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Experts recommend birding binoculars for under $750You don't need to break the family budget to own high-quality binoculars
Published: January 1, 2006 Read an article by Laura Erickson about how to choose and where to shop for affordable binoculars.
See a listing of more birding binoculars for under $750.
If a friend asked you to recommend five binoculars with a manufacturer's suggested retail price under $750, what models would you select and why?
That's what we asked five birdwatchers with broad experience selling, and looking through, binoculars -- Susan Moreton Birky, Scott Menough, Steve Sosensky, Jay Stenger, and Jim Zipp.
Their selections are listed here. Scroll down to read about each binocular.
Under $100
Bushnell NatureView Birder 8x40 -- $65.95
Eagle Optics Triumph 8x25 -- $69.99
Eagle Optics Denali 7x32 -- $89
Under $200
Nikon Action 8x40 -- $104.95
Bushnell NatureView 8x42 -- $148.95
Celestron Outland LX 8x42 -- $176.95
Bushnell NatureView 10x42 -- $178.95
Vortex Stokes Talon 8x42 -- $199.95
Under $300
Audubon Equinox HP 8x42 -- $269.95
Audubon Equinox HP 10x42 -- $279.95
Under $400
Pentax DCF MP 8x28 -- $309
Vortex Stokes Broadwing 8x42 -- $349.95
Eagle Optics Ranger Platinum Class 8x42 -- $379
Swift Ultra Lite 8x42 -- $399.95
Under $500
Eagle Optics Ranger Platinum Class 10x50 -- $419
Swift Eaglet 7x36 -- $429.95
Swift Audubon 8.5x44 -- $449.95
Nikon Monarch ATB 10x42 -- $470.95
Brunton Eterna 8x45 -- $499
Under $750
Kowa BD42 10x42 -- $575
Minox 8x32 -- $639
Pentax DCF SP 8x43 -- $698
Prices shown are suggested retail prices obtained from the manufacturers or their marketing representatives. Street prices will be lower.
To see more binoculars under $750, click here. |
Susan Moreton Birky
Susan Moreton Birky is the shop manager of the Tucson Audubon Nature Shop in Tucson, Arizona. She has been the compiler for the Tucson Valley Christmas Bird Count since 2002 and says she has been a birder since she put out her first bird feeder in 1971. |
Bushnell NatureView Birder 8x40 -- $69.95
Reasonable price and light weight make this model a great choice for beginners, and the price and quality of optics make it a popular choice for groups. In fact, it is one of the only binoculars in this price range with good optics. It's great to pass out on field trips to children and casual wildlife viewers. The Tucson Audubon Nature Shop has sold it in quantity to a tour leader in the Grand Canyon and also to a world-famous health resort in Tucson.
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Bushnell NatureView 8x42 -- $148.95
This fogproof roof-prism binocular has features generally found only in more expensive binoculars. It is one of only two brands carried by our satellite nature shop, which is located in a county park visited by many young families, and it has proved to be a popular seller there. Also comes in 10x42. The Tucson Audubon Nature Shop has been buying optics from Bushnell for over 20 years, and the company has stood by its products with a limited lifetime warranty whether you are a retailer or consumer.
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Audubon Equinox HP 8x42 -- $269.95
This higher-quality binocular has all the features of more expensive binoculars, including wonderful optics and exceptional close focus, and it comes with rainguards for the ocular and objective lenses. For the price, it's an outstanding choice for the beginning or experienced birder. It is lightweight and comfortable in the hand for women and men, and great for butterflying as well as birding. I purchased it to sell in our shop without testing it first and have not been disappointed. It has been one of our best-selling binoculars. Also comes in 10x42.
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Swift Ultra Lite 8x42 -- $399.95
This binocular has many selling points - outstanding optics, excellent close focus, easy handling for women and men, and it's waterproof - but the quick close focusing is what sells it. I trusted Swift Optics to come out with a quality binocular, and I was most impressed when this model was first introduced. It started to sell like hotcakes, and I didn't know why until a customer pointed out that the quick focusing was the best he had ever seen. You really have to try it to see how wonderful a fast-focusing binocular can be. Also comes in 10x42.
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Swift Eaglet 7x36 -- $429.95
If you want lightweight binoculars and more features than you can get in compact binoculars, the Eaglet is a great choice. Not only is it lightweight, waterproof, and armored, but it has excellent close focus for butterfly watching. I sold this binocular to a woman with arthritis who was going to the Galapagos and needed a lightweight, waterproof, almost compact binocular. She loved it, and several of her friends liked it so much they bought it also. The Tucson Audubon Nature Shop has been purchasing from Swift Optics for over 20 years, and we have always been pleased with the company's service.
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Scott Menough
Scott Menough is a biologist and the owner of a Wild Birds Unlimited store in Denver, Colorado. He is a cohost of the local radio program "BirdTalk" and teaches a binocular class for the Audubon Society of Greater Denver.
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Eagle Optics Triumph 8x25 -- $69.99
Compact or mini-binoculars force you to trade light for light: You achieve light weight but lose light transmission. They are great for hiking and biking, however, and they fit in a purse or glove compartment. When you venture out without your standard birding binocular, they make sure you don't miss that rare bird or fascinating bird behavior. This is my favorite in the class. It offers wonderful quality for the price, and the reverse Porro-prism design allows for a compact size that fits small or large hands equally well. In small binoculars, I prefer 8x.
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Vortex Stokes Talon 8x42 -- $199.95
For aspiring birdwatchers, the price of the binocular is often a primary concern. Improvements in manufacturing processes and better use of overseas factories have resulted in more full-size models of remarkable quality at modest prices. In the past, it was difficult to find acceptable quality in roof-prism binoculars at a price under $200. This is my favorite model to recommend to fledgling birders. Possessing features found in higher-priced models, it is a very affordable option for the new birder who doesn't yet realize how addictive birding will be. Also available as 10x42.
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Audubon Equinox HP 8x42 -- $269.95
In the past if you wanted a really bright image from binoculars, you had to spend quite a bit of money. That is no longer the case. This model is impressive. An astigmatism requires me to wear my glasses while using binoculars. The adjustable long eye relief of the Equinox HP well accommodates users with (and without) glasses. All the sought-after features are included: waterproof, fully multicoated, and phase corrected. Add the superb close focus (five feet) and this binocular is perfect for butterfly watching, too. Also available as 10x42.
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Vortex Stokes Broadwing 8x42 -- $349.95
I recommend this new model to customers who don't want to spring for a Ranger Platinum Class. The Broadwing is an excellent choice for birdwatchers who want to stay closer to the low end of $300 and also want the optical quality and body construction of a serious birding binocular. The tapered twist-up eyecups are comfortable for bare-eyed birders (no eye-glasses). I am thankful that rubber fold-over eyecups are becoming as rare as cardinals in Colorado. As with the other full-size binoculars I'm recommending, a case, a padded neck strap, a rainguard, and tethered objective lens covers are included. Also available as 10x42. |
Eagle Optics Ranger Platinum Class 8x42 -- $379
Other than a Vortex DLS at $880, I rarely sell a binocular priced higher than this one. It is a spectacular value. Using it just feels good. The Ranger has been around a while and seen many improvements. Its Platinum Protection is one of the best warranties for binoculars (Vortex Stokes warranties are the best) - a significant benefit for birdwatchers who are tough on binoculars. Mechanical tightness and smooth operation indicate that it will last. If you are looking for that "lifetime binocular" without spending $700 or more, this is the model. Also available as 6x32, 8x32, 10x42, and 10x50.
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Steve Sosensky
Steve Sosensky is vice president of operations for Optics4birding.com, cofounder of SoCA Bird Guides, and copresident of the Southwest Bird Study Club. |
Celestron Outland LX 8x42 -- $176.95
Celestron has been in upgrade mode. Some lines got improved coatings and prisms. With this model the company went a step further. In addition to adding nitrogen purging and fully multicoating the lenses, Celestron redesigned the optics to make the Outland LX a true birding glass. The field of view was widened, close focus was reduced from 20 feet to 6, and the weight was pared to 23 ounces. The image is clear and bright, and edge distortion is less than we've seen on binoculars that cost more. With street prices around $100, this binocular is a real bargain. Also available as 10x42.
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Audubon Equinox HP 10x42 -- $279.95
When Audubon introduced its Equinox line, the binoculars rated near the top of their price range. Near the top, however, apparently was not good enough. Just $20 more than the original Equinox, the HP models offer improved lens and prism coatings for a brighter and sharper view. New ergonomics include eyecups with rounded edges, softer rubber for added comfort, and detents for fine adjustment of the eyecup extension. The 10x42 is an excellent binocular for birdwatchers who are just starting to get serious about the sport but aren't ready to spend for the top optics. Also available as 8x42.
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Brunton Eterna 8x45 -- $499
This is another binocular line that received an interesting makeover. Brunton has remodeled the exterior with a more modern shape and replaced the problematic hinged lens covers with a pair of individual neoprene "bino-gloves" that fit like Ped socks and slide up the binocular strap when not in use. Optically, the 8x45 is beautifully bright and sharp. It's also superbly balanced, so hand-holding the higher powers is easy. Also available as 11x45 and 15x51.
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Kowa BD42 10x42 -- $575
Too often we hear the question "Kowa makes binoculars?" That might be because the company, though well known for excellent spotting scopes, really didn't do much to promote its binoculars. This series is something to crow about because it fills a middle price niche with solid performers. Proprietary phase coating gives improved brightness and much improved sharpness over previous BD42s. Kowa also upgraded the eyecups by adding detents to the twist-up mechanism and shed the old gray and royal purple for a natural, sturdy, green rubber armoring. Give this model a try. You will be pleasantly surprised. Also available as 8x42.
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Pentax DCF SP 8x43 -- $698
One of my favorite best buys, this series has a lot of models, and all are great birding choices. The 8x43 is light and bright and competes very well with binoculars costing much more. It offers great close focus (measured near five feet), with a clean, bright view in a chassis that is light for its class. Focusing is quick and precise. Twist-up eyecups with detents, objective lens covers that are tethered to the central hinge, and a locking diopter ring are standout features. Also available as 8x32 and 10x43.
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Jay Stenger
Jay Stenger is past president of the Cincinnati Bird Club, compiler of the Cincinnati Christmas Bird Count, county coordinator and block atlaser for the Indiana Breeding Bird Atlas, and past member of the Ohio Rare Birds Record Committee. He is a self-employed bookkeeper and tax preparer. |
Eagle Optics Denali 7x32 -- $89
This may be my favorite in the economical class. I wasn't sure I would like a 7x binocular, but I could tell little difference from 8x models. What really caught my attention was how bright and clear the Denali is. This is an excellent "songbird" glass. It is waterproof, weighs only 21.5 ounces, and has a wide field of view (357 feet at 1,000 yards), close focus to 12 feet, and good eye relief for eyeglass wearers. It has a rubber-armored body, fully multicoated lenses, and twist-up eyecups. Plus, Eagle Optics offers a lifetime warranty.
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Bushnell NatureView 10x42 -- $178.95
This is one of the better binoculars in the economical class. I would recommend it highly to beginning birdwatchers, birders on a budget, backyard bird feeders, and especially young birders looking for their first binoculars. The NatureView is rubber-armored, sturdy, durable, and of medium weight (23 ounces). It has good eye relief for eyeglass wearers and a good field of view for a 10x glass (315 feet at 1,000 yards). It has center focus, close focus of
12 feet, and fully coated optics and delivers a clear and bright image. It is not waterproof.
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Eagle Optics Ranger Platinum Class 10x50 -- $419
My son, an avid birder, has been using this binocular for three years and loves it, and so do I. It competes evenly with many higher priced glasses and comes with a lifetime warranty. It is remarkably lightweight for a 10x model (27 ounces), and the neck strap is among the most comfortable I have ever used. Attractive and sleek, the binocular is also rugged and solid. It is rubber armor-coated, waterproof, and internally fogproof. It has twist-up eyecups and offers very good eye relief. Fully multicoated optics yield a bright and clear view, and the resolution is good. The field of view is 262 feet at 1,000 yards, and close focus is eight feet.
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Nikon Monarch ATB 10x42 -- $470.95
My first reaction when I picked up this binocular was how compact and light it was. It weighs 21.5 ounces and is 5.6 inches long and 5.0 inches wide. It's very comfortable to hold. I was impressed by its brightness and clarity, and I liked the large focus knob, which didn't need much turning to go from close focus at eight feet to the extent. The field of view is very good (314 feet at 1,000 yards). Overall, the combination of bright, clear optics; lightweight, compact design; 10x magnification; easy focus; and relatively low price makes this a very good choice. Moreover, Nikon will repair or replace its binoculars for just $10 plus shipping.
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Pentax DCF SP 8x43 -- $698
This may be the best glass on the market for the money. Simply outstanding in so many areas, it competes closely with binoculars that cost twice as much. The optics are crisp, clear, and bright, with excellent resolution and edge-to-edge sharpness. The close focus is outstanding at 6.6 feet, and its long eye relief is exceptional. The design is attractive, the construction is sturdy and solid, yet the binocular is still compact and fairly lightweight (24.5 ounces). Completely water- and fogproof, it is rubber armor-coated and easy to hold. The field of view is also good (331 feet at 1,000 yards). I would recommend this impressive binocular to anyone.
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Jim Zipp
Jim Zipp is a bird photographer who contributes regularly to Birder's World. He and his wife own and operate the Fat Robin, a wild bird and birding specialty shop in Hamden, Connecticut. |
Nikon Action 8x40 -- $104.95
People just getting into watching birds often come in to our shop looking for a good binocular for under $100. That's not an easy order to fill, but this model does a good job. No twist-up eyecups here; if you wear glasses, you'll have to fold down rubber eyecups, but for the price it may be worth it. And this binocular isn't bad to look through, either. Not too many years ago, you would have had to spend more for equal optics. One nice feature is Nikon's "no fault" warranty. Even if you damage your binocular doing something stupid, Nikon will repair or replace it for $10 plus shipping.
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Pentax DCF MP 8x28 -- $309
I don't often recommend a compact binocular for birding, but when weight and space are limited, I reach for this little roof prism. Its 28 mm objective makes it brighter than most compacts, and it sports most of the same desirable features of its full-size cousins. It is waterproof and well balanced, and 20 mm of eye relief makes it one of the few compacts that are really friendly to eyeglass wearers. The field of view is also good for a compact, and the image is plenty sharp, too. This is a great choice when size matters!
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Swift Audubon 8.5x44 -- $449.95
This classic has been around for years and has always been popular with birdwatchers looking for quality optics without the high price. When first introduced, it weighed over two pounds, and that was without rubber armoring! This model is still fairly large, but on my scale it weighs a more comfortable 28 ounces. It's waterproof and has pop-up eyecups. It provides a crisp image usually found only in much more expensive glasses and has a super-wide field of view. One note: the birdwatchers who are most comfortable with this binocular have at least medium-size hands. If yours are smaller, try the new roof-prism model.
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Minox 8x32 -- $639
8x32 binoculars have been gaining in popularity recently because they offer a substantial savings in size and weight over full-size binoculars without giving up much. They deliver a 4 mm exit pupil, so they are approximately as bright as 10x42s. Also gaining in popularity are binoculars that offer close focus, especially among birders who have found themselves drawn into the world of dragonflies and butterflies. A person of average height can now focus on his or her toes. One of the first to push this envelope was Minox. This compact, rugged, waterproof roof prism is a very versatile binocular.
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Pentax DCF SP 8x43 -- $698
For people who want a high-quality binocular but can't or don't want to fork over the really big bucks, this might be the ticket. It delivers a crisp, sharp image in a lightweight package that sells for less than half the price of the top models. It's waterproof, has a magnesium alloy housing, and provides 22 mm of eye relief. A nice touch for eyeglass wearers is adjustable eyecups that have four click-stop positions to accommodate the different thickness of glasses and the way individuals wear them. This is one feature I'd like to see on all binoculars! Also available as 10x.
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Prices shown are suggested retail prices obtained from the manufacturers or their marketing representatives. Street prices will be lower. |
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