Find the Right Pair of Birding Binoculars at All Star Telescope

Binoculars are an essential tool for birders, but with so many models on the market, it can be daunting to find the perfect pair. 

What to Look for in Birding Binoculars

Binoculars are typically advertised with two different numbers (e.g. 10x50). The first number is the level of magnification, and the second number is the aperture.  Anything that offers more than 10x magnification is very difficult to use without a tripod.  Higher magnification also magnifies the natural tremors in your hands. 

The second number is the diameter of the objective lenses of binoculars or the front lenses.  The diameter of the lens determines the light gathering ability of the binocular, with the greater light gathering ability of a larger lens translating into greater detail and image clarity. This is especially useful in low light conditions and at night.

Doubling the size of the objective lenses quadruples the light gathering ability of the binocular. For instance, a 7x50 binocular has almost twice the light gathering ability of a 7x35 binocular and four times the light gathering ability of a 7x25 binocular.  This translates to a brighter, more detailed image.

Expert Recommendation

Any binoculars that will get you out birding is a great pair of binoculars. Our favourite format is 8x42 roof prism binoculars. They're light in the hand, and bring birds in nice and close without making the image to shaky.  10x42 is a close second, especially if you have a steady hand.  

We have great birding options from Celestron, Pentax, Kowa, and Leica.