The different kinds and ratings for binoculars can be daunting for the beginner to get over but in this article I'm going to discuss what to look for when choosing bird watching binoculars in particular. This should help you to narrow the field and concentrate on the qualities which really matter.

There are obviously various price ranges to choose from and you should buy the best pair of birding binoculars you can afford however whatever the price, some features are essential.

Firstly we'll look at magnification and it's generally accepted that bird watching binoculars are best in the 7x - 10x magnification range. This with give you good close ups but also a fast focus time which is important since some bird species are very fast and hardly stay in the one place for more than a few seconds. For this reason your binoculars need to be able to focus quickly.

If you were to use more high powered models they would simply be too impractical for the viewing task. You'd have to be in a specialist situation such as a viewing hut looking at shy birds from long distance to make them the right choice.

It's also wise to look closely at the construction and build quality of the binoculars as chances are you're going to find yourself caught out by rain or inclement weather from time to time. With robust pairs you'll find they 'feel' very solid and have good waterproofing qualities.

Lastly we need to consider light. This is extremely important as you want your images in focus to be bright in order to fully appreciate the details of the bird species your watching. By keeping the magnification to the ratings suggested here you'll get bright viewing pictures also during times when light levels are generally lower such as at dawn and dusk.

If you can, try to test out various models before making your final choice however by keeping in mind these basic guidelines you'll be sure to buy a pair of bird watching binoculars which are up to the task.