Top 5: Binoculars

A good pair of binoculars is a staple in any naturalist’s kit. Whether you are wildlife watching, insect spotting or exploring the wilderness, we have a fantastic range of optics to enhance your outdoor activities.   

Discover our top 5 best binoculars for wildlife watching below, where we highlight the key features of each for easy comparison.  

Bushnell Prime Binoculars 8×32 BP832B 

A great entry-level option with high quality optical performance, these binoculars are waterproof, lightweight and robust which makes them great for fieldwork. A wide field of view makes these ideal for fast moving animals and large landscapes, and the anti-reflective coasting ensures a bright image with high contrast. 

  • EXO barrier coatings to repel oil, dust and water 
  • BAK-4 Prisms for excellent image quality and low light performance 
  • 20-year guarantee  
  • Weight: 479g 
  • Magnification: 8x 
  • Field of view: 130m @ 1000m 
  • Eye relief: 18mm 
  • Close focus: 9ft / 3m 

 

GPO PASSION ED 8×32/42mm Binoculars 

Combine value and performance with these lightweight binoculars from GPO. A magnesium body provides a robust chassis, the Schmidt-Pechan prisms further enhance their durability, while superb clarity and exceptional colour transmission ensure an excellent price to performance ratio.

  • Suitable for all levels of expertise  
  • Multi-coated lenses for exceptional clarity and colour transmission 
  • Wide field of view 
  • 10-year guarantee 
  • Weight: 520g 
  • Magnification: 8x 
  • Eye relief: 16mm 
  • Field of view: 139m @ 1000m 
  • Close focus: 2m 

 

Hawke Optics Nature-Trek Binoculars 8×42 

Completely waterproof and fog free, these robust binoculars are ideal for fieldwork. The multi-coated optics and an inner-focus optical design ensure high resolution images, and a close focus distance of 2m make them great for observing insects.  

  • Shock resistant polycarbonate body 
  • BAK-4 roof prism 
  • Lifetime guarantee 
  • Winner – Best Low Cost Binocular Award 2014 
  • Weight: 638g 
  • Magnification: 8x 
  • Eye relief: 18mm 
  • Field of view: 129m @ 1000m 
  • Close focus: 2m / 6.6ft  

 

Opticron Explorer WA ED-R Binoculars 10×42 

An impressive field of view makes these compact binoculars great for surveying large landscapes and fast-moving animals, and a close focus of 2m makes them suitable for viewing insects too. Multi–coated lenses allow extra light transmission and colour contrast, ensuring clear, crisp viewing. 

  • Nitrogen waterproof construction  
  • Close focus: 2.5m / 8.2ft 
  • Weight: 660g 
  • Magnification: 10x  
  • Eye relief: 15mm 
  • Field of view: 113m @ 1000m 
  • 10-year guarantee 

 

Swarovski CL Pocket Binoculars with Wild Nature Case 10×25 

Ideal for travelling, these pocket binoculars are compact and lightweight, while providing users with a large field of view and great close focus suitable for insect observation. A high-quality lens and prism coating ensure excellent optical performance, even at low light, and SWAROBRIGHT phase prism coating ensures better colour reproduction and light transmission. 

  • 10-year warranty  
  • Waterproof to 4m 
  • Magnification: 10x 
  • Eye relief: 17mm 
  • Field of view: 98m @ 1000m 
  • Close focus: 2.5m 
  • Weight: 350g 

For more information on how to choose the right pair of binoculars, see our blog post on the Conservation Hub.  Â