Which binoculars uk

A magnification of 8x means that the object you observe with binoculars will appear eight times closer than it does in the real world. When watching sport, a wider 'field of view' is more useful than strong magnification. If you aim to use the binoculars without a tripod, then models with an 8x magnification are generally easier to hold steady than those with a larger magnification. The second number refers to the objective lens diameter.

This is the lens through which light enters the binoculars. The larger this number, the brighter the image in the binoculars will appear all other factors being equal.

The larger the objective lens diameter, the larger and heavier the binoculars are likely to be. Generally, binoculars with an objective lens diameter greater than 30mm are classed as standard-sized. Those with an objective lens diameter of less than 30mm are classified as compact. If you plan to use your binoculars outside, then you may want to consider a waterproof pair.

This will keep the inner mechanics protected from an unexpected downpour and prevent any water getting in. Binoculars with a high magnification anything from 10x upwards can be harder to hold steady without the use of a tripod.

Many standard-sized pairs have a tripod mount built in, or will be labelled 'tripod adaptable'. This way you can see if your hands are steady enough to use them without needing a tripod. If you wear glasses, look for eye relief of more than 14mm, or 17mm for thick glasses. Most binoculars have sliding eyecups or rubber eyepieces that can be rolled back, allowing the eye to sit closer to the lens. You can shop smart by checking the retailer's returns policy and also have a look at some customer reviews.

Our advice guide on online shopping has more details. Popular retailers that stock binoculars include:. Discover which retailers are rated highly by Which? We don't currently test binoculars at Which? We contacted these retailers for a list of recommendations and received a response from Amazon and John Lewis in time for our deadline — listed below are their recommendations.

Popular binoculars gallery. A large collection of images displayed on this page are available at. These binoculars come bundled with a phone adaptor so you can attach your mobile and take pictures from distance through the binoculars. They provide 10x magnification and are waterproof in up to 2m of water for five minutes. The Nikon Prostaff 7S Binoculars are best-suited for wildlife observation and use mirror-coated prisms with high reflection to improve brightness levels.

Most have a central focusing wheel and a dioptre adjustment for focusing images. The dioptre adjustment is an important feature, as it compensates for the differences between the strength of your eyes. This feature can often go unnoticed by novice users who aren't certain what it does. Follow these five easy steps and you'll get the best image possible:.

Discover our top picks of the year. Last updated by Craig McInally 3 days ago. We have tried and tested all binoculars in the UK so know what separates the best from the worst.

Protection against British weather A decent pair of binoculars will be okay to use in light rain and humidity. What we look for in Binoculars: Image Quality Every pair of Binoculars in our Top 10 has undergone extensive checks for excellent image clarity. Usability We have a panel of experts who test every Binoculars for comfort, and ease-of-use. Viking Kestrel ED 8x42 Binoculars. Our Verdict. Product Features. Average Customer Review 4.

What We Think. More options available:. Viking Badger 8x42 Binoculars. To make things easier to navigate, we've divided our guide up into affordable and premium binoculars. If you're on a limited budget, or think you'll only want the binoculars every so often, then a cheaper pair will definitely fit the bill. Premium binoculars are more for professional users and those who need the best no matter the cost.

If that's you, jump straight to our second section for our picks of high-quality binoculars made using premium optics!

The list below comprises some of our favourite binoculars from different manufacturers, but remember that many of the models here are also available in other sizes. So if a particular model interests you, be sure to check all the magnifications available. Nikon is a reassuring name when it comes to optical quality, and its binoculars are made with just as much care and attention to detail as its lenses.

So much so in fact that this pair of Nikon binoculars won a Red Dot design award. A mid-range model, these binoculars are armoured and come with a non-slip construction, available in 8x42 and 10x42 configurations.

The highly reflective silver alloy mirror coating on the surface of the prism lenses delivers a light and clear view that's comfortable to enjoy for long periods thanks to the long eye relief.

The binoculars are also fog-proof, with a sealed O-ring and nitrogen-purged innards. As an all-round option at an affordable price point, these binoculars offer some of the best value you can get in this market, and are our pick for all-around best. Something of a bargain, this pair of Celestron BaK-4 prism binos boasts 8x magnification and multi coated optics to keep your view as clear as possible. This isn't the only size available — you can get these Outland X binoculars in other magnifications and sizes too.

Suitable for outdoor use by birders and wildlife watchers, thanks not only to said magnification but also a sturdy polycarbonate build and waterproofing, the decent-sized 42mm objective lenses on offer here will aid light gathering, making these binoculars suitable for use in low light as well as regular daylight.

A large smooth-feel focus wheel aids operation and a long 18mm eye relief delivers viewing comfort. Capable of being tripod mounted if desired, a strap, lens cloth and carry case comes as standard, plus a limited lifetime warranty. While the Bushnell Powerview 2 10x42 may feature-wise be a pretty basic pair of binoculars, the aluminium-alloy chassis gives them a real premium feel. You certainly get the impression this pair could survive a knock or two though we wouldn't recommend testing this on purpose.

The reasonably large objective lens ensures good light transmission, and the ridged focus control wheel is satisfying and intuitive to use. With rubber grips for a secure hold, the Bushnell Powerview 2 is an all-around well designed set of binoculars, at a pretty reasonable price. To shoot for the stars, you obviously need a pair of binoculars with a high magnification factor — as well as ones with excellent light gathering abilities.

Multi coated lenses combine with BaK-4 prisms to allow for increased light transmission and therefore high contrast images with bags of detail. Stargazers will also benefit from the fact that this option can be tripod mounted, while it also has its own centre support rod for increased stability. A polycarbonate and aluminum build provides both robustness and portability, while we also get a product that is waterproofed and fog-proofed with it, which is especially useful on cold winter nights.

Read more: Opticron Savanna WP 6x30 binocular review. While the 10x magnification factor of the Steiner 10x 26mm Safari UltraSharp Binoculars is certainly impressive, what also grabs your attention is how light they are, weighing just g, but a glance at the specs reveals a lot of this is due to the pretty small 26mm objective lenses. Handling is excellent, however, with an ergonomic grip and intelligently laid-out controls, and optical quality is near top of the range.

They're not quite at level of, say, the Canon or Zeiss see below binoculars, but at this price they're really nothing to sneeze at. Made with high-contrast optics that deliver an image of exceptional quality, these binoculars represent some of the best value for money on this list.

As well as being great in low light, they're suitable for outdoor use, thanks to a durable polycarbonate construction filed with dry nitrogen gas to prevent fogging in cold and wet conditions. Add in multi-coated optics and this is a robust, well-specified pair of binos suitable for everyone from beginners to intermediate users. This bright, sharp and reliable model from the Olympus pro line up a new 8x42 version is also available features nano coating for the first time in the range.

Compact, ergonomically designed and of rugged construction that prevents any ingress from water if submerged at a depth of one metre for five minutes, close up performance is also impressive, with the ability to view subjects as near as 1. Nitrogen filling prevents fogging while the design is slim and simple. An extendable eye relief provides comfort for spectacle wearers, as do a dioptric adjustment ring, flip down lens cap and a new strap mount.

A year warranty provides extra peace of mind. Fashioned to survive almost anything, the Leica Trinovid-HD 10x42 binos get our vote for the best binoculars for bird watching right now.

Their ergonomic design and steady grip allows for accurate and precise focusing, delivering both razor sharp close-ups of our feathered friends, plus long distance clarity. The Nikon Monarch HG 10x30 binoculars are not only compact and relatively portable at g, the magnesium alloy build has the benefit of being water and fog proofed too.

Use of extra low dispersion ED glass corrects chromatic aberration that can cause colour fringing, while comfort is provided via a soft-to-the-touch neck strap. A tripod adaptor for each is an optional extra. Suitable for pretty much every pursuit, especially the watching of wildlife, the 10x magnification of our pick, the Zeiss Victory SF 10x42 , not only brings the faraway up close, but the optical performance has a crystal clarity thanks in part to a seven-lens eyepiece. This particular model is also the most versatile, as well as the most premium, with an evenly balanced weight distribution and ergonomic grip making hand-holding the binos for a prolonged period a pleasure.

Zeiss also claims that a large exit pupil measuring over 5mm reveals the details in dark shadows or dim dusk. Read more: Zeiss Victory SF 10x42 binoculars review.

This battery-operated option enables you to get a wobble-free image by just pressing in a button on the binoculars — and the stabilizing effect is both instant and jaw-dropping. As well as rock-solid stability, these porro prism binoculars sit comfortably in your hand and sport a comfortably long at 16mm eye relief, plus a large 4. Binoculars have lots of different specs, but there are two key ones that are best to focus on if you want to keep things simple. These are: magnification and lens size.

Most binoculars will list both in their name.