Hi Everyone,
The most important requirement that birders need in a good pair of birding binoculars is the ability to clearly recognize from a distance the feather type and color of the bird they are looking at. To do this so it is essential to have good quality birding binoculars with appropriate optics and features that cover a wide range of situations.
With the large number of birding binoculars available it can be difficult selecting what you need if you are unsure what features and specifications you require because you can be sure that the birding binoculars being offered will come in an extensive range of sizes, shapes, specifications and cost.
To help you sift through the many types of birding binoculars available I have provided the following key tips to assist you in buying a good quality pair of birding binoculars that will best suit your requirements.
Magnification. An 8x magnification which is the first number in a binocular is the accepted magnification used by most birders. Birding binoculars between an 8x32 and 8x42 specification are compact enough to carry and large enough to collect plenty of light. A little more image detail can be obtained with a 10x magnification but this size can be hard to hold steady and usually require tripods in many situations.
Objective lens size. The second number in a lens size is also important as it gauges the quantity of light let into the binoculars. An objective lens size of between 32mm and 42mm is preferred by most birders. The golden rule to remember when deciding on the objectives is ‘the larger the front objective the more concise and brighter images in the distance will appear’. Birding binoculars with extra magnification = a reduced amount of light and remember as objectives get larger the optics get heavier and more uncomfortable to hold.
Focus type. It is important to buy birding binoculars that have a centre focus. In many cases a target being focused on can be close or in the distance so it is advantageous for any birder to acquire birding binoculars that have a centre focus.
Lens coating. This helps to minimize glare and improve clarity. Some less expensive models of birding binoculars may be labeled “fully coated lens”. To ensure all the lens surfaces are multi-coated ensure the birding binoculars have a label that reads “fully multi-colored lens” which although expensive are in general the best optics to have.
Water-proofing. Birding can be carried out in all types of weather conditions so it is important to look for birding binoculars that are labeled ‘waterproof’. Having a water proof model will help protect them from the fog, rain and wet and offer enhanced protection from dust and grime..
Weight. Carrying a heavy pair of birding binoculars in hot humid conditions can be tedious over a long period. Over shorter periods a good weight for birding binoculars would be around 35 ounces and if you intend birding for longer periods a slightly lighter pair would be preferable.
Optical quality. Good birding binoculars with high quality optics will cost you because the more expensive optics have multi-element lenses with coatings that maximize the image and color. There are many mid range optics that are still very good under most conditions so you will need to decide on what sort of quality image you want the optics to project.
Eye relief. If you wear eyeglasses or shades or sunglasses during birding then ensure the birding binoculars you acquire have an eye relief of at least 14-15mm. Anything less the eyeglass wearer will experience a lesser field of view. There are various models available that cater for eye glass wearers and some have special rubber eye-caps that can be rolled down.
The most important requirement that birders need in a good pair of birding binoculars is the ability to clearly recognize from a distance the feather type and color of the bird they are looking at. To do this so it is essential to have good quality birding binoculars with appropriate optics and features that cover a wide range of situations.
With the large number of birding binoculars available it can be difficult selecting what you need if you are unsure what features and specifications you require because you can be sure that the birding binoculars being offered will come in an extensive range of sizes, shapes, specifications and cost.
To help you sift through the many types of birding binoculars available I have provided the following key tips to assist you in buying a good quality pair of birding binoculars that will best suit your requirements.
Magnification. An 8x magnification which is the first number in a binocular is the accepted magnification used by most birders. Birding binoculars between an 8x32 and 8x42 specification are compact enough to carry and large enough to collect plenty of light. A little more image detail can be obtained with a 10x magnification but this size can be hard to hold steady and usually require tripods in many situations.
Objective lens size. The second number in a lens size is also important as it gauges the quantity of light let into the binoculars. An objective lens size of between 32mm and 42mm is preferred by most birders. The golden rule to remember when deciding on the objectives is ‘the larger the front objective the more concise and brighter images in the distance will appear’. Birding binoculars with extra magnification = a reduced amount of light and remember as objectives get larger the optics get heavier and more uncomfortable to hold.
Focus type. It is important to buy birding binoculars that have a centre focus. In many cases a target being focused on can be close or in the distance so it is advantageous for any birder to acquire birding binoculars that have a centre focus.
Lens coating. This helps to minimize glare and improve clarity. Some less expensive models of birding binoculars may be labeled “fully coated lens”. To ensure all the lens surfaces are multi-coated ensure the birding binoculars have a label that reads “fully multi-colored lens” which although expensive are in general the best optics to have.
Water-proofing. Birding can be carried out in all types of weather conditions so it is important to look for birding binoculars that are labeled ‘waterproof’. Having a water proof model will help protect them from the fog, rain and wet and offer enhanced protection from dust and grime..
Weight. Carrying a heavy pair of birding binoculars in hot humid conditions can be tedious over a long period. Over shorter periods a good weight for birding binoculars would be around 35 ounces and if you intend birding for longer periods a slightly lighter pair would be preferable.
Optical quality. Good birding binoculars with high quality optics will cost you because the more expensive optics have multi-element lenses with coatings that maximize the image and color. There are many mid range optics that are still very good under most conditions so you will need to decide on what sort of quality image you want the optics to project.
Eye relief. If you wear eyeglasses or shades or sunglasses during birding then ensure the birding binoculars you acquire have an eye relief of at least 14-15mm. Anything less the eyeglass wearer will experience a lesser field of view. There are various models available that cater for eye glass wearers and some have special rubber eye-caps that can be rolled down.
