Making The Choice

After a bit of research, looking through a few different binoculars, reading reviews, and getting the opinions of others who have used them, we decided to get a pair of Vortex Diamondbacks in the 8×42 size.  A couple of people on Twitter that I follow, specifically @Birdchick and @Kolibrix (who leads birding trips in Peru), said they were impressed with the quality. The specifications, reviews, and price were right where we wanted them to be.  They are waterproof, have plenty of eye relief for those times we wear glasses and seem to be ruggedly built.  They also have a great warranty.  Here they are:

The Vortex Diamondback Binocular

The price was just under $200 which was great as that will allow us to get some other birding “accessories” such as field guides and  some CD’s with bird songs on them.  We ordered the binoculars and they arrived last week. 

Impressions

We had some time to “play with” them over the weekend and so far we are very happy with our choice.  Here is a summary of what we noticed:

• The view is bright and clear. 
• The focusing is accurate although a little slow but the depth of focus is pretty good so that makes up for it a bit. 
• They have a nice, wide field of view which makes finding and following birds a little easier. 
• There seems to be good contrast and the colors come through well, even in flat light.  Compared to our old Bushnell’s these are a great improvement.
• They have  wide range of adjustability.  They fit both my narrow, deep set (Pam calls them beady )eyes as well as Pam’s more “normal” eyes.
• They are easily held by both my fairly large and Pam’s small hands.

Also, they come with a decent neck strap that is actually wide enough to be comfortable.  The case that comes with them is a hard-sided cube that protects the binoculars fairly well but is a little bit of a pain to use.  I think for most of our use the binoculars will stay outside of the case.

Overall we are very happy with the Vortex Diamondbacks so far.  They are an improvement over our existing pair and they are much better built and weatherproofed.  We will keep using the Bushnells outside until we get another pair of new binoculars (hopefully in the next month or so) and then after that they will stay inside as an “emergency” pair.

Summary

In summary, buying a pair of binoculars for birdwatching is a fairly straightforward process.  You just need to take you time and not rush into it.  Here are some suggestions based on what we learned during the process:

1. Decide on your budget (be realistic).
2. Determine the best size and use for the binoculars.
3. Get opinions of other birdwatchers you trust.
4. Research a bit to find a few different options (use the internet).
5. Make the decision based on the best match to your particular needs.
6. Purchase from a trusted source that allows resonable returns for binoculars that don’t meet your needs.
7. Enjoy your new binoculars!

Hopefully you have found this series helpful.  Let us know about your favorite birding binoculars!

This is part two of our short series on buying birdwatching binoculars.  This part covers the research of possible binoculars.  To see part one, which covered defining our needs and budget, click here.

Doing The Research

Once Pam and I decided what we wanted and how much we were able to spend I began to do the research to help us narrow the field.  Luckily there is a lot of information online that is very helpful.  Here is a list of the resources I used:

Cornell Lab Of Ornithology Binocular Review – The Lab Of Ornithology at Cornell University is one of the best resources available for birdwatchers.  They have an extensive site with all kinds of information.  In 2005 they published a review of birdwatching binoculars that has some great information on choosing the right binocular as well as reviews of all kinds of binoculars in different price ranges.

Binoculars.com- Binoculars.com is one of the largest online sources for quality binoculars and other optics.  Many of the product links on this site point to them because they have a large selection and very good prices. They also have a lot of information on how binoculars work and picking the best binocular for you.  There is even a series of videos explaining different concepts.  Click here to go  to their learning center.

Bird Forums- This is one of the largest online communities dedicated to all things birdwatching.  They have a Binoculars forum that has a lot of information in it on specific brands of binoculars.

The Choices

After visiting these sites plus a few others I came up with a “short list” of possible binoculars based on the factors we were looking for.  Your list might be completely different based on your needs and budget.

Nikon Monarch- This is one of the highest rated binoculars in the Cornell Labs article as well as on many other sites.  It has good eye relief and lists at $430 but is available for $250-$290.

Vortex Diamondback also Stokes Talon- This is one I came across in my research.  Many people seem to like it and it gets good reviews.  Eye relief is fine, it has a wide field of view, and the price is right at $200.

Bushnell Excursion- This is another binocular that people seem to like.  It has a nice wide field of view and good eye relief.  The price is good as well, right at $160 or so.

Vortex Fury- The Vortex Fury is at the very high end, actually over, our range at $350 but people seem to really like it.  It could be an option if we get one less expensive and one higher priced pair.

Pentax DCF HRc- This is right at $300 but is spoken of highly in the research I did.  The field of view is not as large as some of the others.

Minox BV 8×42 BR- The MInox is right at $290 but has good reviews, and a decent field of view.

Celestron Noble- The Celestron was well received in the Cornell Labs review.  It is $175-$250 most places.

Now that I’ve got my candidates I need to make my decision.  Stay tuned for the next part of the series to see what we ended up going with.

In Need Of Some Binoculars

Now that Pam and I are officially “birdwatchers” we should probably get some birdwatching binoculars.  When my Father was visiting over Thanksgiving we had the opportunity to compare his binoculars to ours and the difference was amazing.  Even though his binoculars are 10 years old they are high quality and were fairly expensive at the time of purchase.  Both his and our pair are 8×42 and when we looked at the same things through both pair the sharpness and brightness of the birds in his pair was so much better.   There was just no comparison to our current (nearly broken) pair of nearly 15 year old Bushnell binoculars that we got from Best Buy for $75.   It became quickly obvious that we should get a little better pair of binoculars if we were to get the most from our birdwatching.  So, I have started to research the various options for at least 1 pair, and probably two, of binoculars.  There are a lot of choices in binoculars for birding so I have to make some decisions to narrow down the field.

Defining Our Needs

The first thing I did was to write down what I thought we would need in binoculars.  My father suggested that we should get 8×42 as they have a good mix of magnification and light gathering ability.  Our current pair are 8×42’s as well as his and we like that size.  The next thing was to really define our budget.  Based on where we are currently and the fact that I’m not willing to go into debt for these we decided on an absolute maximum of $300/pair, hopefully less.  My Father thinks we can get good binoculars for $175 to $275 and after some research I tend to agree.  The binoculars will be our Christmass gifts to each other.  I also want to get binoculars that are waterproof in case we get rained on, etc. And, since Pam wears glasses all of the time and I do occaisonally, we need enough eye relief in the binoculars to allow good viewing with glasses.

So Here is the criteria we will use:

1. Size-8×42
2. Cost-Maximum of $300/pair or $600 Total
3. Waterproof Design
4. Enough Eye Relief For Glasses (typically 16mm or more)

Now, time to start the search!

One Of The Most Popular Hobbies

You’re in good company.  Birdwatching is one of the most popular outdoor activities.  According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, which tracks wildlife recreation, birdwatching is now a hobby of some 47.8 million Americans.  And its not hard to see why.  Birding is a hobby that is easy and inexpensive to begin and it doesn’t require much equipment or training.  Everyone in the family can participate.  It is also a great way to get outside.  You can bird watch just about anywhere but one of the best places is right in your own backyard.

Minimal Equipment Required

All you really need to begin watching birds is your eyes, but binoculars certainly do help!  You will need to get some basic binoculars in order to be able to see the birds in your yard.  There are lots of choices but for getting started you can use just about any pair of binoculars, but 7×35’s or 8×42’s are two popular sizes.  If you don’t have a pair of binoculars or are ready to get some better binoculars, check out the Birdwatching Binoculars Section of our site.  In addition to binoculars you will want a book to help you identify what you see and a notepad to record your “finds”.  Here are a couple of suggested books to get you started:

Sibley’s Birding Basics A great introduction to birdwatching!

The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America One of the best field guides out there.

The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America The Western states version.

Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America (Peterson Field Guides(R)) One of the all time classics, updated and expanded.

The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher: Birdfeeders and Bird GardensMake your backyard a birding hotspot!

Backyard Birds (Peterson Field Guides® for Young Naturalists)Get your children interested in a hobby they can enjoy for the rest of their lives!

There are many more excellent birdwatching books.  Check out our extensive selection in our store under Birdwatching Books.

Start Your Journey Today

Birdwatching is a lifelong activity that can be enjoyed by everyone.  You can see an incredible number of birds right in your own backyard, or the local park.  All it takes is a little bit of curiosity, some binoculars, and a note book, and you are on your way to a lifetime of enjoyment!