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Binoculars
Birding binoculars built for life in the outdoors by experts who spend their lives there. Find the highly-regarded Smithsonian Great Outdoors Binoculars exclusively here.
Your new birding binoculars are going to go on a lot of adventures with you. Even when you aren't going bird watching, a seasoned birder knows to bring their bird watching binoculars everywhere they go.
If you're going to be spending so much time with it, you better find the best birding binocular.
The Smithsonian Great Outdoors bird watching binocular set is designed to be the most well-rounded birding binocular on the market. It has features that make it an excellent choice for beginners and features that appeal to more seasoned birders. It's a jack-of-all-trades type of binocular, and we're glad you found it.
Magnification power and portability
For the average birdwatcher, birdwatching binoculars at 8X magnification won't give a good enough look at the feathered figure 30 meters away on a log in the wetland.
10X magnification is the generally agreed-upon magnification level for birding. Any higher magnification and it gets tough to keep the image you see steady.
Smithsonian Great Outdoors binoculars are 10X42. The first number, 10X, is the magnification. The second number, 42, is the lens diameter of the objective lens.
Why does that matter to you?
The objective lens is what lets light in. Some models have a larger objective diameter, up to 52+mm, some smaller, like 25mm. Smaller means lighter and easier to carry around. A more compact binocular.
So why would anyone choose bigger?
Because as more light comes in, the image you see is clearer and wider. For bird watching, it's a fine line between portability and functionality (a big enough objective lens to give you a look at your subject the right amount of portability, so you don't feel like you're looking down a keyhole).
42mm is a perfect balance, so you can still get a good look at your subject in low light conditions without lugging around a 10 pound binocular. When you try yours out on the first day, and into the evening with light disappearing, you'll agree.
Made for hard use in nature
Birding binoculars should be built with features that help them survive in nature.
Waterproof binoculars survive in nature. Fogproof binoculars survive in nature.
The twist-up eyecups shed dust and dirt easily, so eyeglass wearers can adjust the view for eye relief with ease in any conditions.
The rubberized grips stick to your hands, even when they're sweating over the California Condor you spotted in the woods, and the focus knob is remarkably smooth, so you can keep an eye on your subject as it moves.
And built for you to get a good look at elusive birds
A set of birding binoculars can have all the magnification power in the world, but if the optical glass isn't sufficient quality, you won't see what you want.
These feature a multi coated lens and bak 4 prism - with a higher refraction value than other available materials. For you, that means better light transmission and, what really matters, bird watching.
The Smithsonian line includes other birdwatching accessories to bring along with your bird watching binoculars.
Find a lightweight and high magnification spotting scope in the menu to the left, and an ultra-portable monocular for packing light overnight on the trail.
Order two and your shipping is free, and we'll make sure your order is out the door and on its way today.
If you're ordering for your biology or outdoor education class, request a quote on volume pricing. Your large order qualifies you for even more competitive pricing.
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