Dicks has lots of binoculars. The Nikons are a good value. Nikon Aculon A211 8x42 Binoculars. I have a pair and they are good for birds
Posted on 11/10/2014 4:30:24 PM PST by Chickensoup
I know next to nothing about optics. I want to look at the birds more closely at the feeders at home. I will be looking through double paned windows. The feeders are four to ten feet away. Then there are the birds in the trees that are up to 25 feet away.
Any recommendations for binoculars? I wear glasses and am nearsighted.
I would appreciate any input. I think they are going to be my Christmas present to myself. That or a receiver for my old stereo that I am trying to resurrect. But that will be another thread!
Thank you all!
soup
We have a Tasco 7x50 which was not expensive. I had the opportunity to try my friend’s Steiner $700 pair and I could see little, if any difference. So try some in the store and see what works for you. You don’t need to spend a lot to enjoy birdwatching.
Thank you, hadn’t thought of them.
Thank you, looks like birdie is going to get shot though.
Thank you.
Dicks has lots of binoculars. The Nikons are a good value. Nikon Aculon A211 8x42 Binoculars. I have a pair and they are good for birds
I will look at both of them. Weight is always an issue. I hadn’t really thought of it. Thank you.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004I8U226/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
If you are not in a hurry wait for the sale. I got mine in Sept for $86.00 delivered to the door. Fantastic optics even at this price.
Nice idea, I am not sure but probably above my pay grade.
I used to work hard and attract lots of birds except the cardinal. I am going to work to attract a broad variety of birds again this year. I always enjoyed watching them and it is time to enjoy it again.
Nothing fancy, but they’re on sale too. Cheep cheep!
See if they have a spotting scope. Sounds like something on a tripod might work best for you.
I believe my HF binoc has a threaded hole in the bottom for a tri-mount.
You need to go to a store and try out low powered models to see which will actually focus at 4 feet. Most need about 25 feet minimum distance to focus. I doubt you’ll need a harness for sitting on the couch. Vortex makes some good lower priced models with a lifetime warranty, I’m getting a 10x monocular for the boy’s Christmas gift. Thats for hunting at longer distances, not feeder work.
I use binoculars daily and lift up my glasses to use them with just my eyeballs. Works out better for me.
A small tripod would work on the table where most of the feeders are. Thank you for the idea.
I am so happy to be looking at doing this again. Once I saw a snowy owl catch and kill a squirrel at the feeders. High point in watching for me. Lots of Wood peckers all three sizes.
Tenant just told me today that there is a woodpecker in one of my buildings either in the wall or roof. Sigh. I guess I need to have the pest control guys move him.
Build yourself a camera obscura, then you can just watch the birds larger than life on your living room wall :)
Go to Gander Mountain or Cabella’s and try out various kinds. The most important thing for binoculars is the quality of the optical glass and magnification. The greater the power, the smaller the field of view; the lesser the power, the greater the field of view. To check the quality of the optical glass, look through the wrong end. When you do, you’ll find the imperfections and scratches on the glass. Manufacturers attempt to cover up poor glass through the use of coatings. Get quality glass and you’ll get good light gathering using fewer coatings. To get an idea, look on OpticsPlanet.com for various manufacturers and prices. Make certain you actually look through your candidate binoculars and buy what you can afford.
Get a `real-deal’ harness for it, not just a neck strap that comes with it. Your neck will thank you!
That would allow me to walk around my land and look some more. I have woods and fields. So fortunate to live here.
You have the low ends $300, then the mid range $800-$1100, then the best $1600-$3000. I’ve had 200-300 dollar Nikons, junk. I now have $1200 Zeiss; acceptable. I’ve used $3000 Geovids, the best but way too pricey for me. I also liked the $2300 Leicas. All the sports shops have good displays.
About five years ago I got a pair at Cabela’s. Nikon for under $200. Best pair I’ve ever owned or used. Might be the Nikon’s referenced above.
If you have a Cabelas go there. They have 50 different models and usually some stuffed birds on the far wall for testing out what works best for you.
I don’t need rock and roll. Just something that lets me look at the little birdies and identify them.
7x or 8x power will be plenty for what you need. More powerful binoculars are heavy and hard to hold steady. Look for binoculars with bak prisms. I have a lower cost pair of Brunton binoculars and the optical quality is quite good for the price. Pentax also makes good optics for the money. On the lower end, Celestron and Nikon make some decent stuff for the casual observer.
Swampsniper might have a suggestion or two about a camera that will let you view the birds and photograph them besides! Happy watching!
Post #4 nails it....you shouldn’t need more than cheapies to accomplish your birdie watching.
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