Celestron Nature DX ED 10x42 vs Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70
Quick take: The Celestron Nature DX ED 10x42 costs $40 less; the Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70 reaches farther (15x vs 10x); the Celestron Nature DX ED 10x42 has a wider field of view (309 vs 231 ft @ 1000 yds).
Field of view, to scale
Top-down view · drawn to true scale — no exaggeration
Which one to buy
Handheld against tripod is the line between these. The Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70 weighs 51 oz and is built for astronomy, with 70mm objectives, a 4.6mm exit pupil, a built-in tripod adapter and a removable rail for a red-dot finder, all in a waterproof, nitrogen-purged housing. The Celestron Nature DX ED 10x42 weighs 24.9 oz and is a handheld general-purpose binocular with ED glass. They are $40 apart.
The SkyMaster Pro has 17mm of eye relief against 14.3mm, which matters, because Nature DX ED 10x42 owners say glasses wearers get clipped, vignetted views. Its 49.2 ft close focus and 231 ft field against 309 ft, though, rule it out for birding.
Nature DX ED owners like its ED glass at 10x, sharp, contrasty daytime views over hillsides and open water, and 6.5 ft close focus. They dislike narrow, collapsing eyecups, a sluggish focus wheel, the tight eye relief and a narrow field for tracking birds.
For daytime wildlife, travel and casual use, the Nature DX ED is the binocular you will use. The SkyMaster Pro is the better tool only if the night sky is your main interest and you will mount it on a tripod; at its weight, handheld sessions will be short.
Celestron Nature DX ED 10x42
For handheld daytime use, open-country wildlife and travel, if you don't wear glasses and want ED glass at 10x.
Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70
Best for stargazers who will mount it on a tripod and want 70mm objectives, a finder rail and waterproof sealing.
| Spec | Celestron Nature DX ED 10x42 | Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$240 | ~$280 |
| Use case | General Purpose | Astronomy |
| Magnification | 10x | 15x |
| Objective | 42mm | 70mm |
| Exit pupil | 4.2mm | 4.6mm |
| Field of view | 309 ft @ 1000 yds | 231 ft @ 1000 yds |
| Eye relief | 14.3mm | 17mm |
| Close focus | 6.5 ft | 49.2 ft |
| Prism | Roof | Porro |
| Glass | ED | BaK-4 |
| Coating | Fully Multi-Coated | Fully Multi-Coated |
| Weight | 24.9 oz | 51 oz |
| Dimensions | 5.5 x 5.0 in | 10.9 x 8.7 in |
| Warranty | Limited Lifetime | Limited Lifetime |
Feature comparison
Celestron Nature DX ED 10x42
- ✓ED Glass
- ✓Phase-Corrected
- ✗Dielectric Coating
- ✓Waterproof
- ✓Fogproof
- ✗Image Stabilized
- ✓Tripod Adaptable
- ✗Magnesium Body
- ✗Locking Diopter
Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70
- ✗ED Glass
- ✗Phase-Corrected
- ✗Dielectric Coating
- ✓Waterproof
- ✓Fogproof
- ✗Image Stabilized
- ✓Tripod Adaptable
- ✗Magnesium Body
- ✗Locking Diopter
What birders say
Celestron Nature DX ED 10x42
- ✓Cheapest mainstream path to ED glass at 10x — frequently street-priced at or below the 8x42, making it a standout deal on paper
- ✓Same optical package Cornell's testers rated a 'Solid Choice' in the line: sharp, contrasty, with accurate colorful rendering in good light
- ✓ED elements keep fringing under control at 10x, where chromatic aberration is normally more visible than at 8x
- ✓One test lab said the line's BAK-4 optics rival models costing more than twice as much
- ✓About 25 ounces, typical for a full-size 10x42
- ✓Fully waterproof, nitrogen purged, and phase-coated — the complete feature checklist under $200
- ✓6.5-foot close focus is excellent for a 10x binocular
- ✓Extra reach makes it a flexible budget choice for open-country wildlife, travel, and casual astronomy
- ✗14.3mm of eye relief is the dealbreaker spec — eyeglass wearers consistently report clipped, vignetted views, a steep drop from the 8x42's 17.8mm
- ✗309-foot field of view is narrow, and at 10x that makes finding and tracking birds noticeably harder for beginners
- ✗Same widely criticized eyecups as the rest of the line — narrow, hard, loose, and prone to collapsing
- ✗Sluggish focus wheel that takes effort to start and stop precisely — more annoying at 10x where focus depth is shallower
- ✗4.2mm exit pupil plus budget coatings means dusk performance falls off faster than the 8x42's
- ✗Backlit subjects lose fine detail, per expert testing of the line
- ✗Polycarbonate chassis, budget rubber armor, and hinges that reviewers rate below sturdier mid-tier rivals
- ✗Basic unpadded webbing strap and lightly padded case continue the line's weak accessory story
Celestron Nature DX ED 10x42 vs Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70: common questions
Can the Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70 be used handheld like the Nature DX ED 10x42?▾
Only briefly. At 51 oz and 15x it is built to sit on a tripod, which is why it ships with a built-in adapter. The Nature DX ED 10x42 weighs 24.9 oz and is designed for handheld use all day.
Which is better for eyeglass wearers, the Nature DX ED 10x42 or the SkyMaster Pro 15x70?▾
The SkyMaster Pro has 17mm of eye relief against the Nature DX ED's 14.3mm. Nature DX ED owners say glasses wearers consistently lose part of the field, so the SkyMaster Pro is the friendlier design for glasses.