This morning, I stepped outside and noticed a golden colored bird on my thistle feeder. It was an American Goldfinch! I quickly grabbed my binoculars to get a better look and see more details, like the black feathered hat. This is one of the reasons I enjoy birding so much.
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Check PriceIf you enjoy birdwatching or are interested in it, the first step is to research binoculars. This can be intimidating as there are a wide variety of options. You also do not have to spend a lot of money to get high-quality binoculars, as there are plenty of options under $150. If you want to get closer to the birds, I have compiled a list of binoculars to consider.
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The Gold Standard for Backyard Beginners: Celestron Nature DX 8×42
When recommending binoculars to friends, I usually choose these. The 8x magnification is powerful enough to see the Black-capped Chickadees that grow on the oak trees, but not so powerful that hand tremors create a poor view. The 42mm objective lens captures light, so on cloudy days the cardinals’ bright red colors will still be visible.
They are completely multi-coated and contain BaK-4 prisms. You get images that are brighter and clearer than expected in this price range. Each time I lend this style of binoculars to a first-time user and see their faces light up when a bird comes into focus, I understand why the 8×42 model has remained popular for bird watching for so many years.
Celestron Nature DX 8x42 Binoculars
Check PriceVortex Triumph HD 10×42: More Reach Without Breaking the Bank
Vortex enjoys strong loyalty among the birding public, and for good reason. Just their warranty is enough to inspire enthusiasm. For birders who find themselves squinting at hawks circling over a distant treeline, the Triumph HD 10×42 offers the clearest magnification upgrade.
Ten-power binoculars take some getting used to, as the shake from your hands is more noticeable than with an 8x pair. So this pair will require a steadier hold than others. Rest your elbows on a railing or the roof of your vehicle and prepare for a clearer image. The quality of glass used in these binoculars is better than you would expect at this price, and the color of objects remains true, even in the blue morning light.
The two numbers on any binocular, like “8×42,” tell you everything about its basic character. The first number is magnification. The second is the diameter of the front lens in millimeters. Divide the lens diameter by the magnification and you get the “exit pupil,” a measure of how bright the image will appear. An 8×42 produces an exit pupil of 5.25mm, which is close to the size of a human pupil in soft daylight. That is why the 8×42 format looks so naturally bright to most eyes.
Built for Damp Mornings: Celestron Outland X 8×42
When the weather is gloomy, bird watching carries on just the same. Some of the best birding moments I have witnessed have occurred in light rain. During those moments, I could observe American Robins scouring a watery lawn. Your spring mornings will not be spoiled by unexpected rain since the Celestron Outland X is fully waterproof and fogproof.
Like the Nature DX, it has an 8×42 format that makes it a good fit for beginners, but typically sells for a bit less. The multi-coated optics provide a wide field of view, which is great for tracking a Yellow Warbler moving quickly through a willow thicket. The tough rubber armoring provides a good grip even with wet hands.
The Jacket-Pocket Companion: Occer 12×25 Compact Binoculars
What you have with you can sometimes be the best binoculars and, in this case, that’s the Occer 12×25. Because the Occer 12×25 can easily fit in your pocket, it is likely to come with you on walks when you can look at a Downy Woodpecker on a telephone pole.
While the 25mm lenses won’t help you get great views as dusk approaches, the magnification is low enough to get good views of people/objects at a reasonable distance (i.e., 12x). While the 12×25 may not be your favorite pair of binoculars, many people think of it as the pair that will sit in their closet forever.
Ultra-Lightweight for Porch Birding: Hontry 10×25 Compact Binoculars
Heavy gear can be a problem for long hikes. If neck strain is a concern, the Hontry 10×25 is an excellent choice because it is super light. I have a set of compact binoculars like that right next to my coffee in the kitchen. When the wings start flapping at the bird feeder, I need to be able to grab them quickly without reaching into a bag.
With this set of binoculars, you can easily start to tell all of the small differences between the Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, and House Sparrow. While they do all look streaky, having a lens to work with lets you see the differences.
When You Need to Reach the Canopy: Vortex Crossfire HD 12×50
If you are just starting, eight- or ten-power magnification will probably suit you best, but there are times when you might want more reach. One such time is standing at the edge of a tall forest and trying to spot a small shape far away near the top of a tall pine tree. The Vortex Crossfire HD 12×50 makes that top-level tree much closer.
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The big 50mm objective lenses are essential there because they capture enough light to keep a 12x image bright. These will be heavier than regular ones, so I suggest leaning against a tree or a fence post to steady the view. The Vortex build quality and warranty carry over here, which is important when you spend more than fifty bucks on optics.
“The most important binocular is the one you actually pick up and use. A modest pair in your hand beats a perfect pair in its case.”
Snap a Photo to Share: Adorrgon 12×42 HD Binoculars
One of the genuine joys of birding is sharing the experience with someone who did not witness it. The Adorrgon 12×42 includes a phone adapter and a small tabletop tripod, which allows you to align your smartphone camera with the eyepiece to try your hand at digiscoping. It may take several attempts to achieve the right alignment, and the outcome will not compare to a dedicated camera lens, but sending an out-of-focus picture of a Blue Jay to a friend or grandchild is a unique experience.
The 42mm lenses let in quite a bit of light, allowing your phone camera to capture more detail. With 12x magnification, your phone will capture a bird that would be just a tiny speck in the photo.
Tracking a Flock in Motion: Timorn HD 8×42 Birding Binocular
Cedar Waxwings seem to arrive suddenly. One moment a berry bush is empty, and the next it is full of smooth, crested birds. They pass berries to each other like a relay team. Following this type of movement takes a lot of field of view and magnification. The Timorn HD 8×42 is a perfect match for this task. It is lightweight, waterproof, and can handle unexpected drizzle.
These binoculars are great for beginners and can be a great way to practice focusing on specific birds as they disappear into the leaves.
High Power for Waterfowl and Wide-Open Water: 15×52 HD Binoculars
Near the water, the birds can be positioned at a ridiculous distance and appear as tiny dark specks. Without enough magnification, it is impossible to see them. A set of 15×52 binoculars will help. However, keeping 15x binoculars steady using just your hands is very difficult. The image will bounce violently with even the smallest movements.
Someone watching waterfowl from a stationary position, about to use a tripod or a car window mount, will get the most use out of this pair of binoculars. It is also worth the extra bulk to capture a distant flock of diving ducks in detail.
Handheld binoculars can typically be used steadily up to about 10x magnification, as anything above that will have a healthy person’s heartbeat shaking the image in the viewfinder. However, competitive shooters and birders will sometimes use a technique called ‘bone stacking’, where they stabilize the optics by resting their elbows against their chest, which can help avoid the need for a tripod.
The Glovebox Spare: VULNESS 8×21 Compact Binoculars
On numerous occasions while driving, I have seen a Rough-legged Hawk on a highway sign and longed to look at it more closely. Because of this, I keep a pair of VULNESS 8×21 binoculars in my glove compartment. While the 21mm lens is not great in low light, the low light will not negatively impact its performance.
For Young Birders: Scotamalone Kids Binoculars
Sharing a birding activity with a child is a wonderful experience. However, there is a level of anxiety when giving a 6-year-old a fragile and heavy piece of glass. Fortunately, the Scotamalone Kids Binoculars are perfectly designed for that purpose. They have a robust rubber coating, are small enough to fit on kids’ faces, and are easy for kids to operate.
It is a profoundly touching experience to witness the look on a child’s face for the first time a lens is filled with a bird. The excitement, the breath, the sudden silence make for a memorable moment.
A Compact Option for Trips and Travels: HD Mini Portable Outdoor Binoculars
When you go camping or take a beautiful train ride, you have a lot of decisions to make about what to bring. The HD Mini Portable is small enough to fit in a side pocket of your backpack, along with a water bottle. As with other compact binoculars, you have to sacrifice some brightness and field of view for portability. However, for a first-time birder, this unobtrusive pair is like an essential for a summer holiday trip. It’s lightweight and doesn’t take up much space.
How to Read the Numbers on Any Binocular
The details listed on a box of binoculars can be hard to decipher. Here is what is important for watching birds in your backyard:
Magnification: The First Number
With 8x magnification, an image appears 8 times closer, but it is easier to hold steady. This is an ideal range for most beginners. 10 power will be able to reach further but is likely to make hand shake more obvious. At 12 power or above, you’ll need some form of support.
Objective Lens Diameter: The Second Number
A 42mm lens will capture rich colors and stay bright, even on cloudy days, because it lets in more light. 25mm lenses let in less light and appear dimmer, especially during twilight hours, when birds are most active.
Eye Relief and Eyecups
This detail is more important than almost all others if you wear eyeglasses. Finding binoculars with twist-up eyecups is important because you can view the entire image without touching your glasses or seeing black borders around it. Here are three reasons this feature is most important for wearers of glasses:
- The cup height can be adjusted so that every time you lift the binoculars, you will not have to adjust the height again.
- This will ensure you do not have the dark edges around the view, which can be a big annoyance when looking for a bird.
- The frames on your glasses will stabilize the binoculars, improving focus and sharpness at higher magnification.
There’s no such thing as the best first binoculars, only the first ones that get lifted to your face on a Tuesday morning when something yellow and strange drops in the yard. Start there. Everything else follows.
