This list features the best options available in the following budget ranges:
Best of the Best
over USD 1 000
Affordable
under USD 750
Budget
under USD 250
What are the Best Binoculars for Birding and Wildlife?
Top Recommendations Per Price Bracket
Best of the Best
Swarovski EL 10×42 SV
USD 2 200
Affordable
Zeiss Terra ED 10×42
USD 500
Budget
Vortex Diamondback 10×42
USD 249
Taking all factors into account, my recommendation for the best binoculars for birding and wildlife, as well as by far the best value for money is the:
Zeiss Terra ED 10×42
I have over 20 years’ experience using binoculars in the field, usually on photographic Safaris and game viewing excursions in southern Africa where I live. Trust me, I have used more different kinds of binoculars than most people!
I have spent a lot of hours staring through camera lens optics and I know exactly what I am looking for in a pair of binoculars.
As a keen birder I have owned many different types, specifications and brands of binoculars – usually upgrading after less than a year in the search for more reach and clarity.
My research for this article combined my own experience, online research and some field test trips courtesy of friends of mine in the outdoor gear retail business.
Read also Big Six Birds of Kruger National Park
Evaluation Factors – Best Binoculars for Birding and Wildlife
The recommendations made in this article are based on evaluation of the following:
- Image quality
- Size and Weight
- Overall build quality
- Price
Image Quality
When you are comparing binoculars it is important to understand the 5 factors that impact image quality namely:
Glass
The first thing you should look up is the type of glass used in binocular prism and lens construction. You will know that wildlife photographers have a collective name for lenses they use – glass.
Lenses are often the biggest investment a photographer can make and there is a reason for this. You can have the most expensive camera money can buy but if you have inferior glass your images will be inferior quality.
Glass quality dictates the amount and dispersion of light as it enters your binoculars and also impacts colour rendition, brightness etc.
There are three types of glass used in binocular prism construction that impact quality. From the least desirable up to most desirable:
BK-7 is the cheapest and image quality reflects this. Avoid unless this is a secret Santa present.
BAK-4 glass is far superior to BK-7 and is used from medium price range to top of the line binoculars.
BAK-4 ED ED or Extra-low Dispersion glass employs the same elements of light dispersion technology present in flagship camera lenses. Nikon use the ED identifier on their top lenses and these elements are there to reduce chromatic aberration and fringing.
I took the image below using an ED lens – the AF-S Nikkor 600mm f/4E FL ED VR
Type of prism
There are two types of prism design namely porro prisms and roof prisms.
Porro prism binoculars are usually better quality as they give you a better sense of depth of field or DOF. Roof prism binoculars are lighter but they do not give the same user experience.
There are however some excellent quality roof prism binoculars for birders and wildlife enthusiasts so it is best not to discount any make or model on prism design alone.
Lens coating
Binocular lenses are coated in much the same way that camera lenses are. As a general rule of thumb, the more coating the lens has, the higher quality it is.
The type of coating influences the amount of light let into the lens. The more light, the sharper and clearer your subject appears.
When you are discussing binoculars with your chosen dealer or manufacturer, ask whether the lenses are single coated or multi-coated.
Try where possible to purchase binoculars that are multi-coated as this will give you the best anti reflection protection and viewing experience.
Read also my article Best Wildlife Photography Lenses
Exit pupil
The size of the exit pupil influences the amount of light that reaches your eye.
It stands to reason then that the larger the exit pupil, the more light that reaches your eye and therefore the better the image quality and viewing experience.
The size of exit pupil also impacts your field of view. The same principle applies – the wider your field of view, the more light that is let in.
Binoculars have a minimum exit pupil size of 3 mm and I would recommend you go wider than this and look for binoculars that have an exit pupil of between 4-5 mm wide.
Pupil exit size is paired with magnification strength and it usually follows that the smaller the exit pupil, the greater the associated magnification. For example;
Binoculars with 8x magnification will have an exit pupil size of 5 mm and binoculars with 10x magnification will have an exit pupil size of 4 mm.
Objective (front lens)
If you are familiar with how different apertures impact light entering a camera lens, then you will immediately get the significance of the diameter of a binocular lens.
In photography, the wider the aperture, the more light that is let in and subsequently the cleaner, sharper and brighter the image (simplistically put). With binoculars, the wider the front lens, the more light that is let in and the better the image quality.
The aperture of a lens often dictates how and in what situations, a particular lens is used.
The diameter of the front lens in binoculars prompts the same discussion about use. What will you be using the binoculars for 90% of the time?
Use the guide below when thinking about front lens diameter:
25 mm to 30 mm = less light = lower image quality in low light situations
30 mm to 75 mm = more light = better image quality in low light situations
Over 75 mm – specialist applications such as astro scopes etc.
Size and Weight
If your primary interest is viewing birds and wildlife then it is likely that the size and weight of your binoculars matters to you.
I do most of my bird watching and game viewing from a vehicle in southern African game reserves so I am not particularly bothered about size and weight.
Most bird watchers do their ‘twitching’ on foot and so size and weight of the binoculars they are carrying is significantly more important.
The goal would therefore be to choose a pair of binoculars that is robust yet lightweight and has the best quality glass possible without being too heavy.
Note also that roof prism binoculars are usually lighter than porro prism binoculars.
Overall Build Quality
Build quality of your binoculars is vital if you spend your days trekking around forests, marshlands or even deserts, in search of birds and wildlife.
Top of the line binoculars are water proof, dust proof and can survive a drop of several meters on to concrete.
As with most things in life, the build quality and general robustness of your binoculars will be reflected in the price you pay.
Price
My advice would be to decide on a budget and then choose the best quality pair of birding and wildlife binoculars within that price range, using the knowledge you have picked up from reading this article.
There is little point in paying so much for your binoculars that you can no longer afford to go on that birding expedition to Costa Rica.
Best Magnification Binoculars for Birding and Wildlife?
The level of magnification is a critical choice to make when deciding which binoculars to buy for birding and wildlife viewing.
We need to understand what impact the choice of magnification has on the user experience, and how this would determine whether the magnification suits your primary purpose.
Read also 51 African Birds to Photograph on Safari
Binocular Magnification Explained
The magnification value of a pair of binoculars indicates how large your subject will appear as compared to your normal vision capabilities.
Assuming you are looking through a pair of 8x binoculars, an object that is 800m away will appear to be the same size as viewed with the naked eye from 100m.
Usually the greater the magnification capability of the binoculars the narrower the field of view.
Common Binocular Magnification Options
The most popular magnification options for bird watching and wildlife viewing are either 8x or 10x.
The binoculars reviewed in this article are all the 10x option in order to make prcing comparisons easier.
Some models come in a 12x option but this narrows the field of view too much to be really suited for birding and wildlife.
Best Budget Binoculars for Birding and Wildlife
Top 3 Recommendations under USD 250
Vortex Diamondback 10×42
USD 249
Nikon Aculon 10×42
USD 120
Leupold BX-1 10×42
USD 200
Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42
My pick of the 9 binoculars featured here, the Vortex Diamondback 10×42 is the perfect balance of value for money, portability and quality.
If you are a birder you will almost certainly spend a lot of time hiking around and additional weight is not want you want.
Weighing in at a touch over 21 ounces the Vortex Diamondback is the lightest of the three in this review.
The Vortex Diamondback, like a lot of the binoculars in this review, are marketed to the hunting market which of course is totally compatible with wildlife viewing.
What I like
Great robust build quality. Comfortable to hold and light to carry. Not much distortion.
What I don't like
Sharpness falls off around the edges of the image. Chromatic aberration is visible under certain conditions but that is common across this price range.
The Technical Specs
- Magnification 10x
- Objective Lens Diameter 42 mm
- Eye Relief 15 mm
- Exit Pupil 4.2 mm
- Linear Field of View 330 feet/ 1000 yards
- Angular Field of View 6.3 deg
- Close Focus 5 feet
- Height 5.7 inches
- Width 5.1 inches
- Weight 21.3 oz
Nikon Aculon A211 10x42
The Nikon Aculon A 211 is marketed as an entry level birding and hunting binocular from this brand and it seems to do the job. Incredibly cheap, these is the lowest priced binoculars reviewed in this article.
It is heavier than the Vortex Diamondback but that may have something to do with the robust construction.
What I like
These are built for the outdoors and are waterproof and scratch resistant. I owned the predecessor to these and have always liked the feel of Nikon binoculars in your hand.
What I don't like
Very soft around the edges and even more chromatic aberration than the Vortex Diamondback.
The quality is about what you would expect at this price range but not what I would expect from Nikon.
The Nikon Aculon A211 is half the price of the Vortex Diamonback and unfortunately this comes out in the quality comparison.
Technical Specs
- Magnification 10x
- Objective Lens Diameter 42 mm
- Eye Relief 11.6 mm
- Exit Pupil 4.2 mm
- Linear Field of View 314 feet/1000 yards
- Angular Field of View 6 deg
- Close Focus 16.4 feet
- Height 5.7 inches
- Width 6.3 inches
- Weight 26.8 oz
Leupold BX-1 McKenzie HD 10x42
The Leopold BX-1 McKenzie HD is a roof prism design binocular aimed at the hunting market. They are as a result perfectly suited to wildlife viewing.
What I like
I like the ergonomics of these and they are easy to carry in your pants pocket.
Image clarity is great at this price level and is comparable with the Vortex Diamondback.
What I don't like
The colour casting and fringing is immediately apparent but not as bad as on the Nikon Aculon. This is pretty standard at this price range.
The focus knobs feel loose – at least on the pair that I tested.
Technical Specs
- Magnification 10x
- Objective Lens Diameter 42 mm
- Eye Relief 15 mm
- Exit Pupil 4.2 mm
- Linear Field of View 304 feet/1000 yards
- Angular Field of View 5.8 deg
- Close Focus 9.8 feet
- Height 5.6 inches
- Width inches
- Weight 22 oz
Top 3 Recommendations under USD 750
Zeiss Terra ED 10×42
USD 500
Bushnell Fusion X 10×42
USD 700
Steiner 10×42 Predator
USD 600
Zeiss Terra ED 10x42
The Zeiss Terra ED is my overall favourite. If it is value for money you are looking for then look no further.
The Zeiss quality is apparent and it is obvious that years of research and development into their flagship brands have definitely benefited this entry level model from the brand.
What I like
Excellent quality at a competitive price. Very solid feeling but not heavy. Very crisp image and smooth focusing.
One of the reasons that I chose the Zeiss Terra HD is its size and portability. If you spend a lot of time walking then you will love this one.
No loss of color and no obvious fringing and chromatic aberration.
What I don't like
Edge to edge clarity is about what you would expect in this price range.
The image does not quite have that depth of field user experience I would have hoped for, but then again I have to look quite hard to get something to be picky about.
Technical Specs
- Magnification 10x
- Objective Lens Diameter 42 mm
- Eye Relief 14 mm
- Exit Pupil 4.2 mm
- Linear Field of View 330 feet/1000 yards
- Angular Field of View 6 deg
- Close Focus 5.2 feet
- Height 5.6 inches
- Width 4.7 inches
- Weight 25.6 oz
Bushnell Fusion X 10x42
The Bushnell Fusion X are rangefinder binoculars. This means that they are primarily aimed at the hunting market.
The main difference between a rangefinder and a normal pair of binoculars is that you can push a button and get a read out how far you are away from your subject.
Not a requirement for birding and wildlife viewing necessarily but an interesting option.
What I like
These binoculars have class leading IPX7 waterproofing and Exo-Barrier lens coatings.
Decent low light performance and a no-nonsense design make the Bushnell Fusion X a very popular choice for hikers, hunters and birders alike.
What I don't like
One disappointing point to note is that the image is not as bright as I would have liked and there is a fair amount of peripheral distortion.
The Bushnell Fusion X does not have a tripod mount. This doesn’t worry me as I never put my binoculars on a tripod but it is worth noting.
Technical Specs
- Magnification 10x
- Objective Lens Diameter 42 mm
- Eye Relief 16 mm
- Exit Pupil 4 mm
- Linear Field of View 305 feet/1000 yards
- Angular Field of View 6.3 deg
- Close Focus 21 feet
- Height 7 inches
- Width inches
- Weight 35 oz
Read also the Ultimate Guide -Photographing Birds
Steiner 10x42 Predator
The Steiner Predator is perfectly suited to game and wildlife viewing.
What I like
A great slim profile gives these a streamlined look that I really like. The sunshades work for me but they are not for everybody. You can peel these back if you find they get in the way.
Great edge to edge clarity that competes with binoculars in a higher price bracket.
What I don't like
The focus wheel feels loose to me but I must admit that I haven’t owned any Steiner binoculars so this may be standard.
Technical Specs
- Magnification 10x
- Objective Lens Diameter 42 mm
- Eye Relief 15 mm
- Exit Pupil 4.2 mm
- Linear Field of View 324 feet/1000 yards
- Angular Field of View 6.2 deg
- Close Focus 6.5 feet
- Height 6.9 inches
- Width 4.7 inches
- Weight 26.3 oz
Top 3 Recommendations over USD 1 000
Swarovski EL 10×42 SV
USD 2 200
Zeiss 10×42 Victory SF T*
USD 2 900
Leica UltraV 10×42 HD Plus
USD 2 200
Swarovski EL 10x42 SV
Swarovski have led the top end of the market for many years. The EL series have legendary optical performance and a price to match.
If money is no object then the Swarovski EL 10×42 SV is simply the best birding and wildlife binoculars out there.
What I like
Looking through the Swarovski EL gives you an almost 3D experience. The clarity and colour rendition of these binoculars make them the ultimate pair of binoculars for birders and wildlife enthusiasts.
They also last a lifetime. I have owned the 8.5x version of these for 15 years.
What I don't like
At USD 2 200 it is increasingly difficult to motivate buying a pair of these.
Birders and wildlife enthusiasts are often also keen photographers and adding this kind of cost to an already huge investment in optics – like camera lenses – is not something most people would consider.
Technical Specs
- Magnification 10x
- Objective Lens Diameter 42 mm
- Eye Relief 20 mm
- Exit Pupil 4.2 mm
- Linear Field of View 336 feet/1000 yards
- Angular Field of View 6.4 deg
- Close Focus 10.8 feet
- Height 6.3 inches
- Width 5.2 inches
- Weight 29.6 oz
Zeiss 10x42 Victory SF T*
I only had these for one day but I was really impressed with the optical performance.
I think I still prefer the Leica and the Swarovski over these but there is honestly not much in it and perhaps I feel that way only because I have owned the other two and am more familiar with them.
What I like
The Zeiss Victory SF 10×42 T* Binoculars have some upgraded features when compared to the original SF line and I like that they have now matched the colours of the side ‘armour’ with the body.
It almost goes without saying that these are incredibly good binoculars for birding and wildlife. They are particularly good in low light with almost uncanny colour rendition.
What I don't like
Perhaps predictably, the only aspect I can fault the Zeiss Victory on is the price.
Enough said but if you can get past that, then these are one of the best binoculars in the world.
Technical Specs
- Magnification 10x
- Objective Lens Diameter 42 mm
- Eye Relief 18 mm
- Exit Pupil 4.2 mm
- Linear Field of View 360 feet/1000 yards
- Angular Field of View 6.5 deg
- Close Focus 5 feet
- Height 6.8 inches
- Width 4.9 inches
- Weight 27.5 oz
Leica Ultravid 10x42 HD Plus
The Leica Ultravid is generally accepted as being one of the world’s best binoculars for birding and wildlife.
The beautiful colour rendition and clarity, the trademark sticky feel of the grips, the bright red logo and minimalist ergonomics, have given the Leica Ultravid an almost cult like status.
What I like
I have always liked the feeling a pair of Leica’s gives me. As soon as you pick a pair up you know that these are designed to give you the best viewing experience ever.
What I don't like.
The Leica Ultravid competes in the same market as the Swarovski EL and is priced at around USD 2 200.
At some point one has to debate the rationale for buying these when you can get more than acceptable quality and performance from binoculars selling at a third of the price.
Technical Specs
- Magnification 10x
- Objective Lens Diameter 42 mm
- Eye Relief 16 mm
- Exit Pupil 4.2 mm
- Linear Field of View 337 feet/1000 yards
- Angular Field of View 6.4 deg
- Close Focus 9.5 feet
- Height 5.8 inches
- Width 4.8 inches
- Weight 3 lbs
Read my article Best Wildlife Photography Cameras 2022
Conclusion
Ultimately, the binoculars you choose for birding and wildlife need to suit your pocket as well as your hobby.
For those readers who do most of their birding on foot I would recommend a lighter pair of binoculars as well as perhaps a magnification of 8x rather than 10x.
