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Are you fascinated with birds and want to get a closer look?
A monocular is a great tool for your bird watching hobby! They are compact and lightweight, making them easy to take with you on all of your adventures.
Monoculars provide clear images and a lot of the monoculars on the market include a smartphone adapter allowing for some amazing pictures of your feathered friends.
In this comprehensive product review, we will take through our finds on our journey to find the best bird watching monocular and help you determine which one is right for you.
Whether you are an avid birdwatcher looking for an upgrade or just getting started, read on to find your next bird watching monocular!
What we are looking for in a bird watching monocular
It can be hard to find the a monocular for your needs, because there are so many different options available.
With all of the different monoculars on the market, it can be hard to know which one is right for you. What do you need in a monocular for bird watching?
We know we need a fog proof design and we want bright and clear images while bird watching, but do we really need a high power prism monocular with fully multi coated lens in a bird watching monocular?
We’ve done the hard work for you. Scroll down to find our top three monoculars for bird watching!
Best Monocular For Birdwatching
Gosky Piper Monocular Telescope, 12x55 HD Monocular for Adult with BAK4 Prism & FMC Lens
Why We Picked It
This monocular meets our fog proof design requirement and Gosky is known for good quality optics. With it's 12x zoom and great image quality, this monocular provides a great bird watching experience.
It's comfortable to hold with the padded hand strap and the focus ring is easy to adjust while viewing. It's the perfect balance of size, quality, and price that makes this our top pick.
What You Should Know
It has 12x magnification and a 55mm lens which is a great configuration providing high magnification and optimum light transmission providing crisp images.
This high power prism monocular touts a BAK4 Prism which helps keep the weight down and helps provides clear images while the fully multi coated lens prevent scratches and increase light transmission which can also help in low light conditions.
This monocular has non slip rubber armor and nitrogen filled interior keep it fog proof and shock proof obtaining an IPX7 rating, which makes it suitable for all weather conditions.
Be sure to check the price on our top pick to see if it fits your budget!
Spotting Scope, Huicocy 20-60x60mm Zoom 39-19m/1000m with FMC Lens, BAK4 45 Degree Angled Eyepiece, Fogproof Spotting Scope with Tripod, Phone Adapter, Carry Bag for Target Shooting,Hunting,Birding
Best Zoomable Monocular For Bird Watching
Spotting Scope, Huicocy 20-60x60mm Zoom 39-19m/1000m with FMC Lens, BAK4 45 Degree Angled Eyepiece, Fogproof Spotting Scope with Tripod, Phone Adapter, Carry Bag for Target Shooting,Hunting,Birding
Why We Picked It
Looking for a powerful and versatile monocular for bird watching? Then check out the Huicocy 20-60x60mm Zoom 39-19m/1000m with FMC Lens. This monocular features a zoom adjustment feature that lets you zoom in or out for closer or wider views.
That single feature brings it to the second spot on our list helping us get extreme close up views of our feathered friends. With the large objective lens this HD monocular telescope won't disappoint you.
This unit is the heaviest, most powerful on our list so the included tripod makes it easy for steady viewing. If you want to get up close and personal, this is the monocular for you.
What You Should Know
This HD monocular telescope is a great choice for those of us that want to get up close and personal with it's adjustable 20x-60x magnification and get maximum light transmission with the 60mm lens providing clear images while bird watching.
The fully multi coated lens and nitrogen filled interior makes it fog proof and the BAK4 prism provides clear image quality
At 1.3 lbs it's not light weight, but it's also not too heavy. The integrated tripod mount and the included accessories (tripod, lens cover, carrying case and a smartphone adapter) make this HD monocular telescope a great choice for bird watching and one of the best monoculars for bird photography.
Best Compact Monocular For Bird Watching
Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Monocular, Black, 10x42-mm
Why We Picked It
If you are looking for the most compact monocular for bird watching, the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Monocular is ideal for you. Featuring 10x magnification and a 42 mm lens, this monocular isn't our most powerful, but it is our lightest.
The clip on the side keeps it handy and the non slip rubber armor provides comfortable viewing while bird watching out on the trail. The Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Monocular is sure to provide a clear and unobstructed view.
What You Should Know
This monocular is a great choice for anyone looking for a lightweight and versatile optic. Like our other picks, this monocular has a textured rubber armor and nitrogen filled interior making 100% waterproof and fog proof.
The BAK4 prism with fully multi coated lens provide clear and bright images, while the PC-3 Phase coated prism and ED Prime Glass ensure superior light transmission and color fidelity.
The belt clip makes it easy to keep the monocular handy when in the field, and the comfortable ergonomic design is easy to hold and use. Bushnell is a trusted name in outdoor optics, and this monocular is sure to provide many years of dependable service.
Bird Watching Monocular FAQs
Buying a monocular can be confusing because there are so many options available.
It's hard to know which monocular is the right one for you. What magnification should you get? Do you want one with a smart phone adapter.
We've compiled the most frequently asked questions about monoculars to help make your decision easier. Here are the most important things to consider so you can purchase your monocular today.
What are the benefits of a monocular over binoculars when bird watching?
Monoculars are easier to carry around and take up less space. They are also less expensive than binoculars.
Binoculars provide a wider field of view, which can be helpful when bird watching when they are in trees. However, monoculars offer a higher magnification level, making them better for viewing birds from a distance.
How to consider when purchasing a monocular?
When choosing a monocular, you should consider the following factors:
- Magnification: The higher the magnification, the closer you can get to objects. However, a higher magnification may also make the device heavier and more difficult to hold steady.
- Objective Lens Diameter: The Larger the number increases light transmission resulting in a brighter image, but may result in a larger monocular.
- Exit Pupil: The larger the exit pupil, the more light that is collected. This is important if you plan to use your monocular in low-light conditions.
- Eye Relief: The eye relief is the distance between your eye and the lens of the monocular. If it's adjustable that will allow for easiest use with or without glasses.
-Camera Adapter: Does it come with an adapter or work for travel photography?
What do the numbers 10x42 after a monocular mean?
Those are the monocular's specifications, meaning that it has a 10x magnification and a 42mm objective lens diameter.
Most use cases for monoculars include bird watching, star gazing, and hunting. Anywhere from an 8x to a 12x is best suitable for those. The larger that first number, the farther away you can see, but the harder it is to obtain the object in the view finder.
The second number (42 in this case) is the objective lens Diameter, which is actually our next question.
What is Objective Lens Diameter?
The objective lens diameter is the size of the lens at the front of a telescopes optical tube. It's also sometimes called the "aperture". The bigger the objective lens, the more light it can gather from distant objects and the better the image will be. In general, a telescope with a large aperture will be more expensive than one with a smaller aperture.
The size or diameter of this primary optics is extremely important in determining how much light the telescope can gather. The size is usually expressed in terms of the primary optics' focal length, which is typically measured in millimeters (mm).
What is eye relief?
Eye relief is the distance that your eye can be from the lens of your monocular and still see a full, unobstructed field of view.
This distance is important because it determines how much light enters your eye, and therefore how much detail you can see in an object. If the eye relief is too short, you will not be able to see the object clearly. If the eye relief is too long, you will not be able to see the entire object.
If you wear glasses, then you will want a monocular with an adjustable eye relief, otherwise you may have to take off your glasses to best view from your new monocular.
What magnification is the best for bird watching?
The best magnification for bird watching is the highest power you can comfortably use. A higher power will give you a more detailed view while bird watching, but it will also be more difficult to hold steady.
So find the magnification that gives you the best view of the bird while still allowing you to keep it in focus.
What is FOV?
FOV is Field of View. This is important when determining what you are using your monocular for. The higher the magnification the less field of view you have.
What does "fully multi coated lens" mean?
Fully multi coated lenses are a type of lens that has multiple layers of anti-reflective coatings. This helps to reduce reflections and glare, which can improve image clarity.
In addition, fully multi coated lenses also help to protect against scratches and smudges.
What exactly is a BAK4 Lens?
A BAK4 lens is a type of roof prism binoculars that are made of high quality materials. The lenses are usually made with either magnesium or aluminum, which helps to keep the weight down.
They also have a coating that helps to improve light transmission and help to keep the image clear.
Best Monocular for you
We hope you found our list of the best monoculars for bird watching helpful. Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to find the perfect one for your needs. If you have any questions about these products or want help finding the right one for you, don’t hesitate to reach out. We are happy to help! And if you decide to purchase one of these monoculars, we would be grateful if you used the button below to check prices on Amazon. Thanks for reading!
