Celestron UpClose G2 10x25 Binoculars 71232

Celestron UpClose G2 10x25 Binocular Review

The Celestron UpClose G2 10x25 binocular is a compact, inexpensive, take anywhere binocular that is not only great for hikers, hunters, outdoorsmen, and casual observers, but is small enough to keep anywhere.  Keep one in your backpack, in your car, in the office, or in your purse, and you'll always have a pair of binoculars ready to go.

Our usual opinion of compact binoculars is that they are a sorry excuse for a midsize or even full size binocular.  But at this price, there's not much to be unhappy about.

The UpClose G2 10x25 comes with a nylon case with a belt loop, a standard for compacts that makes them easy to carry when hiking or birdwatching.  The design is a double hinged design is manufactured from aluminum, a design that seems to be pretty common amonst binoculars in this class, and the dual hinges both exhibit a tight feel that stays where you put them.  Eye cups are minimalist, made from a soft rubber material that is easy on the bridge of the nose.  A hard rubber armor covers both optical bodies, and while it does seem mostly cosmetic, it does get thicker around the edges of the objective lenses, which is where it's most likely to be needed.  A thin nylon string functions as a neck strap, built in to the hinged design, with no additional loops for a real comfortable strap.

As far as optics go, this is a compact binocular.  We are on record as not being a huge fan of compact binoculars in general, due to eye relief and field of view.  They are exactly what you'd expect from a knockaround binocular.  Some slight fuzziness and lack of sharpness near the edges, but surprisingly well controlled chromatic aberration.  Another plus is that the outer lenses are multi-coated, which should do a decent job of protecting them from dirt and grime, especially if they are stored in the carrying case.

So they aren't ED, come in just under 20 bucks, and the glass is mid-shelf.  So what are they good for?  Well, we can think of about a hundred situations where you'd want to keep the UpClose G2 10x25 handy.  Backpacks, day packs, hunting bags, glove box, saddle bag, tank bag, or any other situation where you might want to keep a pair of optics handy, without having to worry about sinking cash into something that may get bumped around.  You may never know when you'll need a magnified view, so for those purposes, the UpClose G2 10x25 is a perfect fit.