Bird Worthy Binoculars

There is not a lot of equipment required to engage or stay engaged in birding. Yet, to think that one can get started using your favorite uncle’s old binoculars leads far more often than not to frustration and failure. It’s too heavy, too hard to hold steady, too slow to focus, too hard to locate the bird in time. So, while everyone else enjoys a grand view of the bird, you come away empty, confused, and maybe a little peeved. So, leave those relics to memories. You need a good pair of binoculars.

What should you know to find the right binocular for you? First, please consider that birding is something that can be enjoyed for many years. That’s the goal. We want to find something that lasts, gives us enjoyment for a long period of time, and is something in which we can engage under many different conditions and circumstances. Invest in a good binocular. There are many attributes that need to be considered before examining price.

Okay, first, do you wear eyeglasses? This is a huge consideration. If you do and you wish or need to wear your glasses at all times, then pay attention to eye relief. What is eye relief? It is how far the image is projected out of the ocular lens. A large eye relief is best for those wearing glasses. Look for binoculars with eye relief of 19-22 mm. Those who do not wear glasses can be satisfied with eye relief in the 15-18 mm range.

The next most important attribute of a binocular is its field of view. Beginning birders sometimes struggle finding the bird in the binocular. This effort is greatly assisted when the field of view is large. Field of view is measured in two ways, by degree or by feet. Field of view in feet is most easily understood. It is often stated in feet at 1000 yards, for example 345 feet at 1000 yards. This means that the area being viewed is 345 feet across the binocular objective lens if the area is 1000 yards away. As a beginner, one should consider finding a binocular with a field of view around 400 feet. More experienced birders will do fine with a field of view ranging from 315 to 350 feet. Below 300 feet presents many people with difficulty.

A subsequent attribute to consider is quickness of focus. Look for a center focus in which the wheel can easily focus near to far in approximately one and a half turns. This is critical when viewing such active little birds as kinglets, warblers, and wrens.

Now, let’s look at the numbers. What does 8 x42 mean? Is it better than 10 x 32?

The first number in both the above has to do with magnification. Magnification is somewhat misleading. Bluntly, it does not mean what it says. If it did, then a five inch bird in an 8x binocular would have an image of 40 inches—not possible. 8x means that is what the bird looks like in your naked eye at one eighth of the distance. 10 x means that is what the bird looks like in your naked eye at one tenth of the distance. Most of us do quite well with 8x. There are some good binoculars out with 7x and even 6.5 x. Higher magnifications may lend themselves to greater resolution and fine detail, but this decreases the field of view and the light gathering ability of the binocular.

The second number is the size of the objective lens. 42 mm is larger than 32 mm. The size of the objective lens affects the field of view, the light gathering ability, and the weight. There is no hard and fast rule here, though. Manufacturers have been able to affect these three characteristics several ways, such as coatings and the type of glass employed.

Finally, some recommendations—a beginner might start with a Vortex 8 x42 Diamondback for its wide field of view is tremendous. If cost is a consideration, look at the Vortex 8 x 42 Crossfire. If you are a birder that enjoys hiking and weight is something to think about, try the Vortex 6.5 x 32 Fury or the Vortex 8 x 28 Fury. A great, all-around binocular, whether a novice or veteran, would be the Vortex 8 x 42 Viper. High end quality and style at an affordable price can be found in the Vortex 8 x 42 Razor.

Birding and Hiking or Biking Binoculars

The trails beckon and the birds await and you know you’re ready. The problem has been what to carry that is lightweight but capable of rendering a good sighting. Problem solved when you carry the Vortex 8 x 28 Fury. This binocular weighs in at a scant 11.8 ounces. It measures 4.7” x 4.5”—small enough to fold into a pocket. It’s compact, durable and the optics are great. It is argon purged for water and fog proofing. Silver coated, phase corrected prisms and advanced coatings deliver superb images even in low light conditions.

Consider this gem of a binocular for travel, too. Every airplane ride causes us to consider total weight of our luggage. Yet, the Fury won’t add enough with which to be concerned. And when you get there, you still will have a great time in the field chasing down those species not found in your neck of the woods.

Well Equipped

Well equip your birder with an outstanding birder binocular, The Vortex 8 x 42 Viper. This binocular is excellent in low light conditions often present in early morning or evening when much activity is evident. Watching Short Eared Owls frolic across open pastures feeding at dusk is greatly facilitated by the light gathering power of these wonderful binoculars. The Viper has XD glass and XR coatings to enhance image resolution and color accuracy while providing extraordinary brightness. The Viper is argon purged to extend the useful life of the binocular while providing superb water and fog proofing. It is lightweight and possesses excellent eye relief.

Couple the Viper with a wonderful field guide like the National Geographic Field Guide to Birds of North America and your birder is set for a grand experience. The Fifth Edition of this field guide is touted as one of the best guides on the market today.

Fury Binoculars

Vortex Fury binoculars, very good binoculars indeed, provide great light gathering ability and crystal clear images owing to mirrored prisms and fully multi-coated optics. These characteristics make the Furies wonderful choices for your next binoculars. There is another reason to consider this choice. Now may be a very good time to take a look at a Fury by Vortex Optics because of an offered rebate. Upon purchase, you can take advantage of a $50 mail-in rebate. Take a look and see what is possible.

Fantastic Fury, Fantastic Vacation

Nature observation is an activity many people are finding rewarding theses days. First, it gets you off your duff. Second, it gets you out of the rut. Third, it sometimes surprises you.

On our recent trip to Wyoming, we spent time hiking trails, picnicking at National Forest Parks, and viewing mountains up close and from some wonderful vantage points. We spent our time in the Snowy Range along Highway 130 west of Laramie.

Camping in Nash Fork campground provided us with enough trees and spacious camping area to share with chipmunks and Golden Mantle Ground Squirrels. We thoroughly enjoyed this as our headquarters. It was quiet even while being share by other campers. It proved to be convenient from which to foray into the surrounding countryside. With Laramie to the east and Saratoga to the west we had civilization if we wanted or needed it. Yet, in between, we found nature worth seeing.

We carried some essential equipment: one, a camera, and two, binoculars. I wished that I had my very good camera, but alas, it was not to be. However, the binoculars are fantastic. I carried the Vortex 8x 42 Fury. These binoculars produce a wonderfully clear, detailed image that astounds. We could see the flies being flicked off the Bull Moose when wagging its ears. Now, that’s something. It also afforded us some great views of the Yellow-bellied Marmot at Lake Marie Falls. The marmot tried to blend in with the boulders, but the Fury made it possible to hone in on him. Such a deal; such a deal.

Binoculars by Vortex Optics

Many articles have been written by this author and others on how to choose a binocular to fit your needs and wants. However, the question that begs answering is how to choose a brand that you can trust and will serve you well for many years? Proposition: buying a pair of binoculars is tantamount to an investment. Most of us buy binoculars knowing these will be something we want to provide us with many years of enjoyment. We do not want a pair to get us through a year or two; we want it to be worthy of ten, fifteen or more years. Ergo, we must also consider that we are buying a brand or company, and that company must be one willing to stand by their product and be committed to customer service.

First, consider the warranty offered. Second, consider access to the company. Third, consider the focus of the company. Fourth, consider the commitment to providing a quality product at a competitive price.

To those ends, Vortex Optics makes a very enticing case as your next brand of binoculars. Vortex Optics offers an unlimited and unconditional warranty. No bones about it, Vortex promises to repair or replace your product free no matter what. That’s pretty straight forward and generates a considerable amount of confidence in the brand. It stands to reason that the buyer can then be confident that a Vortex binocular (or spotting scope) is manufactured to exacting specifications. If you should possibly have a concern about your product know that Vortex Optics can easily be contacted because it maintains an easy to use web site on which is appropriate contact information. One can find a live voice with which to converse. Also, Vortex maintains a good relationship with its dealers facilitating two way conversations that can prove beneficial to the customer. Vortex Optics is focused on providing quality optics. It is not a mega company with several and diverse product lines. Its mission is to provide premium optical products which include features that make a difference between good and great binoculars and scopes. Finally, Vortex is a company that believes it should and can deliver a quality product at an affordable price. Vortex is a company that believes its products stack up well to other brands costing significantly more.

On your next purchase of a pair of binoculars or spotting scope consider that you are buying a brand not just a product.

Rain or Shine, Vortex Razors Have It All

Okay, you are ready for an upgrade. You want something that not only states the seriousness of your commitment to birding but is stylish and functional. If it rains while in the field you want it waterproof and fogproof. You want your binoculars to deliver crystal clear images and true color definition for not only confident identification but wonderful sighting. Of course, you want it to be affordable.

Now, you can have all of the above. The European styled Vortex Razor binoculars deliver crystal clear precise images and true colors even under challenging conditions because of Vortex’s HD System. This system combines XR coatings, XD objective lens elements, and XT optical design for superb light transmission and resolution, and edge to edge accuracy and detail.

Now these premium performance binoculars are even more enticing because of the rebates being offered on all models. The 42 mm Razors are eligible for a $100 rebate and the 50 mm Razors are subject to a $150 rebate.

Razors are simply the smartest of choices among premium performance binoculars designed for enjoyable and advanced birding and nature observation.

Enjoying Birding

What can one do that is relatively inexpensive, helps you get away from the worries of the day, gets you outdoors, enables you to get some exercise, can be done alone or in a group, and provides you with lasting memories and good conversation? That is one heck of a question! Or is it a multitude of questions?

Birding, that’s the answer.

Let’s face it. This is cheap entertainment. First, all you really need to get started is a bird feeder or two and some seed or nectar. This is it, if what you hope to do is watch the birds that come to your own backyard. Hours of watching intently or on the spur of the moment can be had for pennies a day.

Of course, once you have enjoyed and learned about the birds in your yard, you’ll probably start noticing birds everywhere. It is just like buying a new car. Once you have bought the car, you start noticing that model on every road you travel. Once, you’ve noticed the birds in your backyard, you’ll notice them on your morning walk through the neighborhood, at the park, driving down the highway, in the fields on the edge of town, down at the river where you fish—everywhere.

So the next step is to get a good pair of binoculars, a field guide and your local checklist. And there is no stopping you. Your friends will start to ask you, the burgeoning expert, just what was that bird they saw the other day.

What is a good pair of binoculars going to cost you? One can spend any amount on binoculars. Consider that one will probably be using these for a number of years. Consider that you want a pair of binoculars through which you can actually tell the colors on the wings, or belly or tail. Consider that you want a pair that enables the identification of the bird. Consider that old birders never die; their eyesight just “ain’t as good as it used to be”. Therefore, do not buy a cheap pair of binoculars! Invest enough in your binocular to keep you satisfied with your purchase for many years. Here, look at it this way: if you bought a Vortex Diamondback and you knew that you were going to use these over the next ten years (a lifetime warranty not withstanding), the cost would be barely more than a nickel a day. Similarly, if you bought a Vortex Viper it would be about 14 cents per day. See, I told you this was an inexpensive proposition.

Lastly, investigate the local Audubon Society in your area. Find out when and where they meet. Once you start attending their meetings, you’ll learn of places all around you where there are wonderful and exciting birds to see. Then you will have new friends and a community with whom to share all this. That is more than satisfactory, that’s great!

Birding is the answer, yep!