Whether you're an amateur or professional twitcher, finding a pair of good bird watching binoculars can be a bit of a puzzle. There are so many sizes and types, and words like magnification, lens size and field eye or field of view, it's easy to feel lost.
There are other factors to think of too, such as when and where you'd like to use your binoculars, for example if you want a pair to live on your window at home, or if you'd like a transportable pair to take out walking.
So, we've searched high and low and found our pick of the best binoculars for bird watching.
Best binoculars for bird watching under £100
Durable, high-quality finish with sure-grip rubber coating and UV protection to protect eyes against the suns harmful rays. Wide-angle field of view for fast-moving subjects, while aspherical optics guarantee a plasticity and distortion-free view. Specs: Weight : 710 g. Length is 139 mm and Width (at maximum eye interval) is 182 mm Also comes with case, neck strap, lens covers and manual.
Best lightweight binoculars for bird watching
For the best value without compromising on power, these Zeiss binoculars are the perfect compact option - great for those who like to birdwatch while out walking. The large, smooth and easy-to-grip focus wheel makes it particularly fast and easy to focus. Plus they're made for being portable, so are tough, waterproof and designed for use in adverse weather conditions.
Rrp: $399.99
For a more budget-friendly option that still won't let you down, Kowa is a great option. At under £100 these are more affordable, but they're also compact and powerful.
Best binoculars £100- £200
Celestron's mid-size Outland Series was designed to meet the needs of every outdoor enthusiast, including birders. The optics are multi-coated to obtain high resolution and high contrast views. The binoculars are waterproof and fogproof and are nitrogen purged for using in all-weather environments. Large focus knobs make for easy and precise focusing and twist-up eyecups allow for quick adjustment of eye relief to obtain the full field of view. Comfortable straps are pre-attached to the binoculars to make them ready to use.
These 'Savannah' binoculars are a blend of superb optical quality, advanced mechanical design and rugged refinement. The wide field of view with the combination of 8x magnification and 42mm objective lenses, gives clear bright images in high resolution. Suitable for use in low light conditions such as dawn and dusk when wildlife are on the move, or looking closely at a bird's plumage, to identify its species, in dense foliage where the light is restricted. Specs: Magnification: 8x Objective: 42mm Close Focus: 2m View 1000m: 143m Weight: 819g
avalonoptics.co.uk
Ignite your sense of adventure with the new Avalon 10u00d742 PRO HD. The worldu2019s lightest professional level binoculars. Featuring a stylish waterproof design and fully multicoated optics, they produce bright, razor sharp images. Avalon 10u00d742 PRO HD binoculars weigh only 550 grams and can be used with or without glasses. They are the perfect choice for birdwatching.
Best binoculars for birding pros
shopping.rspb.org.uk
These fully multicoated optics feature double ED glass objective lenses have a close focus of 2m. They are fully waterproof with fog proof construction. The lightweight body covered in TPU body armour is textured and easy to hold with thumb holds. Specs: Magnification: 8 Objective lens diameter (mm): 32 10 year guarantee Supplied with a padded case, RSPB lens cloth and exclusive HD pin badge
The Frontier ED X family of binoculars has ED glass to reduce chromatic aberration while increasing colour reproduction while designed to offer the best performance available. These 8x32's are ideal for all-round use, compact & light for all day use and great in all conditions.
www.nikon.co.uk
Nikon is well known in the world of optics, which is no wonder one of its binoculars has made our best of list. This pair can be fixed to a tripod using an optional tripod adaptor. All lenses and prisms are multilayer-coated for brighter images, and the die-cast magnesium-alloy body is lightweight. Specs: Wide apparent field of view (63.2u00ba for 8x30E II, 62.9u00ba for 10x35E II) Close focusing distance: 3m (8x), 5m (10x)
Best binoculars for children
If your children or grandchildren are interested in bird watching, we recommend this compact shock-proof pair. These compact binoculars are designed for both boys and girls from 3 up, but aren't to be mistaken for a cheap toy pair of binoculars. With 8x magnification they produce a clear sharp image, with a wide field of view perfect for birdwatching or nature spotting on walks.
What are the best strength binoculars for bird watching?
When referring to the strength of a pair of binoculars, we're normally talking about magnification.
The magnification figure relates to how much larger objects will appear when seen through the binoculars.
If you plan on using one pair of binoculars for all your bird spotting in a variety of situations, an 8x magnification is the best magnification for bird watching.
If you go for a lower or higher magnification, it can affect the field of view (FOV) and actually make the image less clear. Since birds have a habit of flying away, a wider FOV will help you keep track on their movements too.
Particularly with handheld binoculars, you'll find around 8x is perfect for a clear view, without the added weight that more powerful binoculars inevitably brings. There's no point having powerful binoculars if your hands are going to be constantly shaking!
The verdict: what are the best binoculars for bird watching?
For a mid-range price but a high-quality product you can't go far wrong with the Barr & Stroud Savannah 8x42. The fact that they're designed to produce a quality image in low light makes them particularly useful so that no matter the weather, even on a gloomy grey day, you'll be able to clearly spot wildlife. The stylish and traditional exterior makes them feel like a much more expensive model, with the performance to match.
Do you birdwatch while out walking? How about setting yourself the challenge of Walk1000Miles.
Run by our friends at Country Walking magazine, it's a great way to get out and about in the countryside, make friends, lose weight and most of all have fun!