The question of the right Uscamel binoculars for bird watching is not easy to answer. It entirely depends on your individual preferences. What is important to you may be meaningless to others and vice versa. We took a closer look at the whole topic for you. We take a closer look at the various features such as magnification, lens size or close focus. But don’t panic, we’ll do it all in order.
We all know that spotting a jay in the trees with binoculars is a little harder than focusing on an elephant on the African savannah. An elephant is not only (significantly) larger, but also easier to identify in its environment. Needless to say, a bird watcher needs different binoculars than the average safari tourist. The choice of binoculars determines whether you can identify a bird or not…
We all know that spotting a jay in the trees with binoculars is a little harder than focusing on an elephant on the African savannah. An elephant is not only (significantly) larger, but also easier to identify in its environment. Needless to say, a bird watcher needs different binoculars than the average safari tourist. The choice of binoculars determines whether you can identify a bird or not…
And one more thing: when comparing a 7×40 to a 10×40 (same lens size) you get a brighter image with the 7 as the image brightness decreases with higher magnifications. Why is that important? For example, if you want to observe owls, you will most likely be in a dense forest and at dusk – and then you would also like to recognize something… And one more thing: a higher magnification transmits the trembling of your hand. It is then much more difficult to focus on your target object. Are there also areas of application for binoculars with a higher magnification? Yes – absolutely. These are used if you want to observe birds in the Wadden Sea or birds of prey, for example.
If you want to observe birds of prey, you need a higher magnification. If you need more than 10x, you should consider using a spotting scope, as binoculars are too difficult to hold at this magnification level. Alternatively, you can also try high-performance binoculars with a binocular tripod adapter. If you plan to use binoculars for all birding, 8x is a good compromise and the choice of many birders.
Birds are not elephants
We all know that spotting a jay in the trees with binoculars is a little harder than focusing on an elephant on the African savannah. An elephant is not only (significantly) larger, but also easier to identify in its environment. Needless to say, a bird watcher needs different binoculars than the average safari tourist. The choice of binoculars determines whether you can identify a bird or not…
We all know that spotting a jay in the trees with binoculars is a little harder than focusing on an elephant on the African savannah. An elephant is not only (significantly) larger, but also easier to identify in its environment. Needless to say, a bird watcher needs different binoculars than the average safari tourist. The choice of binoculars determines whether you can identify a bird or not…
What are the best binoculars for bird watching?
There are many binocular features that you need to think about before you buy one. Do you need a 7×35, 8×42 or a 10×50? Do you need porro binoculars or roof prism binoculars? What about field of view or close focus? So many unanswered questions… Let’s start with some basics and what each means to ultimately choose the best binoculars for bird watching.Binocular magnification
Binoculars are categorized by a series of numbers like 7×35, 8×42, 10×50, etc. The first number denotes the magnification, i.e. how often an object appears closer than without magnification. Accordingly, with a 7×35 magnification, objects appear 7 times closer. With 10×50 binoculars, 10x closer, etc. Most bird watchers choose binoculars with a magnification of 7, 8 or 10. But why not the highest magnification? Well – a higher magnification will of course give you a closer and more detailed look. But of course every coin has two sides…The field of view
It’s also about the field of view. Basically, the larger the magnification, the narrower the field of view. So you can see more through a 7 binocular than through a 10. Therefore, you have a better chance of spotting a bird and tracking it through the trees with 7x binoculars than with 10x binoculars. And with a flock of birds, for example, you can see more individuals with an 8 binocular than with a 10 binocular.
And one more thing: when comparing a 7×40 to a 10×40 (same lens size) you get a brighter image with the 7 as the image brightness decreases with higher magnifications. Why is that important? For example, if you want to observe owls, you will most likely be in a dense forest and at dusk – and then you would also like to recognize something… And one more thing: a higher magnification transmits the trembling of your hand. It is then much more difficult to focus on your target object. Are there also areas of application for binoculars with a higher magnification? Yes – absolutely. These are used if you want to observe birds in the Wadden Sea or birds of prey, for example.
If you want to observe birds of prey, you need a higher magnification. If you need more than 10x, you should consider using a spotting scope, as binoculars are too difficult to hold at this magnification level. Alternatively, you can also try high-performance binoculars with a binocular tripod adapter. If you plan to use binoculars for all birding, 8x is a good compromise and the choice of many birders.
The objective lens diameter
The second digit on the binoculars is the objective lens diameter, which is the diameter of the objective lens in millimeters. So 7x35s has a lens size of 35mm, 8×42, 42mm. Why is that important? Quite simply: the light enters the binoculars through the objective lens. The larger the lens, the greater the light-gathering power and the brighter the bird will be. Now, of course, you’re asking yourself why you don’t just use the largest lens… Again, the answer is relatively simple: Bigger means bulkier and heavier. A 50mm lens just weighs. That’s not bad if you’re sitting on the sun lounger at home, but it’s bad for a backpacking trip. Experts recommend that binoculars have an objective lens size that is five times the magnification. With an 8x magnification, this means a lens size of at least 40 (8×40). In summary, this means that for bird watching it is best to use 8×40 binoculars. Under no circumstances should the lens size of your binoculars be less than 30mm. However, if you’re going to be out hunting mostly in low light (think owls again), consider a larger lens.
The prism design
There are two types of prism systems. Dachkant and Porro are two different prism systems that are used in the construction of binoculars. Porro prism binoculars have a z-shaped optical path in which the objective lenses are offset from the eyepieces, resulting in a wider set of binoculars. In roof prism binoculars, the prisms overlap heavily and the objective lenses roughly match the eyepieces. The result is a sleek, streamlined shape. Due to the more expensive technology, roof prism binoculars are more expensive than porrocant binoculars. So if you are on a budget, porro prisms may be the best option.The close focus
Close focus is the shortest distance over which binoculars can provide a sharp image of an object. Here you have to decide again: Do you need more magnification or a shorter focal length? Now you’re bound to say spontaneously: more magnification, of course. However, keep in mind that there will be times when you want to look at the details of a bird that may be just a few feet away from you. Therefore, good binoculars for bird watching should have a close focus of 5 meters.
Focus
With a good pair of birdwatching binoculars, you can focus on birds quickly and sharply. This is important because many birds are constantly moving and you then need to focus on them quickly. Make sure you buy binoculars with a central focus so you can easily rotate them with your index finger without much effort. Some binocular models have eyepieces with individual sharpness. However, these need to be set if you want to view birds from less than 10 meters away. This is cumbersome and time consuming for bird watching. So better keep your hands off it.Which binoculars should I use for bird watching?
Whether Swarovski, Uscamel, Zeiss or Leica – there are many good manufacturers of binoculars. Now, of course, the question arises as to which ones you should take a closer look at. One of our most popular binoculars for bird watching is the Nikon Monarch M5 8×42 . An alternative would be the Nikon Monarch 5 10×42. Both binoculars are a good choice, especially for beginners. If you already have some experience, you should take a closer look at the Zeiss Conquest 8×42 HD . And if you do need a higher magnification, the Zeiss Conquest 10×42 HD would be the right one for you.