CELESTRON UPCLOSE G2 10x50 BINOCULAR
Large objective lenses and 10x magnification help this affordable piece of kit appeal to anyone wanting to start stargazing
How much should you pay for a binocular? Though some of the best binoculars go for low prices, you would do well to find many astronomy-centric binoculars as affordable as the Celestron UpClose G2 10x50. And there are plenty of reasons why binoculars with the exact specifications of the UpClose G2 10x50 are just what the budding amateur astronomer needs.
All binoculars are a balance between magnification, or power, and aperture – the amount of light they collect. The Celestron UpClose G2 10x50 boasts 10x magnification, which is just about perfect for a wide field of view of the night sky, while the 50mm diameter objective lenses let in enough light at night. Whether they actually deliver on those theoretical advantages is down to the optical design, which in the Celestron UpClose G2 10x50 consists of a Porro prism – wide with tapered barrels – as opposed to a roof prism, which are H-shaped with narrow barrels. Porro prisms are generally favoured for astronomy because they’re simpler optical systems and are more affordable. That’s the case with the UpClose G2, which boasts such a low price that it could be an option for astronomy groups and star parties as an affordable and dependable binocular for long-term use. However, since the build quality is best described as basic, we’re not convinced the Celestron UpClose G2 10x50 will last as long as pricier options.
If you do decide to buy the UpClose G2 10x50, be careful when choosing because Celestron sells a dizzying array of different products in the UpClose G2 range. There are various magnifications, objective lens sizes and prism types, with even a monocular and zoom lens offered.
The UpClose G2 10x50’s design and build quality are best described as simple. Fashioned from aluminium with a matte rubber covering, they’re water-resistant rather than waterproof. They’re not nitrogen-purged, so it’s possible they could get fogged up on occasion. Such niceties are for higher end products. We also noticed a slight looseness to the eyecups that could easily prove a weak point if this binocular were to be dropped.
Optically speaking, the Celestron
UpClose G2 10x50 is a compromise, with the Porro prisms dovetailing with BK7 glass, which plays second fiddle to BaK-4 for light transmission in the world of binoculars. That’s also standard at this very low price.
In practice, there are a few downsides to the Celestron UpClose G2 10x50’s design. The model isn’t as light to hold as some roof prism binoculars, and despite the presence of some useful thumb indents and finger ridges, it’s noticeably wider, too.
However, in use what the UpClose G2 10x50 mostly lacks is eye relief. The distance from your eye to the glass of the eyepiece is important to be able to see everything in the field of view, especially if you wear spectacles. That distance is called eye relief, and it’s typically between 10 and