What should I look for when buying a pair of binoculars?

13 Comments

1. Jake says:

   January 28, 2010 at 11:01 am

   if u go to walmart or kmart u can get a good pair on bonoculars their called shizzings wat they are is light weight based but really strong just ask the store servers and they will give them to u
2. Kevin . says:

   January 28, 2010 at 11:11 am

   I have a pair of Bushnell Perma Focus 10X50. I use them for deer hunting. I love these binos. Lightweight and powerful without having to fine focus them in. They are self focusing and work very well. I paid about $80.00 for them. They are sold in different magnifications as well.
3. margecutter says:

   January 28, 2010 at 11:40 am

   This article from Bird Watcher’s Digest gives great advice on choosing binoculars:
   http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/optics/choosing_optics.aspx

   It discusses the two basic types of binoculars used for bird watching – porro prism and roof prism – and details the factors you need to consider when purchasing a pair of binoculars: cost, power (or magnification), comfort, field of view, close focus, brightness, lens coating and waterproofing.
4. Rubin C says:

   January 28, 2010 at 12:02 pm

   bird goggles…
   I like inexpensive as i have bought, broken, lost, dropped, kicked,stepped on and otherwise abused every pair of binoculars i’ve ever had. Never on purpose, but you understand. Once a racoon chased me out of the woods and i lost my goggles. There was the other time i got home and they were gone. They should sell binoculars with GPS.
5. muncie birder says:

   January 28, 2010 at 12:24 pm

   How much do you want to spend? That is the big question. Most serious birders prefer 8×40 binoculars. If they have their druthers they want roof prism rather than porro prism, because they are waterproof and fogproof. If the person whom you are buying them for wears glasses you want a pair with at least 18 mm eye relief. For bird watching you want as wide a field of view as you can reasonably get. There is nothing worse than not being able to find the bird amongst the clutter of tree limbs because it is not in the field of view when you put your binoculars up to your eyes. BAK-4 lense are preferred.

   Here are a couple of good options.

   Under $100 but not a real great field of view.

   http://www.eagleoptics.com/index.asp?pid=3623

   Under $50 but not waterproof and not for eyeglass wearers

   http://www.eagleoptics.com/index.asp?pid=4905

   Under $150 a good pair except not very wide field of view.

   http://www.eagleoptics.com/index.asp?pid=4466

   Under $200 with a very wide field of view, about as wide as they come. Also close focus for dragon flies and butter flies.

   http://www.eagleoptics.com/index.asp?pid=5214

   If you want to spend more than that there are some really great binos to choose from in the $1000-$2000 range. But the ones above are more than satisfactory.
6. ondina lantecki says:

   February 8, 2010 at 12:25 pm

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7. vandberghd says:

   February 9, 2010 at 2:04 am

   Tux and tails.

   Maybe even a top hat.

   Go for it.

   This girls sounds worth it. Don't you agree?
8. ewash meule says:

   February 12, 2010 at 11:46 pm

   Lance Storm should've lit the caldron
9. lavella dmere says:

   March 19, 2010 at 1:37 am

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10. sek says:

    April 2, 2010 at 8:55 am

    *gives you a pair of sneakers*
11. hard says:

    April 2, 2010 at 9:29 pm

    Don't pick at the cords, I found that I did that without realizing it, I wrecked a lot that way. Try to keep them untangled, and don't stretch them or anything.