What are the best binoculars for birding?

The piece of kit that will most enhance your bird-watching experience is a pair of quality binoculars.

First of all we’ll just give you a quick comparison of the models that we recommend and why.

Quick comparison: Best binoculars for bird watching

Nikon Monarch 7 8X42 binoculars

Lightweight binoculars from the all-star Nikon Monarch range, combining excellent image clarity with a wide field of view ideally suited to birding.

Best overall
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Celestron Nature DX 8X42 Binoculars

Our pick for the best value binoculars boasts an impressive range of features within a competitive lower price range. They are perfect for beginning birding.

Best value binoculars for birding
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Carl Zeiss Victory SF 8×42 Binoculars

The impressive field of view, superior image clarity, and color vibrancy even in dim light that you’d expect from such a premium-quality instrument.

Best binoculars if money is no object
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Zeiss Terra ED 8×25 Pocket Binoculars

Small, light, and bright, this versatile model is one of the best compact binoculars for birding. It gives maximum performance for minimal volume in your bag.

Best lightweight compact binoculars for birding
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Vortex Optics Diamondback HD 10×42 Binoculars

Shockproof rubber design, fully multi-coated fogproof lenses, and an o-ring seal for waterproofing. The 10x magnification means closer views yet a relatively wide field of view.

Best 10×42 binoculars for birding
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Vortex Viper HD 8×42 Binoculars

Difficult to beat for their quality Vortex optics, which ensure high-end performance in a relatively small size and weight – without a premium price tag.

Best 8×42 binoculars for birding
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Vanguard Endeavor ED 8x42mm Binoculars

One of the best options with long eye relief for glasses wearers. A good view of the entire range.

Best birding binoculars for glasses wearers
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Reviews: Best binoculars for bird watching

Whichever style of binoculars you choose is down to your personal preference. No single pair fits the needs of everyone.

It’s best to take into consideration your own specific circumstances. Where will you be when using these binoculars? In what light conditions do you anticipate using your binoculars?

With some great choices available, here is a more detailed list with reviews of our top picks.

Best overall bird watching binoculars: Nikon Monarch 7 8X42

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Nikon Monarch 7 8X42 binoculars Overview

Incorporating a high-quality build with durability, comfort and attention to detail, these lightweight binoculars from the all-star Nikon Monarch range combine excellent image clarity with a wide field of view ideally suited to birding.

Image quality

Given that you may be doing lots of birding at the two points in the day when the birds are most active but natural light is at its dimmest – sunrise and sunset – you will be happy with the brightness of the images offered by Nikon Monarch 7. Conversely, it also is able to minimize glare when used in very strong light.

This benefit is enhanced by Nikon’s use of premium extra-low dispersion (ED) glass. ED glass is a significant upgrade as it boosts the sharpness and vibrancy of the colors, lessening any chromatic aberration.

In practice, this means birders are able to appreciate the full spectrum of color without rainbow-type halos around the subject. What is ED (extra low dispersion) glass in bird watching binoculars?

Eye relief

Eye relief is relatively long, at a fraction over 17mm, which is worth noting for glasses wearers. As you would expect, the eye cups are adjustable to suit your own comfort.

Durability and ease of use

Needless to say, the rubber-armored Nikon Monarch 7 has an exceptional build quality and durability. The lenses are fully multi coated, fog proof and waterproof – pretty standard for a roof prism binocular in this price range.

We are impressed with the comfort factor offered by the body of these bird watching binoculars. Considering it has a 42mm objective lens, the binoculars weigh in surprisingly light.

They feel well balanced in the hand and comfortable to grip, which will also help to keep your images stable, as will the smooth-moving focus wheel.

It requires one and a half turns of the wheel to get from close focus to infinity. Being able to achieve this whole range within one single revolution, however, is easier and more speedy.

But while the Monarch 7 focus adjustment is at the maximum of what we recommend for bird watching binoculars, it does mean you can really pinpoint the appropriate focus to a fine degree.

Size

In comparison to the Monarch 5 in the same configuration, the Monarch 7 is slightly more compact and lighter. We would say overall it has the edge on the Monarch 5 for bird watching.

Not only does the non-slip grip on the Monarch 7 feel natural and easy to maintain for longer periods, but the wide, adjustable strap that comes with it is also comfortable, saving you the cost of changing this for another.

Extras

The included carry case feels suitably soft and well padded on the inside. The flip-down objective lens covers are made from a flexible rubber and designed to mesh neatly within the inside of the barrel. The fit is not all that snug, though, with the result that they have a habit of slipping off so beware of this.

Best value binoculars for birding: Celestron Nature DX 8X42 Binoculars

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Celestron Nature DX 8X42 binoculars Overview

Our pick for the best value binoculars boast an impressive range of features within a competitive lower price range. They are perfect for beginning birding.

Field of view

Field of view is 388 ft @ 1000 yds, making it easy to locate your subject at a distance. The close focus feature gives clear images as near as 6.5 feet. It is easy to adjust the focus wheel with just one hand, allowing the other to hold the binoculars steady.

Eye relief

If you wear eyeglasses when using binoculars for bird watching this pair is ideal. At 17.5mm the eye relief distance is fairly long. Durable, twistable eye cups allow you to adjust the eye relief easily.

You can also change the width of the instrument using the central hinge to suit the width of your face and how far apart your eyes are.

Image quality

The quality of glass is high. The prisms are phase coated BaK-4, which also increases contrast, and the optics are fully multi-coated. This translates to bright images even in lower light.

Ease of use

Though the design seems simple, the rubberized grip is comfortable and durable. Celestron’s listed weight seems impressively light for all the included features, it’s best to take this with a pinch of salt – they weighed in a little heavier than 22.2oz when actually tested.

Despite this, the overall feel of the binocular is reassuringly higher than its actual price point. If there is one drawback, it is that you may experience a small amount of glare in strong light – looking into the sun, for instance – but overall it is not a problem.

Extras

As well as the binoculars themselves, you get a neck strap, lens cloth, eyepiece rain cover and objective lens caps. The included carry case doesn’t appear all that well padded, so you might want to upgrade this. Similarly, it’s worth paying out for a more comfortable neck strap than the flimsy one that is provided.

Their appearance may be basic rather than outstanding, but Celestron have created one of the best binoculars for entry-level birding that surpass competitors for their quality and price.

Best ‘money is no object’ binoculars: Carl Zeiss Victory SF 8×42 binoculars

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Carl Zeiss Victory SF 8×42 binoculars Overview

As well as the impressive field of view, superior image clarity and color vibrancy even in dim light that you’d expect from such a premium quality instrument, you have peace of mind with a lifetime warranty, scratch-resistant lenses and a rugged but easy-to-hold build.

Image quality

Exceptional optics should always give you the best possible viewing experience. If you really want to feel you’re getting up close and personal with the bird life, these Zeiss bird watching binoculars offer views of an spectacular immediacy.

The razor sharp image you get with this pair of binoculars pops with vibrant, true-to-life color, from the center right up to the outer edge. A 92% rate of light transmission boosts the image quality and contrast in low light.

Field of view

The field of view covers a wide but natural-feeling area, while the close focus distance is less than five feet.

Ease of use

Attention to detail extends from the comfortable alignment and fit of the eye cups to the optimized shape and balance of the instrument in the hand. Speed and ease of focus is equally impressive, always with a smooth and intuitive feel.

All of these seemingly small advantages add up to a fatigue-free lengthy viewing session, taking you to twilight and beyond.

Best lightweight compact binoculars: Zeiss Terra ED 8×25 Pocket Binoculars

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Zeiss Terra ED 8×25 Pocket binoculars Overview

Small, light and bright, this versatile model is one of the best compact binoculars for birding. It gives maximum performance for minimal volume in your bag.

Size

It’s not just the smaller objective lens size that keeps it compact, though. Not only is the housing extra lightweight, but it incorporates a double-hinged design allowing it to fold even smaller.

Field of view

The Zeiss Terra ED maintains an excellent, unrestricted field of view – 357 ft @1000 yards – considering its objective lenses only measure 25 mm.

Close focus is 6.2 ft. So this model rates highly on versatility.

Ease of use

They are very lightweight. Topnotch ergonomics make the Zeiss 8x25s a joy to use.

Images are clear and maintain brightness in low light, especially when considering the 25mm size of their objective lenses. The focus is smooth and easy to adjust.

Eye relief is very good and they are easy to adjust to fit all widths of face and interpupillary distance.

Durability

Nature lovers on the move should consider saving up for these lightweight waterproof and fog proof bird watching binoculars. Weatherproofing on the body and sealed lenses ensures resistance to cold or hot climates and damp atmospheres.

Image quality

With 8x power, this Zeiss model offers bird watchers significantly superior bright views and color accuracy than a more modest binocular of the same magnification or with a smaller objective lens diameter.

Extra-low dispersion glass ensures sharp, clear images without any color fringing. It’s worth the investment to keep the image quality while downsizing on dimensions and weight.

Extra features

The binoculars come with a limited lifetime warranty. And they look really sleek too!

The Zeiss Terra ED is also available in a larger magnification so if you are looking for stronger powered binoculars the 10×25 might work better for you.

To offer advice on other options for compact and lightweight binoculars, we have compiled this in-depth list. Check it out here: The best lightweight compact binoculars for bird watching

Best 10×42 binoculars: Vortex Optics Diamondback HD 10×42 Binoculars

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Vortex Optics Diamondback HD 10×42 binoculars Overview

A great offering from a trusted brand, these Vortex Optics have a shockproof rubber design, fully multi coated, fog proof lenses and an O-ring seal essential for waterproofing.

Tough well-armored body

This affordable pair of binoculars equips you well for challenging weather conditions. With their slip-proof rubberized armor, the ergonomics of these birding binoculars mean they handle well in inclement weather.

The sturdy construction gives them the feel of durable binoculars, protected against knocks and drops. On balance, the binoculars are lightweight and portable at 21 ounces.

Its multi-coated lenses and effective light transmission ensure bright images while guarding against flaring in bright sunlight or when looking in the direction of strong light reflected off water.

Good color representation

There is some chromatic aberration within the image. But considering the price range – entry level – the accurate color reproduction is good. Image quality does lose a little bit of sharpness towards the edges.

Eye relief is quite short at 15mm so these are not great for people who wear eyeglasses or sunglasses when birding. The eyepieces have two different settings.

The eyepiece caps are soft and flexible, making them easy to remove. One thing to note is that the diopter only adjusts the right-hand lens.

Attractive warranty

Weightwise, the Vortex Optics Diamondback HD birding binoculars compete well at a relative light weight for their 10×42 specification.

Vortex Optics offer a reassuringly simple unlimited lifetime warranty. They promise to repair or replace a product free of charge in the event of accidental breakage or damage.

We narrowed down the top 10×42 binoculars on the market to this pair, but we have also published a shortlist. This may help you make up your mind.

Take a look at this round-up of 10×42 binoculars for birding here >>> Are 10×42 binoculars good for bird watching?

Best 8×42 binoculars: Vortex Viper HD 8×42

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Vortex Viper HD 8×42 binoculars Overview

These easily-adjustable roof prism birding binoculars with great eye relief are difficult to beat for their quality Vortex optics, which ensure high-end performance in a relatively small size and weight – and without the premium price tag.

Field of view

They have an excellent close-focus at 5 feet. The total range of focus is covered with a turn and a half of the satisfyingly grippy focus wheel. Field of view is a sound 409 feet at 1000 yards.

Eye relief

A real bonus is the extra-long eye relief. This contributes to the outstanding view that these binoculars offer, especially to people who wear glasses while bird watching.

Image quality

There’s great clarity in low-light conditions, capturing detail even in the shadows. ED glass reproduces real-life colors well, with good resolution and minimal chromatic aberration. The end result is a really clean, crisp image.

The BaK-4 prisms, with phase-correction coatings, are another high-quality component. These, too, add to the accuracy of the color and maximize brightness.

Durability

The scratch-resistant lenses are sealed with a waterproof o-ring to protect against the elements and purged with argon gas, which guards against internal misting and prolongs the life of your instrument.

The durable rubber casing, common to most roof prism binoculars, feels secure to grip with damp hands. This rubberized finish extends to the adjustable and extendable eye cups, which fit comfortably and snugly against the face.

Extra comfort

The nylon case provided has soft but sufficient internal padding. The way that they have designed the padded neck strap, with a curve, is a great idea and boosts the comfort factor.

The soft nylon carry case is made really well and looks to be of very good quality, it is well padded on the inside to protect the binoculars and has a netted pocket that can be zipped closed to store a few small items and would be a good place to keep a lens cleaning cloth for example. It has two loops on the back enabling you to attach it to a belt.

Vortex Optics cover their products with an unlimited and unconditional warranty to give you peace of mind in the end that your binoculars get damaged. The company promises to repair or replace them.

These 8×42 binoculars are the classic size recommended by many experts to suit beginners and for all round birding. To compare this top pick with the others in its class, read our article on 8×42 binoculars here >>> The best 8×42 binoculars for bird watching

Best binoculars for eyeglass wearers

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Vanguard Endeavor ED 8x42mm binoculars Overview

The Vanguard binoculars offer one of the best options with long eye relief for glasses wearers to make sure you get a good view of the entire range possible.

Size

A compact body with the roof prism design and extendable eye cups for people who do not wear glasses.

Field of view

Field of view is 367ft at 1000 yards. Close focus distance is 7.5ft.

Ease of use

Focussing is simple with the central operating dial, so can be adjusted with either hand. The diopter on the right side can be locked. This helps because it is less likely to get changed accidentally and need to be tweaked.

Durability

Weatherproofed construction with O-ring sealed lenses filled with nitrogen to prevent fogging and maintain waterproofing. The ergonomics lend them a good feel in the hand.

Image quality

The extra low dispersion glass (ED glass) and fully multi-coated optics reduce glare and internal reflection, contributing to the overall quality of the image. Color contrast is good.

If you’d like a list of more choices of binoculars to use with spectacles or sunglasses, feel free to look at these: The best birding binoculars for glasses wearers

What to look for when buying the best binoculars for bird watching

When there are so many different types of birding binoculars available, how should you identify a pair to ensure you are getting the best binoculars for your budget?

Not only are there dozens of different binoculars to choose from, but there are a lot of technical-sounding terms describing them all. At first it can seem a bit overwhelming to learn.

It’s definitely worth getting more informed on how the different specifications will affect your choice. So we also have this clear and simple guide explaining in more detail exactly what you need to know.

Appropriate magnification

We recommend a magnification power of 8x or 10x for most bird watchers.

Effective objective lens size

Look for an objective lens diameter that is big enough to give you a bright image in high resolution, without being too large, which would give a shaky, unstable view.

Wide field of view

Select birding binoculars with as wide a field of view as possible.

Eye relief

Eye relief distance measures the gap between your eye and the lens closest to your eye.

People who don’t wear glasses will be looking for a eye relief of 9-13mm.

For those people who do wear glasses, choose a measurement between 14-18mm, depending on the thickness and the distance of the glasses from the eye.

Comfortable and compact

Your best pair of birding binoculars will fit your hands well and feel comfortable when viewing, as well as being lightweight enough to be used for longer periods of time.

Waterproof and fog proof

Birding binoculars should be able to cope with all different kinds of climate.

Close focus distance

Hopefully not all of the birds that you see will be really far away, so being able to focus easily on birds nearby is important.

For more in-depth information on how to choose a great pair of binoculars through which to enjoy birding, we recommend this article. It details which features to look for and what the terminology means.

Here is our more in-depth guide on what to keep in mind when you are choosing the best binoculars for birding. How to choose the best binoculars for bird watching

Best birding binoculars: happy choosing!

Many people will also want to take into account how much the binoculars cost.

Remember that you are buying them to enhance your bird watching experience. A good quality product will definitely do this. They are an investment to last you for years and create many happy memories along the way.

This is not really the situation where it benefits you in the long term to opt for an incredibly low price. To avoid disappointment, it’s worth purchasing a pair that really achieves a superior performance.

With many physical stores unable to open during the pandemic, many retailers have relaxed their return policies. This bodes well for consumers.

Once you have narrowed down your choices, a good option is to check the return policies on your top two. If the retailer allows returns, then it is worth buying both so that you can try them out at home.

Then when you’ve determined the favorite that you would like to keep, then you can return the other.