BUT to make them easier to find, I decided to post a list of them right here and now.  I will be sure to add this information to the links page as well.  I hope this helps you with your search for fine quality AND affordable binoculars for birdwatching.

Compact Bushnell Binoculars

Stokes Bird Binoculars

Favorite Binoculars Source

Leupold Compact Binoculars

Compact Bushnell Binoculars another review

Five BEST Bird Binoculars

Audubon Binoculars

Pentax Binoculars for Birding

Steiner and More

Another person asked me if I actually review these binoculars in person, like at a store.

The answer to that is yes and no. I do not often find the specific brands in stores near where I live.  But I DO find a wide variety of birding binoculars wherever birders are gathered. I make it a point to try them out, hands-on. I have done this for a LONG time. So with the exception of the newest digital models I have used or investigated most brands of binoculars in my career as a park ranger-naturalist.

So, yes, my reviews are authentic and personal.  And my birding ecourse is 100% home made and professional in content.

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If you’re like me, you probably thought they would only be necessary for someone who was an avid fisherman or bird-watcher, and that a regular pair of binoculars would be fine for your occasional binocular needs.  However, I learned last summer that waterproof binoculars can come in handy when you least expect it. I went whale-watching with my best friend on a day with very rough seas. I had been looking forward to this trip for years and couldn’t wait to get my first glimpse of live whales in the wild.

(Sometimes Birdwatchers go whale watching too!)Due to the poor visibility, we were three hours into our five hour tour before we saw our first whale. Our tour guide explained that because we had been at sea for three hours, we would only have about half an hour to watch the whale before we needed to head back to shore.
I excitedly got out my digital camera and started taking pictures when I realized that it was an impossible task. My glasses kept fogging up and my camera lens kept getting wet. I tried cleaning them, but before I could get the whale back in view, I was fogged up again, and my lens was wet. I was dejected – I had been looking forward to this trip so much. My friend saved the day for me – she handed me a pair of binoculars and told me to try them. I was so surprised when I could see the whale frolicking about so clearly!! She explained to me that I was using her waterproof binoculars, which she had brought along just in case we encountered rain. She told me they were made so that they would not fog up or be affected by water.

She told me that she had received them as a going away gift from her mother before taking a cruise. Her mother had been on a cruise the previous year and had been upset that she could not use her regular binoculars on many occasions because the lenses kept fogging up. Another passenger noticed and recommended that she get a pair of waterproof binoculars. Needless to say, she bought a pair at the next port and never had any problems with fog or spray for the rest of the cruise.

She decided to buy a pair for her niece, who is in a wheelchair and likes to watch birds from her deck. Her niece had mentioned that her regular binoculars would fog up a lot when she brought them outside in the early morning.

I didn’t know how handy waterproof binoculars would be until I bought my own pair. A few weeks later I was out canoeing with my brother. While he was enjoying the sunshine and fresh air, I was enjoying looking at the birds. Then, suddenly, another canoe bumped ours and I found myself in the water!    After fishing me out, by brother was surprised that I could still use my binoculars (which, thankfully I had strapped around my neck). I explained to him that they were waterproof and could still be used after they got wet. After that, he borrowed them every time he went fishing until I got fed up with it and bought him a pair of his own for his birthday.

Who knew a pair of waterproof binoculars could become such a necessary item!

by L. DeGruttola, guest author UAW.

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I ran across this article recently and decided to include it here to share another birder’s perspective on selecting bird binoculars for long term use. I hope you find it valuable. Enjoy.

Avid bird watching enthusiasts often look like pack mules hiking to a gold rush in the west. Bird watching binoculars are one of the critical pieces of equipment they carry.

Binoculars

There are a lot of issues when it comes to choosing binoculars for bird watching. Optics and personal preference seem to be the foremost, but here is a list of issues you should consider.

Bashability

Bashability isn’t really a word in the English language, but it certainly applies to bird watching. The bashability of binoculars refers to how tough they are. For instance, if you drop them on the driveway while loading the car, will they hold up? What if you drop them off a small cliff? I, err…”a friend” once did this on the cliffs above Torrey Pines beach in San Diego. More than a few people have been surprised to learn that binoculars go out of whack when bashed. Now, I realize you would never drop them or subject them to anything but the finest treatment, but just check them for me.

Costs

I like wine. I drink wine. Unless I am standing at the cash register, I can’t really tell the difference between a $10 bottle of wine and one selling for $100. Bird watching binoculars seem to run along the same lines. You can buy bird watching binoculars for as much as $1,000. Heck, Victoria’s Secret or Neiman Marcus probably have diamond encrusted ones for $100,000. Do you need to spend this money? No. My personal experience has revealed binoculars in the $200 to $400 range perform well and I’ve never missed a sighting because of their quality. Obviously, you can spend whatever you wish, but keep in mind you don’t have to go overboard. Plus, binoculars without diamonds tend to still be on the beach once you make it down from the cliff.

Feel

This may sound obvious, but you need to buy binoculars that are comfortable. Ideally, you are going to lug these babies around for 10 or 20 years. Make sure they “fit” your face and spacing of your eyes. Also, make sure they don’t weigh too much. After a few hours of birding, this can become an issue.

If you’re going to be a birder, you’re going to need binoculars. Like wine, you can go overboard on them, but don’t need to.

I also bought a new birding guide for all the shore birds I expected to observe during my trip. (See details below). My time was short and my sources were limited, so I decided to buy the best name brand that was available at the store where I stopped.
Other significant factors weresize and affordability. I had a perceived need for immediate binoculars, so I bought them right then and there. I never did anything like that before. It seemed extravagant but I knew how frustrated I would be without binoculars on this seaside vacation. Now I am glad that I took that leap of faith.

Which bird binoculars did I buy on vacation? You already know why I bought them. Audubon, at that time they were made by Swift. The model I bought then is not readily available now.

• Who makes them: The closest model is the Audubon Compact made by Sheltered Wings.

• Who uses them: Popular with casual birders and families and hikers.

• What are they like: Handy, compact 8X25, lightweight at less than 10 ounces.I liked the smooth center focus which these have too.

• What are their special features: Versatile and fun, I identified birds and flowers and butterflies. I also used them at a music concert to get a better view of the stage.These work well with eyeglasses and sunglasses too. This model has a focus range as close as 8.5 feet. That is great for those little birds that hide in the grasses and for those flowers just out of range for my hand lens.

Bird binoculars are not created equal, nor are they all suited well for field work. This review includes 5 splendid bird binoculars at the high end of the scale. They are among the absolute best binoculars made in the world today. When it comes to luxury binoculars like these it is hard to go wrong with your selection. The differences are subtle and preferences are personal, even among serious field testers. Most of these bird binoculars are considered an investment and rightly so. Some experts report that these optical instruments hold their value better than your new car or stocks and bonds and recommend buying several pairs.

Zeiss. Leica. Swarovski. Leupold. Steiner.

Later, another post will discuss some really fine bird binoculars in more affordable models and brands:
Nikon. Bushnell. Olympus. Minolta. Canon. Pentax.

Other bird binoculars reviewed at this site are Pentax and Nikon binoculars, though only one model for each was discussed. That remains the form for these reviews.  One model for each brand is outlined with some overview information. The basic questions being addressed are:

• Who makes them:
• Who uses them:
• What are they like:
• What are their special features:

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Steiner

Steiners are usually seen as part of the uniform of military or law enforcement personnel. Retirees who are accustomed to them are seen in the field doing some bird-watching, but it is not common.

• Who makes them: Steiner has been a leader in optics for more than 60 years.
• Who uses them: Military and law enforcement activities are the primary uses for these exceptional binoculars.
• What are they like: Military standards require bright detail, durability in tough combat conditions. They offer better evening or night viewing and are shock resistant,fog proof and waterproof. The Predator model at 10X42 is closest to the standard for nature observation.
• What are their special features: Steiner Binoculars are remarkably light weight with exceptional depth-of-field. They have excellent user comfort ratings and allow long extended use. Standard sizes include 20×80 for maximum light and magnification in shadows. The most commonly seen models are 10×50 or 7×50, though newer compact models are now available at 6×30 and 8×30. These lenses amplify red and brown shades and reduce blues, greens and UV light. This gives you a crisp clear image beyond your expectations. Expect a price tag anywhere from $200 to over $1000 for these finely crafted instruments.

• Who makes them: Carl Zeiss, Inc. has been making precision optics since 1846.
  
• Who uses them: Serious birders, hunters and wildlife observers.
• What are they like: Zeiss has exceptional durability and superb wide vision. Some experts say they feel like the perfect binoculars. The FL series is the flagship model for Zeiss birding binoculars with good reason.
  
• What are their special features: They have a unique protective coating that repels water and oil resulting in beading on the surface when wet. Their worldwide lifetime service warranty is a standard.
  

• Who makes them: Leica has been making precision optics, and binoculars since 1907 in Germany.
  
• Who uses them: Serious birders.
  
• What are they like: LEICA ULTRAVID 10 x 42 BL is preferred by many serious birders because of the eye comfort, particularly for people who wear eyeglasses when birding.
• What are their special features:They have excellent image steadiness for long distance viewing. These very compact and elegant binoculars are exceptionally lightweight with a magnesium body and titanium hinge shaft.

• Who makes them: Swarovski, world renowned for precision crystal work, branched into optics in 1949 in Austria.
  
• Who uses them: Serious birders.
• What are they like: Without a doubt these set the standard for all of the high end binoculars, indeed for all binoculars. The precision and engineering is unsurpassed.They have a broader field of view and shorter focus distance than most others in this class.
• What are their special features:Remarkably lightweight magnesium alloy body set the pace for others to lighten up. Ergonomic design and twist and lock eyecups are also leaders.

• Who makes them: Leupold has been making and repairing precision engineering optics since 1907 in Portland, Oregon.
  
• Who uses them: Birders, hunters, wildlife observers, boaters.
• What are they like: The Wind River model is appreciated by many birders in the field.The 10X50 models weigh more than most of those mentioned above.
• What are their special features:The image is bright and clear, their focus is closer than expected and they are slightly more affordable, almost in the next class beside the Nikon 10X42 Monarchs.

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No matter how many charts or guides or articles we read, we are never as fully involved as we are with hands-on trials. Also, after all of those words on bird binoculars it seems that a picture is worth more than a thousand words. So when I saw this video clip I decided to share it.

You never have to just take in everything a person said and simply accept it at face value. Sometimes you agree with some of the content and not others.

So, I invite you to spend a few minutes with this video clip for a visual representation of how to choose your best bird binoculars. I do not know this fellow, but I learned some tips from his video.

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First, remember these are LENSES that magnify and amplify. Remember when you were a kid using magnifying glasses on the sidewalk to start a tiny piece of paper smoking or burning? Well that can happen unintentionally here if you are not careful.

Another is regarding the care of your binoculars and how you use them. They probably came with instructions. READ THEM.

Your binoculars came with a strap attached. And that strap is there for a reason. Use the strap. Hang those binoculars from your neck at a length that is comfortable for you to reach and swiftly move them into place when you see your special bird of the day. There are additional accessories that serve as a harness to keep them from bouncing around while you are walking, but I have found them to be a nuisance. I secure my binoculars inside a pocket or vest, still attached to the strap around my neck.

Keep Clean. There will be another post to address cleaning with more specifics. Use common sense. Don’t put those binoculars on the blanket at a sandy beach. They WILL get sand in them and on them. Try to avoid scratching the surfaces of the lenses. Use a real lens cleaning cloth or proper lens paper but do not just wipe them clean with your shirt or bandana.

Who uses them: Field birdwatchers often choose a small or compact model of bird binoculars that are easy to carry and handle. That is my preference and experience, though I have never owned a Pentax.

What are they like: The Pentax Papilios model is a very popular compact one. These binoculars are very lightweight,around 10 ounces, and at their compact 2 inch folded size they fit your pocket well.Â

What are their Special Features: These are super wonderful for butterfly watchers. They are affordable and work well in daylight and dry conditions. They use a reverse porro prism design that provides clarity. The extra flexibility that the separately movable eyepieces (oculars) offer is a real plus. Their focus range is as close as 18 inches and that is one reason many people like them. This model is equally well suited for birding, butterfly watching and for sports or music events.Â

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Once you understand how you want to use your binoculars it will be easier to choose the best binoculars to meet that purpose.

For example:

• If you want long distance viewing… like across vast expanses of ocean…
  Then you need bird binoculars with a higher power or magnification.
  That is the number in front of the X.
• If you want lightweight binoculars for field work like I did…
  Then you want smaller bird binoculars like compact or pocket size.
• If you want bird binoculars mostly for watching backyard birds that are nearby…
  Then you want binoculars with a wider field of vision and a lower power will be fine.
• If you want binoculars to perform well in low light like at dusk or dawn…
  Then you want bird binoculars that have a larger opening (aperture).
  That is the number after the X.
• If you want binoculars to be sturdy enough for your child to use…Â Then you want waterproof and rubber armored binoculars or an inexpensive model that can be easily replaced.

If this is too simplistic for you, perhaps you have your own tips for choosing birding binoculars.

Of course there are always more guidelines to help with the decisions. Please share your tips too.

Who uses what type of binoculars or scopes and why?

Binoculars for birdwatching need to be easy to hold and carry.

A wide field of vision helps to find birds in flight.

A zoom lens helps to identify the birds.

There are three basic parts to binoculars:

• an objective lens
• prisms (or mirrors)
• an eyepiece lens

Everything else is extra. Or as some tough minded field naturalists might say “fluff”.

The quality of your binoculars is directly related to the quality of the lenses and prisms used to make them.

That is where your homework will come in handy. Learning how to look at the insides of binoculars, essentially from the outside is almost what you need to do. Checking the company. Talking with other birders. Trying them out. There are some really special techniques for testing binoculars in the store to simulate field action. But that is for another post. “How I decide whether I like binoculars or not.”

When I began this site I felt fairly knowledgeable about its topics and components.

You know how it is when you learn more of something? The more you learn, the more you know you NEED to learn!

It is like standing on the edge of a circle and looking INTO it to see what you do know and then turning around to look OUT from it to see what you now have yet to learn. THAT is humbling. And THAT is reality.

The next step is courage. To step forth with what we DO know and share it even if it is not the only way to understand things about binoculars.

You will know where I stand. Then you can decide where YOU stand.

The number and kinds of binoculars have increased through the seasons along with the complexity.

So to recommend the best birding binoculars might be different next season.

In addition, I will give you a short list of types of binoculars available on today’s market.

My list reflects my experience and level of technical know-how. So ask questions.