Online Shopping For Binoculars? Read this first.

If you’re online shopping for a pair of binoculars and you’re not sure where to start, this guide is for you.

When you’re getting into something new it can be difficult to know what equipment you need to buy. Not only that, it can be hard to know who to trust. Every manufacturer and shop will claim their products will be the best, but we all know people can be mistaken (especially when they’re selling them).

And for full disclosure before we get into this guide, we sell binoculars too. In fact, we’re one of the most successful companies in the UK when it comes to selling binoculars and other optical equipment over the internet.

However, the difference with this guide is that we’re not here to try to convince you to buy anything. Instead, we’re going to arm you with all the knowledge we think is important you know before buying so you can make the right purchase for you.

What You Need To Look For When Buying Binoculars On The Internet

When shopping for binoculars, it’s important to consider the specific features that will determine the quality and suitability of the binoculars for your needs. In this section, we’re going to take you through the key ones.

Magnification Is Very Important

Magnification is a key factor to consider when selecting binoculars. If the magnification is too high, you may experience a small field of view and a shaky image. On the other hand, if the magnification is too low, you may not be able to see the object in enough detail.

For bird watching, a good range of magnification is 7-10x, as this allows for a close-up view without an unstable image. When shopping for binoculars on the web, pay attention to the magnification listed in the product name, such as “8x” in “Hawke Nature-Trek 8×32” – this means this pair has 8 times magnification.

Don’t Overlook The Weight

Don’t underestimate the importance of the overall weight of your binoculars. While it might not seem like a significant factor at first, the weight can make a difference if you plan to use the binoculars for extended periods of time.

An extra 100 grams may not seem like much, but it can add up when you’re holding the binoculars to your face for hours on end. That said, if you plan to use a tripod with your binoculars, the weight may not be as much of a concern.

FoV Is Going To Determine How Wide Your Image Is

The field of view (FoV) is an important factor to consider when choosing binoculars. It determines how wide you can see through the binoculars at a given distance.

In the product specifications, it is usually displayed as something like “120m @ 1000m,” which means you’ll be able to see 120 metres across at 1,000 metres away.

If you’re bird watching, a smaller FoV may make it more difficult to observe all of the birds you’re interested in at once.

If You’re In The UK, You Need Them To Be Waterproof

It’s important to choose waterproof binoculars as the weather is often rainy in the UK. Cheap binoculars may not come with this feature, but that’s going to really limit the times you can actually use them if they’re not able to cope with the rain.

Make sure to invest in waterproof binoculars if you plan to use them outdoors.

Look For A Good Warranty

When evaluating potential binoculars, consider the warranty offered by the manufacturer or retailer. A solid warranty is often a sign of a reliable product, and you can expect to receive a decent pair of binoculars if the warranty is comprehensive.

If you’re buying binoculars from us, you don’t need to worry about this as every pair we sell comes backed with our no-nonsense lifetime guarantee.

Check The Lens Coatings

To maximise light transmission (how bright the image is) and reduce glare, binocular manufacturers apply various coatings to the lenses.

If you’re looking to get a decent pair, try to get some that have fully multi-coated (FMC) lenses. This means they have multiple layers of chemical coatings to reduce glare and improve light transmission.

Try To Get BAK-4 Glass Prisms

Prisms are responsible for magnifying the object you’re viewing through the lens. If you’re looking for a high quality pair, choose binoculars with BAK-4 glass prisms, which are made from high-quality precision optical glass with minimal imperfections and excellent light transmission.

BK-7 glass prisms will have slightly more imperfections, but are also a good choice.

Why We’re The Best Place To Buy Binoculars Online

Every company is going to claim they’re the best at what they do, so we’re aware you’ll take this section lightly (if you’re even still reading at all!)

But we thought we’d take a moment to share with you some of the reasons why buying binoculars with us is easier, safer, more convenient and all round better than other websites.

We Offer Fast And Free Delivery Across The Entire UK

If you order a pair of binoculars from us, we’ll deliver them direct to your door 100% free. No matter where you are in the UK.

All Binoculars Come With Our Lifetime Guarantee

We stand behind the quality of the binoculars we sell and offer a lifetime guarantee on every single pair of them. If you experience any defects with your binoculars, we’ll repair or replace it at no cost to you. It’s that simple. No fuss, and no nonsense.

We’re A Local UK Business, Not A Faceless Conglomeration

As a local UK business, we believe in the value of personal relationships and providing a truly personalised service to our customers. We don’t have to answer to distant shareholders or corporate executives – we only have to answer to our customers, and we take that responsibility very seriously.

If you have any questions at all about the best pair of binoculars for your needs, feel free to give us a call on 01268 944149.

We hope you found this article useful and have a fantastic day.