BinocularsBlog – Advice on Digital, Waterproof, & Compact Binoculars for Bird Watching, Sports, Astronomy, Night Vision, & more!

There's more to choosing a binocular than specifications. There is also a very subjective component, which I shall call the binocular "s" factor. This binocular "s" factor covers things that you simply cannot get by reading binocular specifications. It covers things such as ergonomics and personal fit - how a binocular feels in your hands (not mine) or around your neck, how it handles, how it focuses and so on. For instance, some folks still prefer the feel of bulkier porro prism binoculars in this day and age of roof prism binoculars. No accounting for taste, here. The binocular "s" factor also covers intangibles, such as brand preference and loyalty as well as a manufacturer's reputation for customer service and warranty. Sometimes you just gotta go with your gut feeling when choosing a binocular.

Not sure the weather could have been worse for spring birding this last weekend, but the birds are here and they are doing their thing, regardless. Saw my first Yellow Warbler in the Forest Preserve on a cold Sunday morning through my Zeiss Victory 8x20 and, despite the chilly temps, the air was alive with Chimney Swifts. Let's face it. The birds are on a tight schedule this time of year. There are families to raise, after all. Anyone who is not carrying a binocular or, at least, a monocular is missing all the activity.

Ever wonder what the ultimate astronomy binocular would be? There's a couple of binoculars I would like to test for that honor. One is the Nikon 20x120, though I'm not sure the folks in my apartment complex would want me installing a pier mount on the lawn. The temptation of 20x and a 6mm exit pupil, coupled with Nikon optics makes this one a possibility. The other one, though slightly more portable, is just about as much out of my reach, financially. Would love to see what the Kowa Highlander Fluorite could do on the stars, especially since I've had such good luck using Kowa spotting scopes for some informal astronomy. Plus, I wouldn't have to mount it, permanently, on the lawn.

I can cut it pretty fine when it comes to evaluating binoculars in terms of performance and features, but I also know, from a lifetime using binoculars, that choosing a binocular is also a matter of your lifestyle. I'm a good example. As an avid (okay, insane) bicyclist, there is no way you can tempt me to drag a 42mm binocular with me on the bike trail and even my 32mm stuff tends to get ignored, these days. Talk to me about premium compact binoculars when I bicycle. Sure, I give up some performance with a compact, but a compact will always be there when I need it and that's the biggest test of all for a binocular.

Here's a preview of the new Nikon super binocular, the Nikon EDG.

Our Nikon sales rep stopped by and placed one of only three EDG binos floating around the country in my eager little hands. For those of you who don't know, Nikon is repalcing their long admired Premier LX with this new model and are pulling out all the stops to make it the best ever Nikon binocular. How did they do, in Joanie's opinion? First thing I noticed, because I am very fussy about focusing, is the exceptionally smooth focusing. It's pinky finger smooth and effortless with no slop. This is a great feature for those of us who have to use a bino with one hand, since we are also carrying a spotting scope. Handling is Swarovski EL style all the way, complete with thumb grooves on the barrels, which are also armored for comfort.

Okay, no one is going to pay big bucks for a binocular that just focuses and handles well. Got have the optics to justify this price. The new Nikon EDG did not disappoint. Edge sharpness contines in the Nikon Premier LX tradition at 90% plus - as good as it gets in a binocular. There was an ever so slight trace of barrel distortion, but still better than most other premium grade binoculars I have tested.

The big news about the Nikon, though, is their use of ED glass in the objective. Did it make a difference? Oh, yeah. Color was near perfect, with an ever so slight trace of colr off axis, but none I could detect on axis. Birders like me will ove this.

Now, the best for last. This was a 7x, but in terms of resolution and contrast on the optics chart, it scored higher than some premium and equally pricey 10x binos. No way. Just didn't seem possible, so I checked it again. I swear I could see separation on the lines on the smallest grid. Just not possible in a 7x, but there it was.

Timing is sometimes everything in birding. I was on the bike trail, yesterday morning, and pulled to a stop at one of my favorite birding spots. It's at a point where the bike trail and a small stream just touch for distance of no more than a few yards, but it does provide me with a small window to the creek and its shore. I had no more than unclipped from the pedals on the bike, when a Solitary Sandpiper fluttered to a stop, directly below me on the shore. It gave me no more than a brief moment to enjoy the view in my Zeiss compact binocular, then it flew off down the creek, again. At that distance, even a compact binocular showed fine detail on the plumage and the color of the legs. Another minute earlier or later and I might not have seen the bird at all. Timing is everything in birding.

I looked at a Steiner 7x50 Commander III the other day for a customer and was once again reminded why I like Steiner's top tier of porro prisms. It's not just the great porro prism optics, it's also the feel and handling that makes a traditional high end Steiner porro prism binoculars such a one of a kind binocular. Not that I have much need for a compass, or a reticle, or even an IF binocular for day use, but I still appreciate a good binocular, no matter how specialized it might be. In fact, I once knew a birder who feel in love with a Steiner 7x50 so deeply that he left he forsake his birding binocular, despite the shortcomings of his beloved Steiner for close in birding. Each to their own.

Got an expensive binocular and can't decide what to use when cleaning it? Sure, you can use exotic chemicals, lens tissue and paper, lens cleaning cloths, just to name a few products, but my favorite is still a basic lens pen. A lens pen has a soft retractable brush on one end to remove particles from the lens and a squeegee for cleaning the lens surface on the other. The little, round, squeegee tip can reach places at the edge of a lens where fingers cannot push a lens tissue or lens cloth and, unlike liquids, there is no mess or chemicals to run into the binocular eyepiece lens mounts. Can't beat the price, either. When your lens pen is no longer cleaning, just buy another. I have used lens pens on cameras, binoculars, spotting scopes, magnifiers and telescope eyepieces and other small lenses for many years with great success.

Mid April and still a little snow mixed with rain over the weekend, so not as much birding or biking as usual for this girl. Still, the birds are moving through and some birds were seen. Spotted a Yellow-rumped warbler with my Zeiss 8x20 compact binocular (my first warbler of the season!) and several Great Egrets flying through the sleet. The moral of the story is to always carry a binocular, no matter what the weather. I suspect birds are a lot less affected by the weather, at times, than birders, especially older birders on bikes.

Had a post on my forum about sticky binoculars. That's right, sticky binoculars. For those of you out there using insect repellents, be aware the insect repellents with DEET can remove or damage finishes, leaving you with a "sticky" binocular finish. DEET is still the ultimate in insect repellant, but I usually opt for one of the plant based repellants to avoid ruining the finish on a good binoculars. Some of these newer formulas have proven quite effective against mosquitoes, too.

Being a city-bound astronomer plagued with light pollution, I deeply appreciate the fact that there are some objects, even some deep-sky objects, that can still be observed, effectively under urban skies. It's really a numbers game with light pollution. I can still see galaxies, open clusters, globular clusters and nebulae with my astronomy binocular; I just can't see anywhere near as many of them as I could when I lived in rural areas. To further adapt to city life, I have also spent more time on objects that are less affected by light pollution. Binocular doubles are a good example and they make for a fun evening with the binocular. I have also added the moon to my binocular list. With a binocular, it is easy to see all the major maria and many, many craters and mountain ranges. In other words, I am out observing with my binocular and that is really the important thing.

If the economic experts are right, we could be paying more for binoculars in the very near future. Inflation in developing countries, such as China, coupled with a weak dollar could spell the beginning of the end for decent, affordable binoculars. I remember the days when the affordable option for binoculars was a binocular made in Japan and, as we all know, binoculars made in Japan are no longer so cheap. I suspect it will eventually happen with binoculars made in China, too. Will China continue to be the supplier to the world of inexpensive optics and electronic products or will another country take that position in the future? Stay tuned.

The sky looked promising on both Saturday and Sunday, during daylight hours, but hazed over by nightfall. Conditions were fair for viewing planets, but medocre, at best, for deep-sky objects. Since astronomy binoculars are deep-sky instruments, not planetary instruments, another bust for me and my Nikon Astroluxe 10x70. The forecast is less than encouraging, too, with rain for the rest of the week. Ouch! Tis the season, I guess. I suspect the difference between a good binocular astronomer and a so-so binocular astronomer in this area is basically a matter of stubborness (or maybe insanity). That said, I will be ready, binocular in hand, if the any stars are brave enough to peek through the clouds.

Here's one of Joanie's binocular tips of the week. Many people don't realize they are squinting to some extent when looking through a binocular. Squinting is not a big deal for quick peeks and short observing sessions, but even a little squinting will produce noticeable eye fatigue over long observing sessions, even to the extent of producing fuzzy images and headaches. So, when using binoculars, practice relaxing all the muscles in your eyes and use the binocular, exclusively, to do the focusing. Fully relaxing the eyes is especially important when making the initial diopter adjustment for your eyes. "You are getting sleepy …"

My spring galaxy quest with binoculars finally resumed, last night, with a clear sky that decided to stop by for a short visit. Sky transparency was poor, but I was so relieved to get a chance to some astronomy, that I couldn't really complain. Did I add any galaxies to my list? No, though I made a valiant effort with M51. Thought, once or twice that this beauty of a binocular galaxy popped into view, using averted vision, but not enough there to be certain. The beauty of binocular astronomy, though, is that when another opportunity arrives, even on the shortest of notice, I can grab a binocular and start observing. My astronomy binocular and I will be ready.

April Fool's day, notwithstanding, I still trust I will have at least one clear night as we approach the new moon. My quest for spring galaxies with my astronomy binocular has been thwarted time and again by one of the worst winters on record. Factor in the chronically serious light pollution and it makes me wonder how anyone in this area can get serious about astronomy with a binocular or a telescope. I suspect it is the wonderful comraderies I have enjoyed with local astronomers that keeps us all going. Have you joined an astronomy club, yet? Short of getting everyone to turn off their lights, it is the best way to keep an interest in astronomy alive under some very challenging conditions.

From the things I write, a person might assume that I never met a binocular I didn't love. Actually, the truth is, no binocular is perfect; it's just that I am a bit innovative, at times, when it comes to getting a binocular to work for me. Take eyecups and eye relief for instance. On some binoculars, there is too much eye relief when the eyecups are pushed all the way down. My solution? Head to the local hardware store and a get a neoprene O ring of the right size and slip it under the eyecup to raise it, slightly. Diopter adjustment ring on the right eyepiece refuses to stay put? No problem, just take a piece of bicycle inner tube and stretch it around the ring. Bicycle inner tube pieces also work well to wrap around the barrels of compact binoculars if you need to get a better grip. Stay tuned for more of Joanie's binocular home remedies.