I recommend that you view my site to understand what is important when purchasing the best bird watching binoculars or any other birding optics. I have done my best to provide you with the best reviews of the products.
I am dedicated to giving you the best information for all important tools that bird watchers should carry in their fieldwork, in this case the best bird watching binoculars.
Table of Contents
- Choosing a Bird Watching Binocular [Infographic]
- Best Bird Watching Binoculars 2016
- Bird Watching Binoculars Recommendations
- Bird Watching Binoculars Ratings
- Bird Watching Binoculars Reviews
- Best Binoculars for bird watching [11 STEPS]
- Best Birding Binocular Brands
- Bird Watching Binoculars Amazon
- Bird Watching Binoculars Camera
- Bird Watching Telescope
- Bird Watching Spotting Scopes
- Bird Watching Binoculars Buying Guide
- Popularity of Bird Watching
- Birding Watching Binoculars
- Conclusion
My site is also effective for all the experienced birders as it has researched all the questions that they may ask and provided the best answers.
Choosing a Bird Watching Binocular [Infographic]
Let’s get started with a nice visual infographic explaining you with 7 simple tips of choosing a Bird Watching Binocular…
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Best Bird Watching Binoculars 2016
This is the best…
This is the latest binocular from Bushnell. The Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Roof Prism Binocular is one of the best binocular that can never disappoint you.
My Best Recommendation
BUSHNELL LEGEND ULTRA HD 10×42 Binoculars
Overall Rank: 1
Best Mid-Range
★★★★★
SEE IT NOW
Overview Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10×42 Binoculars
It is prepared to suit all your field needs. It is relatively cheap and readily available. When you buy you get a carry case, a neck strap, a lens cloth and a deluxe binocular harness. Bird watching beginners as well as the experienced bird watchers can use it anytime they are in the field. It can be fitted in a tripod easily. The following are its key features that make it among the best available binoculars.
Light transmission
The Bushnell Legend Ultra Roof Prism Binocular has a superior light transmission compared to the other binoculars. It is able to transmit light in the entire visible light spectrum. In their site, Bushnell is reported to have a 77.25 more light transmission than other binoculars including the Nikon Monarch. The impressive light transmission is attributed to the new coated ultra wide custom band anti-reflective lens. These lenses ensure you have the maximum brightness during the peak viewing hours. They give the best HD image.
Ultra wide field of view
The field of view of the Bushnell Legend Ultra Roof prism binoculars is 12 percent wider than other binoculars in the same class. It has an estimated field of view of about 340ft at a distance of 1000 yards. Other features that make it superior include:
- ED prime glass
- Long eye-relief
- Lightweight body
- Locking diopter
- Waterproof and fog proof
- Rainguard HD water-repellent coatings
- Soft touching grips
Bird Watching Binoculars Recommendations
The following are my bird watching binoculars recommendations. They are guided by the best birding binocular ratings and binoculars reviews. Check out the most popular and best binoculars for birding that you can buy on Amazon.
Bird Watching Binoculars Ratings
This is important….
A study by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology on 100 binoculars helped in rating the binoculars. They noted that are binocular with high image quality in the low range prices. They also reported that as the price increased, image quality improved. These binoculars also had a better durability. It is important to know your taste and financial stability before choosing the binocular in terms of the rating.
Bird Watching Binoculars Reviews
The field of birding has different needs of birding equipment. What may be useful in one region may not be good in another. For example, you might be a bird watcher in a wide open area such as the coast while another birder loves birdwatching in a thick wooded forest. To gain knowledge on the best product for you, visit my reviews of these products. I always recommend the binoculars that have been reported to be best for a particular field. I focus on the following key qualities:
- A wider field of view for correct viewing
- A good magnification for good image stability preferably a 10X magnification
- Bird watching binocular, that offers relief to your eyes. They should allow you to use glasses
- Binoculars that will work well in all terrains
- Binocular that has a close focus
- Comfortable birdwatching equipment, in terms of weight and shape.
Best Binoculars for bird watching [11 STEPS]
1. Ease of focusing
You should buy a binocular that allows you to get a quick and sharp focus when in the field. All birders need to focus on the moving bird, so they need a quick focus. Best birding binoculars focus the birds with just one revolution. Avoid the binoculars that require you to turn the knob several times before focusing. Look for the binoculars that will easily stabilize your image.
2. Shape of the binoculars
Binoculars are of two main shapes: Porro prism and roof prism. When buying binoculars online check for these shapes in the web. You will realize that the roof prisms are smaller and more expensive. The Porro prisms are the common binoculars I know. The two have similar image quality. Check the quality of glass used to make the prisms as it can affect the image sharpness.
3. Magnification
Do not purchase binoculars with the highest magnification for the bird watching. These binoculars make hand tremors more visible resulting in a smaller image. Their images are not clear and bright. Consider a maximum of 10×50 binoculars but a 7x and 8x can also be good. Also, check for the binoculars with a camera. They will be very effective.
4. Close focus
This is another important feature you should consider before purchasing the best birding binoculars. Close focus can be defined as the shortest distance your binocular is capable of providing a sharp image. It is related to the magnification. A higher magnification has a higher focal distance. For a birder, if you want to see all the details of the bird that is 15 feet away, you should have a binocular with a minimum close focus of around 10 feet.
Do your research before you buy…
5. Binoculars zooming
To enjoy birding, stick to fixed power binoculars. Do not rush to buy the zoom binoculars. This is because zooming results in distorted images. If you want to buy the zooming binoculars, to assist you in viewing the image at greater distance, try them before purchase.
6. Size of the objective lens
The front lens is responsible for allowing light to the binoculars. The larger the lens, the clearer the image will be. Binoculars with the large lens are heavy. You need a larger objective lens if you enjoy bird watching during dawn or dusk. Compact binoculars are not recommended for birders because of the size of their lens. A 32 to 42mm objectives lens is the best for bird watching.
You have to know this….
7. Binoculars coating
The best birding binoculars have are described as fully multi-coated. A coating is responsible for improving contrast and improving glare.
8. Weight of the binoculars
Weight is a great factor for those who are buying binoculars for birdwatching to use in the field. If you have to carry your binoculars, choose the lighter binocular.
9. Binocular prices
Binoculars are affordable. Their prices might indicate their quality. Do not opt for the cheap binoculars. But it is always important to choose what you can afford. After concluding on the best birding binocular model to buy compare the prices in the online stores such as Amazon, before deciding on where to buy.
Look here…
10. Eye relief
When choosing your binoculars check if they are comfortable for your eyes. They should have eyecups that can accommodate eyeglass wearers. For those who do not use eyeglasses, the eyecups should extend to provide eye shading. Test the eyecups by adjusting them to their minimum position. Try using the binoculars to check if you have enough eye relief. Buy binoculars that are eye friendly.
11. Test a lot of models
Different people love different types of binoculars. Some consider the size of their hands, the shape of their face and even the color of the binoculars. Some might be buying binoculars for kids and, therefore, require special features. To get the best binoculars for birding, test a variety of models. There are a variety of digital binoculars nowadays. The most recognized binoculars include the Nikon binoculars, Bushnell binoculars, Canon binoculars, infrared binoculars and compact binoculars. During the test also consider the marine binoculars if you intend for marine birding, rangefinder binoculars and the binoculars for astronomy.
Best Birding Binocular Brands
The following are the most popular binocular for birding brands:
Bushnell Binoculars
These are very popular birding binoculars that have been reported to very effective in bird watching. One of their notable improvements is the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Roof Prism. I consider it the best birding binocular so far from the customer reviews.
Nikon Binoculars
They have a variety of binocular products. In their website, they claim that their binoculars can be used in any application. Nikon binoculars are brilliant and impeccable for all the field needs. One of the most popular binocular from Nikon is the Monarch Nikon Binocular. It has been said to perform well in most geographical regions. Other products from Nikon include Prostaff binoculars, Edg, Aculon, High grade among others.
Olympus Binoculars
These binoculars are framed as powerful binoculars. They have an excellent performance. In their site, they recommend their use in all activities including bird watching. They classify the binoculars as professional and leisure binoculars. They include the roamer, trooper, tracker among others.
Bird Watching Binoculars Amazon
You have to know this…..
When searching for a bird watching binocular, amazon is the best online store to visit. It gives the best products after customer reviews.
In their website, Amazon list customer reviews and comments on the products.
You can therefore know the products that are giving customers the best experience. From this you can choose the product that will be best for you.
When you search birding equipment in amazon, you will find equipment from all the binocular companies. A brief description will also be given. It is therefore your responsibility to go through each and every product read the description and also the review. All this will give you enough knowledge on the equipment that will suit your need.
Bird Watching Binoculars Camera
Look….
A good binocular should have a camera with good image quality. You can find this in the camera of Bushnell binoculars. A good image should be attractive in its original JPEG image from the camera without any editing. You should buy a binocular with a camera that has high resolution and a good quality compressed image. These cameras will make the bird easily identifiable.
Bird Watching Telescope
Telescopes offer a larger magnification than the binoculars. Their magnification ranges from 15X upto 60X. They are more expensive compared to the binoculars. They require a tripod stand during bird viewing. The most popular telescopes include astronomical refractor telescopes, Celestron astronomical telescope among others.
Bird Watching Spotting Scopes
Finally…..
Bird watching spotting scopes are powerful magnifiers during the field work. They are more expensive than the binoculars. Several spotting scopes designs are available. These include the straight through scopes and the angled scope. Angled scopes are convenient to use as you do not require a lot of movement during viewing. It is also advisable to consider your height while setting their tripod stands. Spotting scopes with a 20X magnification and objective lenses of about 65mm will be effective in the birding process.
Bird Watching Binoculars Buying Guide
Do you know this…..
Consider the following before purchasing a birding binocular.
Where do you go for bird watching?
If you enjoy backyard birding, you can buy heavy binoculars but if you have to carry them to the field consider purchasing a light and comfortable binoculars. If you enjoy birding around dawn or dusk, consider a low light viewing binocular such as the night vision binoculars.
Birding Time
If you enjoy birding around dawn or dusk, consider a low light viewing binocular such as the night vision binoculars.
Other uses of the binoculars
This is important….
If you intend to use it in other activities such as hiking, hunting or sea viewing, an impact proof binocular will be best for you. For example hunting binoculars can also be used for bird watching while viewing in the sea, you need waterproof binoculars or the marine binoculars.
Popularity of Bird Watching
Birding is a growing hobby. It has become very popular in countries such as United States, United Kingdom, Australia and even some parts of Africa. Figure show that it is the fastest growing hobby in North America. Ever thought of enjoying this hobby? You need some field tips to enhance the birding experience.
Birding Watching Binoculars
Choosing the right binoculars for bird watching requires years of experience. It is hard to subtle the difference of each binocular.
Here is a tip…
Anytime you are choosing birding equipment you have to remember they are of different quality. You should not just pick a binocular, a spotting scope, a wildlife camera or even a field recorder because of its color or its shape. You have to know finer details on how the bird watching equipment will suit you in the field. Focus on the purpose of the equipment as well as the convenient it will offer in the field. In this guide I will recommend the best binoculars for birding.
Conclusion
Finally…
As you choose the binoculars to buy, consider it use. Make sure it gives the best view of the targeted geographic area. It is also important to consider additional features such as durability, warranty, and waterproofing. When you consider all these characteristics, I am confident you will have the best birding binoculars.
