If you are looking for a good pair of bird watching binoculars when what should you be looking for? In this brief article we will look at the ins and outs of bird watching binoculars and hopefully make things a little clearer.
Firstly, you need to decide what type and magnification of binoculars you want. The two main types are the traditionally shaped porro-prism ones or the more compact and straight looking roof-prism binoculars. Because of the need for bird watching binoculars to be quite compact and rugged, most of the ones used these days are of the roof-prism type. People also often claim that these are more comfortable as well. These come in a miniature or compact design if size and weight are a factor but they come with the disadvantages that they don't gather as much light and your field of view is vastly decreased. It is an excellent idea for any bird watching binoculars to be rubber coated to protect from the occasional drop or bump and you can also get them waterproofed in case you accidentally drop them in a lake!
The numbers on binoculars are occasionally confusing.
Choosing a pair of Bird Watching Binoculars