Binoculars

Binoculars (called Telescopes in Nintendo Power) are telescopic devices that are commonly used in 3D Super Mario games.

Super Mario 3D Land
Binoculars are introduced in Super Mario 3D Land. If Mario steps on a green platform in front of it, he can look through the lens and get a view of the whole area. The binoculars are controlled by moving the Nintendo 3DS around using its gyro-sensor control, and the player can press or  to zoom out and zoom in, respectively. The player can also look for hidden Toads, and if the Toads are sighted, they will throw out items such as Star Medals, 1-Up Mushrooms, or even Super Stars. The camera can also be moved about using the on the 3DS. The image within the binoculars appears as 2D even if 3D is turned on.

In certain levels in Super Mario 3D Land such as World 1-3, the player may be able to spot a white UFO that eventually disappears from sight via the binoculars.

Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
In Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, a Sprixie holding a pair of orange binoculars appears in certain points of the levels, indicated with a round white platform. Once the player(s) step(s) on that platform, the camera shifts towards the direction of the Goal Pole, as the Sprixie looks through the binoculars. While these spots are referred to as binoculars in the Prima Games guide, there are differences compared to binoculars in other games: The player(s) cannot zoom in or out, and can only move the camera angle along a fixed plane.

Super Mario Odyssey
Binoculars return in Super Mario Odyssey. Here, Mario uses them by capturing them with Cappy, and they launch upward a set distance (due to being tethered by a thin cord) before usage, allowing Mario to view more of the area he is in. In some kingdoms, a peculiar flying object (such as the Sphynx or a taxi) can be spotted in the sky, and zooming onto it with the binoculars makes a Power Moon appear. If the player looks into the Sun by using the binoculars, Cappy tells the player to stop. If the player looks at the roof of Peach's Castle, Cappy mentions the egg on the roof. In this game, binoculars resemble R.O.B.'s head. Their model shows them having no eyes, instead glass as binoculars usually have. However, they actually do have eyes, but underneath the glass in their model.

Mario Party 9
Although binoculars do not appear in Mario Party 9, the Goomba Spotting minigame seems to have been seen from a pair of binoculars, except at the ending.

Mario Party: Island Tour
In Mario Party: Island Tour, binoculars taking on their designs from Super Mario 3D Land appear as the objects the players use in the minigame Point 'n' Shoot.

Mario Party Superstars
In Mario Party Superstars, the returning Goomba Spotting minigame appears to be seen from a pair of binoculars, like in Mario Party 9.

Super Nintendo World
Several sets of binoculars exist in the Super Nintendo World themed lands that use augmented reality to superimpose animated characters onto the landscape of the park. One of the keys of the Power-Up Band Key Challenges can be obtained by spotting an Airship with the binoculars. Moving the binoculars towards the sky results in them zooming out into space to reveal the Comet Observatory, with Rosalina flying out to greet the viewer, while looking towards a rainbow over a ledge reveals a group of Pikmin.

Super Mario 3D Land

 * North American website bio: Take a peek into one of these to see far away platforms or possible secret areas.
 * European website bio: These are to be found dotted around the game's courses. Use them to get a glimpse of the world around you.