Electronics

>

Binoculars

> Birdwatching

Best Binoculars for Birdwatching

Sort By
Wize has searched all the product sites to find the best and worst products. We have read 8,166 Binocular reviews from 36 sites.
Price (Go)
Brand: Select
Features: Select
Top Products
1 RECOMMENDED by 7 people for BIRDWATCHING
Olympus RCI Outback (8x21) Binocular
fetching price...
$64.00 Est. at Amazon
wize choice
  1. from www.amazon.com
    5.0 Stars very pleased with this product - doubles for use at theater and sports events as well as bird watching and other longer range viewing.
  2. from www.amazon.com
    4.0 Stars overall i've been pretty happy with them and would recommend them to any novice or someone that's possibly looking for a pair to get their child as an introduction into birdwatching or general
  3. from www.amazon.com
    5.0 Stars we use them for opera, ballet, sporting events and birding.
  4. from www.amazon.com
    5.0 Stars i ordered these binoculars for birdwatching with my 5 year old grandson and they are a perfect size for both of us and very light weight.
  5. from www.amazon.com
    5.0 Stars not expensive, lightweight and small, well-packed, and the right magnification for birdwatching.
Read more reviews
Positives: Compact, Excellent Clarity, Great Affordability, Max Magnification: 8x,8 x
2 RECOMMENDED by 4 people for BIRDWATCHING
Barska Optics Blueline AA10320 Monocular
fetching price...
$45.00 Est. at Amazon
wize choice
  1. from www.amazon.com
    4.0 Stars i like to hike a lot and bird watch when convenient.
  2. from www.amazon.com
    5.0 Stars great in the boat and for bird watching.
  3. from www.amazon.com
    5.0 Stars just got done watching wild turkeys and the rest of birds at my feeders and i'm still giddy.
  4. from www.amazon.com
    5.0 Stars i'd recommend this for birdwatchers, commuters, school students with vision problems, and theatre goers.
  5. from www.amazon.com
    4.0 Stars your bird flew off already?
Read more reviews
Positives: Nice Clarity, Good Affordability, Max Magnification: 10 x, Without Diopter Adjustable
3 RECOMMENDED by 2 people for BIRDWATCHING
Nikon ProStaff ATB (9x25) Binocular
fetching price...
$140.00 Est. at Amazon
wize choice
  1. from www.amazon.com
    5.0 Stars perfect for me -- i take them onboard my kayak for birdwatching.
  2. from www.amazon.com
    5.0 Stars i bought this for my kid, we started doing birdwatching trips regularly this year.
Read more reviews
Positives: Compact, Nice Affordability, Nice Clarity, Max Magnification: 9x,9 x
4 RECOMMENDED by 2 people for BIRDWATCHING
Quantaray Dakota (8x21) Binocular
fetching price...
$15.00 Est. at Amazon
wize choice
  1. from "Brad The Penn Stater", www.ritzcamera.com
    4.0 Stars also is well suited for casual bird watching or even hunting to determine your prey and scope out distance.
  2. from www1.photoalley.com
    5.0 Stars pros: compact, quality lenses, strong construction best uses: bird watching, security, yachting describe yourself: casual/recreational
Read more reviews
Positives: Great Durability, Compact, Max Magnification: 8 x
5 RECOMMENDED by 2 people for BIRDWATCHING
Olympus Outback RC I (10x21) Binocular
fetching price...
$64.00 Est. at Amazon
wize choice
  1. from www.amazon.com
    5.0 Stars not for serious birdwatchers or salt water sailors, who want more performance and therefore will tolerate more weight and size.
  2. from www.amazon.com
    5.0 Stars i bought these binoculars as a gift for my dad, who is into birding.
  3. from www.amazon.com
    1.0 Star nevertheless for birding etc, i would hesitate to reccomend any of the pocket binoculars.
Read more reviews
Positives: Compact, Nice Durability, Max Magnification: 10 x, Focus Type: Center
 
Not What You Need? Try:
Top Products

Compare Binoculars for Birdwatching »

Read the Wize buying guide
Wize Buying Guide for Birdwatching


Whether you are an avid bird watcher of many years or an amateur who just wants to identify the animals at your bird feeder, a quality set of binoculars is a necessity. To choose the right binoculars for you, decide on your price range and avoid unhappy surprises by taking the following factors into account before you make a purchase:


Max Magnification


Though it is tempting to get the highest magnification available, many professional bird watchers recommend no more than 7x to 8x magnification. This means that objects appear 7 to 8 times closer than they actually are. When you look through 10x magnification lenses, hand tremors are noticeable and make focusing harder, even though you can see in great detail. It also makes tracking a moving bird more difficult!


Field of View


If you are purchasing binoculars for bird watching, choose a model with the largest field of view you can afford, because this will help you scan an area to find that bird you can hear but can't see yet. Anything over 350ft at 1000 yards is acceptable, meaning that at a distance of 1,000 yards, you will be able to see a space 350 feet wide.


Weight


If you'll be doing a lot of hiking while bird watching, look for smaller, lighter models to save your neck from serious strain. Heavy-duty binoculars can be more powerful, but might be impractical for lugging around on long hikes in the wilderness.

Community
Community Members
Community Guidelines
Wize Blog
© 2009 Wize, Inc.

Wize.com wants to improve! Will you please help by taking a quick survey?

Yes! Take me there.

No Thanks

Favorites