A Birder’s Best Friend
Binoculars are the birder’s window to the world. Having a good pair of binoculars and knowing how to use them can be the difference between a satisfying day of birding and the frustration of missed birds, blurred images, and eye strain.
Binoculars are typically labeled with two numbers, often found on the center focus knob. The first number represents magnification power. For birding, 8x magnification is the most common, meaning objects will appear eight times closer. 10x is also popular, but higher magnifications are rarely used. This is because as the magnification goes up the field of vision actually gets smaller, zooming in on the bird so closely you can’t see much else and ultimately making the binoculars harder to use.
The second number indicates the diameter of the objective lens (the larger lens) in millimeters. A larger lens gathers more light, resulting in brighter images, which is especially important in low-light conditions like dawn, dusk, or shaded environments. However, a larger lens also adds weight. For most birders, a lens in the 40mm range strikes an ideal balance between performance and portability. The 8×42 configuration is a popular choice.
First Time Using Binoculars
Before using your binoculars, you’ll notice they have one or two hinges that allow the barrels to adjust and move closer together. When you bring the binoculars up to your eyes, adjust the hinge by moving it back and forth until the barrels align with your eyes. Once properly aligned, the images from each barrel will merge into a single, centered view.
A common mistake for first-time users involves eyecup adjustment. The eyecups maintain the correct distance between your face and the ocular lens (the smaller lens). If you wear glasses the eyecups typically position your eyes at the right distance and no adjustment may be needed. However, if you don’t wear glasses, your eyes may be too close to the lenses, causing dark edges to appear around the image. To fix this, many binoculars feature eyecups that can be extended by twisting them counterclockwise. They usually have one or two stops before fully extending. Look through the binoculars at each stop and choose the setting that minimizes the black edges, giving you the clearest view.
Choosing Binoculars
- Avoid cheap binoculars. As the price increases, the quality of the build and the lenses improves. If possible, avoid binoculars that cost less than $100. There are many great options in the $200-$300 range.
- Ask to look through a friend’s binoculars. Trying different brands and powers can help in decision making.
- Used binoculars are an option. Many manufacturers have lifetime warranties, making used purchases less risky.
