Bird watching, as a hobby, is becoming very popular. If you have also taken up this great hobby and have been out in the woods trying to spot kingfisher or a warbler, then you know that you need a good pair of binoculars in order to see the bird as well as see the details of the bird. It is very important to have great binocular as the birds are high on the branches and are very well covered with the leaves. In order to distinguish between the birds and the leaves and to see them in their nests too, you will need a good pair of binoculars. So, what are the features that you should look for in order to buy binoculars forbirdwatching? What are the different brands of binoculars for bird watching available? The following paragraphs will provide the answers to these questions.
Choosing Binoculars for Birding
There are certain aspects that you need to take into consideration while selecting the pair of binoculars for bird watching. It will help if you know how do binoculars work. The following paragraphs have binoculars explained for your benefit.
General Aspects
The binoculars should be light as bird watchers travel for a good part of the day on their feet. They do not need the weight of the binoculars to tire them out while bird watching. They should also be sealed from dust as well as from moisture so that the lens of the binoculars does not spoil. Another factor to be looked for is that the binoculars should work for those people who wear eyeglasses too. Though you think these details are small, they matter when you go out for bird watching. These are also to be considered while selecting the best binoculars for kids. Let us now look at what all to look for in the best binoculars for bird watching.
Focusing
Let us now talk of the other important factors of binoculars. The first one is focusing. The focus of the binoculars should be quick and sharp. This is needed as the birds are constantly moving around and if you need to watch its movements well, you will need binoculars that will help you focus instantly. Binoculars have a knob with the facility to bring the object in focus, this knob should be placed in such a way that you can focus comfortably without you having to turn the knob many times. Buy a pair of bird watching binoculars with central focus for a good experience. While buying a pair, ensure that you try out many different binoculars to see which one works for you as there are plenty of options brand wise, feature wise as well as price wise.
Magnification
Magnification means how close the bird will look to you from where you stand to watch it. For example, binoculars are classified by a set of numbers like 10×50, where 10 is the magnification. (The other number 50 will be discussed in the next paragraph.) Here, if the object is 100 feet away, the magnification will make it look as though it is only 10 feet away, enabling you to see the details from close by. This makes people jump to conclusions that the higher the magnification, the better the binocular. However, there are certain shortcomings that need to be considered in binoculars with higher magnification. These play an important role in the process of choosing binoculars. In a binoculars where the magnification is higher, the field of view becomes narrower. Secondly, the image of the bird will not be bright, since there will be less light. It is difficult to focus on a closer object with a binocular with a higher magnification and it is also heavy. On the other hand, such binoculars are better if you are more into spotting birds from a distance like in a water body. These binoculars for bird watching are also good when the birds that you usually watch are not very active.
Objective Lens Diameter
Let us discuss the second number from 10×50, 50 now. This number denotes the diameter, in millimeters, of the objective lens. The bigger the lens, the better the binocular. This is the lens from where the light gets into the binoculars. The more the light coming in the better the image of the bird and better the details of the bird. However, if you choose the biggest lens, the binoculars will become heavy. So, how do you know which binoculars for bird watching to choose? Binoculars with the objective lens diameter 5 times the magnification are good binoculars for birding. Lens size between 30 millimeters and 50 millimeters should be chosen. Avoid buying binoculars with less than 30 millimeters of lens as they will not be able to provide any details of the bird.
Prism Design
There are two types of prism designs in a binocular. One is porro and the other is roof prism. Both are good, but those with a roof prism are the best binoculars for bird watchers. However, porro is less expensive than roof prism. If you are looking for a binocular to last you for a very long time, then it is recommended that you go for a roof design though it is expensive.
Best Binoculars for Bird Watching
Listed below are some of the best binoculars for birding that you can choose from. These binoculars fall in the price range of $200 to over $1000.
- Nikon Action Extreme 7×35 ATB Binoculars
- Nikon 10×42 EDG Binoculars
- Zeiss 10×42 Victory FL Binoculars
- Swarovski 10×32 EL 32 Traveler Binoculars
- Nikon 8×32 EDG Binoculars
- Swift 8.5×44 Audubon Binoculars
The above mentioned factors need to be considered while buying binoculars for bird watching. In addition to these, consider buying a pair that is waterproof, fog proof, and has a secure grip and armored rubber casing for protection. Some of the best models are from Nikon, Bushnell, and Canon. While buying binoculars remember to consider all the above points and buy what suits your needs the best.
