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Step 1
Decide what type bird you want to watch or photograph. Bird watching is done at different times of the year depending on the type of bird you want to watch. Having a good pair of binoculars lets you get close without getting too close. You can also plant flowers in your backyard to attract birds you want to watch.
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Step 2
Research the types of binoculars available, what they were designed for and match that with your preferences and price range. Most hunting supply stores carry bird watching binoculars. They also are available online. Without cameras, they can range from around $15 to nearly $3,000. Top of the line is from Leica. Like any optics, they should have good glass for lenses, be balanced to give you the three-dimensional effect and be comfortable to use. If you are going to watch them in the backyard, you will know what kinds of birds come in what seasons. If you want to get out in the field to watch, you will widen the variety of birds you can see. Basic, inexpensive binoculars are good for backyard watching while more expensive, greater focal length sets may be necessary elsewhere. Like glasses or camera lenses, look for coated lenses that reduce glare and, if possible, fog resistant sets for different weather conditions.
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Step 3
Don’t just watch; photograph. With digital cameras built in, binoculars can range from $70 to $500. The resolution ranges from between 2 megapixels to 5 megapixels or more. Most digital cameras themselves only range to about 5 or 6 megapixels, so these binoculars work well. You can upload the photos to a computer to adjust them or print directly to printers designed for it.
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Step 4
Try some binoculars. While there are unlikely to be any birds available to watch at the store, you can take the binoculars to the window can give a sense of how they will work outside. Try the most distant object—like a tree or a house—and see how clear it is and how close it appears. Also, focus on something up close so you can see how sharp the image can be. You will be looking at birds at varying distance, so try a variety of distances when testing binoculars. When you're comfortable with the binoculars, buy them and test them in the real world. As long as they are not damaged and within a set period of time from purchase, most stores will let you return them to get a different set if you don't like the ones you have. Many bird watchers have several sets for different viewing circumstances.
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Step 5
Try different brands. While Leica may make that $2,800 pair of fog-free waterproof binoculars, try some of the other well-known optics companies such as Pentax, Celestron, Vortex, Eagle and Zeiss. The prices will range widely, but a good field set should be affordable to most pocketbooks.
