Celestron Nature DX ED 10x42 binocular review: Quality on a budget

The Celestron Nature DX ED 10x42 hits the sweet spot in the binocular market, with good optical quality, a very usable magnification and ED (extra-low dispersion) glass, all for an affordable price. While they’re certainly not considered budget binoculars, they’re a fantastic first pair if you want to invest in great quality without having to throw all your money at them. The 10x magnification, combined with the 42mm objective lens, makes for a very versatile pair of binoculars that can be easily utilized for both stargazing and birdwatching.

We put them through their paces in a big group test alongside every other Celestron 10x42, and they ended up in a very respectable second place overall — ahead of some of the more expensive models. We were particularly interested to compare them side-by-side with the standard Nature DX model to see just how much difference the ED glass makes, and whether it makes the extra cost worthwhile.

We took the Nature DX ED along with us to a nature reserve in South Wales to observe a variety of birds, both in flight and swimming on a pond. We also took them with us on a camping trip to a National Dark Sky site, where we enjoyed views of Andromeda, the Summer Triangle and the Milky Way under the dark, moonless sky.

Celestron Nature DX ED 10x42 review

Celestron Nature DX ED 10x42: Design

• Polycarbonate housing
• Tripod mountable
• Comfortable for long observing sessions

Design-wise, they fall in line with the rest of Celestron’s 10x42 lineup, with a sleek black polycarbonate housing with silver and orange brand accents. We thought they felt less premium when directly compared with the more expensive TrailSeeker and Regal models, but on their own, they feel well built and solid to hold, with textured rubber armor for a better grip.

The twist-out eyecups are comfortable to look through for extended periods, with the eyecup caps tethered together to prevent them from being lost or separated. The objective lens covers are also attached to the binocular (although they can be removed), so you just need to flip them down when you want to use them, and you won’t need to worry about where you’ve put them.

At 24.9 ounces (705 grams), they’re the second-heaviest 10x42 offering from Celestron, but we still found them comfortable to hold for long periods and the weight didn't inconvenience us when carrying them around.

They’re also tripod-mountable, which is useful for stargazing — the 10x magnification isn’t completely wobble-free, so it’s nice to have the option to steady them for viewing specific subjects. We found this particularly apparent when looking at the moon — it was less obvious for general stargazing while sweeping across the sky.

Celestron Nature DX ED 10x42: Performance

• ED glass substantially reduces chromatic aberration
• Good low-light performance
• Sharp, colorful views

Testing these binoculars against the standard Nature DX and the more expensive TrailSeeker and TrailSeeker ED really put their performance into perspective for us. Their biggest bragging point is the ED (extra-low dispersion) glass, which we found significantly reduced the chromatic aberration when birdwatching. We observed coots on a pond, and there was basically no chromatic aberration when they were swimming through leaves and there wasn't much contrast in the overall picture.

However, when we viewed blackbirds on a telephone pole against a bright white sky, there was more blue and yellow chromatic aberration due to the high contrast and backlit scene. Still, it was a vast improvement over the models that don't have ED glass.

The picture was much sharper and cleaner than the standard Nature DX, and although there wasn’t much of a difference against the TrailSeeker when viewing distant subjects like trees, there was a big difference in chromatic aberration when viewing subjects closer to us. The sharpness does fall off a little towards the edges, but that's to be expected in a pair of binoculars at this price point.

They also had great low-light performance, and even though they only have phase-coated prisms, there wasn’t much noticeable difference when compared to the TrailSeeker models, which have both phase and dielectric coatings. The stars were sharp and bright, giving us stunning views of the moon, the Andromeda galaxy and the Big Dipper. Jupiter wasn’t in the night sky when we tested them out, so we can’t confirm whether Jupiter’s moons will be visible, but we’ll update this review after future tests.

Celestron Nature DX ED 10x42: Functionality

• Waterproof and fogproof
• 14.3 mm eye relief is a little on the short side
• Focus wheel could be looser

Overall, they were pleasant to use out in the field and we had no difficulties with them. We thought the diopter and focus wheel could have been slightly looser to adjust the focus more easily, especially for birdwatching, where we needed to change the focus when following a fast-moving subject. The 14.3mm eye relief is a little on the short side if you wear glasses full-time, but we were able to comfortably use them both with and without glasses.

They’re waterproof and nitrogen-purged to prevent fogging, making them a great choice for any use in any type of weather without worrying about them getting wet or clouding up. We never noticed any fogging when we moved between the warmth of our glamping pod and the chilly fall night, and although we didn’t test them in the rain, Celestron's waterproofing is usually pretty reliable.

With a limiting stellar magnitude range from 10.62 in ideal conditions to 8.62 in poor conditions, they're great if you want to view a wide range of celestial subjects like the Pleiades, Beehive Cluster and even some upcoming comets that aren't visible to the naked eye.

Should you buy the Celestron Nature DX ED 10x42?

When it comes to choosing a 10x42 binocular, from Celestron specifically, we think the Nature DX ED is the best choice in the entry and mid-level ranges. They outperform both the standard Nature DX and TrailSeeker models (and are cheaper than the TrailSeeker), and we only noticed minimal differences between the Nature DX ED and TrailSeeker ED. But as there's such a huge price jump between them, the Nature DX ED is still the obvious choice in our book.

We liked the Nature DX ED for birdwatching and wildlife observation, specifically, and they also perform well for stargazing and general-purpose viewing. They aren’t a budget model, but they also aren’t priced high enough to feel like you’re not getting enough bang for your buck. They’re the type of binoculars that will last for years and see you through many outdoor activities.

If the Celestron Nature DX ED 10x42 isn't for you