The 10 Best Bird Watching Binoculars in 2023

When it comes to connecting with nature, binoculars are an indispensable tool that can be enjoyed for hours on end to observe birds and animals alike. Bird watching is a favourite past time for many Kiwis, but in order to get the most from the experience you need the right kit. There’s a huge choice when it comes to bird watching binoculars and choosing binoculars with the right features can be a tricky task. In this guide we’ll consider all of the key features that make the best bird watching binoculars and propose the 10 best bird watching binoculars on offer from ScopeUout in 2023. When choosing our top 10 we’ve considered image clarity, field of view, weight and build quality and durability. Take a look at our top picks for birding binoculars below.

Our Top Choices for Birding Binoculars

• Zeiss Conquest HD 8x42 Binoculars
• Vortex Razor HD 8x42 Binoculars
• Bushnell Forge 10x42 Binoculars
• Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42 Binoculars
• Kite Bonelli 2 HD 10x42 Binoculars
• Nikon Monarch M7 ED 8x30 Binoculars
• Vortex Viper HD 8x42 Binoculars (2018)
• Vanguard Endeavor ED IV 8x42 Binoculars
• Canon 10x42 L IS WP Image Stabilised Binoculars
• Kowa SV-42 II 8x42 Binoculars

1. Zeiss Conquest HD 8x42 Binoculars

Made in optical leading Germany, the Conquest binoculars have HD lenses and produce bright, clear images. They have a decent field of view for scanning the landscape for birds and a good eye relief making them a great option for people who wear glasses. They’re at the higher end of the price range but with optics, you get what you pay for, and with these you get exceptional viewing.

Key Features:

• 8x magnification
• 42mm objective lenses
• Made in Germany
• HD lenses
• LotuTec® lens coating
• 128m field of view
• 18mm eye relief
• 1.9m close focus
• Waterproof
• 794g

Pros:

• Made in Germany
• HD lenses for bright, clear images
• Lens coating to repel water
• Good eye relief for those who wear glasses
• Quite a short close focus so can be used for up close viewing

Cons:

• Higher end of price range
• Slightly on the heavier side

2. Vortex Razor HD 8x42 Binoculars

American brand Vortex have outdone themselves with the Razor HD’s. Top end, high definition glass and a heap of prism coatings allow them to produce incredible images. Lightweight for their class, they won’t weigh you down so you’ll be set for hours of enjoyable viewing. As with all Vortex products, they’re covered by Vortex’s no questions asked warranty which will act like an insurance policy for years to come.

Key Features:

• 8x magnification
• 42mm objective lenses
• HD lenses
• Dielectric prism coatings
• Waterproof
• ArmorTek scratch-resistant lens coating
• 118m field of view
• 1.8m close focus
• 17.5mm eye relief
• 686g

Pros:

• HD lenses for bright and crisp images
• Pretty lightweight open hinge design
• Exceptional lifetime warranty
• Comes with deluxe padded carry case
• Rugged design
• Good eye relief
• Quite a good close focus

Cons:

• Higher end of the price range

3. Bushnell Forge 10x42 Binoculars

For their price point the Bushnell Forges are sure to impress. High quality lenses, lens protection against dirt and grime and a comfortable open bridge design. You’ll be birding for hours with these awesome 10x binoculars.

Key Features:

• 10x magnification
• 42mm objective lenses
• Extra low dispersion glass
• EXO barrier protection to prevent build up of dirt on lenses
• Waterproof
• 113m field of view
• 3m close focus
• 18mm eye relief
• 860g

Pros:

• High quality, extra low dispersion glass make for crisp and clear images
• Lens coatings result in bright and colour true images
• Durable and waterproof
• Comfortable open bridge design
• Great value for money

Cons:

• Quite heavy
• Slightly small field of view
• The close focus is quite long so close up viewing isn’t that easy

4. Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42 Binoculars

Part of Vortex’s mid range line, these affordable binoculars are at the lower end of the price scale but really pack a punch for what you pay for them. High definition lenses that are fully multicoated produce clear and crisp images and the eye relief is great if you wear glasses. A short close focus makes them ideal for close up viewing of birds, bugs and more.

Key Features:

• 8x magnification
• 42mm objective lenses
• High definition lenses
• Fully multi-coated lenses
• Dielectric multi-layer prism coatings
• ArmorTek scratch-resistant coating
• Waterproof
• 113m field of view
• 18mm eye relief
• 1.5m close focus
• 860g

Pros:

• Very good close focus for close up, magnified views of birds, butterflies or insects
• High definition glass
• Great price point for their quality
• Comfortable to use
• Durable and rugged
• Exceptional Vortex warranty

Cons:

The build quality isn’t as good as some of the higher end models but it is excellent for the price

5. Kite Bonelli 2 HD 10x42 Binoculars

The Kite Bonelli binoculars provide a very clear and bright image even in poor light conditions thanks to their fully multicoated lenses and quality high definition glass. Their quality construction doesn’t stop there. They’re lightweight, waterproof and have a comfortable and ergonomic design.

Key Features:

• 10x magnification
• 42mm objective lenses
• High definition lenses
• Water repellent lens coating
• Scratch resistant lens coating
• Waterproof
• Ergonomic design makes them easy to handle
• 1.55m close focus
• 16.5mm eye relief
• 115m field of view
• 700g

Pros:

• HD glass
• Easy and accurate to focus
• Solid and durable build
• One of the more lightweight models in their class
• Good close focus

Cons:

• Eye relief could be longer

6. Nikon Monarch M7 ED 8x30 Binoculars

These exceptional 30mm binoculars from Nikons world famous Monarch line are built with an incredible optical system. Extra low dispersion (ED) glass virtually eliminates common distortion, chromatic aberrations and colour fringing resulting in clear, high-resolution views in nearly any lighting condition. They offer a very wide field of view and an incredibly low weight thanks for their mid sized lenses.

Key Features:

• 8x magnification
• 30mm lenses
• Extra low dispersion glass
• Waterproof
• 15.1mm eye relief
• 2m close focus
• 132m field of view
• 464g

Pros:

• Due to their 30mm lenses they’re much more compact than larger models and weigh a lot less
• ED lenses produce bright clear images
• Rugged design
• Great compact design is easy to handle on the move

Cons:

• Despite the exceptional quality glass, the size of the lenses means they’re not as good in low light as some of the larger lensed models
• Not great for close up viewing due to a longer close focus than some other models
• Short eye relief so not ideal for those who wear glasses

7. Vortex Viper HD 8x42 Binoculars (2018)

Hot on the heals of the Razors, the Viper binoculars from Vortex offer HD lenses and a quality build. They’re not only optically brilliant, they also have a durable and comfortable-to-use construction that’s lightweight too. The eye relief they offer will be a delight for eyeglass wearers.

Key Features:

• 8x magnification
• 42mm objective lenses
• High definition glass
• Fully multicoated optics
• Waterproof
• ArmorTek ultra-hard, scratch-resistant lens coating
• 1.9m close focus
• 18mm eye relief
• 124m field of view
• 694g

Pros:

• HD glass for bright and clear images
• Good weight
• Good eye relief for eyeglass wearers
• Scratch resistant lenses
• Exceptional warranty

Cons:

• Close focus could be better

8. Vanguard Endeavor ED IV 8x42 Binoculars

Offering the longest eye relief of our binocular round up, the Vanguard Endeavors also have a wide field of view and exceptional glass quality for their price point. Sure to impress, they are a great mid to high end option for birding.

Key Features:

• 8x magnification
• 42mm objective lenses
• Extra low dispersion lenses
• Fully multicoated optics
• 126m field of view
• 2m close focus
• 19mm eye relief
• 786g

Pros:

• Good price point for the quality
• HD lenses
• Good eye relief
• Wide field of view

Cons:

• The close focus could be better

9. Canon 10x42 L IS WP Image Stabilised Binoculars

Struggle with a slight hand shake when viewing for long or even short periods? Stabilised binoculars are your saviour. These awesome ones from Canon have the technology needed to sure-up shaky images and make them clear and crisp. Add to this their ultra low dispersion glass and you have bright and colour true images even in low light.

Key Features:

• 10x magnification
• 42mm objective lenses
• Image stabilisation technology
• Ultra low dispersion glass
• Works as conventional binoculars too
• Waterproof
• 113m field of view
• 2.5m close focus
• 16mm eye relief
• 1.03kg

Pros:

• Great for steady viewing, especially if you suffer from more hand shake than others
• Bright, clear images thanks to HD lenses

Cons:

• Heavier than other models
• Not much eye relief
• Not so good for close up viewing

10. Kowa SV-42 II 8x42 Binoculars

Coming in hot in the low to mid price bracket, the newly designed Kowa SV binoculars offer great value for money from the world leading Japanese optical brand. They have a great eye relief and can withstand the rigours of the outdoors. They’re lightweight for their size making them a great option if weight is an issue.

Key Features:

• 8x magnification
• 42mm objective lenses
• Waterproof
• Coatings to repel water and dirt
• Fully multicoated optics
• 19.5mm eye relief
• 119m field of view
• 4m close focus
• 663g

Pros:

• Relatively lightweight
• Good build quality and well priced
• Good eye relief so perform well for eye glass wearers

Cons:

• Better for long distance viewing and not close focus
• Don’t have HD glass

How to Choose Birding Binoculars

Now that we’ve considered our picks for the top bird watching binoculars for 2023, let’s take things back to basics and look at the features you should look for when choosing birding binoculars. If you want to read more then you can also check out our bird watching buying guide. 

Magnification

When choosing a good birding binocular we’d generally suggest a magnification of either 8x or 10x. These magnifications offer a good balance between how closely you can observe a bird and how much detail you can see, and whether you can locate them in the first place with the field of view they offer. The higher the magnification, the smaller the field of view, so if you’re going to need to scan a large landscape then a lower magnification may be favoured. If most of your birding watching is at longer ranges, or you need to regularly read bird rings, then extra magnification is useful and a 10x would be better.


Objective lens diameter

When it comes to choosing the size of the objective lens for your bird watching binoculars, it’s important to strike a balance between image brightness and weight. Larger objective lenses allow more light to pass through the binoculars into your eye, thus resulting in brighter, often clearer images. Unfortunately, with lens size comes more weight, so birders have to decide what they value more. We’d generally suggest bird watching binoculars with 42mm objective lenses as these have great light capturing ability and aren’t too cumbersome. You can often save on weight in other areas by opting for a better quality build that uses lighter weight metal so that you don’t need to sacrifice on lens size. If you would like to save on weight and size then we would also suggest considering smaller binoculars with 30mm lenses too. When doing so, be sure to opt for higher priced models that have a better build quality and lenses as these will perform better than cheaper models that have larger lenses. Choosing the right lens size comes down to your requirements and preferences. Decide how much weight you want to carry and then go from there.

Close focus

The close focus of a binocular is measured in meters or feet and explains how far away from a bird, bug or indeed anything of interest you can be and still be able to use the binoculars to observe it clearly and in focus. If you think you’ll be wanting to magnify bugs or birds on close up plants then look for a binocular with a close focus of 2.5m or below. The smaller the close focus number the better in these situations.

Clarity

A binoculars clarity refers to how clear the image is that you can see through them. This isn’t a specific measurement, but in general binoculars with high definition glass, multicoated lenses and those with dielectric prism coatings will have a better clarity and produce images that are sharper, and more colour true. Clarity and quality are very closely linked so to get the best clarity we advise spending as much as you can afford. 


Field of view

The field of view of a binocular refers to the amount of the landscape that you can see at one time when looking through them. In general, a binocular with a higher magnification will have a smaller field of view, so you’ll be able to see less of the landscape at one time through a binocular with 10x magnification compared to one with 8x magnification. That being said, binoculars with the same magnification but with a slightly different design can have different field of views so it’s always good to compare all models of interest. If you plan on scanning the landscape a lot for birds, then binoculars with a wider field of view will be preferable. However if you want to see birds in great detail from a long distance then you are best to sacrifice field of view for magnification. 


Weatherproofing

One thing that you can’t control in the world is the weather and that’s why it’s vital to be prepared for it. Make sure that your binoculars aren’t ruined in a downpour or fog up due to a sudden change in temperature, by choosing waterproof binoculars that are nitrogen purged and o-ring sealed. Very low end binoculars often don’t have this feature but you’ll start to see this feature in the best cheap models at around $250.


Image stabilisation

Image stabilized binoculars are a god send for observing at very high magnifications, or for people who suffer from shakier hands than others. Even the slightest image shake can blur your view, so if your hands are on the shaky side then consider opting for this feature. They’re not the lowest priced binoculars but they’ll really improve your viewing. 


Size and weight

The size of a binocular is generally governed by the size of its objective lenses and also its construction design. Smaller lenses and a roof prism design are lighter and more compact than larger lenses and a porro prism design. The size and weight that you opt for comes down to personal preference, however in general binoculars with 42mm lenses and a roof prism design are favoured by birders as they offer a great balance between bright images and lower weight. In addition, binoculars that have a better design and are made with higher quality materials are usually lighter and smaller. The inclusion of a magnesium metal chassis and an open bridge design cut down on weight without loosing lens size.


Best Bird Watching Binoculars FAQs 


What binocular size is best for bird watching?

A binoculars size generally refers to the size of its lenses. In general, full sized binoculars such as those with 40mm or 42mm lenses are best for bird watching as these allow for plenty of light to pass through to your eyes. If you’re limited on size and weight then you can consider either 30mm or 32mm lenses which are classed as mid sized binoculars, however if you do this then we’d suggest upgrading the glass quality that you choose so that they can still have a good light transmission level for bright, clear images.


What magnification is best for bird watching?

Binoculars with a magnification of 10 times or 8 times that of your normal eye are a great option. This is shown in the name of the binoculars by either a 10x or 8x. This magnification gets you up close enough to most birding action without restricting the amount of the landscape that you can see at one time.


How much does a good pair of binoculars cost?

When it comes to optics such as binoculars, you really do get what you pay for. Therefore, there’s a noticeable difference in quality between a binocular that costs $200 and one that costs $1000. Indeed, there’s a difference between one that costs $400 and one that costs $700. In general, the difference between the best cheap binoculars and the best expensive binoculars can be seen in the quality of their construction, materials, durability and lens quality. All of these things combine together to either give you an enjoyable or unenjoyable viewing experience. We’d always suggest spending as much as you can afford to get the best birdwatching binoculars. At the very least, opt for binoculars that have BaK 4 lenses and are waterproof.


What is the most common binocular configuration for birding?

The most common configurations that make the best birding binoculars are either 8x42 or 10x42 and that’s for good reason. This configuration of magnification and lens size offers the perfect balance between magnification, field of view, weight and light gathering ability.

What is the best budget set of bird watching binoculars?

If you’re on a tight budget when buying bird watching binoculars then it’s key to at least purchase ones that are waterproof. This means that they won’t be damaged in damp environments. The most affordable bird watching binoculars from the ScopeUout range that offer a bird watching friendly 8x42 and 10x42 configuration and can withstand the outdoors are the Vanguard Vesta 8x42 Binoculars and the Vanguard Vesta 10x42 Binoculars.


What kind of binoculars are best for bird watching?

The best kind of bird watching binoculars have either an 8x or 10x magnification and either 42mm, 40mm or 30mm lenses. They should have as good a quality lenses as you can afford, have full multi coatings, be waterproof and durable. When it comes to choosing the size of lens and magnification that will suit you best, consider the light conditions that you plan on observing in and also the weight you want to carry. If you’ll be birding in low light and don’t mind slightly heavier weight binoculars then an 8x42 binocular will be great. If weight is an issue and you plan to only bird in the day then an 8x30 binocular will be great. If you do opt for the smaller lenses then try to get a slightly better quality glass to compensate for any light loss that this may cause. If you’re planning on conducting mainly static bird watching from extremely long distances then our range of spotting scopes may have a higher magnification option that suits you better.

Birding Binoculars You Can Rely On! 


That’s the end of our best birding binoculars for 2023. We hope that you’ve found this guide helpful in understanding bird watching specifications and requirements and have come away with some great bird watching binocular ideas to consider. The key thing to remember is to try and spend as much as you can on your bird watching binoculars (within your means and without going crazy!) to get the very best value for money that you can. As always, all of our bird watching binoculars are sourced from the authorised importer for New Zealand and come with a full NZ warranty.

If the binoculars suggested in our round up don’t quite hit the mark in terms of your requirements or budget then you can check out all of our birding binoculars here. If you’re planning on observing birds from long distances and require more magnification then our range of spotting scopes may have something for you. You can check those out here.