Best Birding Binoculars

Below are what birders have considered to be the best birding binoculars currently on the market based on quality and cost. Any of the binoculars listed here will be suited well for most types of bird watching, whether it be for general backyard bird watching, on bird watching tours, viewing songbirds or raptors, these will suit most birding activities.

Nikon Monarch Binoculars

For a mid-range priced of birding binoculars, you really cannot beat the Nikon Monarch 8x42 ATB Binoculars

Features:

• 100% Waterproof/Fogproof/Shockproof
• ATB - All-Terrain-Binocular is Rubber Armored & Ulta-Rugged for Outdoor Use
• Fully Multi-Coated Lenses provide bright, clear looks at birds
• Phase-Corrected Prisms
• Lightweight and ergonomic construction for comfortable use

For all the above features which are usually found in more expensive binoculars, the Nikon Monarchs are one of the best birding binoculars around. 

Our Review:
Here's our personal Nikon Monarch ATB 8x42 Best Birding Binoculars Review.

Another User Review of Nikon Monarchs:

"I use my binoculars primarily for watching and identifying migrating hawks. I found the Monarch ( to be of excellent value as they are light enough so they are not bothersome ---they are easily adjustable ---but best of all they show a large degree of brightness ----I would definitely recommend them." -Ginny from Barrington, Rhode Island

Nikon Action Binoculars

For a low-priced or "cheap" pair of binoculars without compromising too much quality, you must go with the Nikon Action Extreme ATB 8x40 Binoculars

Features:

• Waterproof/Fogproof/Shockproof
• Multi-layered, anti-reflective coatings on lenses
• BaK4 high-index prisms for maximum light transmission
• Aspherical lenses eliminate virtually all distortion
• Wide Field of View 429 Ft.

So why are these cheaper than the Nikon Monarch's?  These are porro prism binoculars whereas the Monarchs are roof prism which makes them a little more expensive (Porro vs Roof Prism Binocular Design). The porro prism makes these binoculars a little more heavy, weighing 30.1 oz versus the Monarch's weight at 21.3 oz. You can see the shape difference by comparing the photos of each above.

So if you don't mind a little more weight and a slightly more bulky design, these are a great pair of cheap binoculars for bird watching. You can read more about the different sizes and reviews here at our Nikon Action Binoculars page.

User Review of Nikon Action Extreme Binoculars:

"We ordered one pair, and liked it so much that we ordered a second pair. We use our binoculars for close and long-distance bird watching. We have lots of hawks, seagulls,and water birds, and also the typical bird feeder variety.
These binoculars have great clarity, and are perfect for our needs." -Deb & Bill from Mays Landing, NJ

Swarovski EL Binoculars

For top of the line, spare-no-expense, the Swarovski 10x42 EL Binoculars (Free Next Day Air) are a birder's dream come true.

Features:

• Newly designed, highest light transmission optics for high contrast and natural colour reproduction, even at dusk.
• Optimum colour fidelity across the whole light spectrum with unique prism coating SWAROBRIGHT.
• Wide-angle eyepiece for an extra large field of view.
• An optimised roof prism-system with P-coating.
• Airtight, dustproof and watertight to a depth of 4 m (13 ft.).
• No fogging due to nitrogen filling.
• Extremely durable and lightweight housing of magnesium alloy, an aerospace material.
• Non-slip rubber armouring, which is comfortable to handle even in cold weather.

User Review of Swarovski EL 10x42 Binoculars:

"What makes these binoculars "The Best" is not just the superb optics, thought the optics are indeed unsurpassed. What makes them so good is the light weight, wide field of view, and overall design. They are so easy to handle, especially for birders, who are constantly bringing the binoculars up to their eyes and back down. The indentations for your thumbs really help in this regard. The wide field of view makes these 10x binoculars function almost as well as an 8x pair in locating birds. The focusing knob is extremely smooth, making focusing a quick job. About the only drawback to these binoculars is their inability to focus very closely." - Alec from Bend Oregon

So that is our top three best birding binoculars based on review from bird watchers and our personal use.

Summary of Top 3 Best Birding Binoculars

Nikon Action Extreme 8x40 ATB - Best Low-Priced Birding Binoculars. Good viewing, just a little bulky & heavier than more expensive binocs.

Nikon Monarch 8x42 ATB - Best Mid-Priced Binoculars. Roof prism, lightweight, ergonomic design, high-quality lenses give bright, clear images.

Swarovski EL 10x42 - Best High-Priced Binoculars. Simply the best of the best. Highest quality optics, nice feel, all the bells & whistles to make an excellent pair of birding binoculars.

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