Tag: binocular

Reblog: Bird Binoculars

Wild India

As we have discovered, within the general field of birding there are many different sub categories. So what I mean by this is observing birds over long distances in wide open areas like at the coast or near a lake is very different to going birding in a thickly wooded forest.

So actually it is impossible to say that this is the best birding binocular and leave it at that, you have to decide if you need a pair for a specific niche or if you are looking for a good all round birding binocular that will perform well in a variety of different situations.

Once you have answered this, then we can now take a look at and understand how the different features and specifications on a binocular affect it and it’s performance and rate them in terms of their importance for your type of birding.

Then all you have to do is find which binoculars have the most or if possible, all the features that you are looking for in your price range.

 

What Magnification for Bird Binoculars?

Getting closer for a better view is the main reason you are looking for binoculars for birds and thus it makes sense that the optical magnification, zoom, or as some people call it the ‘power’ of the instrument is the first place to start.

However because you are trying to get as close to the bird to distinguish as much detail as possible, most people new to birding assume that the binoculars with the most powerful magnifications are the best…

Bigger is not (always) better!
There are a number of drawbacks to high powered binoculars the main ones are:

You will get a narrower field of view (FOV), less apparent depth of focus, a less bright image and higher magnifications also make it harder to keep a steady, shake free image as even the slightest movement is magnified.

There are a few things can be done to make the view through binoculars more steady, like attaching your binocular to a tripod using and adapter or even electronically powered stabilization, like the excellent range of Canon Image Stabilized binoculars, but this does not solve the other problems of having a smaller field and depth of view.

If you plan on using one pair of binoculars for all your bird spotting in a variety of situations, an 8x magnification is the most popular choice for a few reasons:

Wider field of view. You spot a bird high up in a tree and quickly raise your binoculars to your eyes. The wider the field of view, the more likely that your aim will be correct and that the bird will instantly be in the field of view, without having to search about for it. This is especially true for smaller, fast moving birds that don’t stay put. Lower magnification in binoculars means a wider field of view, so many birders prefer 8x to 10x.

Better image stability. More power isn’t always a plus in a handheld optic. A 10x image is shakier because any hand movement is magnified as much as the image is. Many people find they can actually see more detail hand holding 8x than 10x binoculars.

Better with glasses. When wearing eyeglasses, your eyes are positioned farther away from the eyepieces. How far back your eyes can be and still see the whole picture is called eye relief. It’s much easier to find 8x binoculars with enough eye relief to work with your glasses than it is to find 10x.

So to sum up: 7x or 8x binoculars will work well in most types of terrain and in a wide variety of situations, forested areas to open fields. The images tend to be brighter with wider fields of view than higher powered binoculars. The wider field of view makes it easier to follow fast moving birds as well as scan for birds in the distance.

With 10x and even more powerful binoculars you will get more detail which is good for spotting birds of prey, waterfowl, and large birds or wildlife. These birds tend to be slower moving and are often out in the open, where the narrow field of view will also not be such an issue. When using a very high-powers (approx. 12x or more), you will need a very steady hand or tripod or some sort of image stabilization and it is very important to stay away from cheap binoculars with high magnifications.

For more on using 10x binoculars, read my in-depth article on 10×42 Binoculars for Bird Watching where I discover that for some people and in some circumstances, 10×42 binoculars may be the ideal choice for your birding binoculars.

 

Source: www.bestbinocularsreviews.com (link)

Reblog: How to Use Binoculars

Wild India

Overview

The most useful binoculars for bird watching incorporate a few basic features. They have a central focus wheel and a diopter focus adjustment. The diopter is often part of the right-hand eyepiece on a binocular. The purpose of the diopter is to compensate for the differences between your two eyes (because no two eyes are the same or have the same ability to focus.) Adjusting both the diopter focus and the central focus is how you get the clearest possible image from your binocular.

Tip: Always use your binocular’s neck strap. Carrying your optics around in your hand by the strap is asking for trouble. The strap keeps the binoculars safe around your neck and against your chest, within easy reach of your hands. Some birders prefer to use a binocular harness, which uses straps over the shoulders and across the back to distribute the weight of the binoculars.

Warning: If your binocular does not have a diopter or if it lacks a central focus wheel (some models make you focus each eyepiece individually), these are not good optics for birding. Consider replacing them with a pair more suited for bird watching.

Focusing

  • Start by adjusting the distance between the two barrels of the binocular so that they are the right width for your eyes. Too far apart or too close together and you will see black edges in your field of view. If you have the spacing right, your view will be a perfect circle.
  • Next, find something to focus on, such as a dark tree branch against the blue sky, a street sign, or an overhead wire. Focus with both eyes open by turning the central focus wheel.
  • Now it’s time for the fine focusing. Close your right eye and, using only your left eye, adjust the focus wheel. Next, close your left eye and, using the diopter adjustment, bring your view into sharp focus.
  • Now open both eyes and see if your focus is crystal clear. If the image is not clearly focused, repeat these steps, making small adjustments using one focus wheel or the other.

How can you tell if your focus is correct? First of all, the view through your binoculars, with the diopter adjusted, should appear almost three-dimensional. It should really pop out at you and be crystal clear. Also, your eyes should not have to work hard when using your binoculars.

Note: If you feel a slight strain in your eyes, or if using your optics gives you a headache, there might be a problem with your binoculars. They could be out of alignment. Most binocular manufacturers are happy to service their optics. If you think your binocs have a problem, contact the manufacturer and ask about getting your optics serviced.

Finding the Bird

The one problem birders typically encounter more than any other is getting their binocs pointed right at the bird. This can be a problem even when the bird is sitting still, perched in an obvious place. Fortunately, this problem can be easily overcome with a bit of practice. Here’s how:

  • Looking with your naked eyes, find a bright leaf in a distant tree, or a certain spot on a distant building, and lock you eyes onto it. Now, without removing your eyes from that spot, bring your binoculars up to your eyes and into alignment with your view. Did it work?
  • With practice you’ll find that locking your eyes in place and bringing the binocs into alignment really works. This will make it easier for you to find birds with your binocs, even if a bird is moving.
Tip: When locking your eyes onto a distant bird, note some other feature or landmark near the bird’s location. This can be a notch in a tree’s outline, a brightly colored leaf, or even a passing cloud. Note where the bird is in relation to this landmark and it gives you another reference point to use when your binoculars swing into place.

Cleaning Your Binoculars

No matter if your binoculars cost $100 or $1,000, they will need to be cleaned regularly. And cleaning them the wrong way can really damage them. Wiping your shirtsleeve across your lenses may seem like the easiest way to get the dust off, but you might be putting lots of tiny scratches on the glass or lens coatings. Over time these tiny scratches will reduce the clarity of the image your binocs can produce.

The best way to clean precious optics lenses is:

  • Use a soft brush or compressed air to blow away particles (dust, dirt, grit, crumbs, etc).
  • Once the particles are removed, wet a lens cloth or lens tissue with cleaning solution (solution made for use on coated lenses, available at camera shops and outdoor stores).
  • Softly wipe the lenses with the wet cloth.
  • Dry the lenses with a dry portion of the lens cloth.
  • Hold the binocs up in the light and look for smudges or smears. Repeat the wet cleaning as needed.

Protecting Your Binoculars

On a recent birding trip to Guyana, BWD editor Bill Thompson, III, had the opportunity to field test the BinoBib, manufactured by Devtron (scopecoat.com). The BinoBib is like a wetsuit for your binoculars, encasing them in a layer of soft Neoprene. The bib features a tube of material in the middle that slips onto the barrel. A large, preformed piece of additional material stretches over the eyepieces and down around the objective lens end of your optics, fitting snugly and providing total protection.

Source: Click here to view