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Want 12x magnification without lugging binoculars? A 12×50 monocular is about the size of a soda can and it surprised me.
I unboxed the TWOD 12×50 monocular and took it outside. That exact model isn’t listed anymore, so the button below goes to a current, well-reviewed 12×50 monocular. Here’s what to look for and how mine did.
- Clear enough to see individual leaves and pine needles
- Much smaller than binoculars for hiking
- Focus is easy to adjust with your thumb
- Came with a tripod for steady viewing
- Rubberized, flexible lens caps
- Mini tripod legs collapse under light weight
- Rear cap isn’t tethered
- Hand-holding at 12x can be shaky
▶ Watch the full review on YouTube
What comes in the box
Mine came with a little tripod, which is nice at high magnification if you don’t have image stabilization. It has a standard camera screw on top, a small ball joint, and a lock to hold it in place. The worst part is that the legs can collapse under pretty light weight, so you end up using it in its short configuration.
You also get instructions, a microfiber cloth, and a fake velvet drawstring pouch.
Build and controls
It kind of looks like a night vision monocular I used to have. There are flexible rubberized caps; the front one is tethered and the back one isn’t.
The eyepiece rotates for fine adjustment, which changes the eye relief for you. The focus is easy to work with your thumb. Under a screw-off cover there’s a tripod mounting point, and there’s a pass-through hole for a lanyard.
How clear is the view?
Outside, I dialed in the focus and held my iPhone to the eyepiece, so excuse the shaky footage. Looking through a gap in the trees to trees further back, I could see the detail of the leaves and even the pine needles.
Then I looked with the naked eye, and those trees are a good distance away. For 12x, that’s pretty impressive.
Is a 12×50 monocular worth it?
If you’re going on a hike or heading outdoors and want something a lot smaller than binoculars, this works great. Get the eyepiece adjustment right first, then use your thumb to fine-tune the focus. I’m pretty impressed.
FAQ
What does 12×50 mean?
12x magnification with a 50mm objective lens.
Does it come with a tripod?
Mine did, and the current model linked here comes with a phone adapter. Check the listing for what’s included.
Can I mount it on a tripod?
Yes, the mount is under a screw-off cover.
Is it better than binoculars for hiking?
It’s much smaller and lighter to carry, and the view was clear.
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