How to buy BINOCULARS
Looking to start birdwatching, or to upgrade your existing pair? We’ve got some basic tips you need to see
It’s fair to say that there’s one item of equipment that all birders need, regardless of their level of experience or ability. Binoculars bring birds within easy visual reach of all of us, while remaining easily portable. You might very well end up buying a spotting scope, and/or a camera with zoom lens at some stage, but binoculars are where it all starts.
The good news is that there are plenty available that do a good all-round job without you breaking the bank, or breaking your back – those of us of a certain age will remember starting out with huge, heavy ex-military bins bequeathed to us by grandfathers and uncles.
So, what do you need to look for? Bear these key points in mind.
Choose magnification carefully: You might decide that you need higher magnification (10x, or even 12x) in order to watch birds at greater distance or to read rings, but remember that the higher the magnification offered by your bins, the more you’ll notice every shake and wobble as you try to hold them steady. Try lower mags (7x and lower) and you might be pleasantly surprised.
Think about how you’ll use them:
If you do most of your birding in the garden, then ED/HD glass might not be a priority, but if most of your birding is in woodland, or at dawn and dusk, then it might be vital because of the extra light transmission it offers. Similarly, you might want to consider binoculars with larger objective lenses.
Try before you buy:
Make a list of the models you’re interested in, then go to a retailer and try them in person. You might be surprised – sometimes the bins that didn’t stand out on paper can really grab you in real life, for reasons as simple as that they fit your eye socket well, or feel just right in your hands.