BINOCULAR BUYERS GUIDE
It is not uncommon for optics buyers to be both confused and daunted by binocular specifications. “Don’t you just pick them up and look through them?” Well, yes, you do exactly that whenever possible — after you have set them up for yourself by making three different adjustments (more on that below). For birdwatchers, it is important to gain a basic understanding of how to operate binoculars because, while most binoculars work for most people, some might not work for you. For years, I used binoculars that made birding a struggle, and when I see novice birders having a hard time in the field, I feel their pain and want to help!
It is easy to feel overwhelmed, especially when the opportunity to test-drive the optics in person is limited due to the pandemic, combined with the fact that more than 60 brands and over 1,000 binocular models are on the market. While many are essentially clones of the same optics with slightly different exteriors, others from well-known companies have unique features.
And then there are all the technical specifications. What the heck are eye relief, interpupillary distance (IPD), field of view, twist-out eyecups versus fold-down? Do I want 8x, 10x, 12x? I wear eyeglasses, do I need certain features? I found a binocular online for $20, will it work for birding? (The answer is decidedly “no.”) Are the differences between $300, $1,000, and $3,000 binoculars real? (Yes.) Should I get a spotting scope? Optics dealers such as the Cape May Bird Observatory are ready to handle all these features and questions. As you might expect, there are real
