Chromatic aberration can often be a problem with binoculars when you’re not paying into the high hundreds, or even thousands, of pounds. However, Vortex have done a bang up job with their DB-215s and you are given crystal clear images through the good-sized eye-cups. On top of that, you can really dial in the clarity with a combination of the central focus dial and diopter on the right eyepiece. If you’re looking to buy binoculars for birdwatching specifically, aim for a magnification in the lower range of 8x to 10x. You can achieve a much wider field of view when using binoculars with a lower magnification, which is ideal if you’re hoping to spot a fast-moving bird or animal. Binoculars with a lower magnification are also much easier to hold steady – a must unless you rest them on a support or choose a pair with image stabilisation.

If you’re in search of a lightweight pair of binoculars, roof prisms are definitely the way to go. If you prefer an older “classic” looking set of binoculars, then opt for one with porro prisms. Being a full-sized pair of binoculars, these are much heavier than compact versions, but the image quality is far superior. The multilayer prism coatings and fully multicoated lenses will deliver a detailed and high-resolution image of whatever species has captivated your attention.

• If you’re time-strapped, enjoy fast hikes and getting out in the rough, or just don’t like to be weighed down, the Nocs Provisions Field Tube 8×32 will enhance your adventures with minimum maintenance.
• The top pairs with 10x magnification were the Nikon Prostaff P3 10×42 at 54.5 fence boards, and both Nikon Monarch M7 10×42 and Zeiss Victory SF 10×42 at 54 fence boards.
• Slanted eyecups provide comfort, nitrogen-purged construction avoids fogging, while the aluminum build, once again, is robust.
• The wasp-bodied curves of its shapely barrels grip your hands, creating a rock-solid support for glassing with even the 12-power model.
• Anything over 10x can amplify natural hand movements, making the image shaky and difficult to track fast-moving horses.
• Similar to those more expensive binoculars, these are covered by a lifetime warranty.

Best binoculars features explained

Nearly all the Swaro binoculars use proprietary Strap Loop Connector Pins, push-to-lock contraptions that work well enough with the company’s branded harnesses, but which are hard to use with aftermarket bino harnesses. They’re an elegant design, keeping the exterior lines of the Swarovski clean and uncluttered, but the pins can work loose, and once you Thebinocularsite.com lose them, there are no good options for jury-rigging a replacement. Leica was the first to the post, with its excellent 32mm Geovid, and Sig has brought a very capable 10×32 version of its KILO6K to the market. GPO introduced its RangeGuide 8×32 last year, and the EL Range gives hunters even more choices for this configuration that’s light and small but powerful and versatile.

Interpupillary Distance

The two are similar in many ways, and while the Nikon has it on resolution, the Toric scored better for low-light performance and, to me, feels a little better in the hand and is sharper looking. Only three binoculars on this list scored better than the GPO for resolution, and the same is true for image quality. The Passion HD is clearly well-built, but the diopter is a bit of a problem. I like a locking diopter but to unlock this one, you have to pull the focus wheel itself toward you—the act of which tends to alter the focus.

Leica Trinovid HD (8×

We took them around the globe to locations like Namibia, the Yukon, and the Bahamas, routinely exposing them to wind, rain, snow, dirt, and other elements. Other than that, they haven’t been scratched, dented, or otherwise damaged in any way. The magnification (i.e 8x) describes the range capability of the binoculars. The amount of magnification you will need will vary depending on what you plan on using them for.

There are not many binoculars that provide such good imagery for such a low price. Whichever product you pick, however, you will have a hard time going wrong. The basics of binoculars are their ability to magnify distant objects, as well as the diameter of their lenses which determines how much light gets into them. They do this through a prism system, which can either be a roof-mounted prism system or a multi-lensed porro prism system.