Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 ED Binoculars – Compact Birdwatching Binoculars

10 reviews for Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 ED Binoculars – Compact Birdwatching Binoculars

1. 

   Jeff – 1 January 2025

   CLEAR AND BRIGHT
   My husband and I are avid birders. He has birded and done bird photography since he was in middle school. He bought me a pair of Celestron Nature DX binos a few years back and I have loved them. They were so much brighter and lighter than my old pair. It was time to give him an upgrade. I was prepared to spend $600, because he is worth it and much more. I dove into research for months. I Googled “Best binoculars for birding” and found a lot of information on types of binos. I chose 8×42 over 10×42 because of image shake on the 10×42. Then, found “The Cornell Lab Review: Affordable Full Size Binoculars 8×42” and “The Audubon Guide to Binoculars.” In both, many types of binos were compared. The Celestron Trail Seeker ED binos were rated very high. They were rated consistently higher than major brand higher priced pairs. They even were almost neck and neck with binos twice their price. They surprised reviewers. It did not make sense to spend twice as much for a marginal improvement in optics. I found a deal at Christmas that had the binos and a back strap harness for an incredible price.Notables by my husband: They have a close range of 6 feet, which we tested two days ago watching a shrubline of sparrows. He was delighted to report that it was FAST and butter smooth to focus. He loves how sharp, clear, and bright they are. He was able to see birds inside bushes that he knows he would not have been able to do with his old binos. His old binos were top of the line Alpen binos 10 years ago. He loves the slightly cushioned grip and the copper ring detail around the optics.They are clearer than my Celestron Nature DX’s but mine are a little lighter, which I prefer.We had grown a little sedentary before getting these binos. Now, he wants to bird every day again. What fun!

2. 

   DAVID J CELICHOWSKI – 1 January 2025

   Best mid-price binocular!
   I started taking birding more seriously about a year ago and found myself becoming increasingly passionate about it. As I traveled more for birding, I decided it was time to upgrade my binoculars and invest in a quality pair.I conducted extensive research online and discovered that several factors are important in choosing the right binoculars. Weight and close focus are crucial considerations along with field of view, while the choice between 8x and 10x magnification depends on personal preference. After careful consideration, I concluded that 8x magnification would be the most suitable for my needs.One thing is clear, there are numerous brands available, including many that are unfamiliar to me. Should I trust these lesser-known brands, or is it better to stick with reputable brands that I recognize? I decided to rely on others’ research to guide my decision.I turned to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which has conducted extensive research on various binoculars. Their site allows users to search for binoculars ranging from budget to mid-priced, typically costing between $250 and $650 per pair. Since I was looking to upgrade, I focused my research on mid-priced options.Through their research, they covered the factors I mentioned earlier, revealing a wide range of options. Some binoculars came close, but one stood out as a clear winner. In the end, I decided to go with the Trailseeker ED 8×42, and for good reason.The Trailseeker ED 8×42 weighs just under 30 ounces. This weight is ideal because it provides a solid feel without being too heavy for extended use while hiking. Additionally, the clarity of these binoculars is impressive. The ED glass, a high-quality optical glass used in lenses, is designed to reduce chromatic aberrations and other defects that occur when different colors of light do not converge on the same focal plane. It’s evident that Celestron ensured the highest quality in the construction of these Trailseeker EDs.Furthermore, the excellent close focus of 7 feet and a wide field of view of 425 feet allow me to scan the area effectively, even if the bird flies away. There’s always something beautiful about that experience.In conclusion, I have been using these binoculars every day since receiving them, and I couldn’t be happier. Considering the price versus the quality, it’s clear why they receive such high praise. If you’re in the market for binoculars, do yourself a favor and get the Trailseeker ED 8×42. I can assure you that you won’t regret it!

3. 

   Roger C Carson – 1 January 2025

   Great binoculars, very good value!
   I have 8×42’s. I get crisp and bright images with quick focus changes. These are great at zoo or at the park to observe birds or boats. While not xtra heavy, I find they are a bit heavy to do overnight hikes with as I try to stay around 20 lbs or so. For day hikes they’re great and the harness works well even with a pack on. The neck strap is padded but after hours of carry you’ll feel it in your neck.I use these also to scan a park for subseqent nature photos. The field of view is excellent and these perform at a level of more expensive binoculars.

4. 

   Arete – 1 January 2025

   Crystal clear
   Excellent binoculars for bird watching, excellent value. Good field of view, great range and crystal clear. Waterproof and they haven’t fogged up even in the rain. Easy to use, easy enough to hold steady. Slightly smaller and lighter than my Athlon 8x42s and perfect when greater magnification is needed, as in nesting season. I love them. You can trust that they are first rate and you can take them in the field, knowing they were made to be used and not so expensive that you’re stressing about damaging them and distracted by babying them. They’re a great tool for birdwatching.

5. 

   ctkag – 1 January 2025

   Great binoculars but maybe not for hikers
   Bought for a trip to Chilean Patagonia on the recommendation of a birder friend. The binoculars have exceptional imaging whether the object is 20 feet or 2,000 feet away. Comes with a carry case, neck strap, carry strap for case and a chest rig that I found not useful.What I found though, was that these binoculars are a bit too bulky and heavy for hiking, especially on rocky trails where I was concerned about knocking them about. So, back into the case they went, taking them out every time I wanted to use them. The alternative of putting them back into the pack makes it even tougher. As a result, they spent 90% of the time in the case in the pack, only being used at viewpoints where they shine. They are a little heavy and would benefit from a tripod or monopod for long viewing times.Decided to return them for something else, maybe one of the newer ultra-zoom cameras. I have smaller binoculars that have worked fine, just wanted to try something a little higher quality. The trade-off for me was too much.

6. 

   Kindle Customer – 1 January 2025

   My last set of binos were a rush purchase at a whale watching store in Maui and although they did the job (7×35 @ 80$) using these showed me just how much they lacked in clarity and brightness. I won’t pretend to be the most knowledgeable about Bino’s but there are a lot of similarly priced, rated, and optically critiqued bins in this price range. I don’t know that I bought the best of them but I am very happy with these. If you don’t have the time or opportunity to try them all, and you’ve researched for hours and hours as I did and are still confused, as I was, get these. They’re good

7. 

   faris oyouni – 1 January 2025

   العدسات والرؤيه جدا ممتازه صفاوه ونقاوه عاليه وجودة خامات المنظار ممتازه ما عدا عيب وحيد في جودة البكره حقت تصفية الرؤيه اللي في النص صارت محلوله وتلعب في مكانها وصار استخدامها صعب في التصفيه أنا اخذته بعرض بسعر ٥٠٠ ريال على هذا السعر أنا راضي تماما

8. 

   FT – 1 January 2025

   sehr helles und klares Bild- super Preis-Leistungsverhältnis

9. 

   Tony Watkins – 1 January 2025

   I spent a long time researching before getting a new pair of binoculars, and found bestbinocularsreviews extremely helpful. I narrowed down my choice down to two, which I couldn’t decide between. I finally went with these Celestron TrailSeeker ED 8 x 42 Roof Prism because they were at a good price on Prime Day, and I’m so, so delighted. To be fair, any new binoculars were going to seem good compared to my 50(?) year-old 10×50 porro prism bins, but these have really exceeded my expectations. The image is the critical thing, and these are really bright (the electrolytic coated prisms make a huge difference), sharp right across the field of view, with no colour fringing that I can see at all. They focus really nicely, have a slightly wider field of view than most bins, and they eye cups are brilliant for using the bins with glasses or for my wife without glasses. They’re light and feel well made, so I feel I can take them every time I go on a walk, which I haven’t done for years. The eye cups can stay attached, which is nice. The only thing that feels very slightly disappointing is the case feels a bit lightweight, but I think it’s good enough. I like the shoulder harness, too, though I haven’t tried it out yet as the strap is good.

10. 

    Amazon Customer – 1 January 2025

    Was a gift for my bird watching wife. We have multiple binoculars in the house but this set is the best by far. Not cheap but very good quality.