Bird watching means traversing through bushes and rough terrains. And sometimes even climbing. So, you would want to carry as less weight as possible on your back. This includes binoculars.
Some of the best lightweight binoculars include Carson 3D Series Binoculars, Pentax AD 10×25 WP Binoculars, Steiner Tactical 10×28 Binoculars, Leupold BX-1 Rogue Binocular, Leica Ultravid BR 10×25 Compact Binoculars.
At least one of these binoculars should have the features and specs you are looking for. That is why all the necessary information regarding these field glasses will be extensively discussed.
How to Pick the Perfect Binocular?
When it comes to birding, there are a few aspects you will have to keep in mind while buying a binocular. They are discussed below.
Weight and Size
Weight and size will play an important role if you are purchasing a binocular for watching birds. Remember, you will have to carry it everywhere as birds might appear at moments you were not expecting. Buying a bulky field glass won’t make that job any easier.
You might assume that lightweight binoculars aren’t as powerful as heavier ones. To some extent, it is true. But understand that you are not purchasing a field glass for observing the milky way galaxy. When it comes to birding, a less powerful and lightweight binocular is far better than a bulky and powerful one.
Some of the lightweight field glasses are as small as the palm of your hand. Many of them weigh less than a pound. My personal recommendation would be to go for one of those. They are very handy and even fit in pockets.
Magnification
As I have mentioned earlier, light binoculars will not have awesome magnification. But you don’t need to zoom in 100 times to observe birds. You should look for a field glass that can zoom up to 10x. That would be enough magnification for birding on an open field.
Keep in mind that many lightweight binoculars have very bad magnification but the advertisement of those products might confuse you. Never buy a binocular that has a very bad rating on Amazon.
Objective
Objective lenses will play an important role when it comes to birding with your binocular. My recommendation would be to go for a 42 mm lens. This size will allow plenty of light to be perfectly filtered, resulting in a stunning image.
Now, the size I’ve mentioned isn’t definite. Of course, you can go for a larger or a smaller lens. But unfortunately, smaller lenses will not work efficiently in darker environments whereas a larger lens will make the whole binocular bulky. So, choose the size of the lens wisely.
Field of View
I know most people out there ignore this feature, but the field of view plays a very important role when it comes to birding. For those who don’t know, it basically allows broader light inside the binocular, so that you can observe a bigger scenery.
You may be wondering what this feature has to do with birding. Assume the bird begins to fly as soon as you aim the binoculars at it. With a better field of view, you can observe it even when it is flying. So I will highly suggest you keep this feature in mind while purchasing the binocular.
Close Focus
When it comes to birding, close focus plays a very important role. Let’s say, you got lucky and a bird appeared very close to you. Without a binocular with close focus, the image will become very blurry.
I would suggest buying a binocular that has around 5 to 8 feet of close focus. There are a few field glasses that have an even better focus, but again, this feature makes the binocular bulky and I think 8 feet is enough for birding.
Best Lightweight Binoculars for Bird Watching
I’ll go over some of the best lightweight binoculars available in the market below. At least one of these should include the feature you demand.
1. Carson 3D Series Binoculars
The company Carson is much respected in the binocular industry as they are providing some of the best field glasses with top-notch features. The Carson 3D Series Binoculars are no different. The 32 mm objective lens of this field glass makes the image immersive and colorful. It has very few competitors at this price point.
Especially, when it comes to birding, these binoculars will work perfectly as it has great nighttime visibility. Users have claimed that spotting birds at midnight is also possible with these field glasses. For those who are looking for a small and compact binocular with an affordable price range, these would be perfect.
Specs:
Diameter (Objective Lens): 32 mm.
Weight: 1.13 lbs.
Features:
Awesome Field of View
As I have mentioned earlier, having a good field of view is essential for having a good birding experience. They will not remain in a single position for you to observe. Carson 3D Series Binoculars come in handy when the bird is on the move. These field glasses have around 392 Fields of View which is perfect for birding.
Multi-Coated Lens
Having a multi-coated lens will enhance your birding experience by a large margin. Field glasses will not be able to precisely identify a bird’s color without these lenses, and Carson 3D Series Binoculars have the best lens you will find on the market. This is one of their top-selling features and people tend to buy these field glasses just for having such amazing lenses.
Fog and Waterproof
Having a waterproof binocular is essential for birding. You may go to tropical places to observe these amazing flying creatures, and there is a very high chance of rain in such areas. You won’t want the weather to interrupt your amazing experience.
Neck Strap Included
Many binoculars don’t come with any strap whatsoever. But for those who want to buy field glasses for birding, having a neck strap is essential. You won’t have the fare of dropping the binocular and at the same time won’t have to hold it. It can just hang from your neck.
Pros
- Very durable.
- Multi-coated lenses.
- Affordable.
- A strap is included.
- Rubber armored.
Cons
- Feels a little cheap.
2. Pentax AD 10×25 WP Binoculars
For those who are short on cash, Pentax AD 10 * 25 WP Binoculars would be a perfect choice as it has all the necessary features with a very affordable price tag. Despite their low price, these amazing field glasses have magnifications of around ten times.
The coating of these binoculars is of premium level which ensures bright and colorful reflection. The special construction of this field-glass makes it much lighter and smaller, which is a very important feature for those who are willing to travel. All in all, these are the best budget binoculars out there in the market.
Specs:
Diameter (Objective Lens): 0 mm.
Weight: 0.6 lbs.
Highest Magnification: 10
Features:
Awesome Build Quality
One of the biggest issues regarding lightweight binoculars is their build quality. In general, these are fragile and provide a cheap feel. But that’s not the case with Pentax AD 10 * 25 WP Binoculars. Most of the users have claimed that these field glasses have one of the best build quality in this price range.
Very Lightweight
Which weight would you consider light when it comes to binoculars? Well, experts have claimed that anything below 1.5 lbs would be perfect for birding. Believe it or not, the Pentax AD 10 * 25 WP Binoculars weigh only 0.60 ounces! The special design of these field glasses has made it possible to reach such a low weight.
BAK 4 Prism Glass
For those who don’t know, Barium Crown Glass or BAK 4 Prism is the best type of glass you can find on the market. Usually, these prism materials are only used on high-end binoculars, but that’s not the case with Pentax AD 10 * 25 WP. Despite having a very low price tag, these field glasses have BAK 4 Prism.
Pros
- Very durable.
- Very lightweight.
- Multi-coated lenses.
- Affordable.
- BAK 4 Prism Glass.
Cons
- The eye caps don’t stay in one place.
3. Steiner Tactical 10×28 Binoculars
If you are looking for a binocular that has all the technical features and at the same time is lightweight, then Steiner Tactical 10×28 Binoculars would be a perfect choice. The magnification of this field glass is around 10 which is perfect for birding. The 28 mm objective lens makes the color of the image bright and clear.
For those who have deep pockets, this binocular would be perfect. This field-glass was made with waterproof materials, meaning you can even deep dive on a pool with Steiner Tactical 10×28 Binoculars. No amount of rain or fog can distort these amazing field glasses.
Specs:
Diameter (Objective Lens): 28 mm.
Weight: 0.78 lbs.
Highest Magnification: 10
Features:
Amazing Optical Coating
For observing birds properly, having a good optical coat is essential as it will allow the light to precisely refract on our eyeballs. This whole process will make the image look immersive and colorful. Speaking of the colors, you will only see the true tone of the birds as this binocular won’t distort the shade of the image at all.
Have a Lot of Accessories
Most of the binoculars you will find on the market come standalone. Meaning, the necessary accessories won’t be included with the package. But when it comes to the Steiner technical binoculars, you won’t have to spend an extra dime on anything as the package includes all the necessary items.
Very Compact
While going out for birding, having a compact binocular is essential as you may have to run around the field to find the perfect scenery. The word “compact” doesn’t only mean smaller size; it means having a structure that is very easy to hold and use. I can assure you that you will be able to use Steiner Tactical 10×28 Binoculars for hours
Pros
- Rubber-armored.
- Waterproof.
- Includes multiple accessories.
- Very lightweight.
- Multi-coated lenses.
- Have optical coating
- BAK 4 Prism Glass.
Cons
- Lens caps don’t stay for long.
4. Leupold BX-1 Rogue Binocular
For those who are on a tight budget, Leupold BX-1 Rogue Binocular would be a perfect choice. The features this product offers for the price are truly amazing. It has all the basic traits that you might need while birding. These cheap field glasses can gather enough lights to create a sharp and bright image.
The amazing ergonomic design of the binocular will allow you to hold it for hours. But there is an issue with this field-glass that you’ll need to keep in mind before purchasing. They don’t work well in dark situations but perform exceptionally in the daytime. It is probably the best binocular under 100 US dollars.
Specs:
Diameter (Objective Lens): 25 mm.
Weight: 0.78 lbs.
Highest Magnification: 10
Features:
Very Cheap
The price tag of this amazing binocular is probably its biggest selling point. I mean, you won’t find many field glasses that have almost all the necessary features and cost less than a hundred dollars. Sure it doesn’t work well in low light conditions, but who goes out for birding after the sun goes down?
Very comfortable
Now, having a binocular that is comfortable to hold or carry is essential especially if you are birding. With Leupold BX-1 Rogue Binocular, you can continue to look for birds hours after hours without feeling any discomfort on your hands and eyes. Even the caps are rubber coated for ensuring maximum comfort.
Multi-Coated Lens
A multi-coated lens will significantly improve your birding experience. Without these lenses, you won’t be able to accurately determine a bird’s color, and the Leupold BX-1 Rogue Binocular offers the best lens on the market for its price range. The company really didn’t cut any major features to lower the cost of the product.
Pros
- Very cheap.
- Comfortable and compact design.
- Rubber armored.
- Very lightweight.
- Multi-coated lenses.
- BAK 4 Prism Glass.
Cons
- Not suitable for darker environments.
5. Leica Ultravid BR 10×25 Compact Binoculars
If you are looking for the most premium and feature-filled field glasses on the market, then Leica Ultravid BR 10 * 25 Compact Binoculars would be a perfect choice. Name a feature and these field glasses will have it for sure. The produced image is exceptional and crisp.
This is probably one of those few light binoculars that can outperform any premium-level field glasses. Of course, your pockets have to be very deep for buying this product as it has a price tag of around 800 US dollars. But the unique features that this binocular provides somewhat justifies the high price tag.
Specs:
Diameter (Objective Lens): 25 mm.
Weight: 0.56 lbs.
Highest Magnification: 10
Features:
Amazing Optics
The produced image of this binocular is simply exceptional and it will outperform all the field glasses I have talked about here. I think that is the bare minimum expectation of a consumer who is paying over 700 US dollars for a binocular. But still, you will be surprised by the performance of it.
Very Durable
You won’t have to worry about the durability of this amazing binocular as it was made to sustain rough situations. While birding, there is always a possibility of dropping your binoculars on the ground. But you won’t have to worry about such incidents as the product has been gone through multiple drop tests.
Good FOV
The field of view you will get from Leica Ultravid BR 10 * 25 Compact Binoculars is simply exceptional. You can even observe a bird while flying without any issues. In cheaper models, having a good field of view distords the main image. But Leica Ultravid BR 10 * 25 Compact Binoculars keep the image quality intact with a fantastic FOV.
Pros
- Comfortable and compact design.
- Rubber armored.
- Awesome field of view.
- The coating is Leica AquaDura which makes images sharp.
- Very lightweight.
- Multi-coated lenses.
- BAK 4 Prism Glass.
Cons
- Expensive.
Picking the perfect binocular for birding is pretty simple if you keep some facts in mind.
More articles:
Stainless vs Carbon Steel
