Binoculars For Bird Watching
With out a doubt, the most expensive investment you will make when buying your bird watching equipment is the binoculars. In return they will be your most used and most appreciative investment you will probably make. The prices for binoculars range from the cheap to the very expensive. Your goal is to find a pair that you like and that will serve your purposes. There are a few things you need to know about binoculars that will help you choose the pair that is right for you.
First what power do you need. Power is defined by 10x this means it will be magnified up to 10 times it's size. Binoculars come in a variety of powers and where you do your viewing will in part play a role in how powerful your binoculars need to be. If you are viewing a lot of birds that are in the distance I would recommend at least a 25x power pair. Also you want a pair that has some type of glare protection. Light reflecting off a shiny object even a shiny leaf can cause problems if you are trying to find that one bird you can hear but not see.
Next you have to ask yourself how tough are they. I know you don't plan on treating they roughly, but hay, stuff happens. You can accidentally drop them while loading your car or they could even fall out of your pack. The important thing to remember is the tougher they are the longer they will last.
The final thing you need to consider is comfort. You want to be sure they fit your face and eyes. Are they to heavy to hold to your face for extended periods of time? Also you have to consider how well they feel when they are around your neck and you are walking through the woods. A pair of bulky, heavy binoculars will turn a good day birding into a bad day rather quickly if they feel like an anchor around your neck while you are walking. They should be effortless to hold to your eyes and comfortable while they are there.
Now taking all that into consideration, the cost of your new binoculars should not be the main consideration when making your purchase. Sure you can only afford so much, but try not to let the cost be the final thing to determine your purchase. It can be one of the contributing factors but should not be the main one. If you have to, set a budget on how much you can spend. Then make a list of features you want and investigate all the binoculars you can find in your budget that have those features. Just remember the investment you make today in choosing your new binoculars can last you a life time. Trying to save a couple of dollars today could cost you more in the long run if you have to replace your binoculars before you should have to if you had bought the more expensive pair in the first place.
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