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

Looking back on 2010, there were no big developments in the world of binoculars, though some advanced binocular features, such as flat field optics and HD lenses continue to filter down to lower binocular price points. In other words, this has been a typical year in the binocular market and that is fine by me. I appreciate the fact that binoculars are relatively free of the “upgraditis” syndrome that plagues digital products, in general, and digital cameras in particular. Enough, already. Please. It’s nice to know that you can still buy binoculars, today, and it will still be in the same playing field with new binoculars many years down the road. Only rarely does it make sense to wait for that new model to come out in the world of binoculars. Binoculars are a good investment of your optics dollar.

For example, I have several binoculars in the twenty year old category that are still going strong. They lack some of the refinements in lens coatings and niceties such as armoring and waterproofing, but they remain optically sound and I have no hesitation using them as birding binoculars or astronomy binoculars. They are anything but obsolete.

Binoculars in 2011? There is always space for one more binocular in my optics cabinet, of course.

Arrived at our home in northern Wisconsin, late last night and awoke this morning to fog and drizzle and a foot of accumulated snow. Home, sweet home! Yes, it is quite a different world, up here, than the one we left on the Mexican Baja, but it just seems somehow right to me. I can think of so many places I would like to visit, yet, but I suspect this north country will always be home.

In our two week absence, the bird feeders had not been filled, so my first morning chore was to load up on the bird seed. You might think that the birds would have abandoned the feeders for being empty that long, but not so. I guess I have some very loyal birds. Ha! While filling the bird feeders, a couple does wandered into the yard to remind me that I might as well put out some corn while taking care of the birds. A wildlife feeder’s work is never done.

Chores completed, I am now sitting in the kitchen, coffee cup and binoculars at hand, enjoying some birdwatching, north country style. It's something you can't really appreciate unless it is cold, outside, and the ground is covered with snow. Although I did plenty of birding and bird watching in Mexico, I never had the opportunity to sit leisurely at a table and watch birds in my compact binoculars, the way I do, here in the north woods. Guess it really is the little things that make a place a home.

After a very long day on airplanes and airports, we are back in Wisconsin. Back to cold and snow and clouds. What a change from two weeks of sunny days, warm temps and pleasant ocean breezes off the Mexican Pacific! I guess you might say I am suffering from what could be called climate lag, right next to my case of jet lag. Ah, well, all good things must end.

I will be spending the next few days editing all the pics from several digital cameras and reviewing my bird lists. In all, I added 11 new species to my bird life list and saw dozens of birds I haven’t seen in many, many years. Not bad, since I could only spend a small fraction of the time spent in Cabo with birdwatching. Not bad at all. Yes, my compact binoculars have earned a well-deserved rest. I am already thinking of another trip, but, next time, I will be adding a birding spotting scope and tripod and birding will be the primary focus, not something to be squeezed in when possible.

Time for astronomy with my astronomy binoculars, now that the moon is approaching a favorable phase. Astronomy is one thing that I regret not doing while down in Mexico, but this trip was scheduled by other family members who are not astronomers, so we spent our time in Mexico under a mostly full moon. I am not complaining, however. I have married into a wonderful family and, besides, what could be more romantic than a moon over the ocean?

Our trip to the southern tip of the Baja in Mexico is about over. It’s been an education in more ways than one. As far as optics, though, I am fairly satisfied that I limited myself to one compact binocular (though not just any compact binocular), instead of bringing larger binoculars. My hunch that my Leica Ultravid 10x25BL would do anything I needed a binocular to do proved correct.

The Leica Ultravid 10x25 BL served as my primary birding binoculars and also did a great job spotting whales from the beach. Even though the Leica technically belongs in the compact binoculars category, I never felt deprived in the performance department and its small size meant it was ever with me. That translated into more birds seen and identified. Had I used a lesser model of compact binocular, though, or had I been less experienced in the use of small binoculars, I might have had another opinion. Compact binoculars are not for everyone, after all. Would I choose to take my Leica compacts, again, though? Absolutely, though if I had it to do over again, I might have added a birding spotting scope and tripod, even though it would have meant checking it on baggage. A spotting scope and tripod would have produced some great digiscoping pics and given everyone around some great views.

Ah, next time!

Though not at all an exotic bird or rare bird and certainly not a bird I would have associated with Mexico, the Osprey has been with us for most of our trip on the Baja. First, there were Ospreys at the plush resort beach on the first half of our vacation, though all I ever managed was an occasional glimpse through my Leica binoculars. No pics, even though I carried my digital cameras, constantly. Now, we have an Osprey that perches on a power pole at the entrance to our more modest, but delightfully charming motel (El Delfin Blanco, S.A DE C.U) and I do have pics.

When we first parked the car at El Delfin Blancol, I could hear the chirp of an Osprey, but was unable to locate the bird in the binoculars. Little did I know that the Osprey was perched on a pole not thirty yards distant. It wasn’t until I decided to take a stroll down though the desert to the beach that I saw the bird and then I had to wonder how I missed it. This time, carrying the 12x digital Panasonic digital camera paid off with a nice pic. It would have done justice to some of the digiscoping pics I have taken with my spotting scope and small digital cameras, though I have to wonder how much of a close-up I could have gotten with double the magnification or more.

Next up, a wonderful birdwatching destination at the estuary.

As much as Bill and I have enjoyed ourselves, here in Cabo, no trip to Cabo would be complete for a birder like me without seeing the Xantus’s Hummingbird. Sure enough, as I walked down to the pool to meet the others in our group, I spotted a hummer in the garden and then raised my Leica binoculars to confirm it. It was a Xantus’, a hummingbird found nowhere else in the world but the Baja peninsula. What a beautiful bird in an already beautiful bird group! No, I haven’t succeeded in capturing a pic with my digital cameras, but the markings on a Xantus are quite distinctive. It really cannot be mistaken for any other hummingbird in the area.

I also ran into another birder! I met her in the elevator and she saw the binoculars around my neck so, naturally, we started to talk shop. There is a bird sanctuary in the area that is a must see, though she warned me that it is a bit difficult to access. (As if that would stop me! Ha!) She also gave me directions to the estuary for some great shore bird action. Now I wish I had brought my birding spotting scope.

Oh, yeah. It is Christmas Eve, today. Just a little hard to imagine, though, what with me getting a suntan and do some serious birdwatching for hummingbirds and shore birds. This will truly be a Christmas to remember.

People are the same everywhere - no one ever asks me, here in Cabo or anywhere else, why I am carrying binoculars around my neck or what I am trying to see with my binoculars, even though my compact binoculars are with me, always. I suspect folks are just too polite, because when I offer to let someone see a hummingbird or whale out on the Pacific with my Leica Ultravid 10x25 BL, they always eagerly accept. If nothing else, sharing binoculars with others is a good way to break the ice and met other people.

In the same vein, I very, very rarely encounter someone else with binoculars on my travels, even in an area like this with its abundant wildlife. Is it simply a matter of birdwatching not being popular with the masses or is it a matter of no one thinks to carry binoculars all the time, like I do? Have I become the Johnny Appleseed of the binocular world? Ha!

Hi! I'm the binocular lady. Care to have a look through my birding binoculars? Hoe about a peek through my astronomy binoculars, then? Did I mention I have other compact binoculars that you might want to try?

I’ve become a pool rat or maybe a beach bum or whatever. Yes, it is a heck of a way to spend a day, but soaking up sun and taking a dip in the pool or ocean when it suits us is becoming a habit. Still, believe it or not, my binoculars are always at my side or around my neck, just waiting to identify the next bird or spot the next whale.

Of particular interest has been the regular sightings of an Osprey. In the Leica binoculars, this bird is magnificent with its classical Osprey markings, right out of the book. If the only difference between cheap binoculars and expensive binoculars is how well a bird’s beauty is magnified in the binocular, that is all the reason I need to carry expensive binoculars. I’ve never bought into the rationale of expensive binoculars identifying more birds, but I long ago signed up into the better image quality school for justifying the expense of premium binoculars. Oh yeah, it would be hard to beat the image quality I get from my Leica Ultravid 10x25BL and that is precisely why I own it, even though I could not really afford it. Heck it was just a matter of skipping lunch for a year or two. (Actually it was a holiday bonus from my boss for going the extra miles during our busy season.)

Still feels like I blundered into the set of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, down here in this Cabo resort, but I am slowly making my peace with this very temporary excursion into what my mind keeps telling me is an exploitive and overly consumptive lifestyle. So be it, then. I will put my guilt aside and treat this as more of a birdwatching or wildlife watching expedition. There is plenty in the way of wildlife to support such a view. Besides, with a Leica 10x25BL binocular around my neck I may fool some folks into thinking we are much wealthier than we actually are.

By taking great care to carry these compact binoculars everywhere I go, I have managed to produce a list of both new and old bird species, here in Cabo. New species include just about every ocean bird I have seen, given that I have spent most of my years well, inland. Have also added a couple of desert bird species, such as a Cactus Wren, though those darn hummingbirds won’t sit still long enough for a positive identification. They are plentiful, though.

Just as interesting are the many an old familiar bird face in this very new place for me. Now I know where Yellow-rumped Warblers, Turkey Vultures and Ospreys, for instance, spend the winter. Can’t say I blame them. The Mexican Baja is truly magnificent country.

Oops, there’s another hummer. Gotta go.

I am more convinced than ever that really excellent compact binoculars, in the hands of an experienced binocular user can do just about any job you would use a binocular to do. Our trip to Cabo San Lucas has been a great success for both birdwatching and whale watching, thanks largely to my excellent Leica Ultravid 10x25BL compact binoculars. In truth, I really don´t see how a full size set of birding binoculars or long range observation binoculars could have done much better. Of course, I have been using the binoculars in bright light - it is always sunny in Cabo - so no need of astronomy binoculars. Ha! Anyway, I feel quite smug that my choice of compact binoculars, only, for the sake of travel has been a wise one. Okay, I may even try to take two compact binoculars on our next vacation so that I won't have to share my beloved Leicas with anyone else. I always cringe a bit, inside, when I pass the Ultravids to others, especially when we are on a pitching boat deck and everyone wants a closer look at the the sea lions. .

This is my first, ever, get away from winter type of vacation and I’m doing it in spades, if I do say so, myself. Oh, yeah, mid eighties could not be any different than the sub-zero cold I left, back in northern Wisconsin.

When I was preparing for this trip, I struggled with my choice of binoculars. How many binoculars should I bring? Should I bring compact binoculars, my regular birding binoculars and, maybe, just maybe, try to find a way to bring my large astronomy binoculars? In the end, I followed my guiding principle of travel light and keep it simple with a single compact binocular. In the end, this turned out to be much the right binocular choice or was it?

A trip to this southern destination sorely tempted me to bring my astronomy binoculars, as there are so many more treasures to observe in the binoculars when you have a peek at southern skies. However, I knew that my destination was to a well developed area with some light pollution and I also knew that I would have precious little time to squeeze in much astronomy. Nevertheless, I wish I had brought my Nikon 10x70 Astroluxe. Who knows when I may come this way, again? Now I have an excuse, though. Darn!

As I sit here in an open air lobby at our motel in Cabo San Lucas, I am chomping at the bit to head down to the beach or the marina and do some exotic (exotic for me, anyway) birdwatching. Every hardcore birder views a trip away from home as an opportunity to see new birds to add to one of our birding lists. I am no different. This is one of our “travel light” trips, so my birding binoculars are actually compact binoculars, though not just any compact binoculars. No, I really don’t feel too deprived for not having a mid-size or full size binocular, since the compact binocular I am using on this trip is the superb Leica 10x25 Ultravid BL. Optics and quality are second to none in the compact binocular arena, though it is still a compact binocular and that means it does have some shortcomings, all the same.

All compact binoculars, even superb compact binoculars, such as the Leica 10x25 BL, have certain optical limitations caused by their small objective lenses. This is not only a limiting factor on performance, it also makes them a bit tougher to use over long observing sessions. Compacts may or may not be the best choice for your birding, then, They work well for me, because (1) I am an experienced birder and that experience more than makes up for any shortcoming in performance when it comes to identifying birds and, (2) I am completely at home with compact binoculars from many, many years of using compact binoculars. If you are a new birder and/or not familiar with compact binoculars, I suggest using something a bit larger to get a little more performance and ease of use or test drive some compact binoculars before making them your only binoculars to carry.

In the meantime, my Leica binoculars and I will see you down at the beach.

Unless you use jumbo size Christmas stockings, it’s hard to fit full size binoculars or even compact binoculars in your gift stockings. Besides, if you’re like our family, we used stockings for all those small gifts and treats, not the more expensive holiday gifts. Those went under the tree.

So, why not give monoculars, instead, for a small gift? Monoculars are great stocking stuffers. A monocular is always small, smaller even than a compact binocular; some like the Carson 7x18 Close Focus are thumb sized and nearly any monocular will fit in a shirt pocket or a purse. For years, I have carried a Nikon 5x15 HG (incredible optics) in my purse and it certainly takes up no more space than a cell phone. Many, though not all, monoculars, are small in price, as well. Look at the very popular Brunton 7x18 Echo.

No, a monocular won’t do the job of binoculars for serious work - monoculars are at their best when you just need a quick peek or look – but the fact that they are always with you means you may use a monocular much more than you might expect. Kids, especially, love them. Just ask some of my nieces and nephews and grandkids.

Okay, it’s below zero (at least it is, here), so do I dare to venture outdoors with my binoculars? Absolutely, though there are issues with using binoculars in really cold weather.

First, is focusing. If the focuser on your binocular gets mushy in cold weather, be gentle. Work the focus, slowly, until you can focus throughout the focus range. Do not force it or you may damage the focusing mechanism. Same goes for changing the IPD or any adjustment that involves moving parts on the binocular. This will mostly be an issue on older binoculars or cheaper binoculars that employ inferior lubrication on the focusing mechanism. It is rarely an issue, these days on mid-priced or expensive binoculars. Technology has given us binoculars that operate better in cold weather.

Second, watch that breath! Be careful not to exhale over the eyepieces or they will quickly frost over. You may even have to hold your breath when you place the binocular up to your eyes. This is going to take some adjustment if you haven’t used binoculars in truly cold weather, before. Most of the time, the eyepieces will clear when you hold the binocular away from your eyes, again, though in sub-zero weather you may have to return the bino to warm air to get frost off the eyepieces.

Lastly, take steps to reduce the immediate external fogging that comes once you take the binoculars back into the warmth of a house or a vehicle (especially critical if you are in and out of a vehicle a lot or if you binoculars are not rated as waterproof). An old, but still very effective, trick is to place the binoculars in a large zip-loc bag while it is still out in the cold and wait until the binocular comes to room temperature once in the house. Then remove it from the bag. That way moisture forms on the outside of the bag rather than the binoculars. For really large binoculars, such as astronomy binoculars, I have used waterproof cases or dry boxes if you can’t find large enough bags.

When you live in an area with an abundance of wildlife, as we do, it pays to always have binoculars and even digital cameras close at hand. I finally met some of the neighborhood gals at a Christmas party, last night and heard story after story about the wildlife in the area. I’ve already been keeping compact binoculars, handy, both upstairs and downstairs in our house, but now I will be even more vigilant to make sure I am never far from a binocular.

Yes, we do have bears, right, here, in our neighborhood. No, no one has been threatened or been in any danger, but bears always merit a close watch, though seeing one in the binoculars would be a treat. My main concern with bears really concerns my birdwatching, specifically my bird feeders. One of my neighbors told me they went to a heavy, stainless steel post to hold their feeders after a bear took the standard feeder pole they had been using and shredded it. Ouch! Looks like my Bill has another project on his hand for this spring.

A gal who used to live in our home said they had Ruffed Grouse fly into the screen porch, back in the 90s. Of course, I would be delighted to see some grouse in the birding binoculars or hear them drum in the spring, so I will be watching for them. Grouse on my back yard birding list would be a first for me.

My neighbors also confirm the otters I have seen with the binoculars and spotting scope, out on the lake. There have also been beaver on the lake, as well, but all the sign I’ve seen has been on the old side. Still, I will be watching. You never know what you will see if you keep binoculars handy.

There was a time when folks who were ready to buy binoculars for astronomy chose binoculars from the general pool of binocular models available; there were no binoculars made specifically for astronomy. The traditional and popular choice for astronomy binoculars for many, many years was a 7x50 which was also a popular binocular size for military and marine binoculars and for binoculars for hunting in low light situations. Rather than a 7x50 binocular, a few astronomers opted for the even more common 10x50 to get a touch more magnification.

Despite the many models of larger binoculars designated as astronomy binoculars on the market, today, those old choices of a 7x50 or 10x50 binocular as an astronomy binocular are still valid. I still use a 7x50 and a 10x50 for astronomy, even though I own larger astronomy binoculars. Make no mistake, you can do a great deal of astronomy with 7x50 and 10x50 binoculars and no need for astronomy binocular tripods in this size range, either. Best of all, you still have binoculars that can be used for a great many other applications. This may be an especially useful tip for folks who are wondering how to buy binoculars for that special someone who wants to do it all with one binocular.

The distinction between the word birding and bird watching has been something I have covered in other blogs, but as I sit in my kitchen and keeps tabs on all the activity at our bird feeders, I reminded, again, that I really am very much both a birder and a birdwatcher.

Like any good birder, I get a thrill by identifying and counting as many different species of birds as possible. Variety is the spice of life for a birder. A good day of birding is a day that ends with a lot of bird species on our list; a slow day of birding is a day when the list is on the short side. We birders also tend to buy the very best in birding binoculars and birding spotting scopes to maximize every birding opportunity. We tend to get a little intense, at times, but birding is truly a fun and very active way to connect with the natural world. It can also be a very social activity, since most of us love company when we go birding. If you have a birding group in your area, I strongly suggest you consider joining.

Birdwatching, on the other hand, is more about observing bird behavior and activity and much less about counting or identifying. A dedicated outing to watch eagles or other specific birds is mostly a bird watching event. For me, though, my bird feeders are the source of most of my bird watching. Sure, I like to see a lot of variety at the feeders in terms of species of birds, but those bird feeder “regulars” that I see every day provide most of my entertainment. For instance, I’ve see Chickadees hundreds of times a week at the feeder, but those little birds never fail to capture my interest.

In truth, most of us who love wild birds are both birders and bird watchers, so no need to make a distinction. Just grab those binoculars and enjoy the bird life around you.

One of the things I like about binoculars is that each model has the potential of being different than the next, even when the specification tables read pretty much the same. This is especially true, it seems, for compact binoculars. You might think that one 10x25 compact binocular is much the same as the next 10x25 binocular, especially if the price of the two binoculars is similar. Not so, however.

I have an addiction to premium grade compact binoculars. I’m not sure how that started, but, in my house, you can find Zeiss binoculars, Swarovski binoculars, Leica binoculars, Nikon Premier LX binoculars and more under the compact binocular category. They are all great binoculars, of course, and that’s why I own them, but what amazes me is how different they are from one another, even though they are all compacts. Each has its own feel and style; each has its quirks.

From just a pure sense of feel in my hands, my favorite compact is the Swarovski Pocket. In the past, I have owned a Swarovski Pocket 10x25 in the black version and a Swarovski Pocket 8x20 in the green version. I now own (and dearly love) a Swarovski Crystal Nabucco, though it is the same binocular, other than the exterior finish as the standard Swarovski Pocket 8x20. Regardless of the version, there is nothing that has quite the feel of a Swarovski Pocket binocular and I’ll be darned if I can specifically tell you why. It just feels unique and the only way to understand this is to put one in your hands. Not mine, though. You’ll have to buy your own Swarovski Pocket binocular.

Oh, yes, winter has arrived, here in northern Wisconsin. Some of my neighbors report that the ice is safe for walking and some of them are eager for the ice to further thicken so they can drive their cars across the ice. This allows some of my neighbors to drive across a lake, instead of around the lake, so they can save some miles and time. Okay, I’m not quite ready to observe that north country tradition, but I have been enjoying our first winter, up here, so far. The firewood has been cut and there is wildlife all around us.

For instance, it is time to fill the bird feeders, again - birdwatching is not all sitting back and watching the show, after all. With temperatures constantly in the single digits, overnight, our bird feeders have been a popular spot for birds and squirrels. My first peek at the feeders, this morning, through the Nikon Premier LX 10x25, revealed ten Goldfinches trying to get a perch on my thistle feeder that only accommodates six birds. Yesterday, I got an up close and personal look at a Pileated Woodpecker through my old B&L Custom Compact binocular (which has since evolved into the Bushnell Elite Custom Compact). No doubt about it, a Pileated positively dwarfs any other visitor to the feeders. That is one large bird.

The big news, this morning, is that the sky is clear, even though the forecast was for snow. That means it is time for some digiscoping and, with luck, I can find some time to aim the spotting scope at the bird feeder and record some of this activity. My spotting scope has been sitting on a tripod, for over a week, now, just waiting for me and my digital cameras to get to work. Better get to it.

For Christmas, Bill and I are headed to Mexico for ten days to enjoy a little sunshine and spend some quality time with his sisters, who will also be flying down. This is my first vacation in … to be honest, I can’t even remember the last time I had a vacation. The days in Mexico at a resort is really is out of my league and more than I would ever think of doing on my own, but, darn, my place is with my husband, so Mexico, here I come.

As a birder and birdwatcher, I have always wanted to take a trip into Mexico or central America with my binoculars to see the incredible variety of bird life and add more bird species to my bird life list. It’s a birdwatching dream, no doubt about it, and now, after all these years, it’s my turn. My only reservations concern what equipment to take, given the current restrictions and hassles that accompany flying, these days. Then, too, Bill insists that we limit ourselves to carry on, only, so we won’t have to deal with baggage. If it was only me, I would add a spotting scope and tripod to my birding binoculars and digital cameras, but no way will I fit all that into a carry on bag. In fact, if I could, I would add telescopes and astronomy binoculars, too, but I would probably need to charter a separate plane just to carry all my gear. Not going to happen. In the end, I suspect I will limit myself to my favorite compact binoculars and maybe have room for a bird guide for the region. That’s enough, though, for some serious birding.

Can a premium class compact binocular also be described as a workhorse compact binocular? I think so, especially if we are talking about the Nikon Premier LX 10x25 (on the right, in the pic). In fact, as far as premium compact binoculars go, the Nikon Premier LX 10x25 is a great value.

First, let me say that I do own more expensive European compact binoculars than this Nikon, which is made in Japan. However, the optics on the Nikon Premier LX compacts do rate as premium class, make no mistake about that. In fact, resolution on the test chart is right up there with my Leica Ultravid 10x25BL, though contrast and brightness are just a shade short of the Leica. That’s hardly a criticism of the Nikon, given that nothing I have tested matches the Leica Ultravid compact for contrast and brilliance, but, of course, the Leica is another three hundred plus dollars in price. Even so, there are some things I actually like a bit more about my Nikon than my Leica (yes, I own both).

My Premier LX 10x25 is not as fussy as my Leica about eye placement and that is a critical issue anytime you use compact binoculars. The small exit pupils that compact binoculars deliver to your eyes require you to set the diopter, precisely, than position the binoculars correctly over your eyes. There is not much margin for error; get sloppy about it and you get eye fatigue for any extended viewing. The Nikon Premier LX 10x25 is about as forgiving as it gets in this respect and quite a contrast to my Leica which is very fussy about eye placement. So, when I want the best possible optics, I grab the Leica, but for day in and day out casual use, I more often choose the Nikon. The Nikon Premier LX may not have the panache of the Leica Ultravid compact, but it is one solid workhorse of a compact binocular and a premium compact binocular, at that.

What do you get for that person who seems to have everything? What’s one gift that everyone can use? Why, binoculars, of course! A binocular truly is the universal optical tool and it can be used for the widest range of uses of any optical tool. A binocular is also a tool that can fit the widest range of lifestyles and activities. Binoculars are always a good gift.

First, there are those activities that require a binocular as a primary use tool. No birder (me), for instance, would head to the fields and forests without their birding binoculars and no binocular astronomer (also me) would step outside on a dark night without their astronomy binoculars. Those activities are centered around binoculars and, as a result, we birders and astronomers tend to get very fussy about our binoculars.

Next, there are activities where binoculars may not be the major tool of use, but still serve an all important function. Binoculars for hunting are almost essential for some types of hunting and can make or break a hunt since you have to spot an animal, first, before you can stalk it. Marine binoculars can be literal lifesavers when navigating snag infested waters or trying to get your bearing on landmarks along a distant shore. I’ve often used binoculars on canoe trips, for instance, to spot campsites in the distance. I’ve even used binoculars to scan ahead on big rivers for rising trout while I am fly fishing.

Lastly, there are the folks who just want to relax and grab a binocular, now and then, to watch the show, you might say. I’ve spent many an hour seated in a lawn chair on a lazy afternoon to watch birds or aircraft passing over head. I’ve sat along a lakeshore at a picnic just to watch boats out on the lake and I often simply play with binoculars for kicks, looking at nothing in particular.

In other words, everyone can use a binocular. A binocular is as safe a gift as you can give.

Okay, but what binoculars do you personally own and use?” That’s sometimes a loaded question, but I always answer it, even though I know the answer may take the discussion into the shadowy and, often misleading, realm of personal opinion.

As someone who writes about binoculars, telescopes, spotting scopes, digital cameras and so on, for pay, I am ever careful to keep my personal likes and dislikes about products out of my writing and stick to the facts, at least as I see them. In other words, I have an obligation as a professional to base what I say about any product on optical grounds or from my many years of using products and selling products. No, I’m not always successful – some bias is bound to rear its ugly head - but I do try. I’ve been around long enough to know that what works for me may not work for someone else. When someone is trying to buy binoculars, buy telescopes and so on, I honestly do try to put myself in their shoes. After all, I was once a beginner, myself.

On the other hand, I would not want to give the impression that I am a robot, either. Truth is, I have some very strong personal preferences when it comes to, say, binoculars. I am a big fan of some binocular brands and not a big fan of others; I am very fussy about some binocular features and rather indifferent about others; I often make binocular choices that fly against conventional thinking as to what makes a good binocular; I have very strong personal opinions as to what makes a quality binocular. In short, my personal standards as to what binoculars I choose to own are much stricter than my professional views. The important thing, though, is that I know the difference between a professional opinion and a personal opinion and do my best to keep them separate, hard though that may be at times.

Okay, so what binoculars do I use? Read my blogs and find out. I can guarantee you, though, that anything I personally own and use has to get by my very fussy personal opinions.