We have fully tested and ranked the best binoculars for stargazing and spotting galaxies — plus they might be even cheaper this Amazon Prime Day in October.
Whether you're stargazing or nature watching, you shouldn't underestimate the power and portability of a good pair of binoculars. To help you choose the right pair, we have rounded up the best binoculars.
We are expecting big savings on the best binoculars for stargazing during Amazon's Prime Day in October event, which is running from Oct. 7-8. In previous years, we have seen deals start even earlier on specialist optics such as binoculars, so make sure to check our Prime Day hub if you are in the market for some new skywatching gear.
Best binoculars we recommend in 2025
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Best overall
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Review photos of the Canon 10x42L IS WP being held up to the sky
The Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars have 42mm objective lenses that are ideal for astronomy.(Image credit: Jamie Carter)
Review photo of the Canon 10x42L IS WP
A button on the right-hand barrel of the Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars initiates the image stabilisation feature.(Image credit: Future/Jamie Carter)
Review photo of the Canon 10x42L IS WP
The Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars offer an impressive 16mm of eye relief that makes them easy to use if you wear glasses.(Image credit: Future/Jamie Carter)
Review photo of the Canon 10x42L IS WP
There is a built in tripod thread for long viewing sessions (to save your arms from getting tired).(Image credit: Future/Jamie Carter)
Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars
Best binoculars overall: The finest stargazing binoculars money can buy with in-built stabilization
Specifications
Magnification: 10xObjective lens diameter: 42mmField of view: 6.5-degreesEye relief: 14.5mm (0.57-inch)Weight: 39.2 oz / 1.1kg
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Reasons to buy
+Optical Image Stabilizer
+Rugged build quality
+Lots of eye relief
Reasons to avoid
-Bulky size
-Lens caps are loose
-AAA batteries required
Buy it if
You want the best of the best: Other than price and size, we really couldn't find major fault with these binoculars — we gave them 5 stars in our review.
Don't buy it if:
You're a casual user: These are an expensive pair of powerful binos, so if you're a casual sky-watcher or wildlife spotting, they'll be overkill.
You want a lightweight binocular: These are undeniably heavy and bulky, so if weight is important to you, we'd suggest looking elsewhere.
The bottom line
Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars: They're not perfect, but they’re as close as you’ll get for hand-held astronomy. They're an outstanding choice for super-steady stargazing thanks to their image stabilization, waterproof design and large objective lenses. ★★★★★
For hand-held astronomy, the Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars are among the best you can get. Their standout feature is Canon's Optical Image Stabilization (IS). This clever technology uses gyroscope motion sensors to detect arm movements and a vari-angle prism to correct them by up to 0.8 degrees. With the push of a button, you can eliminate the movements caused by your hands shaking and get a steady image. This comes in particularly handy during long viewing sessions when your arms might get tired.
The Canon 10x42L IS WP use premium L-series glass with Canon's multi-layered anti-reflective lens coating (known as 'Super Spectra') to increase light transmission and reduce lens flare. This ensures a bright and clear view with accurate color reproduction. During our Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars review, we were really impressed with the incredibly sharp image which featured no chromatic aberration, which is just what you need for observing stars.
The main downside to the Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars is that they are, unfortunately, rather power hungry — but that's the same with any binos with high-tech features. Here, it's the IS system that requires so much power: We got through several AAA batteries in just one sky-watching session, so you'll need to bear that in mind if you're considering purchasing these and make sure you're well stocked-up on batteries every time you venture out. It's extra weight and bulk to carry around with you, and something else to think about when you're packing up your gear. We'd say that overall the Image Stabilization is worth it, though.
We also weren't wholly satisfied with the accessories provided with these binoculars, especially considering the price point. We struggled to get the one-piece lens caps to stay in place, and the carry case was a bit basic and flimsy, so you might want to upgrade it. But overall, these are still the best stargazing binoculars on our list thanks to the astronomy-centric glass and clever image stabilization feature.
