10 best binoculars for bird watching and wildlife spotting

Best: Overall

• Magnification: 8x
• Lens diameter: 32mm 
• Weight: 521g

A good option for more general usage, or if you’re just getting into birdwatching or other kinds of wildlife field work. This pair gave a good, clear field of view and were comfortable to look through for extended periods, with twisting eyecups that can be closed down if you’re wearing glasses and raised if you’re not. For the price, the image quality, colour and sharpness is impressive and the British manufacturer has hit a sweet spot when it comes to weight, as they’re not so heavy as to cause arm ache and not so light that they can’t be held still.

Best: Binoculars for sport events

• Magnification: 8x
• Lens diameter: 21mm
• Weight: 195g

These hinged binoculars with a slim profile fold up nice and small and are very light, so they’re barely noticeable in a pocket, meaning they would be suitable for a sporting event or festival. We got a nice bright image from the lens and dialling in the focus was made easier with a large ring that was smooth to turn.

Best: Lightweight binoculars

• Magnification: 8x
• Lens diameter: 21mm
• Weight: 215g

A pocket-sized pair that’s very reasonably priced, has a good field of view and a clear image. The rubber body was easy to grasp so you could hold them steady. The binoculars were compact and lightweight, making them ideal for when you’re out walking and want some magnification to take along with you.

Best: Image stabilisation

• Magnification: 14x
• Lens diameter: 32mm
• Weight: 775g

When you have this much magnification at your fingertips it’s also good to have added image stabilisation because the magnification intensifies hand shake, particularly when your hands are under strain in the viewing position.

The IS system in the Canon worked well and at the flick of a switch, the powered technology steadied the bright image superbly and stopped it jumping around so that we could really study the detail. Overall, the casing moulded to the hand making the binos easy to use for extended viewing.

Best: Waterproof binoculars

• Magnification: 8x
• Lens diameter: 24mm
• Weight: 240g

If you’re keen on fishing or sailing these small binos are a good option as they offer 100 per cent waterproofing as well as providing a nice image that’s clearly defined. Very user-friendly, the binoculars made it easy to find moving objects quickly and focus cleanly for quick viewing.

Best: For low light conditions

• Magnification: 8x
• Lens diameter: 42mm 
• Weight: 670g

These are well-balanced binos, which were comfortable in the hand and able to provide a bright image with good colour quality, especially in low light conditions. This makes them a good option for the more committed naturalist who might be staking out a particular area at dawn or dusk in order to capture wildlife. Magnification was good and the design makes it very easy to pull something into focus quickly, so that you don’t miss a sighting.

Best: For serious birdwatchers

• Magnification: 10x
• Lens diameter: 42mm
• Weight: 1kg

Obviously, the price tag means that the SF is going to be suited to someone who is getting serious, with a field of view that makes it easy to locate a subject and then keep it in view, even if the animal or bird is quickly changing direction. Beautifully balanced, they feel much lighter than a kilo in the hand, largely thanks to a clever design detail, which puts the weight close to the eyepiece so you won’t end the day with aching arms. The focus wheel is smooth, fast and easily found when you’re looking through the eyepieces.

Best: For quick wildlife spotting

• Magnification: 8x
• Lens diameter: 20mm
• Weight: 245g

These compact binoculars felt very robust, with the kind of build quality that you would expect from one of the big names. For such a small set the image you get is astonishingly sharp all the way to the edge and very bright. The Leicas were easy to align to the eyes with a push button adjustment underneath the focus puller. That means they won’t suffer any accidental changes when they’re bouncing around in a backpack or in your pocket, which is great for ultra quick wildlife spotting. The shock-absorbing, black rubber casing was also comfortable to use.

Best: Luxury binoculars

• Magnification: 10x
• Lens diameter: 42mm
• Weight: 850g

Another pair with wildlife professionals in mind, as soon as you pick up the NL pures you can feel where your money is going with some superior ergonomics. Swarovski has sculpted the barrels for a natural hold and the image that you will be presented with is pin sharp, with clarity that goes all the way to the edge of the lens and won’t let you down even in low light situations. It’s a huge investment but the attention to detail is incredibly impressive and is matched by the performance in the field, which gives an immersive experience every time you look through the eye lenses.

Best: Razor sharp image

• Magnification: 8x
• Lens diameter: 25mm 
• Weight: 345g

Another high-end compact that offers razor sharp imagery and, for a little extra weight, you will get a broader field of view, so you can really take in a vista without having to move the binoculars. Swarovskis is always going to be an investment but these are built for life with superior optical quality that will make objects easy to target and bring details into sharp focus. In general usage, the binoculars are easy to operate and they come with a tough case and belt loop that features a quick release Velcro strap so that you can access them quickly.