What To Look For
Current types of bird watching binoculars are almost uniformly waterproof, dust-proof and/or fog-proof (nitrogen filled). Rubber coated protective housing or durable metal casings protect your investment. Some binoculars offer hinged lens caps which can be flipped up to act as sun shields and prevent the need to juggle and potentially lose lens caps. Smaller styles are made to fit nicely in a pocket, ready at hand when you spot movement.
The basics to look for in image quality are the clarity, brightness and color. These will allow you to vividly capture the brilliance of plumage and details necessary for proper identification. The field of view, the power of magnification and the lens size are also important for spotting smaller birds as they move through brush. Precise focusing to 18 inches can be found for extremely close viewing, to pick out fine detail.
Common Pitfalls
If you think you have spotted a unique specimen, but have to pull off and stow your glasses before raising your binoculars, you could lose the precious few seconds needed to identify and observe.
Look for binoculars which have long eye relief (at least 14 mm) or an 8x power binocular. Eye relief comes into play when your eye is farther from the lens due to the barrier of your glasses. Longer relief lets you see a wider field of view with no distortion or fade at the edges. These models may cost a bit more, but are worth the price for the improvement in performance, helping you keep your bird in sight longer and with less effort.
Where To Buy
Binoculars are one of the few items which may be safe to purchase sight unseen online. There are numerous pieces of detailed information available to compare and consider for each pair. Online review websites offer extensive technical information, reviews from actual users and information about the service record for the company.
Customer reviews are particularly important to take into account because the marriage of the various features sometimes does not work as well in the field, for users, as the manufacturer would like to convey.
Cost
Birding binoculars have a wide range in cost, from $30 to $2000. Customer reviews (and the opinions of those who have used them in the field) report that styles which cost between $200 and $500 are often better than those double their price. The least expensive models may not hold up under use in inclement conditions.
Comparison Shopping
Experts and the Consumer Search website recommend that beginners and those who expect to watch birds and butterflies close up try a 7x35 binocular. For general use, they suggest an 8x42 pair, with the caveat that flaws in the optics and design are also magnified with more powerful lenses.
When considering two brands which are otherwise quite similar, investigate whether extras such as a carrying case, neck strap or lens cloths are included which may sweeten the deal and save you a separate purchase.
