[Birdwatchers]

I am after getting some binoculars after being inspired on a guided birdwalk in my area and also I am going on holiday to Malaysia soon. I really want to get good ones, but I do not have much money to spend on them at the moment.

I think 8x40 or 42 or maybe 10x40 are the best size for birdwatching and nature? I also noticed on these forums that 10x50 Bresser ones are particularly recommened as good inexpensive starter binoculars and they are sometimes on offer on Lidl quite cheaply.

Since most people on here seem to recommend them I think I might try them, but I am just a little worried because on an Amazon review somebody seems to be complaining that after a few months several pairs that she had wouldn't focus properly and gave 'double vision'. Also on WAB I think somebody mentioned that some of them have different focusing distances. Have many people had these problems?

I also would like to get them before I go on holiday but they are not in the next few weeks of offers in Lidll. On ebay there are some, and they are a bit more expensive, but I also noticed on there some bresser 20X50 binoculars and I am interested in these, but I'm just wondering whether it really is impossible to use 20x binoculars handheld?

I think I will go for the 10x50 bresser ones and just keep an eye on ebay before I go on holiday unless anybody has a suggestion of any other good binoculars for up to about £50 that are actually worth the money (if such things exists, or do you really need to spend a lot more?)