I'm in a bit of a 'Two & Eight' about Binoculars. Please help me!

[twoandeight]

I’m sure you get asked this all the time but I’ve been a ‘Bad Birdwatcher’ for a long time now and I love going out to my local patch with binoculars I’ve bought from the market. But I’ve reached a point; I’ve decided to invest some money in my hobby.

Now, I don’t have much money (£200 to be precise) and I know absolutely nothing about optics. I’ve read lots of information on the internet that has only confused me even more. See my Dad lives quite close to the Ex Estuary and I would love to be able to get a close look at the bird life far out in the estuary. Do I need to spend my money on binoculars and a spotting scope? What would you recommend to a newcomer to the hobby?

Thanks in advance as I know it’s a massive question.

[Bishopswood]

For viewing birds 'far out in the estuary' you are definitely going to need a 'scope and tripod rather than binoculars. You will be limited by a £200 budget so try and scour Ebay to try and pick up a bargain. Try to get a good make as there is plenty of rubbish offered for sale, and do a Google search for a review of any that you are considering to get the opinion of others.

[Churcho]

The world of binoculars is confusing and the more you delve into it, the more bewildering it becomes. The price range is vast, from a few pounds to over a thousand pounds and what exactly is the difference for the huge leap in money. As with most things in life you have to pay for quality but I would advise you not to rush, you have a set budget and it would be prudent to see what is available in the second hand market. Pre owned binoculars of a good make are available at a price that might suit your budget, rather than spend it on new binoculars from a "lesser" known manufacturer. Most bird watchers that I know value and treasure their bins, therefore the condition of second hand is sometimes far from second hand if you see what I mean, there will be little to distinguish them from new apart from perhaps a few marks on the casing. Rarely are the lenses damaged or scratched, it depends how important their being new is to you, but remember, after a week a new pair is no longer new!

I would advise you to buy the best your budget allows, go for a well known brand, and steer well clear of advertisements in the back pages of newspapers that advertise binoculars that you can see Mars with, stick with specialist shops not Argos or similiar, and if possible, try before you buy.

I hope this is of some help, happy birding and let us know what you decide!