Counts of birds seen with four different binoculars

[mcdowella]

For a while now I have been organising some of my birdwatching so as to compare 4 different mid-price binoculars: 7x42, 8x30, 8.5x44, and 10x40. After all this I find that there isn't that much difference between the number of different birds seen with each, but I also find that if there had been a dramatic difference I would have spotted it. However if there was I would have expected bird survey instructions say more about binoculars. I have put a much more detailed writeup, complete with the raw counts, at http://www.mcdowella.demon.co.uk/BirdsByBinocular.html. Of course, these observations could well be specific to one particular birdwatcher, or one particular set of sites.

[solentbirder]

Interesting and thought-provoking ! This also seems to support the view that people should just use whatever they're comfortable with. Is this the end of the magnification debate as we know it ? (or just the beginning !).

[Sancho]

Interesting and thought-provoking ! This also seems to support the view that people should just use whatever they're comfortable with. Is this the end of the magnification debate as we know it ? (or just the beginning !).
Too right, Solentbirder, couldn't agree with you more. Use what your eyes like, and your eyes are unlike anyone else's. I've seen a lot of rather heated and uncivil exchanges on the Bins forum over the esoterics of high-end coatings or whateve´; taints us all as a lot of technocranks. Most of us are obsessed not with tech. specifications of optics, but with the rapidly-waning biodiversity of our troubled planet. I never knew what CA or pincushioning or sweet-spot meant until I had a look at some of these threads, and I don't think my life has been enriched one iota by finding out. My eyes still know what they like, and are the best judge for me. Meanwhile, have a Happy Christmas birding, best wishes to you and yours.