Celestron Nature DX 8×42 - Review 2023

One of the Best Beginner Birding Binos

Ideal for beginners who want to gain experience and become serious outdoor enthusiasts, the Celestron Nature DX 8×42 is a budget-friendly pair of binoculars packed with essential features you will usually find in more expensive models. It is a nice tool for bird watching and nature viewing, but is also versatile and can be used for concerts and sporting events in large venue halls.

At 8x zoom, there’s not a huge shakiness factor and the crispness of the image is impressive given their price.

These binoculars come with a BaK-4 roof prism system, which is the best kind of glass in the more compact straight tube design. The prism surfaces have phase-correction coating, facilitating an enhanced light transmission.

Meanwhile, the lenses are fully multi-coated to transmit as much as 95% of light, preventing light loss and delivering excellent low-light performance. As a result, these binoculars offer accurate and natural color reproduction, which is pretty impressive for optics in this price range.

Where one sees the limitations or the lower quality is in what seems like overexposure of highlighted details. For this reason, the DX 8×42 are not going to be as nice around bodies of water in high sun. So not for maritime use, but great in the woods.

The Celestron Nature DX 8×42 is durable enough for a pair of binoculars housed in a polycarbonate body. This chassis is reinforced with rubber armor, resulting in a lightweight yet sturdy profile that can take a beating. Additionally, it is also fogproof and waterproof. You can use it in any terrain without worrying about moisture or water penetrating the optics and damaging it for good.

The focus wheel is user-friendly and can be adjusted easily. Yet, it still offers the right amount of resistance to prevent unwanted movements from compromising a precise focus. On the other hand, the twist-up eyecups, eye relief, and tripod adaptability make these binoculars an ideal option for long hours in the wild.

These are just some of the most interesting features of the Celestron Nature DX 8×42, which we will discuss in-depth as we go. It exceeds expectations for entry-level sports optics at this price.

Image Quality

The Celestron Nature DX 8×42 features BaK-4 roof prisms with phase-correction coating that optimizes contrast and resolution. Together with its fully multi-coated lenses that transmit up to 95% of light, this prism coating delivers an optimal light transmission that you can rely on even in low-light settings. An exit pupil of 5.25 mm also helps with reasonably dependable low-light performance.

A relatively wide field of view of 388’ at 1,000 yds. allows you to lock in your targets and follow them easily. Meanwhile, a close focus distance of 6.5’ lets you observe nearby subjects like insects clearly and without difficulties.

Compared to higher-end models, the Celestron Nature DX 8×42 produces images with less vivid colors. However, the colors remain natural and accurate, which is more than good enough for entry-level binoculars of this price.

Side by side with the Maven B1 8×42, the Nature DXs might have an image that pales a bit, but the cost difference will reflect this.

Construction Quality

For an entry-level pair of binoculars, these binoculars are pretty durable. They have a polycarbonate chassis coated with rubber armor, which means they are lightweight yet come with additional protection. A polycarbonate body construction is also what cuts most of the cost, making these binoculars affordable without a compromise in performance.

To ensure long-lasting durability by keeping the optics free from moisture, the Celestron Nature DX 8×42 is purged with nitrogen. This purging means that it is fogproof and waterproof— two capabilities that were once present in higher-end models only but are now common features in most binoculars. These characteristics play an essential role in protecting your binoculars, but more importantly, they guarantee a hassle-free glassing experience. Since it is fogproof and waterproof, you can conveniently use it even when there are sudden temperature changes or when external conditions are far from ideal.

The focus knob of these binoculars has a diameter of 2.9 cm, which is pretty small. Nonetheless, it turns smoothly with the right amount of resistance, letting you adjust it easily and achieve a precise focus. This wheel was designed to resist the slightest, unwanted movements that can disrupt your glassing experience without being too rigid. In fact, you do not need to remove your gloves while turning the focus wheel, no matter how thick they are.

Ergonomics and Comfort

The Celestron Nature DX 8×42 has twist-up eyecups with multiple stops, allowing you to achieve the perfect and most comfortable position. Add that feature to an eye relief of 17.5 mm and it is an excellent choice for eyeglass wearers.

Moreover, these binoculars have a pretty generous interpupillary distance (IPD) ranging between 5.6 cm and 7.4 cm. This range accommodates everyone regardless of how far or close their sets of eyes are, keeping every user comfortable.

Another significant addition to the Celestron Nature DX 8×42 is its tripod adaptability. In front of the central hinge is a small circular cap you can easily unscrew to attach a tripod. This adaptability comes in handy whenever you need to keep your binoculars in a stable position that lets you observe wildlife better.

To keep these binoculars safe, you can store them in the carrying case that comes with your purchase. While this case may not be superior in quality, it provides sufficient protection for your binoculars when they are not in use. It has light internal padding, letting your binoculars fit snugly but not too tightly. Furthermore, it has a compartment where you can keep small items, such as a lens cloth. With this carrying case that you can strap around your hip or shoulders, you can conveniently bring your binoculars wherever you go.

The Good

The Celestron Nature DX 8×42 transmits relatively brighter and higher quality images than most entry-level binoculars. Most binoculars in this category have mediocre color reproduction with artificial tints that affect the overall image quality, but it is an exception. While the color reproduction is not as vivid as that of most high-end binoculars, the colors are as natural and as accurate as they could get.

The sharpness of spiderwebs, insects and feathers is impressive, while the depth transition is equally excellent. Focusing on foreground and background are hallmarks of great birding optics.

Moreover, it performs well in low-light conditions, a capability that rarely comes with budget-friendly binoculars. If anything, it exceeds your expectations from a pair of entry-level binoculars in terms of image quality.

Another selling point of these binoculars is that they are compact and lightweight. On paper, they are probably among the lightest pairs of 8×42 binoculars. Apparently, this is thanks to their cutting-edge design that comes with small dimensions and a polycarbonate chassis.

BUT, in fact, they are slightly heavier than their description. While the price makes this false claim forgivable, it’s still a silly trespass (more on this below).

Some enthusiasts might find polycarbonate repulsive since it does not fare anywhere as well as alloy materials, but Celestron has made sure that these binoculars meet just exactly what you need in the wild outdoors. With proper handling and care, they can give you your money’s worth over time.

Sometimes, having a user-friendly focus wheel makes all the difference because not a lot of binoculars have it. The Celestron Nature DX 8×42 has a relatively small focus knob, but it is engineered with a smooth rotation. It rotates so smoothly that you won’t not have difficulties adjusting the focus, even when you are wearing some really thick gloves. However, you need not worry about it suddenly turning with the slightest, unwanted movements. This focus knob has the right amount of resistance that maintains a precise, laser-sharp focus no matter the external challenges you encounter.

These binoculars are especially great for eyeglass wearers, too. They have a generous eye relief of 17.5mm, which exceeds the recommended eye relief (16mm) that ensures the comfort of eyeglass wearers, especially during prolonged hours of use. With twist-up eyecups and exceptional IPD, they’re good for lengthy use.

Of course, the most attractive advantage that the Celestron Nature DX 8×42 has over other binoculars is its price tag. It has all the features you usually find in mid- and high-range binoculars, minus the hurtful price. Birdwatchers, in particular, will find it a practical choice.

What We Didn’t Like

The Celestron Nature DX 8×42 suffers from over transmission spikes. In practical terms, we found that reflections off of water onto rocks make highlights that overexpose them. It means that these are not suited for marine use, nor will they serve well around water with cornucopious amounts of sunshine.

It’s housing also has some issues. It goes without saying that a polycarbonate chassis is not as durable as bodies made with aluminum or magnesium alloys. Alloy materials are known for being more heavy-duty than polycarbonate, so binoculars with metal bodies are generally sturdy and preferable. These Celestron binoculars may need a little extra care to last long. If you have doubts about a polycarbonate chassis, these binoculars may not be suitable for you.

A rubber armor coating helps reinforce the chassis. However, the Celestron Nature DX 8×42’s rubber armor coating is fairly thin and hard, providing little protection if you drop it accidentally. The hardness does not create an ergonomic grip, so handling your binoculars for hours may be quite difficult.

About the Company

Celestron has a rich history of developing and innovating products that helped revolutionize the optics industry. It started with the vision of electronics engineer Tom Johnson in 1960, launching the Astro-Optical division of his company, Valor, to focus on making telescopes. 10 years later, it developed the product that would put its name on the map— the iconic Orange Tube C8.

The company is also credited for developing the first mass-produced, fully integrated, computerized observatory class telescope, CompuStar 14. Over the years, it has introduced many award-winning scopes that play crucial roles in the academe, astronomy, sports, and other fields. Today, Celestron continues to make significant contributions to society. In 2020, it celebrated its 60th anniversary with the NexStar Evolution 60th Anniversary Edition, which is integrated with all of its most advanced technologies.

Its mission, however, goes beyond product innovation. Its partnership with American Park Network and Hands-On Science allows it to help the youth develop a particular interest in the outdoors, and discover microscopic and terrestrial wonders. It also teams up with various science, technology, and mathematics (STEM) initiatives worldwide to promote intellectual curiosity, aiming to produce new generations of engineers, mathematicians, scientists, among others.

Overall, the Celestron Nature DX 8×42 fare far better than most entry-level binoculars. They are, in fact, impressive as a first pair for beginner birders.

They perform decently enough in low-light conditions, produce accurate and natural colors, and deliver optimal brightness and contrast. They are lightweight, compact, and relatively durable, with a chassis coated with rubber armor.

Moreover, they are easy to carry and can be quickly mounted on a tripod. With fog-proof and waterproof technologies, they are built to withstand most challenges. The generous eye relief, twist-up eyecups, and user-friendly focus wheel make these binoculars convenient and comfortable to use in any environment. If you are looking for an affordable companion for bird watching and nature viewing, these binoculars are definitely worth the investment.

If you’re boating and looking for a pair of 8x zoom optics, you should stay away from these as the glare will give you no small amount of issues, in particular when identifying buoys for example. But these cheap binos are great for forested areas where you need to shift focus over a distance.