Power Generation

With good binoculars you feel like you are looking with your own eyes only the view is closer, magnified and clear. How big do you want that image to be? Well, that will depend on many things. How heavy will the binoculars be with extra magnification? Can you hold the binoculars steady if they are magnified more than 10 times (10x)? I find it hard to hold 12x steady for any length of time without support. But I have small hands and that makes a difference too. Will the bird binoculars you choose work well with eyeglasses? Some are better than others for eye relief and eyeglasses.

In addition to weight and magnification and comfort in the field, you want to keep in mind how much you can see. What is the field of view for those binoculars? While there are many considerations to make when purchasing binoculars, one consideration depending upon the desired use, is field of view. Field of view refers to how much you will see through the binoculars in relation to a fixed distance from the object you are observing.It will be helpful to have a wider field of view to be able to find small birds in the brush and across wide expanses of ocean or desert terrain.

Adults would do well to heed in selecting binoculars for their own use, particularly if they have any number of eyesight problems, including uncorrected cataracts and macular degeneration that make using a higher magnification level binocular problematic. You really want steady hands while watching wildlife. It is easy to shake and lose focus with the larger binoculars .You are likely to need a tripod stand for using the heavier binoculars due to the weight of the larger objective lenses.

Let’s clear up what those numbers mean. If your binoculars are labeled 10×42, it means you will be seeing things magnified ten times. The first number is the magnification, 10x. The size of the objective lens is described in millimeters in the second number. So in this case the diameter of the lens at the other end of the eyepiece is 42mm wide. A larger diameter lens is not only heavier, but it lets in more light and you can see things more clearly in less light than with a smaller lens.

Waterproof binoculars are essential for me. Are these binoculars sturdy, durable and compact to fit my hands? Will they be able to withstand being dropped now and then? Of course, if you wear your strap around your neck all the time they are less likely to fall, but, just in case, are they sturdy? I have lost a lot of lens covers at overlooks.

If you choose the best binoculars that fit you that also fit your budget and you will be a happy birdwatcher and even have some cash in your pocket for lunch, maybe. Just relax and look around. The binoculars you buy are intended to enhance your field trips or birding expeditions, so don’t stress out over them. Take your time and read some reviews. Every manufacturer has a website full of detailed information and there are plenty of reviews online for you to compare while you are still looking.

I confess that I really like using Leupold binoculars. I know I have a fine pair of excellent quality binoculars that are waterproof, fog proof and guaranteed for life. I choose the 10×32 because they fit me well, even though they are a bit bigger than my compact Bushnell Binoculars at 8×25 that I carry with me wherever I go for casual or surprise birding.

If your binoculars fit you, and you can see clearly with plenty of light and magnification and they are not too heavy to hold, you probably have found the ones you need to buy. That is what is most important. Remember to stay within your budget and check on the field of vision and depth of field while you are looking. That is what it takes when you get right down to the details.