Celestron has been around for ages and they are one of the true pioneers of the optics world. From telescopes to microscopes, everything that has a lens in it, they probably have it in store. Here, we will take a look at their binoculars section by reviewing the Celestron 71336 Nature DX model which is one of the countless variations of their Nature DX line. It is also the strongest one in terms of magnification and the most expensive. So, is it all worth your money or are you just paying for the brand name? We are about to find out!
Being a 12×56 model, the Celestron 71336 features a 12x magnification range paired with the absolutely massive 56mm lenses. They are all protected by the rubber shell of the binoculars and can help you see bird specimen at distances far greater than 1000 yards. If there is one thing that can make birdwatchers second guess this purchase it might be the price but everything else here just screams premium quality (including the added accessories) so it might not be a hard choice after all.
Product Overview And Features
One thing that Celestron has nailed is the incredible variety of binoculars in their Nature DX line. No matter what magnification, lens size, binoculars size, or weight you want, there is a good chance to find your perfect match. Take a look at the available sizes and specs and see for yourself:
- 8×32
- 8×42
- 8×56
- 10×32
- 10×42
- 10×56
- 12×56
Not only do those binoculars have different magnification ranges but they also have different color dynamics. For example, the smaller lens models (32mm, 42mm) allow less light into your binoculars’ prism and are therefore better for very bright conditions but tend to fall behind in the later darker hours of the day. That can be a deal breaker for some people that are going after a bird that specifically goes out in those hours or in the earliest hours of the day, for instance.
- Excellent Build Quality
- Huge magnification range
- Extra large lenses
- Has a rubber “armour” to protect it
- Fully multi-coated optics
- Comes with multiple accessories
- Bargain price
As we said, every birdwatcher has specific needs and Celestron have made sure to fulfil all of them at the same time.
The model we are reviewing is the 12×56 one which has the biggest magnification range plus the largest lenses. It is ideal for low-light conditions and for birdwatching at more than a thousand yards.
Magnification
There is a 12x magnification present in this particular model. That is enough to capture objects at more than 1000 yards away in great detail. At that range, you will be getting a 289 feet field of view, which is less than some cheaper binoculars such as the Wingspan Optics WingCatcher but at the same time good enough for most people.
At that range, you will still be able to see everything in great detail thanks to the wide lenses and the BaK4 prism types. The sharpness, tonal contrast, and clarity are unmatched which is a direct result of the years of experience Celestron has in optics.
There is a 16mm eye relief here. Eye relief is the distance between the eyepiece of the binoculars and your eyes. 16mm is roughly 0.6 inches which is a good enough distance for you to rest your eyes at and have a steady image even if you don’t have the sturdiest hands. There is quite the interpupillary distance as well ranging from 56 to 74mm.
Let’s have a look at the lenses here, as they are one of the most impressive features of the Nature DX 71336…
Lens Quality
The quality of these lenses is truly top notch. They are fully multi-coated and 56mm in width which all adds up to an incredible light transmission. What this means is that you will be able to have a bright and vivid image even when bird watching at dusk or dawn.
The phase coating of the prism adds to that light transmission as well as to the overall sharpness of the image even at greater magnifications.
The close focus here is roughly 10 feet which is more than some other models but the whole point of this specific 12×56 model is to be your long-range observing tool instead of a close-range one.
If you want to check out other long-range binoculars check out our buyer’s guide on some of the best bird watching binoculars.
Materials & Construction
The Celestron 71336 is made out of plastic core and a patented rubber armour coating on top. It entirely protects your binoculars from hits, bumps, drops, scratches, and other material damage. On top of that, it makes them entirely waterproof and shockproof.
The body itself is sealed with nitrogen which will prevent it from fogging in moist conditions.
The eyecups are adjustable and you can twist them to do that. They have multiple settings on which they will click upon turning them.
Being bigger binoculars, the 71336 Nature DX will also weigh a little more than the other binoculars. It is 2.5 pounds heavy making it one of the heavier models we’ve reviewed.
Additional Features
With every Celestron Nature DX series model you will be getting objective lens caps, eyepiece rainguard, lens microfiber cloth, hard case for carrying, instructions and a user’s manual.
On top of that, your binoculars will be tripod adaptable in case you need one for those long-range steady shots. As if that wasn’t enough, Celestron also makes a smartphone adapter which will allow you to take perfectly steady photos with your phone without much hassle.
Birding with your Celestron
Taking your Celestron binoculars out to observe a specific bird is going to be a unique experience. If you are up for a very distant shot at your favorite specimen, then these binoculars are definitely the tool for the task. They can be mounted to a tripod with an adapter, and can have your smartphone attached to them for that million dollar picture you are chasing.
They are a bit on the heavy side but the neck strap is comfortable enough and it won’t be much of an issue to carry them all day long. When travelling, the hard case will keep your binoculars safe and sound.
It’s now time to take a look at the pros and cons which are worth mentioning the most…
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- Excellent Build Quality
- Huge magnification range
- Extra large lenses
- Has a rubber “armour” to protect it
- Fully multi-coated optics
- Comes with multiple accessories
- Bargain price
Cons
- Narrow field of view
- A bit heavy
Conclusion and Rating
Birding Rocks Rating:
As a whole, investing a little more into a product that has so many features and such incredible magnification range is never a bad idea. Taking the extra accessories you are getting is a reason enough for the price to be completely justified. Now add to that the fact that you are getting binoculars from a premium brand that can easily show you the feathers of a bird 1000 yards away and you get a near-perfect product. We gave the Celestron 71336 Nature DX a five out of five stars rating.
