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What magnification do I need?

Young man watching birds on the bank of the Thames

Generally speaking, the lower the magnification:

  • the brighter the image
  • the closer the nearest focus point
  • the greater the depth of field
  • the wider the field of view
  • the easier the binoculars are to hold.

Generally speaking, the higher the magnification:

  • the less bright the image
  • the narrower the depth of field, requiring more frequent focusing
  • the heavier the binoculars are likely to be
  • the harder they are to hold still.

For general birdwatching, lower magnifications such as 7x or 8x are recommended, especially if you also use a telescope.

Higher magnifications (10x) are more suitable for use in hides or for viewing estuaries, reservoirs or other large, expansive areas. If you do not use a telescope and weight is not a problem, the higher 10x magnification can be a good compromise.

Zoom binoculars with variable magnification are not recommended. They rarely give as good an image across their range as single magnification binoculars and have more chance of developing faults.