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The Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 binoculars are a standout among mid-range binoculars on the market with their compact, waterproof design, excellent image quality and a host of handy extras. Not only are they lightweight and portable, they’re also perfect for those keen on astronomy travel or those who need an all-around use.
| Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42：Main Specs |
|---|
| Weight: 23.1 oz / 655 g Waterproof: Yes Magnification: 8x Objective lens diameter: 42 mm Field of view at 1000 m: 142 m Closest focusing distance: 2 m / 6.5 ft Eye relief: 17 mm / 0.67 in Dimensions: 141x130x51 mm / 5.5×5.1×2 in Angular field of view: 8.1° |
Table of Contents
Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 Binoculars Review: Verdict
Our Rating:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| +Compact and lightweight +Stuff sack and harness included +Excellent image quality and close-up focus +Waterproof and fogproof +Great quality optics +Superb build quality | -Expensive -Loose objective lens caps -A hint of color fringing -Lack magnification for deep sky -Carry case can’t house harness strap |
Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 Roof Prism Binoculars are a favorite among stargazers for their compactness, lightweight, practical waterproof design, excellent durability and superior image quality. Not only does this binocular have a high-quality roof prism design and premium optics, it also features close focus at a distance of 2 meters/6.5 feet, and images are sharp, colorful and bright even in low-light conditions. It also comes with a comfortable carrying strap to reduce the strain on your neck. Not only is this binocular pleasing, versatile and portable, its lightweight and durable design ensures a long lifespan. The Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 is an ideal choice for traveling stargazers, as it strikes the perfect balance between quality, affordability and portability, and works brilliantly even at night.
The Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 is a high-quality binocular that rivals the best on the market. This roof prism binocular is perfect for amateur astronomers who love to travel and seek out dark skies. It combines top-notch design and build quality with excellent optics, is waterproof, has an 8x magnification, and has a 42mm objective lens diameter, allowing for flexible observation of star clusters, double stars, and the Moon. Although its 8º field of view versus the 6.5º field of view of the 10×50 binocular means that images of deep-sky objects may be slightly smaller, its multi-coated optics and BaK-4 glass ensure a clear, colorful, high-contrast view of the night sky. In addition, the Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 has a stylish and lightweight design that is easy to hold steadily, and comes with a high-quality carrying case and strap, making it an ideal choice for astronomy travel.
As one of the most cost-effective and versatile mid-range binoculars on the market, the Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 performs well in all aspects, especially its balance of clarity and portability. While its standard glass may exhibit slight color fringing issues when used at night, the overall effect is still impressive enough for most people to meet most stargazing needs.
This binocular has been a star of the TrailSeeker series since it was first introduced in 2014, proving its excellent quality and wide applicability.
What are the features of Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42?
The Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 binoculars combine roof prism optics and multi-coated BaK-4 glass prisms, a combination that delivers superior optical performance despite a slightly higher price compared to entry-level binoculars. This design not only makes the binoculars more durable, compact and lightweight, but also achieves high magnification and brighter images by adopting roof prisms and BaK-4 glass. In particular, its 42mm objective lens captures enough light at night for astronomical observations and provides a wide field of view.
It is worth mentioning that this binocular also has a close focus function, with a minimum focusing distance of only 2 meters/6.5 feet, which is perfect for backyard or field adventures.
In addition, although most users may not need it, there is a thread for an L-shaped binocular tripod adapter hidden on the bridge between the objective lenses, giving users the option of mounting the binoculars on a tripod.
The Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 has almost all the features you can expect at this price, making it a trustworthy choice whether it is stargazing or adventure.
How is the Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 designed?
The Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 binoculars stand out for their lightweight, compact design and excellent build quality. While binoculars are usually large and complex to set up, this one is exceptionally easy to use, weighing 23.1 oz/655 g, and featuring a rubber-coated magnesium alloy frame that is both high-end and easy to grip. It is completely waterproof and uses an inert nitrogen purge under high pressure to prevent fogging of the lens surface. The unique bridge design gives users more grip space to ensure a stable field of view. The diopter adjustment ring, while slightly stiff, effectively prevents position shifting.
The TrailSeeker 8×42’s package of extras is equally impressive, including a comfortable neck strap, a padded carrying case, and an innovative shoulder strap system that transfers the weight of the binoculars from the neck to the shoulder, greatly improving the comfort of carrying and long-term use. The Celestron TrailSeeker series also includes other models such as the 8×32, 10×32, and 10×42, as well as a high-end model with “Extra-Low Dispersion” (ED) glass options for users who seek a better night sky viewing experience.
In addition to its excellent performance and design, the Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 is also praised for its durability and practicality. Whether it is outdoor adventures or nighttime stargazing, this telescope is a perfect choice for backpacks and car glove boxes. Although the included lens caps came loose during testing, the Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 is undoubtedly a cost-effective binocular that is worth recommending.
The included carry bag looks to be very similar, if not identical to the ones supplied with Celestron’s much more expensive Granite models which is great.
The included neck strap looks to be the same as that you get with more expensive Celestron models – score!
Once again, the included neck strap looks to be the same as that you get with more expensive Celestron models – score!
Whilst you expect to get a neck strap and carry case with your bins, the inclusion of a binocular harness is a very welcomed, but completely unexpected addition.
Made from a flexible and soft plastic or rubber, the Trailseeker’s lens covers fit over the ends of each barrel.
The soft rubber eye-piece cover or rain-guard is very typical in that it has two cups that fit over the ends of the eye-cups on the bin and which have a bridge that joins them together.
The included cleaning cloth is of a good quality and I would say better than most at this price range, making them ideal for emergency cleaning out in the field etc.
| Additional Kits |
|---|
| Neck Strap Binocular Harness Objective Lens Covers Eye-Piece Cover Lens Cloth Manual & Warranty |
How is the performance of Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42?
The Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 is a pair of binoculars designed for travel, with features that make it an excellent choice for hiking and stargazing. The binoculars offer a clear, wide-angle view, and their durable, waterproof construction provides added peace of mind. While they don’t have the ultimate in nighttime light-gathering capabilities, they’re more than adequate for casual stargazing, and were able to clearly show details of the Beehive Cluster and the Orion Nebula in our tests. In daylight, the Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 performs even better, with vivid colors and clear views, making it particularly useful for garden birdwatching.
In particular, the balance between its low 8x magnification and 42mm diameter objective lens gives users a wide field of view, perfect for scanning the night sky for constellations and the Milky Way. And the high-end phase- and dielectric-coated BaK-4 glass ensures bright, clear images even in low-light conditions. In our tests, the Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 performed well when observing the Hyades and Pleiades star clusters, as well as the Andromeda galaxy. However, we did notice some slight purple fringing around the bright Moon. The only way to fix this is to upgrade to the “ED” version of this binocular, but considering its much lower price, the Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 is still hard to beat in terms of overall optical quality.
In addition, the rotating eyecups of this binocular provide up to 0.67 inches of eye relief, making it a satisfactory experience for users who wear glasses and those who seek the ultimate comfort. Although the design of the lens caps is not satisfactory in some aspects, such as being easy to fall off, they fell off several times during our review period, but overall, the Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42’s carrying case, neck strap, shoulder strap and other accessories provide great convenience for users.
Overall, the Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 is an extremely cost-effective binocular that is worth considering for hikers, stargazers, and birdwatchers. Although it may lack in extreme conditions, its performance in daily use is good enough to meet the needs of most users.
Verdict: Is Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 worth buying?
The Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 binoculars are an excellent choice for avid stargazers, especially those planning to travel to dark sky areas. Their minimalist design makes them an excellent choice for traveling light on astronomical trips, rather than bulky and bulky deep-sky telescopes. Although slight purple fringing may occur when observing particularly bright objects, such as the full moon, the Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42’s optics are impressive. Although its specifications may make it considered an entry-level choice, the 8x magnification and 42mm objective lens size are more than enough for most users.
A perfect compromise between optical quality and size, these roof prism binoculars are waterproof, fogproof, and equipped with high-end BaK-4 glass to capture stunning wildlife, landscapes, and celestial close-ups at night. Even better, these upgraded binoculars are affordable and come with premium accessories, such as an included small duffel bag and carrying strap, further enhancing their value for money.
The Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 strikes the perfect balance between portability, durability, and image quality, successfully bridging the gap between price and quality. It offers a good all-around view, and optical highlights include a wide field of view and close focus capabilities. In short, if you are looking for a pair of quality full-size binoculars, the Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 is undoubtedly an option worth considering.
We think the Celestron TrailSeeker 8×42 is an excellent pair of binoculars. Our rating is 4.5 stars: ★★★★½
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