Birding 101: Mastering Binoculars for Beginners

Binoculars are a great tool for birding, but there are some things you should know before using your first pair or buying a more expensive pair. Learn everything you need to know in this comprehensive guide.

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Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 4K Digital Camera
Used for most bird videos) - check credits as we do source some photos/videos elsewhere which is noted in the description

Cayer FP2450 Fluid Head Tripod, 75 inches Aluminium Tripod
Derek's lighter tripod

Andoer Video Tripod Aluminum Alloy 67 Inch
Derek's heavier tripod

Nikon D5300
Derek's vlogging and macro camera

Rode VideoMicPro Compact Directional On-Camera Microphone
Derek's external microphone for Nikon D5300

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Background in cover image by tom00la (Public Domain, edited)
Robin in cover image by Tom Koerner (Public Domain, edited)

0:00 Intro
0:18 The 2 most Common Binocular Types
1:53 How to Use Binoculars
3:57 Understanding Magnification (What Do the Numbers Mean?)
4:51 Good Qualities to Look For
9:06 High Quality Binocular Brands
9:32 How Should you Store Binoculars?
9:50 Conclusion

All other photos and videos by Derek and Ryan Sallmann

#Birding #BirdWatching #BadgerlandBirding

[BadgerlandBirding]

The Paid Promotion stamp is because some of the binoculars were sent to us for free in order to test, but that played no role in suggested products.

0:00 Intro
0:18 The 2 most Common Binocular Types
1:53 How to Use Binoculars
3:57 Understanding Magnification (What Do the Numbers Mean?)
4:51 Good Qualities to Look For
9:06 High Quality Binocular Brands
9:32 How Should you Store Binoculars?
9:50 Conclusion

[roberteugenecarter]

One tip that helped me a ton (from Better Living Theough Birding) was to find the bird (or whatever you’re looking at with your eyes, then bring the lenses to your face. It makes getting optics on the subject a snap!

[andrewturner]

Super helpful! I bought my first pair of binoculars a couple days ago, vortex diamondback 8x42, and got to use them today, they're so nice!

[Grateful_Dad_]

I'd also suggest a binocular harness. I always go out with a pair of binoculars and a camera. Having the harness for the binos really helps when I'm trying to do some photography.

[TheVerendus]

Excellent video, straight to the point and full of good info! I've been using a cheap $30 pair from the grocery store for a year now, and they get the job done but they're bulky and heavy. You've given me a great checklist of things to look out for when I get the next step up, thank you :)

[Beryllahawk]

Once again with the timing, guys!! Are you spyin' on me? (kidding haha!)
I only JUST got my hands on an old-ish book for starting birders (the NatGeo guide to using their guide, which amuses me). BUT! The chapter on optics and binoculars was particularly of interest and help for me. I can't recall offhand if I've said in other comments, but I wear glasses (bifocals no less) - my first couple of tries using binoculars did NOT go well, heh. I had no idea how the optics really work, so I was mashing the eye cups against my glasses. (This was also many MANY years ago in the early 1990s, I was a teen and really very silly.)
So NOW I get it, a little more anyway. This is even more helpful since your info is bound to be much more current-accurate for brands and pricing. It's a huge relief to understand that I don't absolutely have to drop $200 on a pair of binoculars, trust me. I'm still only just starting out and I'm poor dangit :P
Thank you so so much! I've also been pointing my friend to your channel, she's taking film classes and asked me about nature photography. I feel like the way you two discuss birding is just conversational enough to be comfortable and knowledgeable enough to give her a good intro!

[davparksoh]

Thx for this info - I'll add a tip to your list - if starting out, go for something small & around $75-100. Many binos in this price range are good for beginners & easy to use - then if you want something more powerful, get something more for astronomy around $200+ & use both for different things. I bought a Nikon porro for about $190 - good clear images, but it's a little big & a hassle to use (focus wheel is way too tight for quick adjustments) - it's frustrating to use for my needs (mostly plane spotting) - it does get decent views of the moon, but it's small for that (10x50), more mag would do better - so it's in the middle of what better binos would do for me - that's why I think starting smaller first makes sense - then get a bigger one later. What do you think about the Athlon Optics 8x42 Neos G2 HD for just starting out with a small one?

[photoinfotech]

ED extra low dispersion glass I believe is used to eliminate fringing or the rainbow effect which lenses cause at the edges of high contrast in an image. The lens coatings improve light transmission and should help in gathering more light.

[Jen_S_Hassler]

I bought my 14 year old her first pair of binoculars at age 5 (she was a bit of a sciencey nerd) by Bushn3ll, so of course they're small (7x35) but I keep them by our back sliding door and grab them often if I hear something outside that I want to try to see. I know they're obviously not the best, but they work to help me identify something quickly!

[hollyperry]

Scope vs. binoculars. When to use one over the other? Is one better? Is there a big difference? If you have really good binoculars is a scope worth it? Do you eventually need both?

[erichhufgard]

There's a lot of important data and specsheets mentioned. I'd like to add some human factors. Take different binoculars and feel how you can handle it, is it comfotable to you?
High magnification looks attractive, check out your level of dithering, it is magnified with the same factor as the image. (I'm 71, learning it the hard way, especially with increased pulse frequency). Consider the opening. It comes with more weight you have to carry, but reduces dithering a bit, simplyby weight. On the other hand it brings more light to your eyes, hepfull early morning and it reduces impact of dthering.

[micah]

Would you recommend the Celestron Nature DX ED 8x42mm Roof Binoculars?

[Anthrazith]

What are your opinions on large binoculars ? im propably going to buy the ddoptics pirschler 8/10 x56 because in my area i see alot of birds in low light and owls are some of my favorite birds. I even have at least one breeding pair of european eagle owls that will occasionally visit my garden.

[Isaac-]

cool vid. ty for the time you take for simple instructionals. firstly, i want to say that i love nature, all of nature, but fir past 7 years I have this even greater affinity for birds. And birds and critters literally come near me and pose, for real. And they do cute stuff, as if they were posing for a photo etc. So, i have always wanted to learn photography and nature. So, my question is, "How difficult is it to get into doing that for profit and and be able to sustain one'self in that lifestyle?

[Adventure-MTB]

Nice Video, when i started birding 15 years ago and didnt know much about binoculars, i first started with a pair at 50$ and they were ok, then i got a pair at 450 and i thought that was alot and about the most that binocular cost, i had no idea that the picture could get a LOT Better and the cost can go as high as 3000$ for a pair of binoculars . i dont think most people know that binoculars from the ALPHA 3 companies can cost around 3000$

[NathanWebb-ch]

I got a pair of binoculars from Walmart that cost $30.00, and they work pretty well.

[Bıçaklar_Aletler]

Modern Birding Binoculars Speciality: Roof Bak-4 Schmidt Pechan Prizm, ED Glass, Full Multi Coated, Phase Correction, Dielectric Coated, Wide Field Of View.

[photoinfotech]

What about binoculars with zoom vs fixed length??

[treeinpark]

What do you think about Nikon Mikron 7X15 for bird watching?

[sesinhosantos]

I have one tip that I just learned and nobody is talking about it, it must be super obvious or super secret:
Set a clear view at 100-150m and practice focusing on stuff within that distance with your eyes instead of the focus wheel. Once you acquire the muscle memory you will do it instantly., if you are bird watching is a lot quicker focusing with your eyes than having to dial the focus wheel.
The viewing exprience becomes more immersive if you succeed.