Getting front-row tickets at big matches such as India versus Pakistan is not easy, but fortunately, here is where binoculars come in and save the day. A good pair of binoculars for watching cricket will make low-priced tickets feel like you are sitting so close to the pitch that you can yell out instructions to your favorite players. The action will be in your focus, and you will still get to enjoy the thrilling atmosphere of the stadium when the players are making risky moves.
The benefits of bringing a premium pair of binoculars to your next cricket match are many. The most important one is that you will get the same viewing experience as watching the match filmed by professional cameras on TV, while still being able to experience the thrills of watching a match live. With that said, today we are going to show your top 5 best binoculars for watching cricket and other sports.
Stick around for the end because we will also answer your most asked questions about binoculars.
Best Binocular for Watching Cricket of 2020
Nikon ACULON
Are you tired of squinting every time that your team gets the ball? The Nikon ACULON binoculars will make you feel like you have a front-row seat to the action. Nikon is a famous brand in the optics industry, and the reason behind this is that the company designs and manufactures some of the world’s best lenses. The multi-coated optics of the Nikon ACULON are the perfect example of that.
These binoculars do a fantastic job of providing a bright and clear image in all lighting conditions. Is the sun hiding behind the clouds? You will still be able to see everything that is happening on the pitch, thanks to the Nikon ACULON binoculars.
The armor coating of the binoculars makes them very durable, and it also gives you a secure grip, even in wet conditions. However, the feature that makes these binoculars perfect for watching live cricket matches is their impressive field of view and focus distance of 49.2 feet.
The focus knob is cleverly placed between the barrels so that you always have easy access to make quick adjustments to the range of focus. You will never miss a critical moment again! We also want to put the spotlight on the fact that these binoculars feature an adjustable zoom range from 10x to 22x.
Pros:
- Popular brand;
- Nikon’s no-fault repair/replacement warranty;
- Adjustable zoom from 10x to 22x;
- Highly versatile (works great in all conditions);
- Rubberized armor;
- Secure Grip;
- Adjustable eyecups;
- A great focus distance of 49.2 feet.
Cons:
- The binoculars are a bit heavy (2.53 pounds).
Bushnell Spectator
Is there something more annoying missing a key moment of the cricket match because the binoculars lost focus? The designers who created the Bushnell Spectator binoculars know that the focus needs to always be on point, and this is why they have built a new permafocus technology that keeps all distant objects in focus. Therefore, you are no longer required to use the focus knob to keep making adjustments so that you can follow the players.
The weather plays a vital role in cricket matches, and the Bushnell Spectator is the best option for any conditions. The binoculars feature a waterproof construction that doesn’t only resist rain, but also fog. Your view is never going to be hazy when using the Bushnell Spectator.
The binoculars are available in multiple color options so that you can customize them to fit with your favorite cricket team’s uniform colors. However, the design is not the reason why we have picked the Bushnell Spectator to be featured on the second spot on our list. Instead, the feature that makes these binoculars great for live cricket matches is the multi-coated optics that provide excellent light transmittance and image brightness.
In addition, this product weighs in at only 1.24 pounds. This is great because a one-day cricket match lasts for around eight hours, and your hands and will get shaky if the binoculars are heavy.
Pros:
- Permafocus technology;
- Available in multiple colors;
- Fog and waterproof;
- The binoculars weigh in at only 1.24 pounds;
- Multi-coated optics;
- Excellent light transmittance;
- Rugged rubberized armor.
Cons:
- There aren’t any.
Gosky HD Prism Binoculars
If you are looking for a pair of premium binoculars that deliver crisp images, powerful magnification and a wide field of view, then you can’t go wrong with the Gosky HD Prism Binoculars. These binoculars fall into the high-end category because they use BAK-4 prisms. These are the best lenses available for binoculars, and thanks to them, you can be sure that the image quality when watching live cricket matches is always going to be HD.
The 4mm optics are fully, multi-coated with green film to improve clarity and to improve light transmittance. Even if it is cloudy on the stadium, your view of the game is still going to be clear. The binoculars stand out even more with their 10x magnification power and 307 feet field of view at 1,000 yards.
One of the features that many people tend to overlook when buying binoculars for sports is their ergonomic feel and eyecups design. Without a good and comfortable design, you will not be able to use the binoculars for more than one hour because your hands will go shaky.
Luckily, this is not the case for the Gosky HD Prism Binoculars that feature a smooth and easy to grip design. Your index finger is automatically placed on the focus knob so that you can zoom in on the action as fast as possible. We also want to highlight that these binoculars are tripod compatible.
Pros:
- BAK-4 prisms;
- Fully, multi-coated optics;
- Crisp and clear image at all times;
- Ergonomic design;
- Tripod compatible;
- 10x magnification power;
- An impressive field of view;
- Lifetime warranty.
Cons:
- The carrying pouch is small.
Celestron SkyMaster
Bring the stadium into focus with the Celestron SkyMaster. These binoculars are available in three options, and they feature the following magnification power: 12x, 15x and 25x. While a smaller magnification is ideal for stadiums when watching sports so that you can keep a close eye on the entire game, our advice would be to go for the mid-range option.
The reason behind this is so that you can use the binoculars for other activities such as bird watching or stargazing, for example. Moreover, the binoculars ship with Porto prisms and a 70mm objective lenses to offer a maximum image brightness, even in bad lighting conditions. In addition, the field of view is 141 feet at 1,000 yards.
While the ultra-sharp focus of the binoculars is impressive, this is not the feature that makes them stand out the most. What truly makes the Celestron binoculars Skymaster stand out is how comfortable they are to use and their eye relief. In case you didn’t know, binoculars don’t work with prescription glasses because the image gets distorted.
Fortunately, this will not happen with the binoculars from Celestron because they feature 0.51-inch eye relief for eyeglass wearers. Also worth noting is that the lenses are multi-coated to enhance the contrast quality.
Pros:
- Porto prisms;
- The binoculars are available in three models;
- An impressive field of view;
- Multi-coated optics;
- Excellent eye relief for eyeglass wearers;
- Secure grip.
Cons:
- The binoculars are not fog or waterproof.
Bushnell Falcon
Are you looking for an affordable pair of binoculars that will help you follow every play in your favorite cricket matches? If that is the case, then you can’t go wrong with the Bushnell Falcon binoculars that are equipped with a budget-friendly price.
Despite the low price tag, these binoculars are equipped with premium features such as fully-coated optics for enhanced light transmittance. Another cool feature that you won’t find on binoculars that are available in the same price range is the Instafocus System. As the feature’s name implies, the Instafocus System will make sure that you have a quick focus for moving targets. This is a really nice feature to have when watching live sports, especially for cricket, where things tend to happen quickly.
The Bushnell Falcon ship with a 7x magnification power and a wide lens diameter of 35 mm. If this isn’t impressive enough, then you should know that the binoculars for watching cricket provide an extraordinary field of view of 420 feet at 1,000 yards.
We also want to highlight that this product is super comfortable to use and that the eyecups can be folded down to prevent prescription glasses or sunglasses from getting scratches on their lenses.
Pros:
- Great Price;
- Instafocus System;
- 420 feet field of view;
- Adjustable eyecups;
- 7x magnification power;
- 25 feet close focusing distance;
- Excellent eye relief for eyeglass wearers.
Cons:
- The binoculars are a bit bulky.
Buying Guide for The Best Binocular for Watching Cricket
A premium pair of binoculars need to meet specific criteria in order to be considered great for watching cricket games or any other live sports. Here are the most important ones:
- Eye Relief
We can’t stress enough how important eye relief is, especially for people who wear prescription glasses. To explain eye relief in layman’s terms, this is the distance from the ocular lenses, or the last surface of an eyepiece, at which the eye can get the full field of view. Having good eye relief means that the image is never going to be distorted and that your eyes will not hurt after extended sessions.
- Magnification Power
How close do you want to zoom in on the cricket match? Do you want to be able to see the brands on the paddles? If that is the case, then you should go for a magnification power of around 10x. This is more than enough to help you see the facial expressions of the players and also to have an excellent field of view.
- Multi-Coated Optics
The last feature that we consider is essential for binoculars that are designed for watching live sports is multi-coated optics. This feature enhances the light transmittance of the binoculars, and therefore, it will help you see a clear and crisp image in all lighting conditions. You will no longer have to worry about cloudy weather.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best binoculars for sports?
The best binoculars for watching live sports need to meet the criteria featured above. All the binoculars reviewed on this list are great for watching cricket, but if we had to pick a favorite, then we would go with the Nikon ACULON. You can also go for the Bushnell Spectator if you want a pair of binoculars that are easy to carry and use.
What does 10×50 mean in binoculars?
You will always see two numbers featured on binoculars, and they represent the magnification power and the diameter of the lens. The first number, 10 in this case, shows that the binoculars can make an image appear 10x closer than the naked eye. The second number indicates the diameter of the lens measures in at 50mm.
What is the best way to clean binocular lenses?
The lenses are the most critical part of binoculars, and there is no doubt about that. This is why you need to make sure to protect them and clean them regularly. The best way to do that is to use a dedicated microfiber cloth that can wipe away any smears or smudges without leaving scratches.
Why do some binoculars have green lenses?
Most binoculars feature green-tinted lenses, and there is a good reason for that. The green tint is not there to improve aesthetics, and instead, it enhances the quality of the images. Our eyes are naturally more sensitive to green lights, and this makes images look crisper when looking through green-tinted lenses.
Does wearing glasses change how you use binoculars?
Wearing glasses is going to impact the image quality when viewing cricket matches through binoculars. The image gets distorted, but fortunately, here is where eye relief comes in. As mentioned in the buying guide featured above, eye relief makes it possible for you to use binoculars while still wearing prescription glasses or sunglasses.