When you start shopping for bird watching binoculars, you will first notice that they come in different sizes. They will be designated by two numbers such as 8x42. The first number is the magnification or how many times closer the bird you are watching will appear through your binoculars. So in the 8x42 pair, a bird will appear eight times closer than with your naked eye.
As a good rule of thumb, you do not want to buy a pair of binoculars for bird watching over a magnification of ten. If you need more magnification, then consider getting a bird watching spotting scope with a tripod or window mount. Anything above 10x in a binocular will be too difficult to use for bird watching for several reasons.
The higher the magnification in a binocular, the smaller the field of view will be. This makes it more challenging to spot moving birds. The binoculars will also be heavier, making it more difficult to hold steady while viewing. Any shaking in your hands will be magnified that much more as you view through the binoculars. In addition, higher magnification binoculars allow less light to enter the lens, so the image will not be as bright as in lower powered binoculars.
You can choose the level of magnification you want based on the type of birding you mostly do. If you do a lot of birding in forested areas, looking for small active songbirds like warblers, then you will want a larger field of view with less magnification. This way it will be easier to spot the birds and follow them with your binoculars as they move around.
If most of your bird watching is done in open areas, such as hawk migration routes, on open water or open wetlands, then you can get away with a higher magnification since birds are easier to locate in open habitats and wide open spaces. Additionally, if you do most of the viewing from a sitting or standing position as on a boat, viewing from a mudflat or overlook, then you probably would not mind the extra weight of a larger objective lens which will provide you with a larger field of view.
Magnification is not the only factor when choosing bird watching binoculars, but is one of the most important features that will affect your birding enjoyment when using binoculars. Take some time and try different magnifications out before buying your final pair. Choose wisely and you will not regret.
For more information, please go to Bird Watching Binoculars 101 and read our binocular review by price level of the Best Binoculars for Bird Watching.
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