For nature and bird watching we recommend binoculars with at least a 30-50 mm front lens diameter. The magnification should be between 7 and 12 times. Any more than this makes no sense without a tripod. At lower magnification levels, you cannot see the plumage details that may be important for identification.
The use of special types of glass or lens structures reduces colour fringing and also makes it easier to recognize the object being observed. For detailed observing over longer distances, we recommend the additional use of a spotting scope.
Here you can find out which criteria we use to evaluate binoculars for nature or bird watching ...
Omegon
Orange 8x42 monocular
$ 69.00
Swarovski
Binoculars NL PURE 10X32 BURNT ORANGE-BLACK
$ 2,760.00
Swarovski
Binoculars NL PURE 8X32 GREEN-BLACK
$ 2,690.00
Omegon
Binoculars Blackstar 2.0 8x42
Sale price:
$ 119.00
$ 89.00
Bushnell
Binoculars Legacy 10x50
Our price:
RRP:
$ 189.00
$ 171.00
Swarovski
EL 10x42 WB 3rd generation binoculars
$ 2,240.00
Omegon
Binoculars Talron HD 10x42
$ 169.00
Noblex
Binoculars Vector 8x42
$ 422.00
Noblex
Binoculars Vector 10x42
$ 455.00
Omegon
Binoculars Talron HD 8x42
Sale price:
$ 169.00
$ 139.00
Omegon
Binoculars Talron HD 10x34
$ 139.00
Omegon
Binoculars Talron HD 8x34
Sale price:
$ 139.00
$ 109.00
Vixen
Binoculars ATREK II 8x32 DCF
$ 205.00
Omegon
Binoculars Blackstar 10x42
$ 109.00
Vixen
Binoculars ATREK Light II 8x30 BCF Porro
$ 205.00
Bresser
Binoculars Spezial Jagd 11x56
$ 206.00
Omegon
Binoculars Blackstar 8x42
$ 109.00
Omegon
Binoculars Hunter 10x42
$ 219.00
Vixen
Binoculars ARTES J 10x42 DCF
$ 550.00
Vixen
Binoculars ARTES J 8x42 DCF
$ 540.00
Vixen
Binoculars ATREK II 10x42 DCF
$ 292.00
Omegon
Binoculars Blackstar 2.0 10x50
$ 149.00
Omegon
Binoculars Blackstar 2.0 12x50
$ 149.00
Omegon
Binoculars Hunter 8x56 HD
$ 349.00
Vixen
Image stabilized binoculars 12x30 Atera II
$ 880.00
Vixen
Binoculars Ascot 8x32 ZWCF
$ 205.00
Minox
Binoculars X-HD 8x56
Our price:
RRP:
$ 1,090.00
$ 980.00
Vixen
Binoculars BT-81S-A
$ 1,410.00
Helios Optics
Binoculars 8x34 Nitrosport Waterproof
$ 140.00
Helios Optics
Binoculars 10x34 Nitrosport Waterproof
$ 140.00
Helios Optics
Binoculars 8x42 Nitrosport Waterproof
$ 173.00
Helios Optics
Binoculars 8x32 Lightwing-HR
$ 223.00
Helios Optics
Binoculars 10x42 Nitrosport Waterproof
$ 173.00
Helios Optics
Binoculars 10x50 Nitrosport Waterproof
$ 201.00
Discovery
Monocular Gator 10x42
$ 31.90
Discovery
Monocular Gator 8x42
$ 29.90
Levenhuk
Monocular 8x42 Atom
$ 24.90
Levenhuk
Binoculars Sherman PLUS 8x42
$ 141.00
Levenhuk
Binoculars Karma PRO 10x25
$ 120.00
Levenhuk
Binoculars Karma PRO 10x32
$ 158.00
Bushnell
Binoculars Engage DX 10x42
Our price:
RRP:
$ 336.00
$ 302.00
Levenhuk
Binoculars Sherman PRO 8x42
$ 223.00
Levenhuk
Binoculars Sherman PLUS 7x50
$ 136.00
Levenhuk
Binoculars Karma PRO 8x25
$ 114.00
Levenhuk
Binoculars Monaco ED 10x42
$ 380.00
Levenhuk
Binoculars Sherman PRO 10x50
$ 239.00
Levenhuk
Binoculars Karma PRO 16x42
$ 196.00
Levenhuk
Binoculars Karma PRO 10x50
$ 201.00
Levenhuk
Binoculars Karma PRO 12x50
$ 212.00
Levenhuk
Monocular Nelson 8x42
$ 98.00
Levenhuk
Monocular Wise PLUS 8x42
$ 71.00
Levenhuk
Binoculars Nelson 8x30
$ 141.00
Levenhuk
Binoculars Sherman PRO 10x42
$ 234.00
Levenhuk
Binoculars Sherman PRO 12x50
$ 250.00
Levenhuk
Binoculars Karma PRO 8x32
$ 147.00
Levenhuk
Binoculars Karma PRO 8x42
$ 179.00
Levenhuk
Binoculars Karma PRO 10x42
$ 185.00
Levenhuk
Binoculars Vegas ED 10x42
$ 326.00
Levenhuk
Binoculars Karma Base 8x42
$ 87.00
Levenhuk
Binoculars Karma Base 10x42
$ 98.00
Levenhuk
Binoculars Karma PLUS 8x42
$ 109.00
Levenhuk
Monocular Wise 8x42
$ 52.00
Levenhuk
Monocular Wise PLUS 8x32
$ 69.00
Levenhuk
Monocular Nelson 7x35
$ 82.00
Levenhuk
Binoculars Nelson 7x50
$ 185.00
Levenhuk
Binoculars Karma PLUS 10x32
$ 95.00
Barr and Stroud
Binoculars 10x42 Skyline
$ 110.00
Helios Optics
Binoculars 8x32 WP6 Mistral
$ 152.00
Barr and Stroud
Binoculars 8x42 Skyline
$ 110.00
Bushnell
Binoculars Engage DX 12x50
Our price:
RRP:
$ 390.00
$ 351.00
Bushnell
Binoculars Prime 8x32
$ 184.00
Bushnell
Binoculars Engage EDX 10x42
$ 570.00
Bushnell
Binoculars Engage EDX 8x42
$ 550.00
Bushnell
Binoculars Forge Terrain 8x42
$ 700.00
Barr and Stroud
Binoculars Sahara 10x50 FMC
$ 159.00
Bushnell
Binoculars Engage EDX 12x50
$ 610.00
Bushnell
Binoculars Engage EDX 10x50
$ 590.00
Noblex
Binoculars Vector 8x56
$ 510.00
Barr and Stroud
Binoculars Sierra 10x32
$ 150.00
Barr and Stroud
Binoculars Sierra 12x50
$ 184.00
Helios Optics
Binoculars 10x50 ED WP6 Mistral
$ 263.00
Helios Optics
Binoculars 10x50 WP6 Mistral
$ 185.00
Helios Optics
Binoculars 10x32 WP6 Mistral
$ 157.00
Helios Optics
Binoculars 8x42 WP6 Mistral
$ 171.00
Helios Optics
Binoculars 8x42 ED WP6 Mistral
$ 236.00
Helios Optics
Binoculars 10x42 WP6 Mistral
$ 177.00
Helios Optics
Binoculars 10x42 ED WP6 Mistral
$ 242.00
Celestron
Binoculars Trailseeker ED 8x32
$ 455.00
Celestron
Binoculars Trailseeker ED 10x32
$ 466.00
Bushnell
Binoculars Prime 8x42
$ 216.00
Pentax
Binoculars ZD 10x43 WP
$ 980.00
Barr and Stroud
Binoculars Savannah 10x56 ED
$ 372.00
Eschenbach
Sektor D Compact+ 10x32 B binoculars
Our price:
RRP:
$ 390.00
$ 351.00
DDoptics
Binoculars Ultralight 12x50
$ 271.00
Eschenbach
Binoculars Regatta 8x42 B
Our price:
RRP:
$ 720.00
$ 650.00
Barr and Stroud
Binoculars Savannah 12x56 ED
$ 372.00
Eschenbach
Binoculars Trophy P 8x42
Our price:
RRP:
$ 336.00
$ 302.00
Eschenbach
Sektor D Compact+ 8x32 B binoculars
Our price:
RRP:
$ 379.00
$ 341.00
Eschenbach
Binoculars Trophy D 10x32 ED
Our price:
RRP:
$ 640.00
$ 580.00
DDoptics
Binoculars Ultralight 10x50
$ 268.00
Eschenbach
Binoculars Trophy D 8x32 ED
Our price:
RRP:
$ 630.00
$ 570.00
Celestron
Binoculars Regal ED 8X42
$ 550.00
Celestron
Binoculars Regal ED 10X42
$ 560.00
Eschenbach
Binoculars Trophy D 8x56 ED
Our price:
RRP:
$ 840.00
$ 760.00
DDoptics
Binoculars Kolibri 8x33 Gen. 3 green
Our price:
RRP:
$ 288.00
$ 235.00
Celestron
Binoculars UpClose G2 7x35 Porro
$ 54.00
Pentax
Binoculars SP 8x40 WP
$ 271.00
Pentax
Binoculars SP 12x50
$ 184.00
Swarovski
Binoculars NL PURE 8X32 BURNT ORANGE-BLACK
$ 2,690.00
Swarovski
Binoculars NL PURE 10X32 GREEN-BLACK
$ 2,760.00
DDoptics
Binoculars Kolibri 10x33 Gen. 3 green
Our price:
RRP:
$ 290.00
$ 238.00
DDoptics
Binoculars Kolibri 8x42 Gen. 3 green
Our price:
RRP:
$ 355.00
$ 319.00
Pentax
Binoculars AD 8x36 WP
$ 271.00
Pentax
Binoculars ZD 8x43 ED
$ 1,090.00
Kowa
Binoculars BD 10x56 XD Prominar
Our price:
RRP:
$ 720.00
$ 650.00
Pentax
Binoculars AD 10x36 WP
$ 325.00
Pentax
Binoculars SD 9x42 WP
$ 487.00
Celestron
Binoculars NATURE DX 10x50
$ 234.00
Pentax
Binoculars ZD 8x43 WP
$ 930.00
Celestron
Binoculars TrailSeeker 8x32
$ 390.00
Celestron
Binoculars NATURE DX ED 10x50
$ 375.00
Celestron
Binoculars 7x35 Landscout
$ 108.00
Celestron
Binoculars NATURE DX 10x32
$ 201.00
Celestron
Binoculars TrailSeeker 10x32
$ 411.00
Celestron
Binoculars NATURE DX 10x42
$ 234.00
Celestron
Binoculars 10x42 Cosmos Tree of Life
$ 184.00
Celestron
Binoculars NATURE DX 10x42
$ 227.00
Celestron
Binoculars NATURE DX ED 10x42
$ 320.00
Opticron
Binoculars Savanna R PC 10x33
$ 184.00
Opticron
Binoculars Savanna WP 8x30 ZCF
$ 195.00
DDoptics
Binoculars Lux-HR Pocket ED 10x25
Our price:
RRP:
$ 271.00
$ 225.00
Opticron
Binoculars Savanna R PC Oasis 8x33
$ 169.00
DDoptics
Binoculars Nighteagle Ergo CT 15x56 Gen. 3.1
Our price:
RRP:
$ 429.00
$ 387.00
HAWKE
Monocular Nature-Trek 10x25 Mono
$ 108.00
DDoptics
Binoculars Nighteagle Ergo CT 8x56 Gen. 3.1
Our price:
RRP:
$ 418.00
$ 377.00
HAWKE
Binoculars Frontier ED X 10x42 green
Our price:
RRP:
$ 760.00
$ 690.00
HAWKE
Monocular Endurance ED 8x25 Mono
$ 125.00
TS Optics
Binoculars 10x50 WP
Our price:
RRP:
$ 195.00
$ 179.00
HAWKE
Binoculars Endurance ED 8x25 green
$ 249.00
HAWKE
Monocular Nature-Trek 10x42 Mono
$ 162.00
Opticron
Binoculars EXPLORER WA ED-R 8x32
$ 325.00
HAWKE
Monocular Endurance ED 8x42 Mono
$ 190.00
HAWKE
Monocular Endurance ED 10x42 mono
$ 201.00
Swarovski
Binoculars CL Pocket 10X25 Green Mountain
$ 900.00
What is important when selecting binoculars for bird watching?
The "very good" rating for binoculars is achieved if they meet the following points:
- The magnification should not be less than or greater than 8 – 12 times
- The front lens diameter should be at least 40 mm
- An exit pupil of 4 mm or more provides sufficient brightness to sufficiently recognize plumage details at dawn or dusk
- The field of view should not be less than 110 m, so that you can also easily catch birds in flight
- The close focus must not exceed 3 metres
- In addition, the binoculars should be waterproof and use high-quality lens material to minimize image errors
- Irritating elements, such as a compass or reticle, reduce the rating by one point
For a "good", binoculars must achieve these values:
- Magnification: 7 – 12 times
- Front lens diameter: min. 32 mm
- Exit pupil: min. 3 mm
- Field of view: min. 100 m
- Close focus: max. 5 m
For a "medium" we will accept:
- Magnification: 7 – 15 times
- Exit pupil: min. 2.5 mm
- Close focus: min. 10 m
Binoculars that have too low or too high magnification levels, or whose exit pupil is less than 2.5 mm, or which cannot focus at a distance of 10 m, are "not recommended" by us for bird watching.
Of course, these binoculars can also be used to observe birds at the garden bird table, but for serious ornithology it is not advisable to use pocket binoculars or binoculars with single ocular focusing.