Inexpensive binoculars

Everyone interested in watching wild birds deserves her or his very own binoculars.

A good binocular for getting started does not have to be expensive, but it should have good optical quality.

The Eagle Optics Shrike 8x42 costs under $100.

Eagle Optics Shrike

Thousands of birders got their start with an 8x42 Shrike binocular.

It has good optics.

It's waterproof.

It is the least expensive full-sized binocular we've found. And it works even for people who wear glasses.

It comes with an unconditional lifetime warranty, which covers accidental damage.

Top Quality - Moderate Cost

We reviewed the top binoculars for Bird Watcher's Digest, and this mid-priced binocular gave the most expensive models a run for the money.

The Conquest HD gives birders the opportunity to enjoy a full-sized, German-manufactured, Zeiss binocular for under $1000.

Why not give yourself the good stuff?

The Eagle Optics Ranger ED is an upgrade to our long-standing favorite binocular in the $200-$300 price range.

In its shape and handling it's like the best-selling original Rangers, but it has higher quality, extra-low-disperson glass ("ED"). Which means you see a clearer, sharper image.

The 8x42 model has 19.5mm of eye relief, which means it works even for people who wear glasses.

The 8x32 model is really compact, weighing only 19.5 ounces and is only 5 inches long.

Also comes in a higher-magnification 10x42 model.

We love this binocular!

Education Multi-pack

Do you work with a school, camp, nature center, or group that would like to teach kids to watch birds?

We offer the Shrike in education 6-packs and 12-packs at special reduced prices.

Watch butterflies up close...

Pentax Papiliio

Even if you already own binoculars, this one will let you see something special. Nothing else lets you look at a butterflies this close.

If will focus as close as 18 inches! You can see details you've never imagined.

It's great for birds, too, especially hummingbirds.

And it's really not expensive. Read about it .

Watch nature up close...

Pentax Papiliio

Even if you already own binoculars, this one will let you see something special. Nothing else lets you look at a dragonflies and butterflies this close.

If will focus as close as 18 inches! You can see details you've never imagined.

It's great for birds, too, especially hummingbirds.

And it's really not expensive. Read about it .

Watch hummingbirds up close...

Pentax Papiliio

Even if you already own binoculars, this one will let you see something special. Nothing else lets you look at a hummingbirds this close.

If will focus as close as 18 inches! You can see details you've never imagined.

It's great for butterflies and dragonflies, too.

And it's really not expensive. Read about it .

High-end 10-power Binoculars for Glasses

Few 10-power binoculars work well for a person who is wearing glasses. Usually, the eye relief is not long enough. You can't see the whole picture.

But here are some high-end 10x42s that work with glasses.

Swarovski EL 10x42. You get the full, great image, with or without glasses. It's expensive. But if you get one, you'll find it's well

Zeiss Victory SF 10x42 may well be the best 10x42 binocular in the world. And it works fantastically well with glasses.

Zeiss Conquest HD

High-end, German-made optics at an affordable price

Made by the venerable Zeiss Optics company of Germany, this binocular give a supreme experience of birding.

Normally these binoculars sell for from $900 to $1000. If you're looking at this page in September, 2017, there are a couple of significant sale opportunities going on for a limited time.

Check it out.

You can also read Michael and Diane's personal, hand-on review, here.

A binocular upgrade

The new Vortex Diamondback has been completely redesigned. It now has higher quality glass. It's more compact. It weighs 4 onces less than its predecessor.

And the price has stayed the same!

When Michael and Diane Porter reviewed affordable binoculars ($200 to $300) for Bird Watcher's Digest (July, 2016), the new Diamondback won the highest rating of all the binoculars in the survey.
See the entire review
See only Diamondback review
See Diamondback in store

And for a closer look at hummingbirds...

If you are really nuts about hummingbirds, you might want to get some nice binoculars. Like a Vortex Diamondback.

It has good optical quality. Its unusually wide field of view makes it easy to keep a hummingbird in sight as it zips by. And because it focuses as close as 4-1/2 feet, you can study the details up close.

It's waterproof and has a lifetime guarantee. It comes in several sizes, but our favorite is the 8x42 model.

Economical Binoculars for the
Glasses Wearer

If you wear glasses, you need a binocular with long eye relief, to see the whole field of view even wearing glasses. Like the Eagle Optics Shrike.

It gives you room to get the binocular the right distance from your eyes. Even with eyeglasses.

Pocket Binoculars

The best binoculars in the world are useless if you left them home because they were too heavy.

Pocket binoculars to the rescue!

Here is an overview of pocket binoculars at a wide variety of prices.

Some are so lightweight they feel like you're not carrying anything at all.

See Pocket Binoculars

Want to treat yourself well?

Ahh, the new Swarovski CL Pocket binocular! Sublime optical quality and hand-friendly design in a pocket-sized binocular!

What happiness!

The new pocket Swarovski is so compact and lightweight that you'll always want to take it with you. Birding, sightseeing, traveling, the theater, or just out for a walk.

Smaller Binoculars for
Glasses Wearers

Celestron Trailseeker 8x32 For a lightweight, compact, good quality binocular.

But only for people who do not wear glasses.

Mid-priced Binoculars for the
Glasses Wearer

Vanguard Endeavor ED II is a marvelous, ergonomic binocular. And modest in price. It is available in both 8x42 and 10x42. Both work great with glasses.

Why not give yourself the good stuff?

The Eagle Optics Ranger ED is a great favorite binocular in the $200-$300 price range.

It has high quality, extra-low-disperson glass ("ED"). Which means you see a clearer, sharper image.

The 8x42 model has 19.5mm of eye relief, which means it works even for people who wear glasses.

The 8x32 model is really compact, weighing only 19.5 ounces and is only 5 inches long.

Also comes in a higher-magnification 10x42 model.

We love this binocular!

The Brilliant Lightweight

Once in a while, everything comes together to make a perfect product.

We think it's happened with Swarovski's EL 32mm Swarovision binocular.

Weighing only 20 ounces, with unimaginably bright, clear optics, and working splendidly even for glasses wearers, we deem this — well, perfect.

And if you want to see all the birds up close...

You deserve your own binocular.

It needn't be costly, but it should have good optical quality.

One of our favorites is the Vortex Vanquish 8x25. It's lightweight, compact, waterproof, and economical.

A wonderful binocular
Vanguard Endeavor ED II

A great favorite here at Birdwatching Dot Com — the Vanguard Endeavor ED II

It has the popular new open-bridge design, and it's hand friendly to the last detail.

Normally around $400. There's a

from the manufacturer, good through Dec. 31, 2017

Why not give yourself the good stuff?

The Talon 8x42 binocular, from Vortex Optics, invites you to wrap your fingers easily around either barrel. This contributes to a steady image, and a more detailed picture.

You also see a remarkably wide field of view — 425 feet at 1000 yards.

Eye relief of 18mm means it works great even for people who wear glasses. And it focuses close on the birds just 6 feet away!

Best-Value Binoc

We love the new Vortex Viper HD 8x42 binocular.

It's a high-quality binocular, one that bears comparison to the highest-priced binoculars in the world. Yet its price is in reach for serious but budget-minded birders.

Birdwatching
Starter Kits

Birdwatching Starter Kits provide everything a person needs to start enjoying birdwatching right now.

We have Starter Kits for every price range. Each includes a binocular, a field guide, and Diane's video, How to Start Watching Birds.

See details...