Do you Need Expensive Binoculars to Start Bird Watching?

When people first get into bird-watching, they are confronted with a staggering array of potential gear purchases.  There are the bird-watching guides, the apps (which are mostly free, yay!), the array of analog notebooks and sketch pads for recording your sightings, the many pocketed vests and bags, the cameras (so many cameras), and perhaps most importantly the binoculars and scopes. If you are serious about bird-watching, you will want to invest in a handy pair of binoculars.

Before we talk about price, let's discuss some binocular basics.  

Magnification and Objective Diameter

Magnification is essentially your viewing power.  When you are looking to determine the power of a pair of binoculars you will see this indicated by two numbers separated by an "x" and typically located on the pivot near the eye piece.  The first number is the magnification and the second number is the diameter of the objective lens (the lens pointed at the birds), in millimeters. On our pair of Bushnell National Audubon Society Binoculars the number reads "8x42WA" with the "WA" standing for wide angle.

You may be thinking that higher magnification is the way to go, but there are some drawbacks.  Higher magnification narrows your field of view.  It also results in image shaking, ie. it is harder to keep that moving bird in your sight.  We would recommend going no higher than 10x for the best viewing experience of birds, and 8x is our preference.

Objective diameter can also impact the view, with larger lens letting in more light and providing a brighter, clearer image.  The drawback is that bigger lens mean more weight and a larger pair of binoculars, which can make them difficult to hold and a little awkward to transport.  A size between 40 and 44 is good for most applications.

Why Are Some Binoculars Smaller and Compact and Some Almost Triangular?

Binoculars come in one of two types, those with Porro prisms and those with roof prisms.  How do you tell the difference? Roof prisms allow for a more compact and straight design, where the Porro prism generally widens the binoculars out from the eye pieces to the objective lens.  There is also generally a price difference with Porro prism binoculars often being less expensive. 

If You Plan to Bird-Watch Outside, Get Waterproof Binoculars

There are a wide range of features across the binocular universe, and we will get into those in subsequent posts, but if there is one feature you should definitely consider, it is waterproof binoculars.  Bird-watching is an activity that mostly happens outside.  Accidents happen while you are walking along a creek or river, just ask my iPhone.  You want a pair of binoculars that can survive the rain or an unexpected drop in water.  Some binoculars are also fog proof which is another feature we would recommend and tends to go hand in hand with waterproofing.

How Much Are You Going to Spend?

Prices vary widely, so you will want to understand your goal.  Are you a backyard bird-watcher, peeping on the birds from a window or a deck? Then consider the dirt cheap to value conscious range if your budget is limited. Are you a casual bird-watcher catching your sightings on walks and day hikes? Consider the value conscious to middle of the road range, if limited budget is a consideration. Are you borderline obsessed, joining birding groups, checking off life lists and taking birding trips?  If budget isn't a concern, go top of the line.  If budget is a concern, the mid-range will be absolutely fine.  Also note that most brands have a range of price options down to the Middle and Value ranges, except Swarovski, you are going to pull out the wallet dig and dig a little more for a pair of those.

High-end and Top of the Line

Generally, you are going to pay more for the well-established and premium brands like Swarovski, Vortex, Zeiss and Leupold.  Their top-end models can run into the mid to high $2000s.  They offer beautiful, bright and crisp optics, waterproofing/fog proofing and great warranties, and deep, deep regrets if they get damaged or go missing.  But if you must have the best and can afford it, buy the best.

Middle of the Road

In the mid-range, you find brands like Bushnell, Nikon, Opticron, and Vanguard.  Zeiss also has mid-range options.  These will run you anywhere between $200 and $500.  The images clarity is still great, and they come with features like waterproofing/fogproofing and warranties as well.

Value Conscious

In the value conscious-range, you find brands like Celestron, Nikon and Bushnell.  You get similar features (waterproof/fogproof) and the difference in optical clarity between the mid and value range is often not noticeable.  You will be looking to spend between $50-$200.

Dirt Cheap

There is one more range and most bird-watching blogs and groups are probably not going to mention them or actively dissuade people from considering them.  The Dirt-Cheap range.  These are binoculars that you can find on big online retailers like Amazon.  The Brands are not mainstream and country of origin is typically China, but the price point is below $50.  If you don't have much money to spend on a pair of binoculars, this is an option.  And if this is what you can afford, then don't let the snobs of the world influence you.  We have two pairs of dirt cheap binoculars off Amazon and they work just fine to spy on the birds out the back window or take on a casual walk. You can upgrade later.

What Else Should You Consider Before Purchasing?

Weight

Weight matters more than you might think.  Binoculars are not super heavy, most are between 20 and 30 ounces, but neither is a glass of water, until you are holding it for hours on end at eye-level.  So go with the lightest pair you can reasonably afford, and make sure they come with a comfortable and wide neck strap.

Comfort in the Hand

Purchase a pair of binoculars that you can easily adjust.  If you have smaller hands, don't buy a giant pair of binoculars, and if you have large hands, you are going to struggle with adjusting a smaller pair.

Go on and Get Birding!

Don't let the perceived price of entry prevent you from getting into bird-watching.  Buy the pair of binoculars you can afford, put on your favorite Bird Fluff t-shirt and get Birding!

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