Carson 3D Binoculars Review

In this review we will take an in depth look at the 3D series ED binoculars and see why they are being compared to much higher priced binoculars, like Vortex Vipers.

The Carson 3D ED Binoculars are available in both 8X42 and 10X42 models.

For this review I tested the 10X42 model, which is available in black and Mossy Oak Camouflage.

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For a thorough explanation of what the numbers mean visit our Best Hunting Binoculars Buying Guide.

How I Tested The Carson 3D Series Binoculars

I tested the Carson binoculars over the course of the summer and through the hunting season. I always have at least 2 sets of binoculars with me, so that I compare the optical performance and see first hand, which binoculars perform better.

I used them to glass fields all summer long, in order to take an inventory of the bucks using my hunting properties.

I used them on early season archery hunts in tree stands and ground blinds, where I was able to test their low light performance, as well as their performance in bright sunlight, and then I used them on late season muzzleloader hunts in frigid temperatures.

During my testing, I compared them to Nikon Monarch 7s, Vortex Diamondback HDs, Stealth Vision binos and Burris Droptines.

Here is what I found.

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Build Quality

I was very impressed with the Carson 3D Binoculars quality. This is the first Carson Binoculars that I have reviewed and they did not disappoint.

The combination of ED glass along with Bak-4 Prisms and fully multicoated lenses make these binoculars on par with some much more expensive optics.

The Carson 3D Series features a rubberized armor coating, making the body rugged and shock proof.

They are also nitrogen purged and hermetically sealed for 100% waterproof and fog proof performance.

They are designed to protect against rain, or even full submersion up to 5 minutes, making them a perfect choice for hunting, if it is true. Keep reading, because I submerged them for 5 minutes as part of my testing.

For the submersion test, I put them in a five gallon bucket and filled it with water until they weere submerged. After 5 minutes, I removed them from the water, wiped them off and proceeded to look through them and focus on different objects at different distances. 

Their did not appear to be any water intrusion and there no fogging. They were unaffected by being submerged in water.

The Carson 3D High Definition delivers crisp, clear images thanks to the use of extra low dispersion glass.

Couple that with with waterproof and fogproof operation and you can see why we rated the Carson 3D Binoculars so highly.

My only issue with quality, after using these binos for a full year, is that I noticed some small cracks in the right eyecup. It doesn't interfere with the performance, but I would expect better quality eyepieces on a binocular at this price point.

Design and Functionality

The first thing that you will notice about the design of the Carson 3D binoculars is the precisely placed thumb grooves and the texturing.

Couple that with the all around lightweight ergonomics and you have a perfectly designed pair of hunting binoculars.

The Carson 3D series binoculars feature a roof prism design. This results in a slim compact design in which the prisms and lenses line up perfectly for superior correction and magnification.

The field of view is slightly less than the other binoculars we compared them to, but they are very lightweight.

Another feature that should be highlighted is the extra long eye relief provided by the twist eyecups, making them an ideal solution for eyeglass wearers.

I am not a huge fan  of the included case. I don't really like the magnetic closures and I don't like the way it lays open. The harness is okay, but there are much better harnesses out there. Vortex actually includes the GlassPak harness on all of their binoculars, even ones less expensive than these Carsons.

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Carson 3D ED vs Monarch 7 ED

During my testing, I compared the Carson 3D 10x42 to my Nikon Monarch 7 10x42 binoculars and the Monarch 7 outperformed the Carson binoculars in most tests.

The Monarch was clearer and brighter and performed much better in low light conditions.

The Monarch is also slightly smaller, but it is noticeably heavier when you are glassing for a long period of time. The Carson binos are remarkably lightweight for binos with 42mm objective lenses

In the field of view test, the Monarch was the clear winner at 362 feet, while the carson binos came in at 314 feet. The difference was pretty significant and noticeable when used side by side.

In all fairness to Carson, the Monarch 7 is also significantly more expensive than the Carson binoculars.

Let's take a look at how they compared to the less expensive Vortex Diamondback HD binoculars.

Carson 3D ED vs Vortex DiamondBack HD

This was a much fairer test and the Carson binoculars out performed the Diamondbacks in just about every test. The Carsons were brighter and clearer. There was some chromatic aberration at the edges of the field of view on the Diamondbacks, while there was edge to edge clarity on the Carson 3Ds.

Low light performance was similar with both binos.

Both binos were pretty lightweight, without a noticeable difference and the Diamondbacks had a slightly larger field of view.

Let's take a look at how the Carson 3D ED Binos compare to other binoculars we have reviewed.

Carson 3D ED 10x42 Binoculars Comparison Table

Here is a great video showing all of the features of the Carson ED series binoculars.

Pros and Cons

My Final Verdict

I enjoyed using the Carson ED binoculars and comparing them to some of the best binoculars available today.

I found them to have good quality glass with decent light transmission and they provide good value for the money.

Personally, I would spend a little more money on higher quality optics like the Nikon Monarch M7. but if you are in the market for a good quality set of binoculars that won't break the bank, you should consider the Carson 10x42 3D ED Binoculars.

We hope that you have found our review helpful.