We would love to be able to give kids a pair of binoculars and point them at the night sky. Not every pair of binoculars is suitable for them to use and could make for a frustrating experience if they are not quite right. It's not practical to use binoculars for an enjoyable evening of astronomy with small children because most are too large for their hands and faces.
Many top manufacturers have models for kids that are competing for business. What are the best binoculars for kids?
The first thing to consider is size and weight. You can always mount a larger pair on a tripod for them to peer through, but having one light and comfortable enough that they can hold and sweep across the sky is important for their independent learning.
You can find out more about rubber grips in our best compact binoculars guide. We have a guide to the best binoculars for stargazing and a list of the best night vision binoculars.
There are quick tips on choosing binoculars for kids.
1. Make sure the binoculars are small and light for a child to hold steady.
2. The best way to watch the sky is with a magnification of 7x or 10x.
3. It's best to use porro and BAK4 glass.
4. It is convenient and portable to have foldable designs.
The more magnifications you pile onto your binoculars, the harder they are to hold steady, as any movement is also magnified. As an introduction to astronomy, lower magnification of 7x or 8x binoculars is better. We have tricks for holding binoculars.
It is worth checking how much physical adjustment is possible. The distance between the eyes is one of the reasons why binoculars have a degree of flex.
Aim for at least 30mm diameter for larger objective lenses. The best binoculars have multi-coated optics. You won't be getting the best image possible with cheaper instruments, but you can still get a good view of the heavens.
If you want to look further into what is available or if you want to consider telescopes for an even more powerful look at the night sky, then be sure to check out our binoculars deals or best telescopes guides. Continue reading if you want to check out the best binoculars for kids.
Children can see better in the dark than adults. Surplus carrots in their diet are not the reason. Their light-gathering power is increased by the widening of their pupils. It is possible to give a child smaller binoculars that are easier to carry and hold, but still allow less light in than yours, and they will still see a beautiful night sky. You could also use binoculars like the Cometron which are lightweight and let in a lot of light.
The Cometron is an ideal size for astronomy. They use step-down BK7 glass, not the preferred BAK-4, but they do include a stargazing-centered Porro prism. They have a large exit pupil that guarantees maximum light during the night and at dawn/dusk. They are also easy to adjust to suit smaller faces.
There is a downside. The aluminum-cased Cometrons are not waterproof and lack a premium feel. The good value of the Celestron Cometron is that it doesn't matter if they get damaged or left out in the rain.
It's tough, durable, waterproof and glasses friendly.
The best binoculars for kids to use are those with an 8x magnification and a 42mm objective lens. The 10x50 specification is recommended for adults. It still has enough magnification and light-gathering power to save on size and weight. The Opticron Adventurer T WP 8x42 is an excellent example.
The Porro design is made with BAK4 glass and comes coated in protective rubber-like armor, which is a good thing. There is a soft case and rubber objective lens covers in the box. They have long eye relief eyepieces that can be used by people who wear glasses.
Night sky viewing is easy with this help. The Opticron Adventurer T WP 8x42 binoculars are an ideal entry-level option for kids with a serious interest in astronomy, but they are just as good during the day for wildlife and landscapes. They are also available in 12x50, 10x42, 10x50, and 6.5x32 specifications.
Some people can't justify buying binoculars for their kids. You might want to look for a pair that the whole family can enjoy. If that is the case, look no further than this offering from a brand you've probably heard of. The mid-range binoculars are well suited to use by kids and anyone else who finds holding heavy glass to their face tiring.
The Prostaff 3S binoculars are covered in non-slip rubber for easy grip and shock resistance, so they are both fog-free and even waterproof. They are lightweight and easy to hold for long periods of gazing at the stars.
Thanks to their multi-coated lens and high-reflectivity silver-alloy mirror-coated prisms, the images they provide are sharp, clear and bright. A clear field of view is achieved by a long eye relief design.
The 8x magnification with a 42mm objective lens is perfect for a pair of kids binoculars, and this pair from Nikon is perfect for light-gathering and stargazing. If you want a little more magnification, the Prostaff 3S binoculars are available in 10x42.
If you want to get close-ups of deep-sky objects such as the Andromeda Telescope without using a small binoculars, the 12x60 binoculars from the Celestron SkyMaster are a perfect match. It's perfect for mounting on a tripod and holding the binoculars still.
A portable 3D telescope is what you get. It is perfect for spotting craters on the moon and resolving individual stars in clusters. If you are going to be using them for long periods, we recommend finding something sturdy to rest them on.
The objective lens of 60mm let in a lot of light thanks to the multi-coated glass and the Porro Prism design. The barrels of the SkyMaster are easy to hold and help protect them. A carry case and lens caps are included.
Rugged, compact, and portable, these garish yellow or green binoculars scream "my first binoculars."
With a tough polycarbonate housing and designed for young children, these roof binoculars have a small case and wrist strap. A way to not lose them. That is important because they are small. They are only useful for looking for the Moon as they lack the light-gathering abilities of superior astronomy-specific binoculars.
Since kids tend to find holding harder than adults, a small amount of magnification can help. The magnification of the image affects the magnification of the wobble. It is easier to find the Moon in the sky with reduced wobble. Don't mistake them for a novelty, though, as inside you'll find anti-reflective coating and good optics. They aren't ideal for kids who wear glasses because they lack eye relief.
If you can put up with their flaws, these are a great option as an introductory pair of binoculars, ideal to get children interested in astronomy without breaking the bank.
Do you want it to be small and light for your child? Consider investing in smaller, all-around binoculars.
The waterproof outer covering makes it easy to hold, and the 32mm objective lens keep the weight down. This isn't the sort of thing we regularly test, but it can probably survive a few knocks. They have a phase coating on the BAK4 prisms to maximize contrast and sharpness, and they also have multi-coated optics that maximize light transmission for brighter images in the dark. If you want a tripod mount, you also get a built-in one.
The Celestron Nature DX 8x32 are portable and versatile, but best suited to older kids as they have excellent optics and durable construction. They come in an 8x42 design.
There are few more impressive or unusual binoculars than these for children and adults who want to see the night sky in 3D.
The star clusters of the Pleiades, Hyades, and the Perseus Double Cluster can be seen with the help of the Vixen SG 2.1x42 binoculars. There is a ring of blur around the edges of the field of view due to the nature of the optics.
The Vixen SG 2.1x42 are easy to use and have excellent build quality. The user gets a steady image because of the wide field of view, even though it can be difficult to focus on one lens at a time. It's suitable for kids because of its lightweight construction. The small detail on these pocket-sized, unique binoculars that skywatchers will love, is that the lens caps are easy to lose.
Humans are prone to constantly moving. It's hard for anyone using binoculars to keep their subject still in their field of view without using some sort of external support mechanism.
The Canon 10x42L IS WP is a pair of binoculars that change the stargazing game. The built-in image stabilization tech seen in Canon's wallet-melting camera lens can be used to help the user keep objects completely still. Capable of instantly impressing a child or anyone else.
Inside, gyro sensors detect the amount of wobble created by the holder and use the barrels to move floating lens elements to compensate for that movement. It is a battery-powered system that works by pressing a button on the top of the binoculars. Two batteries give about two hours of stabilization.
The stars, the Moon, and even Jupiter are all amazing to look at because of the stillness these binoculars can provide. You're paying for more than image stabilization. The ultra-low dispersion glass lens elements are inside. The lens caps are a poor fit and easy to misplace, something which should not be seen at this price point.
Children should not use this purchase without supervision and a neck strap. They are the most impressive binoculars for skywatching. Who doesn't need a telescope?
The 10x magnification and 25mm objective lens of the Olympus 10x25 WP II make it appear less than ideal for stargazing. They don't have enough light-gathering power to produce bright images. When buying a pair of binoculars for a child, you have to think about size and weight. If you wanted the ultimate binoculars for night-time skywatching, you wouldn't choose a pair like this, but in practice, for children, the size of a pair of skywatching binoculars is as important as the glass inside them.
High-quality optical glass helps create a bright image inside theseprism binoculars. They are well adapted to smaller faces. The dualhinge design makes it easy to adjust to fit the user's face, with a focus knob in easy reach for sharpening. These are a stand-out optical instrument because of the dioptric adjustment for matching the lens to the user's specific eyesight. The nitrogen-filled bodies of the 10x25 WP II binoculars help with fog-proofing and dirt-proofing. They are covered with a rubber coating that makes it easy to grip.
The 260g weight is 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465
There are some things to consider before purchasing a binoculars for children. Above all, be careful with binoculars that look like toys. They are cheaper and are more visually appealing to children, but their performance will not be like the standards of proper binoculars and will affect enjoyment and learning.
Binoculars can tire grownup users with repeated use, so it's important to factor in weight when letting children handle them. We recommend pairs that weigh less than 10oz (283g) for very young children because they can't keep an image steady with even mid-weight binoculars. Teenagers can handle standard-sized binoculars well, but can still benefit from more lightweight binoculars with a lower magnification.
The stability of your view can be affected by the weight of your binoculars. Smaller hands can be hard to keep the view steady with a magnification above 8x. Since a shaky image can prove frustrating and eventually bore younger users, having a low-powered binocular can greatly improve their enjoyment.
Lower-magnification binoculars give a wider field of view than high-powered/higher magnification binoculars, which has several benefits for all users, especially children. High-powered binoculars zoom in closer to the object you are looking at, but low-powered binoculars with a wider field of view make finding objects much easier to begin with. They help locate birds and can improve a beginner's coordination and accuracy.
The amount of light that reaches the rear lens of the binoculars is affected by the size of the front lens. It is the second number after magnification. A magnification of x7 and a diameter of 30mm are offered by a pair of binoculars that is rated at 7x30
We recommend using a pair of binoculars with 40mm or above to let in more light at night and in low-light.
It's wise to purchase the most durable pair of binoculars you can because anything can happen when you're out in the field. This doesn't have to be expensive, as many of those included above come with some form of protective rubber coating, and some are even waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof. If you can prevent accidents and damage, you will be less worried and your child will enjoy the view of nature and the sky above.
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