Carson RD 10x50 binocular review

The Carson 10x50 RD binoculars are a great beginner pair of binoculars for the hybrid observer, thanks to their contrasted daytime views and ability to observe nighttime objects, albeit with some pesky chromatic aberration.

If you only use binoculars for stargazing, then we would seriously recommend a different pair for sharper and cleaner views. That being said, if you want to look at a range of different targets like birds or other terrestrial viewing, they strike a great balance between magnification and objective lens diameters. 10x is just enough that you can hold them steadily and a 50mm objective lens means that images are nice and bright, even in dim conditions.

The open-bridge design makes them easier to wrap your fingers around, allowing for sturdy and direct control of the observation subject. This also helps the binoculars cut their weight down to only 1.76 lbs, making them an attractive option for grabbing quickly for a walk or sports game. The Carson RD 10x50 are a strong general-purpose pair of binoculars that will help you get a better view of the world around you.

Carson RD 10x50 binocular review

Carson RD 10x50 binocular: Design

• Bridgeless design helps with grip
• Smooth surface on the chassis
• The 50mm objective lenses let in lots of light

The Carson RD 10x50s have a lovely, simple design with a smooth chassis, looking like a mix of a lightweight adventure binocular and a full-size model. This is mainly due to the lack of a bridge, but the open-bridge design of the Carsons is well-executed. It enables easier handling whilst minimising shaky images at higher magnification, as you can grab both sides of the optical tubes firmly.

The focus wheel is furled and appears very large compared to the rest of the optic, but I found this to be a good thing, as it's easy to use whilst wearing gloves in colder weather.

The shoulder bag comes with a padded strap that clips on using sturdy plastic clips. However, the bag's material is more in keeping with cheaper binoculars, as it's pretty thin and proved only showerproof on a particularly wet day during testing. Sadly, it's not really suitable for the proposed rough-and-ready nature of the RDs.

There's a threaded screw in the lower part of the bridge assembly that's removed to fit a tripod adapter. With the binoculars mounted on a tripod using this mount, I found them quite unstable, as the lack of a bridge assembly behind this fitting results in uneven weight distribution. This design may prove a weak point in the chassis without the support of a conventional bridge, as it places significant strain on a relatively small piece of plastic.

Carson RD 10x50 binocular: Performance

• Poor low-light performance at night
• Good, sharp views with good contrast during the day
• Rugged and waterproof, though the bridgeless design could be a problem in the long term

For my test, I was predominantly looking at how the Carsons would perform whilst stargazing. My test site for this was in a dark-sky reserve, where I measured a sky quality of 21.4 SQM and a Bortle class 4. A tripod was on hand to help with shakes and vibration. The light from the 50mm lenses was enough to focus on fairly bright stars, but the resulting chromatic aberration, especially around bright stars, was hard to ignore.

The view through the Carsons is excellent for a binocular at this price point, even without the additional coatings of their fully multicoated stablemates. However, the lack of phase-correction coatings on the roof prisms did result in limitations at night. Whilst observing the conjunction of the star Regulus and the moon, I could observe Leo's brightest star quite clearly at the full 10x power of the Carsons. Still, there was a lot of purple fringing around the edge of the view, consistent with chromatic aberration, and the inclusion of phase correction on the prisms could have helped here.

Sadly, the chromatic aberration meant I was a little disappointed with their astronomical performance. The chromatic aberration only appeared around the outer edge of the views, so it wasn't too much of a distraction, but it was disappointing nonetheless.

As mentioned, the roof prisms don't have phase correcting coatings, and it shows. If you are thinking of purchasing these binoculars purely for stargazing, I would find it hard to recommend this model and would suggest you look further up the model range, where phase correction is included.

That being said, on other duties, the optics fared well. Birdwatching is fun with these binoculars, as they are very easy to maneuver thanks to their lack of a bridge. They feel very sure in the hand, as you can wrap both hands around both optical tubes. Long-term, this bridgeless design may affect the durability of the binoculars, as there is less brazing at the joint between the two optical tubes. While I found these binoculars to be good for birdwatching, the focus wheel is low geared, so fine focusing whilst tracking birds is quite cumbersome.

Carson RD 10x50 binocular: Functionality

• Lightweight and compact
• Easy, sure grip thanks to the bridgeless design
• Good daytime ability with clear views

The Carsons weigh 1.7 lbs and are only 5.7-in wide, making them easy to fit into a large pocket. This meant that I rarely used the included carry case and made them my first choice for a quick stroll or outing, as they can be thrown in a pocket and used as if they were a monocular.

The lightweight, compact size of these binoculars makes them appealing to walkers and to people using them at sporting events and concerts, for example. In use, the bridgeless design enables the hand to wrap around the entire instrument, increasing a sense of security and inspiring confidence in using them in any circumstance. They aren't as thickly covered as some units, so care is needed to ensure they are not dropped on hard surfaces.

Should you buy the Carson RD 10x50 binocular?

Looking elsewhere is a good suggestion if you are going to use the Carson RD 10x50 binoculars solely for astronomy, as their chromatic aberration can leave you disappointed with your views of celestial objects. At 10x magnification, they can definitely give you a better view during stargazing sessions but don't expect the wow factor from these binoculars.

On the other hand, if you are wanting a pair of binoculars for general observation of a range of targets, think birdwatching, terrestrial viewing and sports matches, then these are a phenomenal budget pair of optics. This is thanks to the 50mm objective lenses which helps let lots of light into the view and keep images bright.

Waterproofing and fogproofing are an added bonus for using in challenging conditions, so you can rest assured they will keep performing even in the rain and cold.

If the Carson RD 10x50 binocular isn't for you

If this product isn't for you, what about trying the recently tested big brother of this binocular, the Carson 12x50 VX binoculars? They're a little more expensive but include phase-corrected prisms to improve astronomical observations and seriously reduce chromatic aberration that is present in the 10x50 RD binoculars. They also offer a stronger magnification at 12x, which can help to see deep space objects up-closer.

If your budget can stretch a little more, the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD monocular would be a wise purchase thanks to the inclusion of extra-low dispersion (ED) glass for better light transmission and sharper views of celestial objects. With monoculars, you often get better quality optics, as you are only paying for one optical tube.

If the budget is your main concern, then check out the Celestron Cometron 7x50 binoculars, which offer great wide-field astronomical views for under $50. They have 7x magnification and 50mm objective lenses, which are great for getting brighter views of of larger celestial objects like the moon and constellations.