Choosing the Right Pair

So now you know a bit about the main tool you will use as a birder! If you already have your own pair of binoculars, amazing! If not, take your time choosing, but look for the following features:

• I recommend starting with an 8×42.
• Choose a standard-sized pair.
• Some good brands to look at are
  • Zeiss (premium line, accessible price point)
  • Vortex (wide range of price points)
  • Nikon (mid-range, most budget friendly)
  • Swarovski (Top-tier, higher priced)
• Good Warranty, eventually you will most likely damage your binoculars, choosing a pair that have a good warranty can save you a lot of money and stress.
• Fog-proof, and water-proof with lens coatings.

I highly recommend that at least before you move onto the next lesson you have purchased your own pair of binoculars or are able to borrow a pair to be able to practise using them. Mastering bringing the binoculars up to your eyes without losing the bird you were looking at will be one of the most important skills to learn, not being able to find a bird with your binoculars is one of the most frustrating things you will encounter when you start birding.

In the next lesson we will go over how to adjust your binoculars to your personal eyesight and the birds you are looking at!