How to choose the best binoculars for birding

Focus on higher-end binoculars for spotting wildlife

Identifying birds is never easy.

Some markings are so similar between our feathered friends that a up-close observation is the only way to tell them apart.

That’s where binoculars not only come in handy, they become a necessity.

Just recently (January 2/2021) I could hear a bird out front singing away. It was the middle of winter, snow covered the ground, and this bird had been singing for days. Every other day it was hidden or impossible to locate. On this day, I spotted it but it was much too far away to identify. It was perched in a distant birch tree, so I ran for the binoculars and focussed in on it. Turns out it was a Yellow-rumped Warbler. I would probably never have know that if it were not for my trusty binoculars.

I can’t remember when I didn’t own a pair of binoculars. They came in handy at football games, rock concerts and trying to locate deer when I used to wander the fields and forests trying to capture the perfect picture of them.

But it wasn’t until I became more interested in birds and wildlife that binoculars took on a more important role.

For more suggestions and some of my favourite garden things, be sure to check out my Favourite Things post.

That’s when I purchased my first higher-end pair of binoculars – the Pentax 8X24s 7.5s. Since then, they have become an essential staple when I go out in the morning with my dog Holly and a coffee to watch the birds in the garden. These binoculars allow me to focus on the birds at the back of the woodland waiting their turn at the bird feeder. These binoculars are small enough that I can easily slip them in my pocket or pack them along with my photo gear to take with me to Pt. Pelee or around the trails near our home.

My trusty Pentax binoculars are an essential whether I’m in the backyard scoping out birds waiting their turn at the feeders or in the field focusing on distant warblers flitting high in the treetops.

What to look for when buying binoculars?

Why not just head to your local discount store and buy a cheap, no-name brand of binoculars?

It’s important to note that a high quality pair of binoculars do not only magnify views of birds, they also very importantly produce a brighter and more detailed image than the naked eye can produce. This allows users to see finer details in birds even as the light fades. It is especially important as evening approaches and you are, for example, surveying your backyard trees for owls or other birds tucking in for the night.

The stereoscopic field of view that high-quality binoculars offer helps to create a realistic three-dimensional feel. That three dimensional view depends, in part, on the design of the binoculars. There are two different design types, Porro prism and Roof prism. The traditional Porro prism binocular delivers a good optical performance. The Roof-prism binoculars, while requiring greater build precision and, in turn, a greater price, allows for a more compact design. Without going into great detail, this helps to account for why some binoculars are more expensive than others.

In addition, the size, weight, shock-resistant effectiveness, the holdability and the weather resistant capabilities play a major role in the price vs quality debate. Don’t underestimate any of these factors when considering your purchase.

What do the numbers mean?

Most binoculars use numbers to identify how they perform. My 8 X 24 7.5 degrees let me know that mine have an 8 times magnification factor – meaning the bird you are focusing on will appear eight times larger than you would be able to see with your naked eye.

The second number, which is often overlooked by purchasers, is the size of the lenses measured in millimeters.

Why is this important? The size of the lenses in addition to the coatings play an important role in how much light they are able to collect to ensure excellent viewing as the light fades. Even in brighter light, an inexpensive pair of binoculars will reduce the amount of light and degrade the image to the point where details are difficult to see correctly. This may not matter if all you want to do is see a larger image of what you are focused on, but if you are trying to pull out the fine details of a bird’s eye ring, or tail feathers, then the resolving power of the binoculars become extremely important.

The last number (in my case 7.5 degrees) represents the field of view that is seen through the binoculars.

Why does this number matter?

The field of view the viewer sees can be especially important for birders trying to pick up a rapidly moving bird in the backyard or out in the field. A wide angle of view is an important advantage not only to locate the bird quickly before it flies off, but to track it without moving your eyes away from the subject.

Binoculars with a very narrow angle of view allow for more concentration in careful observation – a benefit for birders trying to identify specifics in a bird. More important, high-end “glasses” ensure sharpness at the edges of the field through the use of high-quality glass elements and lens coatings that are easier on your eyes over longer-term use in the field.

What glasses wearers need to know

Eye glasses can get in the way of an enjoyable experience with your binoculars. Pentax, for example, tackles this situation by exploring what they refer to as ‘eye relief,’ or the distance from your eye to the outer lens of the binocular eyepiece. Binoculars that advertise as having a long eye relief distance of more than 15 mm provide a more comfortable working distance for most eyeglass wearers, especially during long periods without having to remove their eye glasses.

One only needs to compare a pair of high-end binoculars with a more inexpensive pair to experience the difference. Years of developing some of the finest photographic lenses in the world certainly puts companies like Pentax and Nikon in the lead when it comes to producing high-quality, reasonably priced binoculars.

I have always been impressed with Pentax glass for my photographic needs and did not hesitate to purchase their binoculars for my birding requirements. Pentax has long been recognized for their outstanding dedication to the creation of fine binoculars and spotting scopes for birdwatchers.

That’s not to say they are the only game in town. Other long-time lens makers such as Nikon offer their own fine binoculars.

Whether you are in your garden, or out on the trails at Pt. Pelee, binoculars can be the difference between notching another bird on your life list or thinking you are surrounded by house sparrows. Getting older with failing eye sight doesn’t make it any easier.

Do yourself a favour and invest in a high-end pair of binoculars to take your bird watching success to a higher level.