{"id":55872,"date":"2023-02-16T17:08:30","date_gmt":"2023-02-16T22:08:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/?p=55872"},"modified":"2024-10-23T13:04:55","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T17:04:55","slug":"celestron-trailseeker-8x42-binoculars-our-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/celestron-trailseeker-8x42-binoculars-our-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Celestron TrailSeeker 8x42 Binoculars: Our Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group well-gray is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">At A Glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full multiply\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1125\" height=\"1125\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/celestron-trailseeker-1.33-CC-2-e1675101084595.jpg\" alt=\"Celestron TrailSeeker 8x42 binoculars.\" class=\"wp-image-55870\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/celestron-trailseeker-1.33-CC-2-e1675101084595.jpg 1125w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/celestron-trailseeker-1.33-CC-2-e1675101084595-720x720.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/celestron-trailseeker-1.33-CC-2-e1675101084595-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/celestron-trailseeker-1.33-CC-2-e1675101084595-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1125px) 100vw, 1125px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Celestron TrailSeeker 8&#215;42 binoculars. <em>Image by Hugh Powell.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">PROS: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Crisp, bright image in the center<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Smooth focus wheel<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compact and comfortable<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wide field of view<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Very close focus<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">CONS: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Some blurring at the edges of view<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Not as bright as same model with ED coating<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">STATS:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Price: <\/strong>$300 MSRP at press time. Prices often fluctuate, so check with retailers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Close focus:<\/strong> Listed as 6.6 feet (200 cm). In tests, we could focus these binoculars down to about 5.5 feet (168 cm)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Field of view: <\/strong>8.1\u00b0 (425 feet at 1,000 yards). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/choosing-binoculars-field-of-view-and-close-focus\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"54833\">More about field of view<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Weight:<\/strong> 25.5 oz (722 g)\u2014that&#8217;s about 0.3 oz (7 g) lighter than the average for 8&#215;42 binoculars in our review<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Eye relief:<\/strong> 17 mm <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Viewing Experience:<\/strong> The Celestron Trailseekers performed well in our field tests, with nearly all positive comments from reviewers. They performed similarly to our overall top pick, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/celestron-trailseeker-ed-8x42-binoculars-our-review\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"55745\">Trailseeker ED<\/a>, with this pair having just a touch less brightness overall, a touch less sharpness at the edges, and a slightly stiffer focus wheel. On a bright sunny day, these binoculars did a nice job of picking up the iridescence of the heads of male Mallards about 200 meters away on a shimmering lake, and the contrast was similarly good in low light when reading the detailed markings on the head of a White-throated Sparrow scratching at the ground. It was easy to pan along with a skein of Canada Geese as they made their approach and landing nearby, with no disorienting distortion. When viewing heavily backlit American Robins, there was a slight red-green fringing along the outline of the bird and branches, but the color and contrast of the different body and head feathers was still rendered well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Feel and Build:<\/strong> These binoculars have a solid feel, comfortable grip, and locking eyecups. Average size and weight make it an appealing choice to an average-sized birder. The focus wheel is smooth, just slightly stiffer than average, which may appeal to some birders. The objective lens covers were tethered, but did have a tendency to shift position at the ends of the barrels when the covers were off the lenses. The package includes a harness, cloth, and medium-weight neckstrap\u2014comfortable during extended outings. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"article-list alignright right list-style card-four \"><h2 class=\"article-list-header\">More on Binoculars<\/h2><ul><li class=\"article-item\"><div class=\"article-item-container\"><div class=\"article-item-media content-article\" data-link-to=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/how-to-choose-binoculars-full-size-compact-pocket\/\"><figure class=\"article-item-media-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/binocular-types-1.33-1280x960.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/binocular-types-1.33-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/binocular-types-1.33-1280x960.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/binocular-types-1.33-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/binocular-types-1.33-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/binocular-types-1.33-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/binocular-types-1.33.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" alt=\"three binoculars of three different sizes arranged against a white background\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"article-item-body\"><a class=\"article-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/how-to-choose-binoculars-full-size-compact-pocket\/\"><span class=\"article-item-header\">Which Binocular Design Is Right for You\u2014Full-Size, Compact, or Pocket?<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/li><li class=\"article-item\"><div class=\"article-item-container\"><div class=\"article-item-media  content-article\" data-link-to=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/the-cornell-lab-review-affordable-full-size-8x42-binoculars\/\"><figure class=\"article-item-media-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/bino-group-front-on-1.33.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/bino-group-front-on-1.33-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/bino-group-front-on-1.33-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/bino-group-front-on-1.33-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/bino-group-front-on-1.33-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/bino-group-front-on-1.33.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"\" alt=\"a group of binoculars arranged on a table\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"article-item-body\"><a class=\"article-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/the-cornell-lab-review-affordable-full-size-8x42-binoculars\/\"><span class=\"article-item-header\">The Cornell Lab Review: Affordable Full-Size 8&#215;42 Binoculars\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/li><li class=\"article-item\"><div class=\"article-item-container\"><div class=\"article-item-media  content-article\" data-link-to=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/best-affordable-compact-binoculars-review\/\"><figure class=\"article-item-media-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"\" alt=\"a group of small binoculars arranged against a white background\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"article-item-body\"><a class=\"article-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/best-affordable-compact-binoculars-review\/\"><span class=\"article-item-header\">The Best Affordable Compact Binoculars (8&#215;32): Our Review<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/li><li class=\"article-item\"><div class=\"article-item-container\"><div class=\"article-item-media  content-article\" data-link-to=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/pocket-binocular-review-our-search-for-the-best-tiny-binoculars\/\"><figure class=\"article-item-media-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Bino-group-1.33.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"\" alt=\"a group of small binoculars arranged against a white background\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"article-item-body\"><a class=\"article-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/pocket-binocular-review-our-search-for-the-best-tiny-binoculars\/\"><span class=\"article-item-header\">Pocket Binocular Review: Our Search for the Best Tiny Binoculars<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Comments From Testers:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Compact, good feel&nbsp; <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Easy to focus, nice and bright<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They were comfortable, bright, with a good focus wheel <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Very good at close focus&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Blurry at edges of view&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I was quickly able to get a crystal clear image with these, at multiple ranges <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bright crisp, easy to handle&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This article is one in a series of mini-reviews. To see how these binoculars compare to others we&#8217;ve tested, see our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/the-cornell-lab-review-affordable-full-size-8x42-binoculars\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"54833\">full review of affordable 8&#215;42 binoculars<\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An excellent image and feel, just slightly less bright and crisp than the ED version of the Trailseeker. This is one of our Top Picks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":55869,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_birdpress_living_bird_toc":0,"_birdpress_living_bird_toc_title":"","_birdpress_featured_image":false,"_birdpress_hero_toggle":false,"_birdpress_hero_type":"image","_birdpress_hero_image_type":"image","_birdpress_hero_style":"default","_birdpress_hero_ratio":"","_birdpress_hero_h1":"","_birdpress_hero_media_id":0,"_birdpress_hero_media_array_id":[],"_birdpress_hero_media_array":[],"_birdpress_hero_media":0,"_birdpress_hero_video_id":0,"_birdpress_hero_video":0,"_birdpress_hero_youtube":"","_birdpress_hero_content":true,"_birdpress_hero_byline":"","_birdpress_hero_byline_bottom":"","_birdpress_hero_button_link":"","_birdpress_hero_button_text":"","_birdpress_hero_button_color":"","_birdpress_hero_date":false,"original_guid":"","_birdpress_hide_search":false,"_birdpress_page_width":"","_birdpress_global_cta":false,"_birdpress_widget_sidebar":"","_birdpress_next_article":0,"_birdpress_next_article_title":"","_birdpress_prev_article":0,"_birdpress_prev_article_title":"","_birdpress_sub_navigation_id":0,"_birdpress_sub_navigation":"","_birdpress_sub_navigation_title":false,"_birdpress_anchor_navigation_id":0,"_birdpress_anchor_navigation":"","_birdpress_postType":"both","_birdpress_categoryID":0,"_birdpress_tagID":0,"_birdpress_parentPostID":0,"_birdpress_parentPostTitle":"","_birdpress_menuID":0,"_birdpress_menuName":"","_birdpress_listHeader":"","_birdpress_listLayout":"card-display","_birdpress_listColumns":"","_birdpress_maxItems":12,"_birdpress_listPaginate":true,"_birdpress_displaySort":true,"_birdpress_sortOrder":"DESC","_birdpress_sortBy":"date","_birdpress_listID":"","_birdpress_listClass":"","_birdpress_displayImages":true,"_birdpress_displayCaptions":false,"_birdpress_displayExcerpts":false,"_birdpress_attTop":"","_birdpress_attBottom":"","_birdpress_showLogos":false,"_birdpress_post_logo":0,"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_topic":0,"wds_primary_content-format":0,"wds_primary_cornell-lab-project":0,"wds_primary_host-project":0,"wds_primary_read-more-tag":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"topic":[1170,1168],"content-format":[1055],"cornell-lab-project":[],"host-project":[],"read-more-tag":[],"class_list":["post-55872","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","topic-binoculars","topic-binoculars-and-gear","content-format-article"],"metadata":{"_edit_lock":["1729703095:4"],"_thumbnail_id":["55869"],"_edit_last":["4"],"_webdados_fb_open_graph_specific_image":["https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/celestron-trailseeker-1.77-CC-1.jpg"],"_webdados_fb_open_graph_specific_description":[""],"_wds_trimmed_excerpt":["An excellent image and feel, just slightly less bright and crisp than the ED version of the Trailseeker. This is one of our Top Picks."],"banner-image":[""],"custom-byline":[""],"_birdpress_hero_transcript":[""],"_wp_page_template":["default"]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55872","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55872"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55872\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55869"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55872"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55872"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55872"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=55872"},{"taxonomy":"content-format","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-format?post=55872"},{"taxonomy":"cornell-lab-project","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cornell-lab-project?post=55872"},{"taxonomy":"host-project","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/host-project?post=55872"},{"taxonomy":"read-more-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/read-more-tag?post=55872"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}