Birding 101: Mastering Binoculars for Beginners
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 มิ.ย. 2024
- Binoculars are a great tool for birding, but there are some things you should know before using your first pair or buying a more expensive pair. Learn everything you need to know in this comprehensive guide.
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Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 4K Digital Camera
Used for most bird videos) - check credits as we do source some photos/videos elsewhere which is noted in the description
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Cayer FP2450 Fluid Head Tripod, 75 inches Aluminium Tripod
Derek's lighter tripod
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Andoer Video Tripod Aluminum Alloy 67 Inch
Derek's heavier tripod
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Nikon D5300
Derek's vlogging and macro camera
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Rode VideoMicPro Compact Directional On-Camera Microphone
Derek's external microphone for Nikon D5300
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Background in cover image by tom00la (Public Domain, edited)
Robin in cover image by Tom Koerner (Public Domain, edited)
0:00 Intro
0:18 The 2 most Common Binocular Types
1:53 How to Use Binoculars
3:57 Understanding Magnification (What Do the Numbers Mean?)
4:51 Good Qualities to Look For
9:06 High Quality Binocular Brands
9:32 How Should you Store Binoculars?
9:50 Conclusion
All other photos and videos by Derek and Ryan Sallmann
#Birding #BirdWatching #BadgerlandBirding
The Paid Promotion stamp is because some of the binoculars were sent to us for free in order to test, but that played no role in suggested products.
0:00 Intro
0:18 The 2 most Common Binocular Types
1:53 How to Use Binoculars
3:57 Understanding Magnification (What Do the Numbers Mean?)
4:51 Good Qualities to Look For
9:06 High Quality Binocular Brands
9:32 How Should you Store Binoculars?
9:50 Conclusion
One tip that helped me a ton (from Better Living Theough Birding) was to find the bird (or whatever you’re looking at with your eyes, then bring the lenses to your face. It makes getting optics on the subject a snap!
Thanks, just what I was looking for!
Glad you found it helpful!
Super helpful! I bought my first pair of binoculars a couple days ago, vortex diamondback 8x42, and got to use them today, they're so nice!
Big Vortex fan!
I'd also suggest a binocular harness. I always go out with a pair of binoculars and a camera. Having the harness for the binos really helps when I'm trying to do some photography.
Will you explain the 'eye relief' feature you mentioned please? Like what's it for? Why should use I it? When/how do I use it?
Once again with the timing, guys!! Are you spyin' on me? (kidding haha!)
I only JUST got my hands on an old-ish book for starting birders (the NatGeo guide to using their guide, which amuses me). BUT! The chapter on optics and binoculars was particularly of interest and help for me. I can't recall offhand if I've said in other comments, but I wear glasses (bifocals no less) - my first couple of tries using binoculars did NOT go well, heh. I had no idea how the optics really work, so I was mashing the eye cups against my glasses. (This was also many MANY years ago in the early 1990s, I was a teen and really very silly.)
So NOW I get it, a little more anyway. This is even more helpful since your info is bound to be much more current-accurate for brands and pricing. It's a huge relief to understand that I don't absolutely have to drop $200 on a pair of binoculars, trust me. I'm still only just starting out and I'm poor dangit :P
Thank you so so much! I've also been pointing my friend to your channel, she's taking film classes and asked me about nature photography. I feel like the way you two discuss birding is just conversational enough to be comfortable and knowledgeable enough to give her a good intro!
Thanks so much! Glad the timing was spot on for you :)
Scope vs. binoculars. When to use one over the other? Is one better? Is there a big difference? If you have really good binoculars is a scope worth it? Do you eventually need both?
Scopes are more for extra long range scanning, binoculars are for closer viewing. Binoculars will normally come first in your line of needed gear. I’ve gotten by with just scanning far distances with my superzoom camera on a tripod but most birders will get a scope eventually.
Here’s or scope guide: th-cam.com/video/NWAVejzeu_I/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ksH8aiAvE21IZHGU
I bought my 14 year old her first pair of binoculars at age 5 (she was a bit of a sciencey nerd) by Bushn3ll, so of course they're small (7x35) but I keep them by our back sliding door and grab them often if I hear something outside that I want to try to see. I know they're obviously not the best, but they work to help me identify something quickly!
Most important thing is that they work for you!
Nice Video , when i started birding 15 years ago and didnt know much about binoculars , i first started with a pair at 50$ and they were ok , then i got a pair at 450 and i thought that was alot and about the most that binocular cost , i had no idea that the picture could get a LOT Better and the cost can go as high as 3000$ for a pair of binoculars . i dont think most people know that binoculars from the ALPHA 3 companies can cost around 3000$
Yeah! It’s pretty wild! And now they’re coming out with binocs with built in stabilization but that’s a topic for another video
I got a pair of binoculars from Walmart that cost $30.00, and they work pretty well.
Solid!
cool vid. ty for the time you take for simple instructionals. firstly, i want to say that i love nature, all of nature, but fir past 7 years I have this even greater affinity for birds. And birds and critters literally come near me and pose, for real. And they do cute stuff, as if they were posing for a photo etc. So, i have always wanted to learn photography and nature. So, my question is , "How difficult is it to get into doing that for profit and and be able to sustain one'self in that lifestyle?
Thanks! It can be tricky to make a living in the wildlife field. Right now I would say the main career paths are as a professor or researcher for a college or wildlife organization or as a guide. I would also add most people aren’t living a lavish lifestyle from it, the majority do it because they love it.
@@BadgerlandBirding Ty for feedback. I am not looking for lavish. Just figured I should investigate the feasibility of wildlife photography sustaining a minimalist lifestyle, van, or fifth wheel life.