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Message: <blockquote data-quote="wdc" data-source="post: 3622352" data-attributes="member: 140496">On the topic of digitally enhanced optics and IS, consider something like the Nikon p610, a mirrorless superzoom, as a device that can enhance aspects of the birding experience, alongside the traditional binocular. I usually carry one with me, and it functions like a static fieldscope, allowing me to ID birds I simply can't due to their distance/size from my position. While there is not much 'joy' in prolonged realtime viewing through the finder, one can acquire the target, and then zoom into the shot to make an ID. Larger, and or closer objects will actually yield a decent picture too!  I guess most digital cameras these days can do this, but a small superzoom packs a wallop in an extremely portable package.  I've been able pick out a band-tailed pigeon, and differentiate between a tree swallow and a violet green on a power line, from roughly a 1,000 feet away. Perhaps the more experienced birders can do it with their naked eyes, or their 8x bins, but it is nice to have such a useful tool along as a supplement to the regular bins. Whether the 2 shall ever be made into one package, successfully and affordably, remains to be seen.Bill</blockquote>