# Best binoculars for nature watching **URL:** \ **Category:** Nature Talk\ **Created:** [June 30, 2019, 4:31pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/best-binoculars-for-nature-watching/4632 "2019-06-30T16:31:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![silkenpaw](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/silkenpaw/32/2944_2.png) [@silkenpaw](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/silkenpaw)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2019, 4:31pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/best-binoculars-for-nature-watching/4632/1 "2019-06-30T16:31:30Z")
Hi all, What full-size binoculars would you recommend for nature-watching? I have compact ones for travel but would like some with a wider field of view. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![jbroadhead](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jbroadhead/32/1748_2.png) [@jbroadhead](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jbroadhead)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2019, 5:15pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/best-binoculars-for-nature-watching/4632/2 "2019-06-30T17:15:18Z")
What’s your budget? Top of the line binoculars can be well over $1000 but you can find some pretty good ones for just a couple hundred. I used to use Vortex Diamondback 8x42 which can be found for about $180 but recently upgraded to Vortex Viper 8x42 which are about $490. ---
**Author:** ![silkenpaw](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/silkenpaw/32/2944_2.png) [@silkenpaw](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/silkenpaw)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2019, 5:32pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/best-binoculars-for-nature-watching/4632/3 "2019-06-30T17:32:53Z")
$500, give or take. I know I can spend lots more but would rather spend it on macro photo gear. ---
**Author:** ![silkenpaw](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/silkenpaw/32/2944_2.png) [@silkenpaw](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/silkenpaw)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2019, 5:34pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/best-binoculars-for-nature-watching/4632/4 "2019-06-30T17:34:24Z")
…So your Vortex ones sound just right. Where’s a good place to buy? Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![jbroadhead](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jbroadhead/32/1748_2.png) [@jbroadhead](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jbroadhead)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2019, 5:51pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/best-binoculars-for-nature-watching/4632/5 "2019-06-30T17:51:18Z")
I got my Viper 8x42 from Amazon but you can find them at most outdoor or optics retailers like Cabela’s or B&H. No matter where you get them they come with the Vortex VIP warranty so if anything happens to them you just send them in to Vortex and they’ll make things right. I had their budget spotting scope get knocked out of alignment right before a trip so I sent it to them for repair and they had it shipped to my hotel. I’m a huge fan of Vortex optics. ---
**Author:** ![silkenpaw](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/silkenpaw/32/2944_2.png) [@silkenpaw](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/silkenpaw)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2019, 7:11pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/best-binoculars-for-nature-watching/4632/6 "2019-06-30T19:11:16Z")
Thank you. Sounds like a great company. ---
**Author:** ![tallastro](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/tallastro/32/1145_2.png) [@tallastro](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/tallastro)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 4:01pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/best-binoculars-for-nature-watching/4632/7 "2019-07-01T16:01:30Z")
I’ve heard good things about the Pentax Papilio II recently. They have 2 models 6.5x & 8.5x. The main feature of these is the close focus, about 20", while keeping the 2 images from each lens aligned so you can use both eyes. ---
**Author:** ![silkenpaw](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/silkenpaw/32/2944_2.png) [@silkenpaw](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/silkenpaw)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 5:23pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/best-binoculars-for-nature-watching/4632/8 "2019-07-01T17:23:27Z")
Thank you. I have wanted these for a long time for observing insects. ---
**Author:** ![haida\_gwaii](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/haida_gwaii/32/15982_2.png) [@haida\_gwaii](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/haida_gwaii)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 2:16am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/best-binoculars-for-nature-watching/4632/9 "2019-08-30T02:16:30Z")
How about if the budget is \<$300, and they are for someone who wears glasses (so I need a long eye relief…\>17 mm), and waterproof? In my research I read that Nikon and Pentax have good optics. It sounds like Vortex is a good choice. Also, I know the 8 x will be easier to find things like a moving bird, but wouldn’t 10 x be better to see more detail from far away? I would rather not buy new ones in a few years. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/2X/7/7831452cf7f0d653ff1ffd34176334b7ef1b6a17.png) [@system](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2019, 2:21am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/best-binoculars-for-nature-watching/4632/10 "2019-10-29T02:21:34Z")
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