Celestron Nature DX ED 8x42 Premium Waterproof Birding Binoculars

Why it's worth it

The Nature DX ED puts extra-low dispersion glass and phase-coated BaK-4 prisms in an entry-level binocular. It's the pair reviewers and birding groups keep recommending to beginners who don't want to spend big on a hobby they just started.

ED glass at this level is genuinely unusual. Extra-low dispersion glass is the thing that stops color fringing at high-contrast edges, and it normally shows up in binoculars costing considerably more. Celestron put it in an entry-level pair. Combined with phase-coated BaK-4 prisms and 42mm objectives, the result is a sharper, more color-accurate view than beginners expect at this level.

This is the right call when you're testing the waters. Maybe your recipient mentioned the birds at their feeder twice and you're not sure it'll stick. Maybe it's a gift for a teenager, or a grandparent, or a housewarming. Spending less here doesn't mean handing over something disappointing — owners routinely describe being surprised by how clear these are compared to whatever they'd used before.

From our review of 7 gifts for birdwatchers

What we like

• +ED glass at this level is genuinely unusual
• +This is the right call when you're testing the waters
• +They're built for weather too

What to know

• –The eyecups are the weak spot
• –They're not as tightly built as the Vortex or the Zeiss, and Celestron's warranty support gets mixed reviews