Bushnell Engage EDX There is great low-light quality with only a little chromatic aberration and an impressive field of view. Great for hiking and even night-sky viewing, thanks to good exit pupil size. These are a little pricier but that reflects their more premium lens and housing construction.

Rangefinder binoculars are like regular binoculars but can also measure their distance from subjects during observation. This is helpful for wildlife spotters and hunters. Most rangefinder binoculars have an eye-safe laser that beams onto subjects during viewing.

David P. Bushnell The company was founded in 1948 by David P. Bushnell, when he returned to California from his honeymoon in Japan with two crates of binoculars and sold them by mail order.

You can also find laser rangefinders that are most often used on hunting binoculars and golf rangefinders and work by sending out a light source to calculate the distance to the potential target. The advantage of these is they quickly give you a very accurate measurement.

For starters, Bushnell offers a wider range of options on the entry-level and mid-tier end of the spectrum, while Nikon is known for its high-end binoculars. But this doesn't mean you can't get a truly quality pair from either brand. It all comes down to what you're looking to use your binoculars for.

The best binoculars in 2023

1. Celestron Nature DX ED 12x50. Best rated binoculars.
2. Canon 10x42L IS WP. Best for long distance.
3. Nikon Prostaff P3 8x42 binocular. Best entry-level binoculars.
4. Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50.
5. Swarovski CL Companion 10x30.
6. Celestron Nature DX 12x56.
7. Celestron TrailSeeker 8x42.
8. Celestron Skymaster 15x70.

Golf rangefinders usually have a target range of around 600 yards, while hunting rangefinders can pick up distances of 1300+ yards. Golf courses don't usually exceed a to-the-pin reading over 250 yards or 350 yards. Mileseey PFS2 Outdoor Golf Rangefinder offers a yardage distance of around 1600+ yards.

In good conditions, skilled operators using precision laser rangefinders can range a target to within a meter at distances on the order of three kilometers.

Japan is one of the primary producers of high-quality binoculars after Germany. Fujii Brothers were the first binocular manufacturers in Japan, producing their first models in 1911. During World War II, the Japanese military's giant binocular became quite famous.

Based in Overland Park Kansas, Bushnell is a subsidiary of the Vista Outdoor group. Bushnell produces riflescopes, telescopes, spotting scopes, binoculars, range finders, game cameras, night-vision devices, GPS devices, red dot sights, and much more.

range finder, any of several instruments used to measure the distance from the instrument to a selected point or object. One basic type is the optical range finder modeled after a ranging device developed by the Scottish firm of Barr and Stroud in the 1880s.

The quick list

• Best binoculars overall. Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars.
• Best optical performance. Nikon Monarch HG 10x42.
• Best for affordable stargazing. Celestron Nature DX 12x56.
• Best binoculars under $300. Celestron TrailSeeker 8x42 binocular.
• Best budget binoculars. Celestron UpClose G2 10x50 Binocular.
• Best for moon views.