoe Nebula. Obviously, the wider your focal ratio, the more light you let into your telescope, so the object you’re looking at is brighter and clearer.
Weight and tripod: Remember, especially if you live in an urban area, you’ll need to move your telescope to dark sky spots to see the night sky clearly. It is important to consider the weight, stability and ease of collapsing of the tripod or mount.
Smartphone integration: Some of the more advanced telescopes can be controlled via your smartphone, and many have a built-in database of celestial objects that you can select from with the push of a button. If you’re really struggling to find certain objects, these smart features are worth the money.