Bird Binoculars Reviews and Birding

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I ran across this article recently and decided to include it here to share another birder’s perspective on selecting bird binoculars for long term use. I hope you find it valuable. Enjoy.

Avid bird watching enthusiasts often look like pack mules hiking to a gold rush in the west. Bird watching binoculars are one of the critical pieces of equipment they carry.

Binoculars

There are a lot of issues when it comes to choosing binoculars for bird watching. Optics and personal preference seem to be the foremost, but here is a list of issues you should consider.

Bashability

Bashability isn’t really a word in the English language, but it certainly applies to bird watching. The bashability of binoculars refers to how tough they are. For instance, if you drop them on the driveway while loading the car, will they hold up? What if you drop them off a small cliff? I, err…”a friend” once did this on the cliffs above Torrey Pines beach in San Diego. More than a few people have been surprised to learn that binoculars go out of whack when bashed. Now, I realize you would never drop them or subject them to anything but the finest treatment, but just check them for me.

Costs

I like wine. I drink wine. Unless I am standing at the cash register, I can’t really tell the difference between a $10 bottle of wine and one selling for $100. Bird watching binoculars seem to run along the same lines. You can buy bird watching binoculars for as much as $1,000. Heck, Victoria’s Secret or Neiman Marcus probably have diamond encrusted ones for $100,000. Do you need to spend this money? No. My personal experience has revealed binoculars in the $200 to $400 range perform well and I’ve never missed a sighting because of their quality. Obviously, you can spend whatever you wish, but keep in mind you don’t have to go overboard. Plus, binoculars without diamonds tend to still be on the beach once you make it down from the cliff.

Feel

This may sound obvious, but you need to buy binoculars that are comfortable. Ideally, you are going to lug these babies around for 10 or 20 years. Make sure they “fit” your face and spacing of your eyes. Also, make sure they don’t weigh too much. After a few hours of birding, this can become an issue.

If you’re going to be a birder, you’re going to need binoculars. Like wine, you can go overboard on them, but don’t need to.

Tags: birds, extinct birds, bird-watching, birding, birdwatching, bird-watching tips, desert birds, endangered species, odd birds, desert bird-watching

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Instead of arguing which bird binoculars are the best, take a look at what birders are actually using. Take a look and talk with the birders. Ask them why they selected the binoculars they purchased. Sometimes it is a matter of price or convenience.

I bought a compact pair of Audubon binoculars (see review below) one summer when I discovered my camera and binoculars were accidentally left on the kitchen table about 900 miles away from my vacation spot.

I also bought a new birding guide for all the shore birds I expected to observe during my trip. (See details below). My time was short and my sources were limited, so I decided to buy the best name brand that was available at the store where I stopped.
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Tags: desert bird-watching, birding, bird-watching, desert birds, , bird-watching tips, extinct birds, birds, odd birds, endangered species

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The Top Five Bird Binoculars reviewed in my list include some of the best binoculars ever made with superb scientific optics and precision.

Bird binoculars are not created equal, nor are they all suited well for field work. This review includes 5 splendid bird binoculars at the high end of the scale. They are among the absolute best binoculars made in the world today. When it comes to luxury binoculars like these it is hard to go wrong with your selection. The differences are subtle and preferences are personal, even among serious field testers. Most of these bird binoculars are considered an investment and rightly so. Some experts report that these optical instruments hold their value better than your new car or stocks and bonds and recommend buying several pairs.

Zeiss. Leica. Swarovski. Leupold. Steiner.
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Tags: odd birds, desert bird-watching, , extinct birds, birding, bird-watching tips, endangered species, birds, bird-watching, birdwatching

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How to choose bird binoculars has always been an interest or concern of mine and many birders.

No matter how many charts or guides or articles we read, we are never as fully involved as we are with hands-on trials. Also, after all of those words on bird binoculars it seems that a picture is worth more than a thousand words. So when I saw this video clip I decided to share it. (more…)

Tags: birds, birdwatching, bird-watching tips, bird-watching, birding, , desert bird-watching, odd birds, endangered species, extinct birds

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You want a rewarding experience with nature and your new bird binoculars, so be a little safety minded and use common sense on your trip. Actually, there are a few specific things to take into consideration for your safety and for the long life of your bird binoculars.

First, remember these are LENSES that magnify and amplify. Remember when you were a kid using magnifying glasses on the sidewalk to start a tiny piece of paper smoking or burning? Well that can happen unintentionally here if you are not careful. (more…)

Tags: desert birds, , birdwatching, extinct birds, desert bird-watching, bird-watching, birding, bird-watching tips, birds, endangered species

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Who makes them: Pentax declares at its website that it has everything possible in the world of binoculars from ultra stylish and compact to sturdy and rugged and durable, all of which have a superb no worry warranty go accompany them. The Pentax website also provides a selection tool to help you navigate through the choices that are available. That is a nice feature. Generally Pentax binoculars are not as costly as Nikon but very fine binoculars for the every day birder.

Who uses them: Field birdwatchers often choose a small or compact model of bird binoculars that are easy to carry and handle. That is my preference and experience, though I have never owned a Pentax.

What are they like: The Pentax Papilios model is a very popular compact one. These binoculars are very lightweight,around 10 ounces, and at their compact 2 inch folded size they fit your pocket well.Â

What are their Special Features: These are super wonderful for butterfly watchers. They are affordable and work well in daylight and dry conditions. They use a reverse porro prism design that provides clarity. The extra flexibility that the separately movable eyepieces (oculars) offer is a real plus. Their focus range is as close as 18 inches and that is one reason many people like them. This model is equally well suited for birding, butterfly watching and for sports or music events.Â

Tags: odd birds, desert birds, bird-watching, birds, endangered species, extinct birds, birding, , bird-watching tips, desert bird-watching

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This is just a beginning of with a few tips for choosing Bird Binoculars.

Once you understand how you want to use your binoculars it will be easier to choose the best binoculars to meet that purpose.

For example:

• If you want long distance viewing… like across vast expanses of ocean…
  Then you need bird binoculars with a higher power or magnification.
  That is the number in front of the X.
• If you want lightweight binoculars for field work like I did…
  Then you want smaller bird binoculars like compact or pocket size.
• If you want bird binoculars mostly for watching backyard birds that are nearby…
  Then you want binoculars with a wider field of vision and a lower power will be fine.
• If you want binoculars to perform well in low light like at dusk or dawn…
  Then you want bird binoculars that have a larger opening (aperture).
  That is the number after the X.
• If you want binoculars to be sturdy enough for your child to use…Â Then you want waterproof and rubber armored binoculars or an inexpensive model that can be easily replaced.

If this is too simplistic for you, perhaps you have your own tips for choosing birding binoculars.

Of course there are always more guidelines to help with the decisions. Please share your tips too.

Tags: extinct birds, desert birds, odd birds, birds, endangered species, desert bird-watching, bird-watching tips, bird-watching, birdwatching, birding

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Bird Binoculars and Scopes - Types

Who uses what type of binoculars or scopes and why?

Binoculars for birdwatching need to be easy to hold and carry.

A wide field of vision helps to find birds in flight.

A zoom lens helps to identify the birds.

Tags: bird-watching, endangered species, desert birds, birding, desert bird-watching, odd birds, extinct birds, birdwatching, bird-watching tips,

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