When you're out birding, binoculars can be an essential tool to reaching your goal. They allow you to survey birds in the field and learn about their behavior. Along with a quality spotting scope, these small devices can help you identify species and assess your research site before your time there is up.
But, as the saying goes: You get what you pay for. This is especially true when it comes to binoculars. You can be sure that the best lightweight binoculars will be more expensive than the models you find in discount bins. However, they'll also provide you with a much clearer image and better results.
There are many factors that must be considered when selecting a pair of binoculars, such as magnification size, weight, optical quality, and objective lens diameter. The key is finding a pair of binoculars that fits your needs and matches your budget.
6 Best Rated Lightweight Binoculars For Bird Watching
As you probably already know, bird watching is one of the most popular hobbies across the world and if you want to get in on the action, then you'll need some high-quality binoculars. Once you've figured out what your needs are, it will be easier to narrow down your choices and find a pair that fits both your budget and scheduling needs.
Our reviews help you to choose the best bird watching binoculars exactly what you're looking for!
1) Celestron lightweight Binoculars
The item weighs 1.75 pounds and features a magnification power of 8x. It also has a 42mm objective lens, which provides for better magnification at longer distances.
Celestron is a USA brand, that offers premium optics in various models. These are lightweight binoculars for birdwatchers that are particularly designed to take the harsh weather conditions across the globe. They are waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and fog proof.
Specifications are:
- Magnification: 8x
- Lens Diameter: 42mm
- Field of View: 7.4°
- Lens Coatings: Fully Multi-coated
- Eye Relief: 18mm
- Material: Synthetic
Read More: Binoculars for bird watchers, under $200
2) Nikon 7576 Monarch Binoculars
The item weighs 1.3 pounds and has a magnification power of 12x. Despite this, this binocular magnifies very clearly even at a distance of a mile away.
It also includes a rubberized eye protector on each side to protect your eyes from getting strained by the bright light reflected from the object you are observing.
It is waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof as well as being multi-coated for a better viewing experience even under extreme weather conditions.
The objective lens diameter measures 42 mm, which means more light can enter the binoculars for better viewing results in low-light conditions.
Specifications:
- Featuring ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) Glass
- Dimensions: 5.7 x 5.1 x 2.4 inches
- Fully Multicoated Eco-Glass lenses
- Dielectric High-Reflective Multilayer Prism Coatings
- Available in 8x42, 10x42 and 12x42 magnifications
Read next: The Olympus 8x40 DPSI Binocular.
3) Nikon 8245 ACULON Binoculars
The item weighs 26.6 oz and has a magnification power of 8x with a 42mm objective lens diameter.
These binoculars are designed for those who enjoy viewing the finer details of their target from a far distance, thus making them ideal for bird-watching enthusiasts who want to view their target from a long distance.
These binoculars also feature an automatic indexing system to ensure that you don't lose your place when switching between eyes.
It also comes with fully coated optics that allow very little light to get in or out of the tube, thus creating better images.
More Specifications are:
- Magnification: 8x
- Lens Diameter: 42mm
- Field of View: 420ft
- Weight (oz): 26.6
Read more: 8 Best-rated 8x42 binoculars for hunting and birdwatching.
4) Carson JR Series Binoculars
Carson is also an American brand, that was founded by Richard Cameron. The item weighs 1.35 pounds and features a magnification power of 10x with an objective lens diameter of 42mm.
It also has the Bak-4 roof prisms that are considered to be the highest quality prisms in binoculars today.
It is waterproof, fog-proof, shockproof, and multi-coated for a better viewing experience even in extreme weather conditions. This model also includes a wide focusing wheel that allows users to easily adjust the focus of the binoculars from close range to long-range within seconds.
If you have a birdwatching hobby, then this model is a great choice for you.
It delivers a clear and vivid picture of the target in both low and bright light conditions. It is very easy to use even for those who have little prior experience when it comes to using binoculars.
They are suitable for use by birdwatchers up to a distance of 1000 yards or more.
Specifications are:
- Magnification: 10x
- Lens Diameter: 42mm
- Prism Type: BAK-4
- Lens Coating: FMC
- Field of View: 306 ft. @ 1,000 yards
- Eye Relief: 17mm
- Dimensions: 5.0" x 6.0" x 2.0"
5) Vortex Crossfire HD Binoculars
Vortex Optics is an well-known USA company for produces standard binoculars and other optical equipment. The item weighs 23.8 (oz) and features a magnification power of 18x with an objective lens diameter of 42 mm. Although this model has a larger objective lens, it is more lightweight than other models on this list.
This model is waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof, as well as being multi-coated for a better viewing experience even in extreme weather conditions.
It is suitable for bird-watchers who prefer to view their targets both from a distance and up-close at the same time.
It is a compact and lightweight model, so it will be easy for you to carry around even when traveling.
Specifications:
- Magnification: 8x
- Lens Diameter: 42mm
- Eye Relief: 17.0
- Close Focus: 6.0"
- FOV: 393"/7.5
- Material: Aluminum
6) Steiner Tactical Series Binoculars
The item weighs 12.7 ounces and features a magnification power of 8x with an objective lens diameter of 24 mm.
This model is waterproof, shockproof, fog-proof, and has multi-coated optical glass for a better viewing experience even in extreme weather conditions.
The wide field of view allows you to scan over a larger area without panning the scope too much.
The focusing wheel allows you to easily adjust your focus from close range to long range without having to reposition the binoculars once you have gotten used to the adjustment.
It is a lightweight model that you can take with you on your next bird-watching trip.
- Magnification: 8-10x
- Objective Lens: 28-56mm
- Material: Polycarbon
- Prism type: Roof Prism Design
- Field of view: 266 feet at 1000 yds
Buyer's Guide
Binoculars come in a wide range of magnification power, from 10x to 20x. For starters, you should consider how far you need to be able to see. You must also figure out the width of the object you want to view. The closer the object, the more magnification power is required.
In this article, I will discuss each of these factors and suggest a pair of binoculars that best suits your needs.
Magnification Power
When choosing binoculars, it's important to find a pair that has a magnification power that matches how far away your target is while still enabling you to see finer details. For example, if you're watching a bird that is 100 yards away, 8x magnification is sufficient. However, if the bird is within 50 yards, you'll want to go with 10x or higher.
For serious bird watchers who are interested in taking long-range photographs of birds, selecting binoculars with high power will come in handy. However, this magnifies the smallest movements of the hand and will not be ideal for novice users that may not have steady hands.
Objective Lens Diameter
Objective lenses are larger on binoculars that have more magnification power because they can see objects more clearly. However, binoculars that have a smaller diameter require a longer field of vision and a wider viewing angle. With that said, if you're doing a lot of walking while bird watching, this may not be ideal for your needs.
Objective lenses come in sizes from 25mm to 100mm. For those wanting to view distant objects, look for binoculars with at least 42mm lenses.
Optical Quality
It's important to find a pair of binoculars with quality multi-coated lenses because they allow light through the lens without being absorbed by the glass. This means that your images will appear brighter and more vivid than those obtained from single-coated or non-coated lenses.
Image Quality
Image quality, however, is determined by many factors, including the size of the objective lens, the number of air-to-glass surfaces, and coatings that are applied to each lens. Many inexpensive binoculars will have a significant amount of light loss as a result of poor coatings. In addition, low-quality lenses may be made from plastic or other types of materials that do not produce an optimal image.
Binoculars with more magnification power will provide a brighter image because they can gather more light. Along with a larger objective lens, this configuration will deliver a higher level of image quality.
Opinion from us
Once you have established your needs and found a pair that fits your budget and scheduling needs, then it will be a lot easier to enjoy hours of bird watching with a pair of high-quality binoculars. After all, it's always best to enjoy the rain in the desert too!
When you think about it, looking at birds through binoculars is just like watching a movie or TV program. You can see their colors and even their movements. While this is definitely already interesting enough, what makes them unique and even more enjoyable is when you get to zoom in on their feathers and check out their nests.
With binoculars, you not only look at birds but also get to see how they live and how exactly they interact with one another. You can find out what type of food they eat and even what type of water sources they use and use to clean themselves.
Happy birding!