Bird watching is an outdoor activity that you can’t put a price on. If you are fond of this activity, binoculars are an essential tool to have and, in our article, today, we will show you what to look for when buying binoculars for bird watching.
A quality pair of binoculars enhances your overall experience when birding just like an artisan’s favorite tool enhances their craft. It will help you spot these magical creatures with ease in their different habitats. Additionally, a good pair of binoculars will bring you closer to the birds and let appreciate their beauty.
Binoculars for birdwatching come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. The price varies from one model to the other depending on the brand and the features. As such, the ability to find the best pair for oneself is crucial. Besides, the total number of specifications in a single pair of binoculars is outstanding for an optical device that many would have considered simple.
Before we dig deeper in what to look for when buying binoculars for bird watching, let’s first look at the anatomy of binoculars.
Anatomy of Binoculars
Binoculars have different parts that play different roles. The main components that a modern pair of binoculars consists of are the objective lens, eyepiece and prism.
Objective Lens
This is the far most part of the binocular from your eye. Each pair has to objective lens whose role is to collect light inside the binocular. The size of the objective lens varies from one binocular to the other and is measured as a diameter in millimeters.
Eyepiece
The eyepiece in binoculars is the part that you look through when you are using the binoculars. Just like the objective lens, there are two eyepieces in every binocular. It is through the eyepiece that you see the image of the subjects you are watching.
Prism
The prism is the only optical component that is found on the internal side of the binoculars. After light is drawn in through the objective lens, the prisms reflect and lengthen it. After that, the same prisms turn the image right side up and reflect it towards the eyepiece.
Binoculars for Bird Watching Buying Guide
Magnification Power
This is the first thing that you need to look for when shopping for a pair of bird watching binoculars. In binoculars configuration, magnification is represented by the first number before the ‘x”. So, with numbers like 8×42 and 10×42, 8 and 10 present the magnification power.
For bird watching, 8x and 10x magnification are the best. Both magnifications are sufficient for viewing birds in different habitats at different distances, but models with 8x have a larger field of view than the 10x counterparts.
Any higher magnification than 12x is not good for birding. This is because the higher the magnification, the heavier the binoculars become. As a result, you will have a more difficult time to hold them steadily.
Objective Lens
The objective lens is represented by the second number after “x” in the binoculars’ configuration. It is responsible for gathering light inside the optics and varies in size from one binocular to the other.
The bigger the objective lens, the more light it collects. Normally, binoculars with 40mm or 42mm objective lens diameter are considered a sweet spot for bird watching. with good magnification, they provide bright image views and a large field of view which is vital for monitoring the flying birds.
Glass
In binoculars, the glass used in construction is what sets apart a top-tier pair from a cheap one. This is because, the optical properties of any glass determine how it will interact with light. The best glass will provide the clearest image possible while a sub-standard one will be blurry.
Today’s best binoculars for bird watching use something called extra-low dispersion glass which yields phenomenal picture quality in all lighting environments.
The other thing to consider is relation to optics is the coatings applied on the glass. Some lens surfaces feature multilayer coatings, MC and others have multiple layers of coatings on all glass to air surfaces. For birding, it is best to get a binocular that has either of the two.
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Protection Feature
The next thing to consider when trying to figure out what to look for when buying binoculars for bird watching is protection features. These features include:
Weatherproof construction
The first protection feature that a binocular for bird watching should boast is weatherproof construction. It should be O-ring sealed to prevent moisture, dust and small debris from entering the optics. On top of that, the optical tubes should be filled/charged with a dry inert gas like argon or nitrogen to be fog free.
Rubber armor
A rubber armor plays an important role of protecting the binoculars from shock and elements. It is a worthwhile feature for bird watching as it also ensures that you have a secure, non-slip grip in all environments.
Weight
Weight is another thing to consider when shopping for binoculars for bird watching. It is wise to get a lightweight pair that doesn’t cut corners on quality and durability. A lightweight binocular will be easy on the hands during use. It will also be more convenient to maneuver around with as you carry on with your adventure.
Eye Relief
Another specification you should watch out is eye relief. For proper and comfortable viewing, the eyepiece of the binocular must be a snug distance from your eyes. So, look at the design of the binoculars and go for a model that has adjustable eyecups. With such a unit, you will have the flexibility to customize the eye relief and if you wear glasses, you can retract them so they rest over your glasses without compromising eye relief.
Conclusion
There are plenty of binoculars for bird watching available on the market today. Before you decide to settle on any specific model, ensure that have down your homework well so you don’t end up with a product that you will regret. Whatever your bird watching needs are, there is a binocular out there for everyone.