Binoculars For Watching Garden Birds

[PamelaJoyS]

Hi All

I'm having great fun watching my garden birds. I'd like to look a bit closer. I've tried using my son's binoculars, but they are too heavy!

Could anyone recommend a good light pair for bird watching?

Many thanks

Pam

[Tormentil]

I use Nikon Sprint IV. They're 8x21's. Small and light.

[PamelaJoyS]

Hi Tormentil - Thanks for that. I'll look into it.
Pam

[nightshade]

Hi Pamela there are so many on the market that it is best to go and look 8x42
is usually the recommendation but my wife likes the 10x42 to pull the birds in
The higher the quality the more detail you will get to assist in identification,that said
Bushnell Nature View offer 8x42 and 10x42 in the chunky porro prism type and in the smoother roof prism type
All the top brands Bushnell, Pentax, Nikon, Opticron,Leitz and a lot whose names I have forgotten are very good around the £100 mark

[glsammy]

Hi Pamela. I've just bought a pair of Pentax Papilio Binoculars for my Mrs. they're 8x21. The advantage of these is they focus down to about 18 inches. Whilst this isn't essential for birds, it opens up a whole new world looking at butterflies and insects, whilst also performing well as general 8x21. They also do a 6x21, with a wider field of view. I can highly recommend them.

They are not heavy or over large, in fact they're very compact.

[canonman]

Hi Pamela.
Agree with most of what you have been told.
A lot depends on how much you wish to spend, but if you only intend using in the garden a reasonable pair will be ok.
I would suggest you go and try a few pairs out, one to see how they feel and if you think they will do the job you want them for.
Hope this helps
Mick

[Pete]

like most things in life you get what you pay for......

that said I am a big fan of the Opticron Taiga 8x25 they cost approx £90 and weigh 302g

see here ( http://www.alula.fi/GB/index.htm and click corrected reviews from number 1/2006 (PDF, 430 Kb) )

for a review of how they compare to the 8x20 bins from Leica, Swaro, Nikon and zeiss - and they do rather well.....

if you spend more then you'll get a better binocular but for looking in the garden the taiga's will be more than adequate.

If you want to spend more then I'd recommend the RSPB BG 8x32 £299 and 520g. Seriously good optics.

If I may ask where do you live? its usually a good idea to go somewhere and pick them up.

[eeyore]

Opticron also make a really nice monocular which is light enough to wear on a cord arround your neck or keep in your pocket on a routine basis - about £45 I think.

[PamelaJoyS]

Thank you all so much for your advice.
I really have a lot to work with now.
I will try out some different binoculars as you suggest - and look forward to seeing the birds in more detail.
Pam