by Don Torino

If you're like me, then when you read the words exit pupil, eye relief, or field of vision, your brain immediately turns to oatmeal, your eyes glaze over, and you begin to drool while looking out of the window aimlessly.  But if you are in the market for new binoculars, then those are the terms you are going to hear, along with more fun words like ED glass, phase corrected, and lens coatings.  So without getting too technical, because I don't want you dozing off and injuring yourself on your computer, I will try to keep it simple and get you started on what to look for in a birding binocular.

I know everyone says that you get what you pay for when buying optics and that is true for the most part.  The good news is that the price of good quality binoculars has come down over the last few years.  It used to be that if you didn't spend at least $500 for birding optics, then you couldn't see the bird you were looking at in any real detail, but those days are gone.  You can find good quality binoculars for $150-$200, great ones for $500, and amazing ones for $700+. 

Now, I love a classic pair of binoculars as well as the next birder, but unfortunately there is still a sort of snobbery among us long time birders that binoculars can't be good unless they are a certain brand.  There is however a very good reason to buy good quality binoculars and I never really understood that until I began teaching beginners birding classes.  I would have my class out in the field looking at a bird, such as the Song Sparrow, and I would try to explain what field marks they should be looking for.  When I got blank looks from a lot of my students, I realized they were not seeing what I was seeing.

Good optics allow you to see the detail of the bird you are attempting to identify, such as the eye ring, wing bars, etc.  The technology of new optics is amazing compared to someone using their fathers WWII 10 pound binoculars that make all the birds look like a Painted Bunting.  Again, trying my best to avoid anything too technical, there are a few important things to look for in birding binoculars. 

First, stick to an 8 power.  They will typically have a wider field of view and focus faster than a 10 power.  When you are trying to find a tiny Warbler darting around at the top of a 50 foot tree, you will be glad you listened to me.  10's are much less shaky than they were in the old days.  Some of my birding buddies love 10 powers, but if you are just going to settle for one good pair, make it an 8.

Second is the size of the objective lens, or the big end.  All things being equal, meaning the quality of the glass is the same, the bigger objective lens the more light they gather.  The more light they gather the better you see at low light conditions, such as early morning, cloudy days, and towards evening.  Most birders stick with a 42mm objective lens.  I see too many folks trying to go out on a serious birding trip with an 8x25 binocular.  Those are fine to throw in your pocket for an extra pair, but that is about it. You can buy 8x50's, but that will increase the weight, which is always something to consider since you will be carrying them around all day long.

So we all agree that an 8x42 is the best all around birding binocular, but there are a few more things which should be standard with new optics. Water proof/fog proof is a must have.  It used to be that you had to be Donald Trump to afford waterproof optics, but now even low priced birding optics have this feature.  Close focus may also be something you might want to consider.  I like a 5 foot close focus, which comes in handy when looking at a bird, such as a little Kinglet, flitting around at your feet.

Also, always look for a no fault lifetime guarantee.  This means no matter if you run your nice new binoculars over with your car, the company will fix or replace them for free.  Yes, you heard me right.  I would not buy new binoculars without this kind of warranty.  And don't be fooled, the company warranty does not have anything to do with how expensive they are, so do your homework.  I was thankful for this feature when a lovely little girl dropped my brand new binoculars on the floor during a school program.  The company had them back to me in a week and all I had to pay for was the shipping.

Now the big one...TRY THEM OUT!  You cannot buy binoculars without getting them in your hand.  The optics that I like, you may hate.  Everyone's eyes and hands are different, so you have to feel comfortable with them.  Just because your friend recommends a certain brand is not a reason buy them without trying them.  If your friend is really a good one, they will let you use them for a day to see how they really are. 

I am always asked where to go for binoculars for birding and my answer is always the same: where they let you take them outside and try them.  I would never buy binoculars unless the store allowed me to see what they were like under real conditions, not inside with store lights.  Most good nature shops will allow you to do this.  In fact, they should allow you to take out multiple pairs so you can compare them.  If not, then go somewhere else.  When you find a good shop that will let you give them a whirl outdoors, make sure to do it on a nice cloudy day.  You can see a beautiful bright picture through a toilet paper roll on a sunny day, the test of good optics is when conditions are dark and gloomy.  Good optics will make what you are looking at pop out at you, almost like you turned on a light in dramatic fashion.  That is what you should be getting for your hard earned money.

Keep in mind that you are buying good optics to increase your enjoyment of birding, not to impress your friends and neighbors.  Going afield with a good pair of binoculars will allow you to identify more birds and help you to enjoy their real beauty up close, and that is what it is all about.

See you outside!

Don Torino is the Education Chairperson for Bergen County Audubon Society.

Previous birding exclusives:

• Don's Jersey Birding: What will our legacy be?
• Don's Jersey Birding: The Un-Common Grackle
  
• Linda's For the Birds: Chasing Crossbills
• Don's Jersey Birding: Finding the Right Birding Buddy
• Don's Jersey Birding: Birding the Blizzard
• Linda's For the Birds: Of Birds and Blizzards
• Don's Jersey Birding: That's why they call them bird feeders