Binoculars

Byker28i

Byker28i

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What does everyone use as binoculars for birding? What sort of magnification etc am I looking for?

It's Ok for me with the camera, but I was thinking of getting some binoculars for my missus so she's not quite so bored.

Cheers
 
Byker28i said:
What does everyone use as binoculars for birding? What sort of magnification etc am I looking for?

It's Ok for me with the camera, but I was thinking of getting some binoculars for my missus so she's not quite so bored.

Cheers
Click to expand...

The boredom may result from not being interested in birds, rather than not being able to see them properly. I can vouch for the fact that this does happen.....;)

I use 10x40's, but for a beginner, 8x30 or 8x40 might be better - easier to use and smaller/lighter (speaking generally).
 
I've got a few different pairs (they make great portable and easy to setup astro kit :D).. Probably my easiest are the Bresser (same as Meade) 10x50's, they have good contrast, are light enough to handhold pointing up at the sky for quite some time and aren't gonna break the bank. They are also collimatable (which any good pair should be) in case the porro prisms get knocked out of alignment.

http://www.telescopehouse.com/acatalog/Meade_10x50_Binocular_Special_Offer.html
 
I use a pair of Trinovid 8 x 32.
For me the perfect balance (compromise?) between magnification, light level and physical size and weight.
 
Get to try a few pairs.

Around 8x is probably favourite for magnification but the objective diameter, the second number, makes a big difference - to everything, especially wearing glasses and in lower light. Also check the eye-point with specs.

Compacts like 8x20 are very tiresome to use for any length of time. I like 8x42 :thumbs: 8x30 or so more portable/good compromise. V personal thing.
 
The thing to also watch out for is the exit pupil... Divide the aperture by the magnification... The average adult eye in low light is about 5mm in diameter, if the exit pupil is too big you lose light (not a problem in good light conditions), however, if the exit pupil is too small... so high mag, small aperture, as Richard says, they get awkward to use.
 
Anything over 10x magnification is normally a little hard to hold without getting a level of distracting shake.

I used to sell Leica binoculars the 8x32 were my favourite to use, the 8x25 sold the best for portabilty
 
7 or 8 x 40 is spot on for birding. 10 x can be harder to hold and carry for a day. Try before you buy, bins are very personal, what suits one eye set can be very different to another persons.
 
I 'm with jerry12953 here ;)

I normally use a pair of zeiss 10x40B's when out and about, they're fantastic bits of kit and be picked up used on ebay from time to time for a huge saving on the new price
 
I was once given a look through binoculars, I've never seen such a crystal clear optics in binoculars before, Leicia ultravid 10x50 quality was suuuuperb. I'd love to be able to own a pair . Don't know if they are in your price range defintely not in mine ;) Click Here
 
It's mostly all been said.
Just to add, some weigh a lot more than others of the same spec (8x30 etc.)
Depends of the housing materials.
Try before you buy - always. Beware of Chromatic Abberation with cheaper bins.
If you have the funds, Leitz or Swarovski, end of.
 
As has been said - try before you buy.
My wife could never get on with my binoculars, she could not see through them at all for some reason.
If you can get to an RSPB reserve where they have a shop or an optical field day you can try all you want with no pressure to buy.
 
Swarovski 8x32 EL. Best birding binoculars available, nothing comes near them for clarity and brightness (will outperform a Leica 8x42 in low light), but at a ridiculous price now.
 
I have a pair of Pentax 10x50s that I bought SH off a safari guy in South Africa 10 years ago. They're still good even now and pretty much the same model can be had for around £100 via Amazon. Good for birds and animals. Also had a pair of Nikon 10x42 Monarchs which were small and fairly light but sold them as hardly used - still very good though but not worth 3x more than the Pentax. These days there are loads of bino's available at all sorts of prices ... figure out your budget and check ratings for known brand models online.
 
Here in the UK grabbing as much light as possible is a good idea. That's why I've always gone for 8x40 (or that region). You can pay anything from £50 to £1500 quid for a pair. And, yes, there is a difference between a £600 pair and a £1200 pair - but it's not huge.

You should be able to get a very good pair of 8x40 roof prism binoculars for around £150. These are supposed to be OK for less than a ton.
 
Depends what you wan't to pay really....if you don't mind forking out the cash then any Leica, Zeiss or Swarovski 8X32's are excellent. Look second hand, you can normally get a decent pair for £500ish say Zeiss Dialyt 7X42 ... another option.
 
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