The Best Binoculars for Birdwatching in Australia
Birdwatching buyer's guide
The best binoculars for birdwatching
The best binoculars for birdwatching are the ones you lift to your eyes without thinking, focus in a flash, and happily use all morning. Here are six we rate in Australia, from a budget close-focus gem up to the pair serious birders dream about.
Choosing
What to look for in birding binoculars
Four things matter more than anything on the box: magnification, the size of the lenses, how wide a view you get, and whether they're comfy to hold for hours.
Magnification
The first number, like the 8 in 8x42. For most birding, 8x is the better pick. You get a wider view to find a bird, a steadier image, and a brighter picture in low light. Go 10x for open country and water.
Objective lens
The second number, in millimetres. A 42mm lens pulls in plenty of light for bright views at dawn and dusk, while staying light enough to carry on a long walk.
Field of view
How wide a slice of bush you see at once. A wide field makes it far easier to land on a small bird that won't sit still, then follow it as it moves.
Comfort and eye relief
You'll hold these up for hours. Longer eye relief helps if you wear glasses, and a pair that balances nicely in the hand saves your arms in the field.
The numbers
What do 8x42 and 10x42 mean for birding?
The first number is magnification and the second is the size of the front lenses in millimetres. So an 8x42 makes birds look eight times closer and has 42mm objective lenses to gather light.
For birding, 8x is usually the better pick. You get a wider field of view to find a moving bird, a steadier image in the hand, and a brighter picture in shade or at dawn. The 42mm lenses give you that bright view, and they're still light enough to wear all day.
Step up to 10x and you trade some of that steadiness and field width for a touch more reach. It suits open country and wetlands, where birds tend to sit further off.
At a glance
How the six compare
| Binocular | Magnification | Field of view | Close focus | Best for | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pentax Papilio II 8.5x21 | 8.5x | 6.0° | 0.5 m | Close-up nature on a budget | $199 |
| Nikon Prostaff P7 8x42 | 8x | 7.2° | 3 m | Best entry all-rounder | $305.25 |
| Nikon Monarch M5 8x42 | 8x | 6.4° | 2.5 m | A step up in glass | $448.62 |
| Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42 | 8x | 7.5° | 1.5 m | Value and a lifetime warranty | $451.95 |
| Zeiss Terra ED 8x42 | 8x | 7.1° | 1.6 m | Premium, but attainable | $949 |
| Swarovski NL Pure 8x42 | 8x | 9.1° | 2 m | The best view, full stop | $4,475 |
Top picks
Our best binoculars for birdwatching
Best budget close-focus pick
Pentax Papilio II 8.5x21
A little ripper for the garden and close-up nature. The clever bit is the close focus, right down to half a metre, so a butterfly or a wren in a nearby bush fills the view. It's a Porro design, tiny and light at around 290 grams. The small 21mm lenses are happiest in good light, so think bright-day birding and backyard nature rather than dawn and dusk.
8.5x21. Porro prism. Close focus 0.5 m. From $199.
Best entry-level all-rounder
Nikon Prostaff P7 8x42
The pair we hand most first-time birders. It's properly waterproof and fog-proof, smooth to focus, and the view is wide and sharp for the money. The field of view is actually a touch wider than some dearer pairs, and the long 20mm eye relief is comfy if you wear glasses. For a lot of folks, this is all the binocular they'll ever need.
8x42. 7.2° field of view. Eye relief 20.2 mm. From $305.25.
A step up in glass
Nikon Monarch M5 8x42
Spend a bit more and you get ED glass, which cuts the colour fringing you can see around a dark bird against a bright sky, so edges look cleaner. The prism coatings are better too, for a brighter, crisper view. The field is a smidge narrower than the cheaper P7, so you're paying for nicer glass, not a wider view. A smart buy if you're out most weekends.
8x42. ED glass. Eye relief 19.5 mm. From $448.62.
Big value, lifetime warranty
Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42
Priced right next to the Monarch M5, and the decider is often the warranty. Vortex backs these with their VIP unconditional lifetime cover, so if you knock them about they'll repair or replace them, no receipt and no questions, and it passes on if you sell them. Bright, wide view, a handy 1.5 metre close focus, and ours come with a GlassPak harness in the box.
8x42. 7.5° field of view. VIP lifetime warranty. From $451.95.
Premium glass, attainable
Zeiss Terra ED 8x42
Here's where German optics start to show. Schott ED glass and Zeiss coatings give a bright, contrast-rich view with lovely natural colour. The body is compact and grippy, it's fully waterproof, and it balances nicely in the hand. It's the most affordable way into proper Zeiss glass, and you notice the jump in clarity straight away on a sharp-edged bird.
8x42. Schott ED glass. Around 725 g. From $949.
The best view, full stop
Swarovski NL Pure 8x42
If money's no object, this is the one. It's widely rated as the finest birding binocular going, with a view you have to look through to believe. The field of view is huge for an 8x42, a full 9.1 degrees, so birds seem to float in a big window of crisp detail right to the edge. It stays bright into dusk, balances beautifully, and takes an optional forehead rest for long sessions.
8x42. 9.1° field of view. Around 91% light transmission. From $4,475.
Our pick for most people, in detail
Nikon Prostaff P7 8x42 specifications
Optics
Magnification
8x
Objective lens
42 mm
Field of view
7.2° (about 126 m at 1000 m)
Eye relief
20.2 mm
Prism
Roof, phase-coated
Build
Weatherproofing
Waterproof and fog-proof, nitrogen filled
Weight
Around 590 g
Questions
Birdwatching binocular questions
What are the best binoculars for birdwatching?
For most people, an 8x42 like the Nikon Prostaff P7 is the sweet spot, with a wide, steady, bright view at a fair price. Step up to the Nikon Monarch M5 or Vortex Diamondback HD for better glass around $450, the Zeiss Terra ED for premium clarity, or the Swarovski NL Pure for the very best view.
Is 8x or 10x better for birdwatching?
For most birding, 8x is better. The wider field of view makes it easier to find and follow a small bird, the image holds steadier, and it stays brighter in low light. Choose 10x mainly for open country, water and wetlands where birds sit further off.
What size binoculars are best for birds?
An 8x42 is the classic birding size. The 42mm lenses give bright views from dawn to dusk, and the pair is still light enough to wear all day. Compact 8x32 or 8x25 pairs are handy for travel but dimmer in low light.
Are expensive binoculars worth it for birdwatching?
Up to a point. The jump from entry to mid-range, around $450, brings ED glass and noticeably cleaner, brighter views. Premium pairs like Zeiss and Swarovski add edge-to-edge sharpness, a wider field and lovely handling, which keen birders value. A good $300 to $450 pair still pleases most people.
Under southern skies, backed by Bintel
Still weighing it up? Tell us where you'll use them and what you'd like to spend, and we'll point you to the right pair. Browse the full range on our birdwatching binoculars page, or pop into Bintel for a squizz through a few.
Australian warranty
Genuine local stock
Ships from Sydney
From local stock
Expert advice
From keen birders
30+ years
Helping Aussie birders