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Birdwatching: What type of binoculars you'll need

You don't need a lot of specialized equipment for birdwatching, but choosing the correct binoculars or spotting scope is critical. If you want exciting, close-up views of even the smallest species, the optics you select should have a few specific features to make your birdwatching more productive and enjoyable.

At one moment a bird could be a hundred feet away and at another it could fly to within 5 or 10 feet of you. So you need good magnification at distance as well as also close focus ability. When you shop for binoculars, you'll notice that one of the specifications consists of 2 numbers separated by an "x" (example: 8x40). The first number refers to the magnification power. A magnification of 8 means objects in the binoculars will appear to be 8 times closer than if seen with the naked eye. The second number is the diameter of the objective, the large lens at the front of the binoculars, expressed in millimeters. The larger the objective, the brighter the image will be. For birdwatching, choose and instrument with 7 - 8.5x magnification and 35 - 42 mm objective diameter.

Close focus refers to just that, how close you can get and still have the image in focus. Look for an instrument with the ability to close-focus at 5 or 6 feet, especially if you're birdwatching in your yard or garden.

Another feature you'll have to consider is field of view. This is the width of the picture you see through the binoculars. Field of view is expressed as a value at 1000 yards (example: 100 ft. @ 1000 yd.) A wider field of view will enable you to follow birds in flight or in a large tree. Typical field of view for birdwatching binoculars is 300 - 450 feet.

Once you've settled on a birdwatching model with these basic features, you can consider other things. Weight is a consideration to some people. The instrument should be fairly waterproof and easy to hold. It should have diopter adjustment to account for the sight differences between the left and right eye. Attached lens caps are handy to have, as is a case with shoulder strap(s). Multi-coated or fully multi-coated lenses cut down on glare.

Choose your binoculars for birdwatching carefully and you'll be rewarded with years of exciting observation of all types of birds.

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About The Author:

Rita Liotta is a successful author and publisher at www.1st-at-binoculars.com.  Recommending binoculars, telescopes, rifle scopes, night vision, spotting scopes, laser sights, range finders & night vision goggles. 20-05-04