How to get the best binoculars for your needs

I often get sent questions like ‘what are the best binoculars’ or ‘what binoculars to buy’, without many more details given to me other than that.

To be honest such open ended questions like these are impossible to answer correctly as there is no such thing as one single pair of optics that is better than all others for everyone. A better question to ask would be something like: what are the best binoculars for me and then go on to list your requirements as well as your budget.

So my advice is to first have a think about why you want your binoculars and what you will mostly be using them for and in that way you will hopefully be able to find what binoculars are best for you:

Step 1

Decide on your main intended use for your optics – This does not have to be set in stone and it is ok to want a good general all rounder. Besides in many cases a great bird watching binocular will also make for really good or even great general use or larger wildlife observation optics. But what it will do is help you think about what the main features you should be looking out for in your optics.

Step 2

Decide what the main specifications & features you require

So for example if you want your binoculars mostly for birdwatching, a wide field of view will in many cases be more important than a very powerful magnification – this is not always the case however, because perhaps you will be doing most of your birding in wide open areas with the birds further away from you, I am thinking of places like on a lake or near the sea. So once you have your main intended use also think about if there are any sub-sets within that category to refine the main features you require.

So how do I know what features are required for a particular use?
Well a lot of it is common sense, like an ideal marine binocular would be one that is water proof, but there are some features that may not be quite so obvious. So to help I have outlined the main features to look for in your binoculars in a whole host of the most common uses:

• Birdwatching Binoculars
• Safari Binoculars / Travel Binoculars
• Marine Binoculars
• Hunting Binoculars
• Night Vision Binoculars
• Binoculars for Astronomy
• Binoculars for Watching Sporting events
• Binoculars for Camping
• Opera Binoculars & Theatre Glasses
• Butterfly Binoculars
• Plane Spotting Binoculars
• Binoculars for Space Shuttle Launch
• Skiing Binoculars

Step 3

Decide on your budget

My advice to people when they ask how much they should spend on a pair of optics is to go with what you feel comfortable spending. Having said that, I strongly suggest that you stay clear of the very cheapest optics – they are far often little better than a toy and will only leave you frustrated because of the poor quality view through them and you will end up not using them.

This does not mean that you have to spend a fortune either, whilst the very best optics that use the best quality glass, coatings and components are usually on the expensive side, there are a load of really great value for money binoculars that for most casual users will be more than good enough.

Step 4

Find your binoculars – Then all you have to do is look for the pairs of binoculars within your budget that match as many or ideally all of your required specifications and features.

To do this quickly, take a look at my new Binoculars Features Search, that allows you to select the features (and budget) that you require and then browse as well as make Side-By-Side Binocular Comparisons between binoculars within specific criteria.

Question:

I am looking for the best set of camera binoculars. I didn’t know they existed until I started researching binoculars for a birthday gift.

I’d like to spend no more than $500. Less would be nice but I want a really good, useful pair. Not a get-a-better-model-next-year pair. Suggestions?

Answer:

Combining a pair of binoculars with a camera sounds ideal and as you say, it would definitely save space having to only carry one piece of equipment with you. The main problem is technically it is very difficult to achieve and at the moment the camera part on these camera binoculars do not use the same lens as that of the binocular and so the zoom does not match that of the binocular.

The quality of the image produced by the camera also does not match that of a stand alone digital camera at the same price, so even though it is a little more cumbersome having two pieces of equipment, you are much better off getting a separate camera with a zoom and a decent pair of binoculars.

What is also telling is that to the best of my knowledge none of the really serious camera manufacturers who also make quality binoculars (I’m thinking of companies like Canon, Nikon and Olympus) produce a combined camera binoculars, which must surely say something?

So in my opinion you are far better off getting you’r boyfriend two gifts instead of one and for your budget of $500, you can get a pretty decent set-up. I would split it by spending around $300 on the camera and $200 on the binoculars:

Which Camera?
I highly recommend the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45 (FZ40 in the USA) or even their slightly older Lumix DMC-FZ38 (FZ35 in the US) which you should be able to get for around $300. I have personally used this range of Superzoom cameras for many years with excellent results. The come with an excellent 24x Zoom (35mm camera equivalent: 25-600mm) which will not only far outperform any binocular with a digital camera in terms of it’s zoom but it stores the images using a 14.1MP CCD sensor and so will produce far higher quality images. What is more is you can also record Full HD Movies with it and is what I use to produce all my videos on this site.

USA: Panasonic Lumix FZ Cameras on Amazon.com

UK:: Panasonic Lumix FZ Cameras on Amazon.co.uk

Which Binoculars?
Because you will be carrying both a camera and your binoculars, as I do, I would recommend getting a compact or mid-sized pair. Or if you do want a full size binocular, you could use a binocular harness to free up your hands. Look out for the Dual Harness which enables you to attach both your camera and binoculars to the harness.

So binoculars for around $200 that you may consider:

• Steiner 10X26 Safari Pro Binoculars – Excellent value for money and very compact
• Steiner Wildlife Pro 8.5×26 Binoculars – Another good quality compact binocular from Steiner that is probably a little better suited to birding than the 10x Safari Pro
• Brunton Eterna 8X25 Binoculars – I haven’t personally reviewed these, but according to the feedback I have had, they are pretty good and under budget too
• Barr & Stroud 10×25 Sahara Binoculars – Not yet available in the US, but for UK readers these are very good compacts considering the amount you pay for them
• Nikon Monarch ATB 10X36 Binoculars

– Currently reduced from $548.75 to $269.00 on Amazon.com these are now seriously good value for money mid-sized binoculars

Vanguard 10X42 Spirit Plus Binoculars – Excellent value for money full size binocular for around $200

Question

Today’s question comes from someone looking to buy some binoculars for their husband’s birthday. They live on the beach in hot and humid east coast of Florida and he spends a lot of time on the balcony watching cruise ships, boats and yachts go by. They were looking for a lightweight pair, perhaps fog proof and keeping the cost under $500.00.

Answer

The good news is at your budget of under $500 there is a wide choice of really good binoculars to choose from, the hardest part is making the decision! So lets look a what features he will mostly need and see if we can’t narrow down the choices:

Because he will be mostly looking at slower moving objects (yachts, ships & boats) in wide open environments, I would not worry too much about the field of view. Therefore I would suggest getting binoculars with a higher magnification: 10x or more.

You say a lightweight pair, I would say that then cuts out any binoculars with image stabilization as they tend to be much heavier as they have batteries etc. I am not sure if by lightweight, you also meant compact?

If so, under budget ($319.99 – $408.25) is the excellent pair of Steiner 12×30 Wildlife Pro Binoculars.

If a compact binocular is not that important and you are only looking for something that is lightweight, then:

The Minox 10×42 BV Binoculars are a great pair, fully water and fogproof and is way under budget: currently reduced from $299 down to $169 on Amazon.

Or the Vanguard 10×45 Endeavor ED Binoculars:
These have only just been released and cost around $399.99. I recently reviewed the 8.5x magnification version which was excellent. They are fully water and fogproof.

I am also currently reviewing the Vanguard Spirit 10×42 Binoculars (the full review will be up on the site in a few days) that have a list price of $309.99 but you can get them on Amazon for $199.99, that are fully water and fog proof that I am really impressed with at that price.

Photo Credit: slack12

The Waterproof Fogproof Binocular

Many binoculars are either waterproof, fogproof or both where as some manufacturers call their optics weather protected or even weather proof. But what exactly does it all mean, do you really need it and just what do they do to make a pair of binoculars waterproof and fogproof?

Waterproofing

Waterproof binoculars and spotting scopes are sealed internally using O-rings to prevent moisture as well as dust and other small debris from entering the inside of the unit.

Fogproofing

Fogproofing means that the optical barrels are filled with nitrogen or argon gas to prevent internal fogging caused when subjecting the optic to temperature extremes, especially in high humidity. Fogproofing is sometimes referred to as nitrogen-purging. This term is probably more descriptive of the actual process; O2 (oxygen) is purged from the barrel(s) and replaced with an inert gas (usually nitrogen) which doesn’t condense.

A pair of binoculars or can be waterproof without being fogproof. This merely means that the instrument is sealed, but the oxygen inside the barrels haven’t been purged and replaced with an inert gas. But if an optical instrument is fogproof, it has to be waterproof (sealed) as well.

Today even fairly inexpensive binoculars and scopes are both waterproof and fogproof. Just look out for manufacturers that claim that their optics are “weather protected” or “water protected” this usually means that they are not 100% water or fog proof, but they should survive a little moisture. If you think that you will need to use your binoculars in a wet environment, make sure that they are 100% waterproof.

Applications

Whilst it is never a bad thing, but if you are choosing between two binoculars and the one that is more expensive is water and fogproof you need to decide if you really need it. Having used fogged up binoculars I can tell you from experience that it becomes very annoying and any optical device that becomes compromised by moisture will obstruct your view and may ultimately become damaged from mold growing on the inside the barrels.

Marine Binoculars: If you plan on using your optics in any marine or water environment, I would highly recommend getting water proof binoculars as no matter how careful you are, mistakes will happen! If you are using your binoculars on a boat take a look at my article on choosing marine binoculars that are purposely designed for life on the water, that will not only handle the weather, but some will even float, have built in compasses and rangefinders and are optimized for stability.

Waterproof and fogproof binoculars are also highly recommended if you plan on using them anywhere where the humidity is high in like, rainforests, or if you’re around water like a wetland. Some of the best birdwatching can be experienced during inclement weather and one of the main reasons birdwatchers go with binoculars that have both of these features. Whilst not essential, waterproofing is also a good idea if you are taking your binoculars on safari, hunting or most other wildlife viewing as I have often taken guests out in the bush whilst it is raining with some of my bet experiences occurring during wet weather.

Dry and Sandy Environments

It is not only watery and humid conditions where water and fog-proofing can help: in an extremely dry and dusty climate, the O-ring seal will prevent dust and tiny debris from entering the unit.

Water Repellent Lens Coatings

Another feature to look out for and one that is often found on high end optics are special lens coatings that are actually water repellent or sometimes known as “hydrophobic coatings”. These water and dirt repelling properties, not only repel water, but they are have more resistance to abrasions and make it much easier to remove your fingerprints and dirt particles from the lenses. Lenses treated with the hydrophobic coating allow water to just roll off them. Take a look at the LotuTech® coating on Carl Zeiss Binoculars or the AquaDuraTM-Coating on Leica Binoculars.

Someone sent me an email the other day asking if zoom binoculars work or are they nothing more than a gimmick?

Before answering that, it is important that you understand exactly what “Zoom Binoculars” are: A definition would say that they have a continuously variable magnification that allows you to view an object or area at a magnification of 10x for example and zoom in at a higher power magnification, to get a close up view. For a far more detailed explanation and how they work take a look at this article on Zoom Binoculars.

To answer the question I would say that zoom binoculars do work, but you cannot compare them to the quality of a high end binocular. On the ones that I have tested the images tend to be a little fuzzy in comparison to high end fixed magnification binoculars and they often have a smaller field of view. This means that they may not be ideal for uses like birdwatching. On the flip side some people feel that the ability to be able to scan for something using the low power magnification and then zoom in to observe the close-up detail outweighs the downsides.

It must be mentioned that of all the manufacturers that make binoculars, none of the real high end quality brands like Steiner, Kowa, Swarovski and Zeiss make Zoom binoculars. Could this because they don’t want to risk their brand on something that is a little gimmicky or is it because they are not progressive enough? Of the companies that do make Zoom binoculars, the best are Nikon, Bushnell, Olympus and Celestron.

If you are interested in getting a pair I would suggest trying them out in a high street store or borrowing a someone’s first and make up your own mind. If you can’t do this, at least purchase them from an internet retailer like Amazon that have a no quibbles returns policy.

USA
Zoom Binoculars on Amazon.com

UK
Zoom Binoculars on Amazon.co.uk

Over time this technology has been incorporated into consumer optics, but even though over time it has got cheaper, quality night vision devices can still be very expensive. As for how well you night vision binoculars, monoculars or other device works, will depend on it’s “Generation”. As the technology of night vision equipment evolved, with the performance generally increasing it has lead to several “generations” of night vision equipment. Most commercially available nightvision equipment is rated according to it’s ‘Generation’. The Generation (Gen) is extremely important to take note of when comparing devices as they indicate the level of technology used in the unit.

For more information on the Generations of night vision as well as how each of them works, take a look at my in-depth guide to Night Vision Binoculars, Monoculars, Goggles & Scopes

Who Makes the Night Vision Equipment?
Take a look at ATN Night Vision Devices, who make the biggest line of night vision equipment in the world. Their range includes optics in the fields of Binoculars, Daytime Scopes, Night Vision, Thermal Imaging, Laser Rangefinders and Laser Sights. Bushnell Optics also make some decent cheaper night vision goggles and monoculars.

Does ruby coating night vision work?
Mostly No. All the ruby coatings do is filter out a spectrum of light and by doing this, it gives the image a slight greenish color. Since many true night-vision optics have a greenish glow, some manufacturers try to make this claim. Mostly, the ruby coatings are used to mask the use of inferior optics. To slightly improve low-light viewing without buying expensive night-vision optics, use larger front objectives since they have a greater light-gathering ability.

If ruby coatings don’t work, are all other coatings a scam?
No. Lens Coatings are very useful and help improve contrast and clarity.

I get asked this question fairly often and it is not surprising as the terms “auto focus binoculars” and “self focusing binoculars” are very misleading, but are often used by manufacturers of optics.

What you are probably describing are actually fixed focus binoculars, which have their focus set at the factory that don’t auto change and cannot be changed by the user. To achieve this they have a wide Depth of View and fairly low magnification, that usually allows you to focus on anything from about 30 feet to infinity.

This is not to say that fixed-focus binoculars are bad, they do have their advantages, time saved not having to focus can mean the difference between identifying that bird or not. Fixed focus is also often used on marine binoculars because they have far less moving parts than centre focus binoculars making them much easier to seal and make completely waterproof.

For more information you can read my full article on “Auto Focus Binoculars“

Binoculars from the High Street
Photographic stores on the high street often have a small section containing a few models of binoculars. They are kind of hit and miss and in my experience usually contain mostly cheap makes of binoculars and a few very expensive ones. Jessops often have a decent selection of binoculars in their bigger stores, but I have found their range is better online, unless you plan on visiting their store on Oxford Street in London.

Binoculars for sale on-line
Internet retailers tend to offer a far wider range of binoculars as well as better deals and cheaper prices than high street stores. The Jessops web store is worth looking at, but I always compare the prices with Amazon.co.uk as they (along with their partners) almost certainly have biggest range of binoculars in the UK, usually at the cheapest or pretty close to the cheapest. With Amazon you also get the added benefit of being safe in the knowledge that they are more than just a ‘man in a shed’ company.

To take a look at my recommended on-line binocular UK retailers as well as one in the US, take a look at my page on Where to Buy Binoculars.

Binoculars in the UK
In general the US has a far wider selection of binoculars than here in the UK, I have often reviewed a set that have easily found for sale in America, but as yet are unavailable in Britain. The American retailers also often have many optics offered at a discount whilst here they continue to be sold at the full asking price.

Sure magnification is important, but remember the stronger the zoom, the more chance you will have of image shake, making it difficult to clearly see what ever you are looking at without the use of a rest or tripod.

A stronger zoom also often reduces the field of view (FOV) that you get when you look through the binoculars.

For example the Minox 8x42 BV Binoculars have a FOV of 389ft at 1000 yards, whilst their 10x version, the Minox 10x42 BV Binoculars has a FOV of 342ft at 1000 yards.

What is The Field of View? (FOV)
Put simply, Field of view it is how wide the image is that you can see at a certain distance (usually measured at 1000 yards). For a detailed explanation take a look at Field of View on the glossary page, but this is often reduced the stronger you magnification.

So why is FOV important for Birdwatching?
The wider your field of view, the more you can see at one time when you are looking through your binoculars, with fast moving and small objects (like many birds) this is important as it will help you to quickly locate it before it moves away. This can often mean the difference between being able to identify the bird or not.

It is for this reason and a few others that many professional birdwatchers tend to choose binoculars with a lower magnification and a wider field of view, rather than the other way round. 8x magnification binoculars tend to be the most popular, although if you are often going to be looking at birds at far distances, water birds on a lake for example, you may also think of using 10x magnification, just keep in mind the field of view.

8x Binoculars with a wide field of view:

• Steiner 8×42 Merlin Binoculars: 342ft at 1000 yards
• Leica 8×42 Ultravid HD Binoculars: 389ft at 1000 yards
• Zeiss 8×42 Victory FL Binoculars: 405ft at 1000 yards

10x Binoculars with wide field of views:

• Leica 10×42 Ultravid HD Binoculars: 336ft at 1000 yards
• Zeiss 10×42 Victory FL Binoculars: 330ft at 1000 yards

For all the features that you should look out when choosing birding binoculars, read my article on Birdwatching Binoculars.

Photo: The photo at the start of this post is of an African Fish Eagle that I took whilst on holiday in Zimbabwe.

Rules

• You can ‘buy’ as many binoculars and binocular accessories as you like as long as they total $1000 (£1000) or less.
• If you spent less than $1000, the remainder would go to charity.
• Don’t get too caught up in the details, I’d really like to know what top of the range binoculars you would really like, without them being too expensive.

Lets use the binoculars on Amazon as a guide as they have most of the popular binoculars on their site.

Binoculars for less than $1000 on Amazon.com

Binoculars for less than £1000 on Amazon.co.uk