Birdwatching Binoculars: What's yours?

[Neil Rigby]

A pair of binoculars is the first piece of kit you are likely to buy to enhance you enjoyment of birdwatching.

How much should you invest if you are a beginner, and what is the best type to buy? What's the best top end binoculars available?

Avian, Bausch & Lomb, Bushnell, Canon, Fujinon, Leica, Nikon, Optolyth, Swarovski, Swift or Zeiss – what's yours?

Tell us about your binoculars, how much they cost and how do they perform for birdwatching.

[isandell]

More a question of What will mine be?

Next week I go to Bristol and Clifton to look at following

Swift Reliant 8X42
Pentax DCF HS 8X36
Bushnell Excursion 8 and 10X42 (possibly EX 8X36)
Opticron Discovery 8 and 10X42
Opitcron Trailfinder 8 and 10X42
Opticron Explorer 8 and 10X42

The Swifts appeal but I have not tried any of them yet.

Any comments?

Ian

[clydebirder]

Hi Ian

Binoculars are very much a personal choice and I would suggest you have a good look at them all and decide on the pair that suits you.

My first choice would be the Opticron explorer 8x42 then the Bushnell Excursion 8x42, they are both good binoculars and are great value, haven't tried the Pentax so can't compare them

Good luck with your testing, I'm sure you will be happy which ever pair you decide on

Cheers, John

[isandell]

Thanks, John,

I will give them all a good try, but there's a limit I think to how much you can get out of using them in the shop.

I'll post here after I have bought them.

Ian

[clydebirder]

I use a pair of Leica 10x42BN's, they are superb binoculars with great light gathering qualities. They are a pleasure to use and the resolution is amazing, you can see great detail on birds and it makes identification that bit easier.

Cheers, John

[Bishopswood]

My wife and I each have a pair of Bushnell 8 x 42 Porro prism binoculars we take birding and they are excellent value for money, the image is bright and clear and they can be found for under £100.
By the way hello to all, just joined the forum.

[Churcho]

I am a Nikon man, I have a pair of 8x32 HGL, which I find are excellent, however I now wish I had gone for the 8x42. I plumped for the 32 based on weight, and rather foolishly the fact that the 32 were in stock and the 42 were not. I shall be slightly more cautious and patient with the next pair, although the wife assures me that this pair will last for ever, but accidents happen!!

[Raptor 01]

Hello everyone, i'm a new member, my name is Geoff, i'm 62 years young and have been interested in birds since childhood. I live in Eastbourne, East Sussex and own two pairs of quality binoculars. Avian 8 x 42 and Vortex Razor 8 x 42.

Geoff.

[shimsham]

Hi every body i am new to the forum and a novice bird watcher i am about to buy my first pair of bins, i am looking at the optricon taiga 8x32 and the nikon sporter 8x36 i have a budget of £100 just to see if i like this hobby any help would be most appreciated.

[Churcho]

Hello Shimsham, welcome to the world of birds and to this forum. I hope you get as much enjoyment from your new hobby as I and all the others do.

Binoculars are a very individual choice as you will see from the above posts and everyone you ask will tell you something different from the last person. For what it is worth, see what you can get in the second hand market for your money, you may find a previously loved pair of higher end binoculars for the same price as a new pair of lower end, entry level binoculars. As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. Binoculars costing upper hundreds/lower thousand of pounds do so for a reason, they are a quality item and will last a life time with good care. The optics on them are of a superior quality as is the build quality but these things only come into play when the serious birder in you comes to life. In the meantime, I would go for the Nikon everytime, well known brand, quality equipment, but it is really up to you. If you can try before you buy, it does make a difference. Go on...buy them now..and get out there and tell us what you see!