Binoculars for Birding
If you're interested in watching and learning about birds, you really only need two things: books and binoculars. I've already recommended some good bird guides so now I'd like to offer some advice about binoculars.
The Good and the Bad
Everyone should have a good pair of binoculars. They can improve watching sports and live events, watching wildlife, seeing boats on the lake, or anything else going on far away. Good binoculars bring you to the action and put you in the moment. They're not about preserving pictures like a camera. They're about enhancing and enjoying what's going on right now. The bright, sharp, colorful image from good optics is a joy to experience, and seeing a colorful bird through good binoculars can be amazing. Nowadays good binoculars are better, easier to use, and less expensive than ever before.
On the other hand, low quality binoculars can be worse than nothing. They are hard to use, and can cause eye strain, headaches, and endless frustration. (Worst of all, they can put you off of birding!) Based on using bad binoculars, some people have decided that all binoculars are too hard to use, which is a shame. If you have been frustrated by an old pair of binoculars, you owe it to yourself to try a new pair. You might not believe how easy they are to use and what a great image you get, even with eyeglasses.
What do the numbers mean, and what do I want?
The characteristics that make binoculars good for birding also make them good for all kinds of things. Binoculars are usually described by two numbers separated by an "x", like 7x35 or 10x50. The first number is the magnification and the second number is the diameter (in millimeters) of the big lenses at the end. So 7x35 means the binoculars magnify the image 7 times and their lenses are 35 mm wide. Good general birding binoculars are 7 or 8 power and have an objective diameter of 32-42 millimeters (7x35 to 8x42). This is a sweet-spot combination of characteristics that birders like. Magnification of 7 or 8 power usually offers a wide field of view which makes it easier to find birds and to follow them as they move around. And this magnification isn't too powerful to hold steady in your hands. Objective lenses of 32-42 mm let in enough light for a bright image, and usually aren't too bulky.
Avoid compact binoculars. There are many "compact" binoculars on the market with numbers like 8x20 or 10x25. These are tempting because they are incredibly small and handy. But the sacrifices made for this handiness are not worth it. They have a darker and narrower image making them harder to use. The image quality is usually worse as well, and their small size can make them more difficult to hold steady.
Avoid zoom binoculars. There are many low-priced binoculars that can "zoom" their magnification from 7 or 8 power to 12 or 15 or even 20 power. This seems like an attractive feature, but the zoom mechanism sacrifices image quality. And most people can't hold anything over 10 power steady enough in their hands to use.
Specific Recommendations
There are many good birding binoculars out there. Below are just a few specific models generally considered the best or near the best for the price. All of the binoculars I'm recommending are waterproof, durable, work well with eyeglasses, and have good image quality. I recommend spending at least $100. In this lower price range, Nikon seems to be the brand to beat. I recommend the Nikon Action Extreme 7x35 ATB or the Nikon Action Extreme 8x40 ATB. These are porro prism binoculars, which are less expensive to manufacture but are a bit bulky.
My strongest recommendation goes to binoculars in the $200-$300 range. There are several middle price contenders that have amazing image quality and are a joy to use. These are nearly as good as $1000 binoculars (click each item for a web link):
These are all roof-prism binoculars which are more expensive to manufacture, but they are smaller and handier.
Where to buy
If you have the time, I recommend trying out the binoculars before you buy them. See for yourself if they fit your hands and eyes and how easy they are to use. This is easy to do at both Wild Birds Unlimited and Precision Camera and Video:
- Wild Birds Unlimited - This nearby bird-related store carries the Audubon and Eagle Optics models above at the same prices you can find on the internet.
- Precision Camera and Video - I bought my very first pair of binoculars at this local camera store about 15 years ago. They carry Nikon and Pentax binoculars in the low and middle price ranges.
- Eagle Optics - Over the years I've had good experiences ordering from Eagle Optics, and the links to specific binoculars above go to their web site. They also have lots of general info about binoculars.
More than you ever wanted to know
Here is some good general info about binoculars, and some great reviews and comparisons of recent binoculars:
Mikael Behrens
birdingonbroadmeade@gmail.com
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