Review: Is Celestron Nature DX 12×56 Binoculars worth buying?

Celestron Nature DX 12×56 binoculars are not only of high quality and durable, but also have high magnification and bright and clear vision, bringing a good observation experience to stargazers. For those stargazers who want to upgrade from entry-level binoculars but don’t want to spend too much, DX 12×56 is an ideal upgrade choice, which combines high quality with affordable price, meeting the dual needs of stargazers for telescope performance and budget.

Celestron Nature DX 12×56:Main Specs
Magnification: 12x
Objective lens diameter: 56 mm
Angular field of view: 5.5 degrees
Eye relief: 0.63 in / 16 mm
Weight: 36.2 oz / 1028 g
Celestron Nature DX 12×56 Binoculars Main Specs

Celestron Nature DX 12×56 Binoculars Review: Verdict

Our Rating:

ProsCons
+Twisting eyecups are fully adjustable
+Close focusing down to 9.8 feet (2.9 meters)
+Comfortable grip
+Eye relief suitable for glasses wearer
+Excellent build quality
+Affordable for the optical quality
-A little soft around the edges
-Could be a little sharper
-Quite heavy for prolonged handheld use
-Image isn’t the sharpest
-Some chromatic aberration
Celestron Nature DX 12×56 Pros and Cons

The Celestron Nature DX 12×56 binoculars are a great choice for stargazing and wildlife watching, thanks to their bright, clear field of view, large aperture, and high magnification. Not only are they affordable, but their long focal length and light weight make them ideal for handheld use, whether for stargazing or casual birdwatching. Although their clarity isn’t top-notch, their excellent build quality and lens caps that don’t lose easily make them one of our favorites. We have no hesitation in recommending the Celestron Nature DX 12×56 binoculars.

The Celestron Nature DX 12×56 binoculars are a highly acclaimed choice on the market for their excellent brightness, clarity, and build quality at an entry-level price. Their 12x magnification provides excellent results for night sky, wildlife, or bird watching, and they have excellent close-range focusing capabilities. The combination of phase coating and BaK-4 glass ensures a glare-free and clear field of view, while the large 56mm aperture effectively offsets the light loss caused by high magnification.

The binoculars are waterproof with excellent performance, and are designed with green full rubber armor and rain cover to ensure that the lenses are protected from external water erosion. Their sturdy twist-on eyecups provide a 16mm full eye relief for observers wearing glasses, bringing a comfortable observation experience. In addition, the anti-fog and nitrogen purge functions make them suitable for all weather and climates, from warm indoors to cold outdoors, and they can quickly adapt and avoid fogging.

The Celestron Nature DX 12×56 binoculars are not only suitable for outdoor adventures, but also meet family needs, allowing you to easily watch garden birds or the night sky in the city at home. The compact design makes it easy to carry and fits easily into a small backpack or vehicle glove box. Whether observing squirrels in the park or wading birds in the nature reserve, this telescope provides an ideal observation experience.

After weeks of testing, we are satisfied with its performance in various environments, especially at such a reasonable price, it offers high-quality glass, manufacturing quality and stylish appearance. Therefore, whether it is for wildlife enthusiasts, bird watchers or stargazers, the Celestron Nature DX 12×56 binoculars are an excellent choice.

Celestron Nature DX 12×56 Binoculars come with two lens covers attached to the top of the eyecup to protect the BaK-4 glass
Celestron Nature DX 12×56 Binoculars come with two lens covers attached to the top of the eyecup to protect the BaK-4 glass.

Although the price is on the entry-level side, the Celestron Nature DX 12×56 binoculars have the same features as more expensive mid-range binoculars and are suitable for a wide range of subjects. The binoculars use phase-coated lenses to ensure clear views in all weather conditions, and are completely waterproof. In addition, accessories such as a sturdy rain cover and neck strap, lens caps, a carrying case, a cleaning cloth and an operating manual are all available to meet the needs of beginners.

The hinge design accommodates different eye distances, and the focus knob provides sufficient resistance and smooth adjustment experience, which can be easily operated even with gloves, and the focus is highly accurate, which is particularly suitable for observing distant stars and planets. The binoculars also come with a bracket that can be mounted on a tripod, which is suitable for long-term observation or fine-tuning the composition. However, the weight is moderate, and it is comfortable to hold for long periods of time, except for young children and people with limited arm mobility.

The Celestron Nature DX 12×56 also features rotating eyecups for increased wearer comfort, especially for glasses wearers. Weatherproof and waterproof sealing ensures that users can use it in various environments, while the rain cover further protects the lens from watermarks. During transportation, the soft bag and paired eyepiece covers provide additional protection from scratches and loss.

The grip points of the binoculars are designed to be comfortable and stable even in wet conditions. The focus wheel and rotatable eyecup adjuster are easy to operate and can be used easily even with gloves. The reliability of the diopter ring is also one of its highlights, avoiding the problem of loss of focus due to collision when taking out.

The Celestron Nature DX 12×56 binoculars are powerful, with a very user-friendly design and thoughtful accessories. They are very suitable for beginners and users with limited budgets. Whether it is bird watching, wildlife observation or car viewing, they can meet the needs.

The focus wheel of the Celestron Nature DX 12×56 is easy to operate even with gloves.
The focus wheel of the Celestron Nature DX 12×56 is easy to operate even with gloves.

The Celestron Nature DX 12×56 binoculars are designed in natural green, which is both beautiful and unique. The non-slip design of the grip ensures ease of use in wet conditions or when wearing gloves, while the included carrying bag effectively protects the binoculars when stored. With eyecup rotation and diopter adjustment functions, this binoculars is not only suitable for users with glasses, but also provides optimal eye comfort and focusing. Celestron has carefully configured all the necessary built-in accessories, such as tight-fitting objective covers for easy storage and protection of lenses, and a flexible bridge connecting the two objective covers to effectively prevent dust and debris from adhering.

The polycarbonate shell of the binoculars is covered with a beautiful green rubber sheath, which has excellent water-proof, dust-proof and impact-proof performance, and can remain stable even in wet and harsh environments. Although its weight may be a bit heavy for long-term handheld use, especially for beginners, children or people with limited mobility, Celestron has cleverly designed a bracket interface that can be mounted on a tripod, which greatly improves the convenience of long-term viewing.

In terms of optical performance, the Celestron Nature DX 12×56 is equipped with phase-coated BaK-4 prisms and multi-coated optical elements, providing clear and bright image quality that is comparable to more expensive binoculars. Although this telescope is not primarily used for stargazing, we were still able to clearly distinguish Jupiter when it rose, and even observed the faint outlines of some of Jupiter’s satellites. Whether it is day or night, this telescope impressed us.

In addition, the telescope’s weatherproof and rainproof cover design, as well as internal nitrogen purging technology, ensures its stability and durability in various weather conditions, from warm indoors to cold outdoors.

Additional Kits
Neck Strap
Carry case
Lens caps
Lens cloths
Instruction manual
Rainguard
Additional Kit List
Celestron Nature DX 12×56 Binoculars are fully waterproof
Celestron Nature DX 12×56 Binoculars are fully waterproof

Once you adjust the eyecups to the right eye distance, you’ll experience an extraordinary astonishment in image size and brightness. Not only do these binoculars let you look up at the full moon like a street lamp, the beams are reflected by BaK-4 glass to ensure a crisp and detailed image. Although we observed some chromatic aberration at the edges of contrast during the day, this was not noticeable during nighttime stargazing. In particular, the wide 16mm eye relief makes it easy for people who wear glasses to use. However, for those who hold their glasses farther away from their eyes or have darker eyes, some adjustment time may be required and slight vignetting may occur during observation.

The Celestron Nature DX 12×56 binoculars’ close focusing capability is a highlight, with a minimum focus distance of 9.8 feet (2.9 meters), making them a great choice for observing small mammals or birdwatching. Whether observing birds at a garden feeder or admiring fine feather details, they provide a great view. Although the image clarity is slightly lacking compared to some higher-end binoculars, considering the price, it is more than enough for the average birdwatcher or wildlife observer.

This binocular performs well both during the day and at night. The 12x magnification makes it possible to see fine details in bird feathers. Although there is slight chromatic aberration at high-contrast edges, this is usually imperceptible to the untrained eye. When observing the full moon at night, the brightness and clarity of the moon are impressive, and through the BaK-4 glass, you can enjoy detailed images of the lunar surface. Although stargazing can be a little tricky (especially in areas with a lot of light sources), as a general-purpose binocular, it is more than enough for most scenarios.

The Celestron Nature DX 12×56 is a great value pair of binoculars that we recommend without hesitation.
The Celestron Nature DX 12×56 is a great value pair of binoculars that we recommend without hesitation.

If you are looking for a binocular that is cost-effective, clear, comfortable to hold, and suitable for a variety of observation needs, then the Celestron Nature DX 12×56 is undoubtedly your ideal choice. Not only does its green appearance not disturb wildlife when used in the wild, but its excellent performance makes it a great companion for bird watching, wildlife observation, and star exploration. It provides a clear view even at a close focus distance of 9.8 feet. Moreover, its rubber shell design ensures sufficient sturdiness, allowing you to take it anywhere at any time without worrying about weather factors.

The Celestron Nature DX 12×56 comes with all observation accessories out of the box, without complicated settings or prior knowledge. Its high-quality BaK-4 glass and multi-layer coating technology, as well as its waterproof and nitrogen-purged construction, ensure that this binocular is a great value for money. Although it may not be the clearest binocular on the market and there may be slight color fringing, it is undoubtedly one of the best choices you can find in this price range.

In addition, this telescope has a short minimum focusing distance, a magnification of up to 12x, and a 56mm objective lens that provides a fascinating perspective on the night landscape. Its compact size and affordable price make it an ideal choice for entry-level wildlife observers. If you are considering spending about $250 on a pair of binoculars from a trusted optical brand, the Celestron Nature DX 12×56 will undoubtedly be your first choice.

We think the Celestron Nature DX 12×56 is an excellent pair of binoculars. Our rating is 4.5 stars: ★★★★½

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