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This chart lists some of the best birding binoculars, grouped by manufacturer. At the top of each group are the pocket and mini binoculars, with small objective lenses - 20 to 25mm. At the bottom of each group are the larger, heavier ones, with big objective lenses - good for dim light. High eye-relief numbers are important for eyeglass wearers in order to see the whole field of view. Don't be alarmed by the suggested retail prices. Actual street prices run significantly lower. |
| Model Description | Power | Prism Design | Carry Weight (oz) | Close Focus (ft) | Eye Relief (mm) | Field of View (degrees) | Retail Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bausch & Lomb Discoverer | 7 x 24 | Porro | 17 | 8 | 14 | 6.5 | $510 |
| Bausch & Lomb Custom Compact | 7 x 26 | Porro | 13 | 8 | 16 | 6.1 | $450 |
| Bausch & Lomb Custom | 10 x 40 | Porro | 29 | 13 | 19 | 5.2 | $550 |
| Bausch & Lomb Elite | 7 x 36 | Roof | 25 | 10 | 19 | 8.0 | $1600 |
| Bausch & Lomb Elite | 8 x 42 | Roof | 29 | 12 | 20 | 7.4 | $1700 |
| Bausch & Lomb Elite | 10 x 42 | Roof | 28 | 12 | 19 | 5.6 | $1800 |
| Bushnell Natureview | 8 x 42 | Porro | 26 | 10 | 19 | 6.5 | $159 |
| Bushnell Natureview | 10 x 42 | Porro | 25 | 13 | 17 | 6.0 | $190 |
| Bushnell Birder | 8 x 40 | Porro | 21 | 15 | 15 | 6.8 | $75 |
| Brunton Eterna | 7 x 42 | Porro | 28 | 12 | 22 | 9.4 | $384 |
| Brunton Eterna | 8 x 40 | Porro | 28 | 12.6 | 19 | 8.3 | $428 |
| Canon Image Stabilizing | 12 x 36 | Roof | 31.4 | 12 | 15 | 5.6 | $1499 |
| Celestron Mini 71523 | 8 x 21 | Roof | 8 | 7 | 11 | 6.5 | $120 |
| Celestron Mini 71524 | 10 x 25 | Roof | 12 | 9 | 12 | 5.2 | $130 |
| Celestron New Mini 71540 | 8 x 21 | Porro | 6 | 7 | 10 | 7.0 | $100 |
| Celestron New Mini 71542 | 8 x 25 | Porro | 11 | 10 | 14 | 6.3 | $130 |
| Celestron Nature | 7 x 35 | Porro | 19 | 15 | 17 | 9.5 | $134 |
| Celestron Ultima | 7 x 42 | Porro | 20 | 17 | 23 | 7.0 | $360 |
| Celestron Ultima | 8 x 32 | Porro | 18 | 11 | 17 | 8.3 | $340 |
| Celestron Ultima | 10 x 42 | Porro | 20 | 19 | 15 | 6.6 | $370 |
| Celestron ED | 9.5 x 44 | Porro | 26 | 14 | 16 | 6.0 | $750 |
| Fujinon Compact | 7 x 22 | Roof | 10.7 | 12 | 19 | 6.0 | $340 |
| Fujinon BLF | 8 x 40 | Porro | 25.3 | 9 | 19 | 6.5 | $390 |
| Kowa | 7 x 40 | Porro | 26.5 | 15 | 22.5 | 7.5 | $307 |
| Kowa | 10 x 40 | Porro | 27 | 13.7 | 16.5 | 6.3 | $162 |
| Leica BCA Compact | 8 x 20 | Roof | 7.8 | 9.8 | 14 | 6.6 | $449 |
| Leica BCA Compact | 10 x 25 | Roof | 8.5 | 16.4 | 14 | 5.4 | $449 |
| Leica BA Ultra | 8 x 32 | Roof | 22 | 10.7 | 13 | 7.7 | $995 |
| Leica BA Ultra | 7 x 42 | Roof | 31.4 | 20.7 | 17 | 8.0 | $1095 |
| Leica BA Ultra | 8 x 42 | Roof | 31.4 | 17.4 | 16 | 7.4 | $1145 |
| Leica BA Ultra | 10 x 42 | Roof | 31 | 15 | 14 | 6.3 | $1195 |
| Leica Trinovid | 8 x 50 | Roof | 40 | 17.7 | 17 | 6.6 | $1345 |
| Leica Trinovid | 10 x 50 | Roof | 40 | 15.7 | 14 | 6.6 | $1345 |
| Leupold / Wind River | 8 x 32 | Roof | 20 | 15 | 14 | 6.2 | $516 |
| Leupold / Wind River | 8 x 42 | Porro | 22.5 | 16 | 16 | 6.5 | $266 |
| Leupold / Wind River | 10 x 42 | Roof | 22.5 | 15 | 14 | 5.0 | $552 |
| Minolta Compact EZ | 8 x 21 | Porro | 7 | 9 | 12 | 7.0 | $114 |
| Minolta Weathermatic | 10 x 42 | Roof | 29.5 | 20 | 16 | 6.5 | $542 |
| Nikon Travelite III | 9 x 25 | Porro | 9 | 12 | 10 | 5.6 | $173 |
| Nikon Diplomat CF AS | 8 x 23 | Porro | 10.7 | 9.8 | 14 | 6.0 | $338 |
| Nikon Criterion E | 8 x 30 | Porro | 21 | 13 | 13 | 8.3 | $580 |
| Nikon Execulite II | 8 x 32 | Roof | 19.6 | 16.4 | 15.4 | 7.4 | $750 |
| Nikon Execulite II | 10 x 40 | Roof | 24.1 | 16.4 | 15.4 | 5.9 | $800 |
| Nikon Classic Eagle | 8 x 40 | Roof | 29.6 | 16.4 | 16.4 | 7.0 | $1390 |
| Optolyth Alpin | 8 x 30 | Porro | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8.0 | $379 |
| Optolyth Alpin | 10 x 40 | Porro | 17 | 13 | 10 | 6.6 | $399 |
| Optolyth Alpin | 7 x 42 | Porro | 17 | 16 | 16 | 6.6 | $389 |
| Pentax PCF | 7 x 35 | Porro | 24.7 | 11.5 | 20 | 7.2 | $228 |
| Pentax PCF | 8 x 40 | Porro | 26.8 | 11.5 | 20 | 6.3 | $250 |
| Pentax DCF | 8 x 42 | Roof | 26.5 | 13.1 | 22 | 6.2 | $480 |
| Swarovski Pocket Binocular | 8 x 20 | Roof | 7.6 | 13.2 | 13 | 6.6 | $483 |
| Swarovski Pocket Binocular | 10 x 25 | Roof | 8.1 | 16.5 | 13 | 5.4 | $528 |
| Swarovski SLC Mark III | 8 x 30 | Roof | 19 | 13.2 | 15.5 | 7.8 | $665 |
| Swarovski SLC Mark III | 7 x 42 | Roof | 33.5 | 13.2 | 20 | 8.0 | $943 |
| Swarovski SLC Mark III | 10 x 42 | Roof | 30.7 | 13.2 | 14.5 | 6.3 | $994 |
| Swift Audubon ED | 8.5 x 44 | Roof | 21 | 12 | 15 | 8.2 | $940 |
| Swift Ultra Lite | 8 x 42 | Porro | 21 | 16.5 | 22 | 6.6 | $410 |
| Swift Ultra Lite | 10 x 42 | Porro | 21 | 15 | 13 | 6.6 | $430 |
| Tasco World Class Plus | 8 x 40 | Porro | 28 | 18 | 20 | 8.4 | $350 |
| Zeiss ClassiC Pocket | 8 x 20 | Roof | 6.5 | 11 | 14 | 6.6 | $433 |
| Zeiss ClassiC Pocket | 10 x 25 | Roof | 7.1 | 17 | 14 | 5.4 | $477 |
| Zeiss DesignSelection Pocket | 8 x 20 | Roof | 6.5 | 11 | 14 | 6.6 | $465 |
| Zeiss DesignSelection Pocket | 10 x 25 | Roof | 7.1 | 16.7 | 14 | 5.4 | $505 |
| Zeiss B/GA T ClassiC | 8 x 30 | Roof | 20 | 10 | 15 | 7.7 | $1152 |
| Zeiss B/GA T ClassiC | 10 x 40 | Roof | 26.8 | 16.7 | 16 | 6.3 | $1360 |
| Zeiss B/GA T ClassiC | 7 x 42 | Roof | 28.2 | 11.7 | 19 | 8.6 | $1252 |
| Zeiss B/GA T DesignSelection | 7 x 45 | Roof | 42.7 | 10 | 18 | 8.6 | $1480 |
| Zeiss B/GA T DesignSelection | 8 x 56 | Roof | 51.5 | 16 | 18 | 7.5 | $1635 |
| Zeiss B/GA T DesignSelection | 10 x 56 | Roof | 50.3 | 16 | 16 | 6.3 | $1775 |
| Zeiss 20 x 60 S (Stabilized) | 20 x 60 | Porro | 58.6 | 46.2 | 14 | 2.9 | $4867 |