Posts tagged "Binoculars"

Aug 8, Young Red Necked Grebes in NH?

These 4 young birds have been hanging out in my pond for the last week. I’ve been watching them with binoculars. This morning I walked down closer and
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Posted by Cheryl Hanson - August 11, 2012 at 3:38 am

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Tips On Finding Binoculars For Bird Watching

A good pair of bird watching binoculars is definitely a must if you are into bird watching. This is because this will help you view and observe birds better. For beginners, a good pair of binoculars is really one of the basic tools they need in order to get the hang of the activity. Aside from helping them see birds closely and clearly, a pair of bird watching binoculars will also help them to adjust in viewing moving birds.

Buying a good pair of binoculars

Bird watching is one of those activities that entail patience and keen observation. This is because you don’t need to do anything but to watch avian creatures in the horizon and do the thing they love the most-flying.

If you are new into bird watching, the first thing that you need to pay attention to is having a good pair of binoculars. In buying binoculars for bird watching, the major consideration should be the quality of the lens installed in it. The lens should provide you the best quality of image possible, no any distortions in the viewfinder, and should present the best color of the object being observed.

The average cost of a good pair of bird watching binoculars is around 0 to 00 depending on the brand, size, and quality of lens installed in it. For starters, you really need not buy so expensive binoculars. To help you get the best binocular for your bird watching, here are some helpful tips for you:

1. Consider its magnification. This is very important because it will enable you to see the birds clearly. When looking for a pair of binoculars, choose those that have minimum magnification of 7×35. But if you can afford to buy binoculars with larger magnification such as those with multiples of 8x, 9x, up to 10x, it is better because these can definitely give you a larger image of the bird being watched.

Always keep in mind that a larger lens gets more amount of light, thus, can provide you an image that is sharper and clearer. (TIP: Binoculars with higher magnification tend to be heavier. It is best to look for a pair of binocular with high magnification but made of light materials so you can carry it.)

2. Check its flexibility. The flexibility of the binoculars can be tested if you move its barrels. This is very important so you won’t have difficulties in holding it the way you want to. Make sure that the barrels are not tight so you don’t have to worry that it will break easily.

3. Test its focus. Most binoculars will not focus clearly when you test it inside the store because the environment tends to be dim. If you want to make sure that the binocular can focus clearly, try focusing it on a bright side of the room. If it has good focus, it will easily focus on the subject in sight. While checking the focus, you should also check if there are distortions in the image. If there is, don’t buy it because it is of poor quality.

4. Pay attention to its exit pupil. This should also be a major consideration because this will determine if you will see things clearly. The exit pupil refers to the diameter seen on the image once it leaves the lens’ eyepiece. The exit pupil should always be bigger that the eyes of your pupil because the image will appear dark. The basic exit pupil should at least be 4 mm or higher to get the brightest image possible.

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Posted by Cheryl Hanson - March 9, 2011 at 9:28 pm

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How to Choose the Best Birding Binoculars


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Optics workers will tell you they are often asked to recommend the best binocular for birders (bird watchers) To match the binocular to the birder it helps to first look at the needs of the birding enthusiast.

What sort of optical demands must we consider? Well for one thing the birder need to see details like the patterns and color of feathers, often in dim light such as under a tree canopy or in twilight. They need good magnification so that they can easily identify birds at a distance and sometimes they will want to observe birds at very short distances so they want their binoculars to work for close focus observing too, maybe even down to just a few meters.

They need true color viewing so they can see everything as it really is colored and not with any tint or false color. They also need a reasonable field of view so they can observe birds in flight easily and be able to pick birds out from the surrounding trees.

They want the binoculars to be light enough to carry and hang on a neck-strap. Their binoculars should be light enough to hold comfortably for viewing and easy enough on the eyes to be able to use for long periods. Birders usually want their binoculars to be compact enough to pack in a rucksack. For observing from hides they often want to use their binoculars on a tripod or mono-pod so a fitting for these adapters is advisable. If their bird watching is in the wilderness then rugged construction and some element of waterproofing and fog-proofing is also advisable.

When looking at binocular specifications we usually pay most attention to the two numbers that define the basic specifications. The first number gives us the magnification factor, so an 8x binocular magnifies an image (brings it closer) by 8 times. The higher the magnification the more difficult it becomes to use the binoculars effectively due to the natural hand-shake which makes it difficult to keep the bird in view and also the smaller the field of view will be. For birding use, an 8x binocular is the most commonly used though in some circumstances enthusiasts will use higher magnification.

The second number in the specs tells us the diameter of the objective lens. This is important for two reasons, firstly the larger the diameter the more light is captured by the binocular so the clearer and brighter the resulting image. Secondly, the larger diameter also gives a larger field of view. In the birding world, the most popular objectives are 40mm and 42mm. Getting much higher than this makes the binocular a little too heavy and large.

Other important considerations are the quality of the lenses and prisms and the optical coatings used on those elements. These coatings reduce loss of light through reflection from the binocular and its internal components and they help to preserve good clarity and true color throughput. As a rule of thumb look for Fully-Multi-Coated (FMC) coatings for bird watching use. The specification for eye relief refers to the distance between the eyepiece and the eye. Those who wear glasses will need a longer eye relief to allow for the extra distance caused by the glasses being between the binocular and their eye.

Roof and Porro Prism designs refer to the two body styles of binoculars. This difference comes about through the placement of the internal prisms within the binocular body. Roof prism types are the more compact and modern looking. Their objective lenses are more or less in line with the eyepieces, while porro prism types are the traditional style with the lenses stepped out from the line of the eyepieces. More and more birding enthusiasts are now opting for the roof prism type particularly as their quality has caught up with the porro types in recent years.

Find out more and get specific recommendations (and bargains!) at BinocularChoice.com or visit this Squidoo page for more The Best Birding Binoculars & Where to Find Them


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Posted by Cheryl Hanson - March 6, 2011 at 9:13 am

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Spotting Scopes Terminology – Best Spotting Scopes For Birding

Spotting Scopes Terminology

Spotting scopes are used when more magnification is needed or wanted than binoculars provide. Spotting scopes are used widely for birding, viewing wildlife and landscapes and other objects at a great distance. Much of the terminology and technical specifications specific to spotting scopes are similar to binoculars. For example, a 20-60×82 spotting scope has a zoom magnification range of 20-60x (20 to 60 times larger than the size of an image as would be seen by the naked eye) with a front lens diameter of 82mm.

The significant increased magnification of spotting scopes can take you well beyond the capabilities of conventional binoculars. That said, two factors, the atmosphere and the optical system of the spotting scope, should be kept in mind. Heavy air, dust, humidity, glare and wind and air currents during the day can all reduce image quality and the greater the magnification, the more drastic the reduction in image quality will be. Few locations allow you to use more than 60-80x during the day, so most spotting scopes stop at 60x. The optical system of a spotting scope will impact magnification also.  As magnification is increased, some decrease in image quality will result, no matter the model. In this key area, as the old saying goes…you get what you pay for.  So yes, if you want a spotting scope that is as clear and sharp at 60x magnification as it is at 20x, then expect to pay more. Keep in mind though that most spotting scopes are used at lower magnifications, usually around 30x-40x. This is more than enough for most applications and all but the least expensive and cheapest model will produce reasonable images in this magnification range.

Objective Diameter

Assuming that you are comparing two models of similar quality, the larger the objective lens, the more detail you can see and the better image quality your scope will deliver, especially at higher magnifications. However, a large lens of mediocre quality, no matter how large, will never equal the performance of a smaller, quality lens. If you aren’t sure, opt for quality, not size.

Close Focus

Although not an absolute necessity, a spotting scope with a close focus of 20 ft or less can be useful, especially if you plan to use a spotting scope with a camera.

Eye Relief

As with binoculars, this is the distance your eye can be from the eyepiece and still see the entire field of view. As a general rule, you will need at least 14mm of eye relief to see the entire field of view with eyeglasses and people with thick glass lenses in their eyeglasses will probably need more.

Waterproofing

While not a necessity, a waterproof scope is terrific to have. The seals in a waterproof model also prevent the infiltration of dust and dirt and therefore add to the lifespan of the spotting scope.

Tripods

Due to its high magnification, handholding a spotting scope and expecting to maintain a clear, non-blurry image is virtually impossible. A spotting scope requires that it be supported to keep it steady. You may be able to sneak by at lower magnifications with a monopod or shoulder stock, but above 40x, you must use a tripod. And the larger and heavier the scope, the larger and heavier the tripod should be. As all spotting scopes are threaded in the same fashion as a camera and therefore should fit on any standard camera or video tripod, unless you prefer, you will not need to purchase a special tripod for your spotting scope.

Best Spotting Scopes for Birding

Most agree that the best magnification range for birding with a spotting scope is 20-40x. Much higher than 40x and the field of view is too narrow to be practical, with the added drawback of a dimmer image. Keep in mind that problems such as heat waves will increase at higher magnifications. If you do a lot of dawn or twilight bird observation, or if your area is often overcast and dim, a wider objective lens will give you a better image.  So you will  want to choose a lens of 77-82mm. However, a larger objective lens also translates to increased size and weight. Birders who are out mostly during the day and don’t relish the thought of carrying a heavier instrument will want to consider an objective lens size of 60-65mm.

Support Staff – the Outdoor Nature Resource.com

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Posted by Cheryl Hanson - February 20, 2011 at 9:14 pm

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Procedure to choose best Birdwatching Binoculars

A fashionable hobby under many older citizens as well as others is bird watching out. All Birdwatching Binoculars and a field leader are, you for the wonderful pastime need and form it an affordable and a pleasing for practically everyone.

There are different birds over 10.000 sorts around the world. Water birds, song birds, flightless birds, vibrating colored birds, small birds, large birds; the multiplicity is practically innumerable. View birds must be done in a distance, since they are naturally careful skittish and from humans. Therefore for those, which would like to be sent at the bird watching out, Binocular are a valuable and substantial piece of equipment.

Birdwatching Binoculars are present in many forms. Fundamental Binocular is generally the starting point for those, which begin straight as bird observers. They should begin with the more inexpensive or moderate kinds and improve to a pair with newer technology then, while the interest increases to bird-watch out on. Hold in the understanding however that the best to sight with a good pair are formed. Are here some guidelines, which help you to select a pair Birdwatching Binoculars which corresponds to your necessities.

Mass:

Select a pair Binocular, which is not annoying to carry for expanded time periods.  Particularly as soon as you became strained on finding and the determination of our friends provided with feathers/springs, find that you increasingly spend more time, which does in such a way.  If the Binocular is extensive and heavy, the weight can discourage you from hang-evenly the favorite pastime.

Linear performance:

Birdwatching Binoculars are classified according to a set of numbers; i.e. „7 x 35 “. The first number is the energy and indicates in this example, which is seen more exact with 7mal something, as it, is real.  The second number is the diameter of the objective.  The second number that is larger, more exceeds the light into the equipment and is it, into weak lighting to see more simply.  It forms it also more simply to see birds which possess few to no bright colors.

Focusing:

As well as credit of the large to sight from a distance to concentrate is also important it to be able on articles within 20 of foot from you to so that you do not lose an exciting to sight at from next proximity.

 

A fashionable hobby under many older citizens as well as others is bird watching out. All Birdwatching Binoculars and a field leader are, you for the wonderful pastime need and form it an affordable and a pleasing for practically everyone.

 


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Posted by Cheryl Hanson - February 15, 2011 at 9:22 pm

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GIFT YOUR LOVED ONES A SET OF BIRD WATCHING BINOCULARS

You want the best gift for your loved ones during their holidays. These gifts when selected carefully can become a great past time for any one. Bird watching is a great hobby and is gaining popularity day by day. In fact bird watching is an art. For bird watching you need specific binoculars that are designed for the purpose of bird watching. If your loved one has interest in bird watching then the set of bird watching binoculars will be a great gift for that person. These binoculars will make bird watching activity more rewarding and fun for your loved ones.

If you want to gift your loved one a set of binoculars for bird watching during his holidays then you must take care of some things before buying bird watching binoculars.

The first thing that you need to take care is the magnification of these kinds of binoculars. The lenses of the bird watching binoculars must be of significant magnification. This is because the bird watching activity cannot be done at close distance. Even the slightest movement from your side will make the birds scary and they will fly away. But if the magnification of the binocular is strong enough then bird watching activity can be done from a pretty long distance without any fear of scaring the birds. You can always zoom in the lenses to observe the habits and the attributes of the birds.

When you go in the market to purchase this kind of binoculars for your loved one then you will find out that the binoculars are marked with the magnification number that is followed by an “x”. And along with the magnification number there is also written another number that will tell us about the quantity of light that the binocular prism allows to enter. Both these numbers are of great importance in the purchase of binoculars.

It is quiet easy to understand the magnification number as it simply tells us that how much our normal eyesight is magnified by the binoculars. On the other hand if the second number of the binocular is low then the visibility of the binoculars is influenced by the light emerging in the lenses. The greater the number the better will be the visibility.

If the person whom you want to gift binoculars for bird watching is quiet experienced bird watcher then a bird watching binocular of 10x magnification will be best. On the other hand if he is new in the line then binocular of 7x or 8 x magnifications will be enough.

There are many other things that you must keep in mind while purchasing binoculars. You should keep in mind the eyesight of the person for whom you are purchasing binoculars. This thing has a great impact on the type of binoculars. You should also compare the binoculars on the basis of their weight, focus and clarification. Bird watching binocular is definitely a good gift for your loved ones and they will cherish this gift throughout their life.

Are you looking for the best deals on bird watching binocular? Visit http://www.squidoo.com/Swarovski10x42slcBinoculars today!


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Posted by Cheryl Hanson - February 15, 2011 at 9:21 am

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Bushnell Natureview Birder Binocular (EA)

Bushnell Natureview Birder Binocular (EA)


Natureview® Plus Binoculars are specially designed for the bird watcher and naturalist.  BAK-4 prisms yield brighter images and better edge sharpness.  Excellent near focus capability is ideal for close inspection of the wonders of nature.  Extended eye relief is perfect for eyeglass wearers and reduces eyestrain during long observation periods.  The affordable NatureView® Birder is perfect for the budding nature observer.

Price: $ 79.99
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Posted by Cheryl Hanson - February 5, 2011 at 9:13 pm

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Get Started with Bird Watching : How to Choose Birding Binoculars & Their Cost

Learn how to choose birding binoculars for bird watching in this free bird watching video. Expert: Wayne R. Petersen Contact: www.massaudubon.org Bio: Wayne R. Petersen is director of the Massachusetts Important Bird Areas (IBA) program at the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Filmmaker: Christian Munoz-Donoso

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Posted by Cheryl Hanson - January 20, 2011 at 1:36 pm

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Bird Watching Binoculars – Finding A Good Pair That Won’t Break The Bank

Bird Watching Binoculars

A very good pair of bird watching binoculars is certainly a must in case you are into bird watching. It is because this may provide help to view and observe birds better. For inexperienced persons, a very good pair of bird watching binoculars is actually one of the fundamental tools they need with a view to get the dangle of the activity. Except for helping them see birds carefully and clearly, a pair of bird watching binoculars will even assist them to regulate in viewing moving birds.

Shopping For A Good Pair Of Bird Watching Binoculars

Bird watching is a type of activities that entail patience and eager observation. It is because you don’t need to do something but to watch avian creatures within the horizon and do the factor they love probably the most-flying.

Quick Poll:

Is Bird Watching A Fun Hobby?

YES” or “NO

(Answer YES or NO above and learn how to get a free laptop)

If you’re new into bird watching, the first thing that it’s worthwhile to take note of is having a good pair of bird watching binoculars. In shopping for binoculars for bird watching, the major consideration must be the standard of the lens put in in it. The lens ought to provide you the very best quality of image attainable, no any distortions within the viewfinder, and will current the best coloration of the thing being observed.

The typical price of a superb pair of bird watching binoculars is around 0 to 00 depending on the brand, size, and quality of lens it utilizes. For starters, you really do not want to purchase expensive binoculars. To assist you in getting the best binoculars for bird watching, listed here are some useful suggestions for you:

1. Determine its magnification. This is very important because it should enable you to see the birds clearly. When in search of a pair of binoculars, select those that have minimum magnification of 7×35. But in the event you can afford to purchase binoculars with bigger magnification akin to those with multiples of 8x, 9x, as much as 10x, it’s higher as a result of these can undoubtedly give you a bigger image of the bird being watched.

Always keep in mind that a bigger lens will get extra amount of sunshine, thus, can present you a picture that is sharper and clearer. (TIP: Binoculars with increased magnification are usually heavier. It’s best to search for a pair of binocular with excessive magnification but made of sunshine materials so you possibly can carry it.)

2. Verify its flexibility. The flexibility of the bird watching binoculars can be tested if you happen to transfer its barrels. This is very important so you won’t have difficulties in holding it the way you need to. Ensure that the barrels are usually not tight so you don’t have to fret that it will break easily.

3. Check its focus. Most binoculars will not focus clearly if you take a look at it inside the shop because the atmosphere tends to be dim. If you wish to guarantee that the binocular can focus clearly, try focusing it on a vivid aspect of the room. If it has good focus, it’ll easily focus on the subject in sight. Whereas checking the main focus, you must also examine if there are distortions within the image. If there is, don’t purchase it as a result of it is of poor quality.

4. Pay attention to its exit pupil. This should also be a major consideration as a result of this can decide if you will notice issues clearly. The exit pupil refers back to the diameter seen on the image once it leaves the lens’ eyepiece. The exit pupil ought to at all times be greater that the eyes of your pupil as a result of the picture will appear dark. The basic exit pupil should at least be 4 mm or higher to get the brightest image possible.

Larry Haywood is a web publisher specializing in freebies such as: free ipad, free iphone, and free xbox 360 slim.


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Posted by Cheryl Hanson - January 20, 2011 at 1:39 am

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Techniques of Bird Watching

Now a day, large numbers of people from all over the world are involving in bird watching. Thousands of bird species are found in all over the world. People usually attract to the birds, as they don’t hurt to anyone, they are colorful, lively and interesting to listen. Over 1200 species of birds are found only in India. This is really an interesting work to do, as this activity doesn’t demand a lot of equipment. For bird watching, you must have only a pair of good binoculars and a field guide that may help you in identify the birds.

First of all try to observe birds in forest. There are two least methods to approach.

1. Whenever see any bird, walk along slowly and quietly, before the bird sense your presence.

2. Second method of watching the bird is to sit and wait patiently in a concealed position for birds to appear.

How to start Bird Watching

First of all it is better to know about the birds. You must have some knowledge about the birds and their species. It will help you during your tour to recognize the birds. It is very difficult to catch the birds as they disappear very quickly whenever they hear any sound around them. There are some tips, which I want to share with you which will help you during your bird watching tour.

The best way to start your bird watching tour with a person who knows better about birds and their species, as he can help you by providing the information about the bird.

If you don’t have any friend or person who is familiar with birds then don’t worry there are many good bookshops having a selection of books, magazines and tapes on bird watching. These can help you out.

If you can explore on net then you can also have lots of information about the birds and their species. Learn to identify common local species using your field guide.

Choosing a Bird Guide

Try to choose a good bird guide, which can provide exact knowledge about the birds. The guide includes information about habitats, maps showing range of different birds. It must also provide the knowledge about the birds that where and when they migrate and what their song or call sounds like. These guides also give information about the various birding sites. Bird guides will be useful to provide the knowledge about the water birds, birds of prey, and perching birds.


Checklist

A list of birds in any one particular area is called a Checklist. This checklist is found in most of the national parks and bird sanctuaries. These checklists tell about the bird species, which is found in that particular area. This is also very helpful resource to know about the birds and their species. Some of the websites on net also provide this type of checklists.


Equipment for Bird Watching

It is better to bring your binoculars with you to watch the birds from very close. Bird watching is not a simple game. Sometimes it is possible that you will walk for a long time and you will not see a single bird. And sometimes, unexpectedly you will see hundreds of birds. You should also put a cassette recorder with you which will be helpful to record the voice of the birds. If you have any pre-recorded cassette of bird voice with you then it may help you to attract the birds.

Clothing during Bird Watching

Whenever you go for Bird Watching, you must wear light in weight and dark in color clothes. Wear a hat of similar color so that your head is not so obvious when looking at a bird. Try to wear long trousers for some protection against thorns, insects, leeches and snakes. Jungle boots are ideal for protection and they can dry quickly after getting wet.

Birding Ethics

Ø      During bird watching, you must be quiet, avoid harassment and don’t disturb the birds.

Ø      You must be little bit of extra careful during the breeding season of the birds as it may disturb them.

Ø      First of all do not handle eggs or young birds in your hand and if you do this don’t do it too long at nests.

Ø      Try to follow all the rules of every national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

Ø      Try not to go in large groups for bird watching. If you have a large group then divide larger groups of people into smaller.

Don’t leave any garbage or trash behind you, as if any bird eats it then it may be harmful.

To know more about Bird Watching in India, click Bird Watching in India

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Posted by Cheryl Hanson - January 18, 2011 at 2:12 pm

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