A good pair of binoculars is the ticket to an outstanding birding experience. But choosing binoculars (“binos” for short, in birders’ parlance) can sometimes be a confusing task for the aspiring birder. Follow this brief guide to choosing a good pair of birding binos and you will soon hold the key to exciting birding adventures – literally in the palm of your hand.
Choosing Binoculars' Magnification
All binos carry a set of two numbers, such as 7 x 42. The first number denotes the power of magnification. So an 8 x 30 pair of binos will make a bird appear 8 times closer compared to the unaided eye. While 8 x magnification may not seem like a lot, it is in fact quite sufficient under most circumstances to observe great detail, and many binos suitable for beginners are manufactured with this magnification. Some birders may have trouble keeping a steady image with binos of greater than 8.5 x.
Choosing Binoculars' Brightness Level
Now you may be wondering what the second number refers to – well, it refers to the size of the objective lenses (the ones closer to the bird, measured in millimeters) and together with the magnification, relates to the relative brightness of the binos. Together with the quality of the optics, the exit pupil size (ratio of the magnification to the objective lens size) determines the brightness of your binos.
Choosing Binoculars' Weight
The added weight from larger objectives is noticeable (especially after a couple hours of carrying them around your neck!). If you plan to bird in typically bright places like the beach or the desert, then save yourself the potential pain in the neck (literally) and invest in binos with a smaller objective size (in the 25 -32 mm range, which is more than sufficient under most circumstances). If you plan to bird in some of the more “light-challenged” areas, such as under forest canopies or in the cloudy Pacific Northwest, then you might consider binos with larger objectives( 42mm is a common size).
Choosing Binoculars' Price
The price of binoculars ranges widely from about $40 to several thousand dollars. In general, more expensive binos are constructed with higher quality optics and provide greater image clarity and resolution than less expensive models. Keep in mind, however, that a $2000 pair of binos does not perform 10 x better than a model priced at $200. Taking into consideration the discussion above, most binoculars priced between $150 -$300 perform well for the beginning birder. Less expensive models may not be bright enough or manufactured with sufficient quality.
Choosing Binoculars' Field of View
The field of view refers to the width of the area visible at a range of 1,000 yards. A 350-400 foot field of view is wide enough for most birding scenarios.
Shopping for Binoculars
There are many retail locations that stock binoculars suitable for birding, but avoid most sporting goods stores. If you find yourself needing large objectives, then a variety of inexpensive bino harnesses are available to help reduce the strain from carrying the added weight, snd sporting good stores are a good place to find such harnesses.The best way to shop for binos is to try out several models and compare them side-by-side, if possible.
Optimizing Binocular Brightness
Since the human pupil at night is approximately 7mm in diameter, a bright pair of binoculars will have a similar sized exit pupil. A 7 x 50 pair of binos constructed with good optics is an ideal choice for low-light conditions. Since the human pupil is approximately 4 mm in diameter during daylight, a pair of 8 x 32 binos would suffice under these conditions, but prove less than ideal at twilight or on cloudy days.