To get the best of bird watching, you need decent binoculars. Bird watching can get a bit screwed up when you can’t see the birds you are trying to see with the level of clarity and detail that you would like. An unclear image means that it is difficult to distinguish between one bird and the next, as some bird binoculars do not help you see much more than what you can see with the naked eye.
The quality of the optics of bird binoculars is of exceptional importance if you want to ensure maximum enjoyment of the sport. In recent years, the cost of bird binoculars with high quality lenses has decreased and with the increased availability of affordable quality binoculars the interest in birding has increased.
There are some great 8×32 and 8×42 bird binoculars and the Canon 12×36 IS binoculars are increasing in popularity as they offer the option of high power binoculars without the distortion experienced when holding high magnification non-IS binoculars.
At the higher end of the market you have some serious bird binoculars, such as the Swarovski 8.5×42 EL or the Leica Ultravid 32 or 42 series. Some reviewers say they are not worth the price (at over £ 1,000) but they are actually a a matter of opinion and depends on how serious birding is. As the price range increases, the additional profit among bird binoculars begins to decrease, so it only depends on the value you place on certain additional features that make binoculars particularly special.
If you’re looking at the top of the range, check out the Leica Ultravid 8×42. The weight and balance are great, you could wear them for hours and they would still feel comfortable in your hand. As for the quality of the optics, try them and see! If you can afford it, it’s worth a look.
If you want something a bit cheaper, the Pentax DCF SP 8×43 or 8×32 are excellent binoculars for birds. They come with phase coated prisms and fully multilayer lenses with a sophisticated optical design, are waterproof, nitrogen filled and sealed and have a water repellent coating on all exposed lenses. A great buy for under £ 400.
Steiner makes some brilliant binoculars for birds, like the perfectly balanced Steiner Discovery 8×44, which comes with a comfort balance system, high definition optics, Steiner Nano environmental protection and fast close focus. Or, if you want something smaller and cheaper, the Steiner WildLife Pro is an immensely popular bird binocular, particularly the mid-size 8×30, which has a wide field of view, making it ideal for tracking moving objects. quickly.
Image stabilization is an excellent feature for many applications. Some find the Canon 10×42 IS binoculars quite heavy at 1030g and many birders opt for the more powerful but lighter and cheaper option of the 12×36 (660g but not waterproof and they don’t have the the L series presented in the 10×42).
Another great binocular for birds is the Nikon High Grade, with advanced lenses and prisms that produce exceptionally clear and sharp images and excellent color reproduction. All models are waterproof and made of environmentally friendly materials. Prices start at around £ 300 to around £ 1,000 (available in compact and full-size binoculars).
If you’re looking for something in a lower price range, the Nikon Monarch is a popular choice, with multilayer lenses, phase-correction coated prisms, high-point-of-view design with long eye relief (great for spectacle wearers), and body. lightweight. They’re waterproof, fog-free and shock resistant, all for around £ 200. Don’t compare them to Swarovski or Leica!