Two eyes, a wide field, and no setup at all · review
A budget 12x50 binocular with 18 mm prisms and 50 mm objectives, supplied with a carrying case, neck strap and cleaning cloth.
Divide 50 by 12 and the exit pupil is 4.2 mm, against 5 mm for a 10x50. A dark-adapted eye opens to 5 to 7 mm, so a 12x50 sends a little less light into it per star, while making every tremor of the hands 20% larger.
That is why 10x50 is the classic astronomy binocular, and why a 12x50 shines brightest on a support.
On the Moon, on Jupiter’s moons and on close double stars, a larger image is easier to read. On a tripod or a fence post, 12x also darkens the sky background slightly, which can show a few fainter stars than 10x does.
The listing leads with an 18 mm prism. A larger prism can pass the whole light cone from a 50 mm objective without clipping it. Occer does not publish whether the prisms are BaK-4 or BK-7, or how the lenses are coated.
The binocular, a carrying case, a neck strap and a cleaning cloth. Amazon’s item data gives a weight of 800 g (28 oz); the listing text gives none, and publishes no field of view or eye relief either.
On November 7, 2026, Amazon.com sold it directly at $68.99, with third-party offers from $52.99.
Figures as Keepa reported them on the day this page was last updated. Stock and pricing shift without warning.
Prices quoted in this text were read on November 7, 2026. The live price is at the top of the page.
Same aisle, closest price — what the same spend else shows.
| Aperture | 50 mm (1.97 in) objectives |
|---|---|
| Magnification | 12x |
| Exit pupil | 4.2 mm (0.17 in), the quotient of the two published figures |
| True field of view | Not published by the maker. |
| Prism type and coatings | 18 mm prisms, stated · prism glass and coatings not published |
| Eye relief | Not published by the maker. |
| Close focus | Not published by the maker. |
| Weight | Not published in the listing text · Amazon's item data gives 800 g (28 oz) |
| Tripod mounting | Not published by the maker. |
| Supplied accessories | Carrying case, neck strap, cleaning cloth |
| Amazon reference | B0CNSLF23R |
| EAN | 0198168664926 |
Not by hand. Twelve times enlarges shake by 20% and the exit pupil drops from 5 mm to 4.2 mm, so the view is a little dimmer and much harder to hold. On a tripod or braced, 12x shows slightly fainter stars because the sky background is darker; held freely, most observers see more with 10x.
It is the size of the prism block. A bigger prism can pass the full light cone from a 50 mm objective without trimming its edges. Occer does not say whether the glass is BaK-4 or BK-7.
Lunar craters and mountains, Jupiter's four bright moons, the phases of Venus, the Pleiades and the Andromeda Galaxy as a faint oval, all best with elbows braced or the binocular on a support.
7.2/ 10
A higher-power 50 mm pair that trades some of its brightness and steadiness for scale, with a listing that publishes little beyond the prism size.
This model is listed on Amazon.com, at ≈ $69 at the last reading. Listed is not the same as in stock: availability changes daily, and the buy box shows the live price.
Details checked on November 7, 2026.
Daytime distance viewing, with astronomy from a braced or seated position
Amazon reports what buyers took in the month before this page was last checked: at least 50.
The figure is a floor, rounded by Amazon, and read through Keepa — it says what buyers picked, not what a maker claims.
Specifications: the manufacturer sheet for telescopes and observing optics and the matching Amazon product page. Prices and availability: Keepa. Every figure on this page names its source.
10x · 50 mm (1.97 in) · BK-7 porro prisms · fully coated · InstaFocus
A long-running 10x50 porro binocular from Bushnell's Falcon line, with BK-7 prisms, fully coated optics and a central InstaFocus lever, and no waterproofing claimed.
Best for: A first, inexpensive pair kept in the car for whatever the sky or the day offers
≈ $41
10x · 50 mm (1.97 in) · porro prisms · multilayer-coated · long eye relief
Nikon's Action 10x50: a rubber-armored porro binocular with multilayer-coated lenses, turn-and-slide eyecups, long eye relief for glasses and a tripod-ready body.
Best for: Sweeping the Milky Way and open clusters, on a tripod or from a reclining chair
≈ $130
10x · 50 mm (1.97 in) · 282 ft field at 1000 yd · BaK-4, silvered prisms · 26.1 oz (740 g)
A waterproof, nitrogen-filled 10x50 with BaK-4 prisms carrying an extra silver coating, published with its field of view, close focus, dimensions and weight.
Best for: The observer who wants to compare figures rather than adjectives before buying
≈ $226
