Binoculars Blog

Remebering the Basics

Trevor Bending — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:03:52 +0000

All too often I see customers, random people, and even experienced outdoors(people) grab a brand new binocular out of the box, lift it to their eyes and start off. Rarely, and I say this unfortunately, do I see a user take the few seconds to adjust the diopter on the binocular to their need. Now, there are three types of people in this category, the people who think they know how to adjust it, and the people that don’t know how, and the people who don’t know what the diopter is. And hey, we’ve ALL been there.

Now, why do …

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Sweet Image Stabilized Binocular

George Poulos — Thu, 09 May 2013 20:07:58 +0000

Among the many fun things we get to do in our positions here, it's being able to examine and often use many products that we may never buy and certainly may never be able to afford. My most recent discovery is another amazing product from Zeiss. While looking through our warehouse availability list, I noticed the we had a few of these in stock and was curious about how they handled and worked. Enter the Zeiss 20 x 60 S Image Stabilization Binocular #526000 and it's absolutely unbelievable! The most impressive feature is that they will stabilize your viewed image without …

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So, what do Popeye and I have in common?

Mark Harris — Wed, 01 May 2013 18:28:43 +0000

I don’t have an anchor tattoo, I haven’t worn a sailor suit since I was two years old (thanks, Mom), I’m not crazy about spinach, my wife Wendy is WAY cuter than Olive Oyl and the only Alice I know – my Grandmother – was not a Goon.

What I have in common with the character created by E.C. Segar for the January 17, 1929 installment of Thimble Theater, is that neither of us get much use out of our right eyes. Mr. Segar once stated that the cause of Popeye’s perpetually padlocked peeper was that “he lost it in …

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Night Vision Binoculars that Wont Break the Bank

Chase Bending — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:19:09 +0000

One of the more common questions I receive is whether or not there exists a night vision binocular that can be effectively used in daylight; something that will have all the attributes of a high end binocular, and a high end night vision device. The short answer is no. Night vision is only designed to be used effectively at night. Now, it is true that you can function test night vision in the daylight with the pinhole lens covers down. However, this will by no means enhance your view, which is kind of what binoculars are designed to do.

There …

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Classes have kicked off!

Trevor Bending — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:11:46 +0000

Here at OpticsPlanet we are striving for continued education. One of the traits that separates ourselves in the industry is our continued training schedule for all our employees. I truly mean ALL employees. I am the training coordinator here at Opticsplanet, so I plan and organize a pretty in depth curriculum. We have around 15-17 annually in product knowledge classes that employees take part in. Now, when I saw all, I mean all. We have our sales and customer service personnel present, our web team, risk management, logistics, warehouse staff, returns, and the list goes on.

The Class we start the …

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500 Binoculars

Mark Harris — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 20:01:04 +0000

No, not 500 individual binoculars (although we do have over 1000 different models), but a binocular that one might use for viewing the world's largest single-day sporting event, The Greatest Spectacle In Motor Racing, the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500.

I'll admit that I might be a wee bit prejudiced, having grown up (according to Google Maps) a mere 40.6 miles from the Speedway, but this is a Big Deal for Hoosiers. There's corn, high school basketball and this big race in May. As a kid, we were close enough that the television broadcast of the race was blacked out, and there's …

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Bino Accessories for Happier Glassing

George Poulos — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:57:13 +0000

I have to admit that I’ve never paid too much attention to my binoculars until recently. I’ve simply taken them for granted. When packing for a hunt, I would carelessly throw my little compacts into the bag and stuff them in a pocket when in the field. For years, I used an old porro prism Pentax 7×50 binocular that finally just fell apart. Lately, I’ve had the opportunity to test and acquire some newer models that I have become quite fond of and have added some accessories to make using them even more enjoyable.

Even though my current “full size” …

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Rundown of the Nikon Monarch Binocular

Chase Bending — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:06:36 +0000

One of the more common inquiries I receive as a product expert is “what are the differences between the various binoculars in Nikon’s Monarch line”. Nikon currently offer a Monarch 3, 5, and 7 series of binocular; and then above that they have the Premier and the EDG, and under the Monarchs they have the Prostaff, Aculon, and Action Extreme. They also have a number of specialty series and they all come in various magnifications and objective sizes. With this many options it can be very difficult to see what the differences between each one are. For this post I …

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New binocular contender, OptiLogic ED

Trevor Bending — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 17:11:48 +0000

OptiLogic is generally not the first company you think about when searching for a binocular. They are well known and respected for their quality laser rangefinders. They have excelled in that category. However, they got the itch to break into the binocular arena, and they came out swinging. I had the opportunity and privilege to try out and review some of the first units off the line. As I told their company president, “I call it like I see it and I’m honest.” Here is what I found and though of the OptiLogic ED binocular in 8×42 and 10×42.

First …

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No other way to say it: This post is for the birds.

Mark Harris — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:06:37 +0000

We were fortunate to have the National Sales Trainer for Nikon in this week to talk to us about all things binocular. It gave me pause to think about how little I have considered non-hunting uses for optics. Mike is a “birder”, and his descriptions of the many countries he has visited and the bird watching he has done only intensified my cabin fever (this is March in Illinois, and it is BLEAK here).

Besides being a phenomenal cook, loving husband, kind dog owner and all-around general outstanding human being (annual reviews are coming next week), my boss Steve is …

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Grand Slam is not just a baseball term!

George Poulos — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 17:26:43 +0000

Periodically, our team is tasked with testing products in the field and writing a review. Sometimes this can involve some rather boring test subjects and test environment. Well, as discussed in my last OpticsBlog, I recently had the opportunity to be a part of an exciting new program that OpticsPlanet has entered into, which involves contests for various trips and hunts. The first was a Trophy Deer Dream Hunt in Utopia, Texas near San Antonio. The Record Buck Ranch is on more than 20,000 acres of beautiful, yet very rugged terrain, and supports more than 50 species of various trophy …

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Caribbean Cruise and a Zeiss Binocular

Chase Bending — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 16:50:03 +0000

Over Christmas my wife and I were lucky enough to go on a Caribbean cruise with our family. This was my wife’s fourth cruise and my first. Our destinations being San Juan Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten, Saint Thomas, The Bahamas, and two full days at sea. Having no idea what to expect, the only thing I was sure of was that I needed a good compact binocular and a decent pack to carry my gear while ashore. I pretty much already knew what pack I was going to take. I have a COVRT 18 that I purchased last spring and …

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Behind the Review

Trevor Bending — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:34:04 +0000

Consumers are always hyped up and amped to go out and buy the newest binocular that they see on the most current commercial. Who can blame them! Commercials and reviews are great to gather and see information on a new binocular, and from first hand, a lot of fun to do! All too often people forget or don’t know what actually goes into a session like this. I’ve done my fair share of commercials and reviews on binoc’s and most go very smoothly; take them outside, use on a trip, small torture test, then write it up and stamp of …

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A Real “Blue Light Special”

George Poulos — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 19:00:37 +0000

Thirty-some odd years ago, I had only been married for a short time and had become a dad of two with a boy and a girl. My wife, Nancy had always been very tolerant of my desire to fish and hunt as often as I could. In fact, back then it seemed like I was always planning another trip to “somewhere”. I think I must have been looking for any excuse to get away from the smell of dirty diapers, baby powder and Desitin! In those days we didn’t have the sporting goods superstores of today. Oh, there were larger, …

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Freedom of choice

Mark Harris — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 22:05:42 +0000

Last night on the way home after work, I stopped at a convenience store for a cold drink, since traffic wasn’t cooperating during our first major snowstorm of the season. Standing in front of the glass doors of the refrigerated beverages, I was overwhelmed by the selection. I decided to make it simple and just grab an iced tea. Simple? Black tea. Green tea. White tea. Blended teas. Sweetened, unsweetened, lightly sweetened, and naturally sweetened. Mint, mango, peach, tropical, lemon, berry, citrus… okay, maybe water. Water from Wisconsin, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, vitamin water, water with caffeine, berry water, lemon water. I …

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My last binoculars blog

Joannie K — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 11:12:00 +0000

With the nearly 1300 Binoculars blogs I’ve posted, to date, I am all binocular blogged out.

Just kidding. I could easily write another 1300 blogs on binoculars, but the truth is, it’s time for this gal to take full retirement and turn the binocular blog reins over to someone else. This, then, will be my last Binoculars blog.

Thanks to all of you who have been reading my blogs about my daily/nightly adventures with astronomy binoculars, birding binoculars, compact binoculars and thank-you for allowing me to share my passion for birdwatching and astronomy. I’ve enjoyed writing on these topics each …

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Summer birdwatching, summer astronomy

Joannie K — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 10:18:00 +0000

Summertime, for me, is more about using binoculars for astronomy than birdwatching, though, of course, I do plenty of both. Summer IS a slow time of year for birdwatching, no doubt about it. Birds are well hidden by the dense foliage and they’re in no hurry to announce their presence, since mating season has passed and they’re busy raising their young. Summer birding does have its rewards, mind you, but if you want to see a lot of birds in your birding binoculars, you have your work cut out for you. The good news is that fall will bring a …

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Binocular or spotting scope?

Joannie K — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 11:24:00 +0000

When it comes to birding optics, need and want are funny things and not always one and the same. For instance, I keep looking for an excuse to buy full size birding binoculars to add to my collection. I want to buy another birding binocular. Unfortunately, I can’t justify another birding binocular on the basis of need, given that I already have more birding binoculars than I need and that I actually use compact binoculars for most of my birdwatching, instead of larger birding binoculars. True, compact binoculars have some serious shortcomings, but I am an experienced user and lover …

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Nikon astronomy binoculars

Joannie K — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 10:29:00 +0000

I get a bit greedy or, maybe I should say, I get a bit spoiled when using astronomy binoculars with great optics. My Nikon 10×70 Astroluxe,for instance, shows stars as crisp, pinpoint specs of light with amazing brightness and color, but 10x for magnification in astronomy binoculars just doesn’t cut it for viewing some objects in the night sky. So, okay, just buy binoculars with more magnification, right? Problem is, I want that higher binocular magnification with the same image quality, but I don’t currently own astronomy binoculars that can do that and buying such binoculars ain’t cheap. That means …

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Don’t leave home without your binoculars!

Joannie K — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 11:36:00 +0000

One of the great advantages of compact binoculars is portability. These small binoculars are so light, you barely know they’re around your neck until you see something that calls for a closer look and then you’re set. This “take them with you anywhere you go” aspect of compact binoculars is the reason I use my compact binoculars more than any other types of binoculars and I own and use all types of binoculars. In fact, because I make it a habit of taking compact binoculars with me every time I step outdoors, I’ve probably done more birdwatching with my various …

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Owls and Loons

Joannie K — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 11:12:00 +0000

For the last several mornings, I’ve awakened to the sounds of Crows and Blue Jays making a ruckus, no doubt mobbing a hawk or owl, but I’ve yet to locate the object of all their calling. I did step out on the deck several times with binoculars in hand to try to spot all the action, but no luck. Sure, I could have taken a hike back in the woods with birding binoculars around my neck, but heading into the deep woods, this time of year, is like taking an expedition. You need to lather yourself in mosquito and tick …

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Binoculars for double stars

Joannie K — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 12:18:00 +0000

Chasing down double stars with astronomy binoculars is a lot of fun and is part of every one of my observing sessions with binoculars. I recommend sampling a few of these binocular doubles for anyone who owns binoculars and a star atlas.

Even though the majority of “doubles” in the night sky require the magnification and resolution of telescopes, there are still plenty of doubles that can be seen in binoculars, even ordinary birding binoculars, but if you have larger astronomy binoculars, so much the better.

So, why binoculars for double stars? First, there is the viewing advantage of using …

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10×50 binoculars

Joannie K — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:18:00 +0000

My next binoculars will be 10x50s. A 10×50 binocular is, indeed, a versatile binocular size, at least the way I will be using them. First, 10×50 binoculars, assuming good optics, make terrific handheld astronomy binoculars, especially for those of us at an age where our eyes no longer open enough to take advantage of the larger exit pupils (beams of light that leave the binocular eyepieces) that are produced by some larger binoculars. My much larger Nikon 10×70 Astroluxe, for instance, produces 7mm wide exit pupils, but my eyes now open only to 5mm, so a lot of the light …

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North woods wildlife report

Joannie K — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 13:51:00 +0000

Haven’t had a wildlife report for some time, so this is the latest from the north woods. Here goes.

Birdwatching has been it’s usual summer pace of slow, so the birding binoculars have not been seeing a lot of use. Still, I do carry compact binoculars on my daily walk with the dogs, just in case I see something interesting in the way of birds or other wildlife. Back home, in the yard, we do have Ruby-throated Hummingbirds visiting us on a daily basis, mostly to sip nectar from our honeysuckle vine flowers, but also to smaple nectar from our …

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Birdwatching and astronomy with one binocular?

Joannie K — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 12:37:00 +0000

Want to do both birdwatching and astronomy with one binocular? It can be done. Birdwatching with binoculars, by day, and doing astronomy with binoculars, by night is a fairly good way to describe the way I use binoculars. Of the two, the bird watching is the more frequent, simply because I can use the birding binoculars on any given day, but the astronomy binoculars only see action when the sky is clear at night. In years, past, when money was tight and I could afford only one binocular, I used the same binoculars for both my birding and my astronomy. …

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Binocular field of view issues

Joannie K — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 16:06:00 +0000

When it comes to binoculars, would you rather have an extra-wide field of view, even though things are a bit fuzzy at the edge, or would you rather have a narrower field of view that is tack sharp right to the edge? This is something you should consider when it comes to buy binoculars, because when it comes to binocular optics, there is no free lunch. Binoculars of a given magnification that feature jumbo, extra wide fields of view, compared to other binoculars at the same magnification, do sacrifice some image quality at the edge of the field in order …

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Binocular friends

Joannie K — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 11:27:00 +0000

There’s more to binoculars than specs and features; there’s even more to binoculars than brand name and the customer service behind that brand name. Like a favorite fishing rod or canoe paddle, a binocular can become a friend and a prized possession. Binoculars, given their lengthy lifespan, tend to become friends, over time, for a couple of reasons.

For one, a good binocular tends to grow on you. Use your birding binoculars or compact binoculars, enough and you get comfortable with them. Next thing you know, it just plain feels weird to pick up another model of binocular, even to …

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Binocular buying tip

Joannie K — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 13:48:00 +0000

Time to buy binoculars? Been poring over spec tables till your head hurts?

Truth is, I’m not sure how much of our fussing over binocular specs and features is justified, given that the advertised advantages of certain binocular features don’t actually carry over into the field as much as we might think. For example, I’ve owned and used birding binoculars and compact binoculars that were not, technically, waterproof and used them in the rain for years without ever having had a problem with leaking or fogging up. I’ve used older, vintage astronomy binoculars that were not multi-coated, right alongside astronomy …

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Hummingbirds in the binoculars

Joannie K — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 13:33:00 +0000

Birdwatching for hummingbirds is quite unlike watching other types of birds. The birds, themselves, are special, of course, and have abilities unique to their kind. For instance, a bird darting forward AND backwards is a sure sign you have a hummer, since only hummingbirds can fly in reverse.

So, you have a hummer on your hands. Now all you have to do is get the hummer to stop long enough so that you can see it in the birding binoculars for a positive identification. That can be a challenge, given that these little birds can stop and start in the …

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Astronomy binocular memories

Joannie K — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 12:17:00 +0000

Although I’ve been using binoculars for astronomy since the 1970s, it wasn’t until the mid-80s that I managed to save enough to buy “serious” astronomy binoculars in the form of an 11×80. As fate would have it, the binoculars arrived in the mail in early summer, so off I went under summer skies to see what real astronomy binoculars could do. I was not disappointed.

My targets of choice for my new astronomy binoculars were globular clusters. Good choice, because summer skies are choc full of globular clusters and a good many of them are visible in binoculars. Now, at …

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Compact binocular or monocular?

Joannie K — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 11:52:00 +0000

Compact binocular or monocular? I’ve used both compact binoculars and monoculars when I’ve needed something to carry an optic on a steady basis and wanted to keep the size down. Both have some adavntages and, of course, both have disadvantages. Compact binocular or monocular? Which is best? As always, it’s a matter of your intended use. Will you be continuously viewing, as you might when you are actively birdwatching or watching sports? In other words, will your use be a fairly serious and continuous optical endeavor? If so, I strongly recommend compact binoculars. You do sacrifice some optical performance and …

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Using binoculars to view the moon

Joannie K — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 12:29:00 +0000

The moon will be up most of the night, tonight, so time for some lunar astronomy. For most of my lunar observing, I use one of my small refractor telescopes, but since I’ve recently acquired 20×80 astronomy binoculars, I will be doing my lunar observing, tonight, binocular style.

Using binoculars to view the moon is not at all a new experience for me; in fact, I’ve been doing it for over forty years from the day (oaky, night) I bought my first binocular. Fact is, even with ordinary birding binoculars or hunting binoculars, there is a wealth of detail to …

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Birdwatching group

Joannie K — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 12:50:00 +0000

One of the things I do miss from my days of living in the Chicago area are all my birdwatching friends and pals. Our birdwatching group made a lot of memorable trips to the premier Chicago birding hotspots and, believe me, Chicago area does have some great birding. If you ever visit the Chicago area, be sure to pack along your birding binoculars.

Up here, in northern Wisconsin, we also have some great birdwatching, but I have yet to connect with a lot of fellow birdwatchers. It’s my fault, really. It’s simply been a matter of having all the great …

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Old binoculars

Joannie K — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:32:00 +0000

I would not describe myself as a collector of old binoculars, but I do own a few older models of binoculars and enjoy them for the fine binoculars they are. To be sure, modern birding binoculars, astronomy binoculars, hunting binoculars and so benefit greatly from new binocular technology, given new designs, new types of lens materials and lens coatings that seem to show up each year. Still, many binoculars out of the 70s, 80s and even 90s were built with the a lifetime of use in mind and, although the optics may have been old school as far as lens …

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Light astronomy binoculars

Joannie K — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 12:35:00 +0000

Bigger is better when it comes to astronomy binoculars, right? Take a look at binocular models specifically advertised as astronomy binoculars and you can’t help get the impression that “real” astronomy binoculars start at 70 mm in objective size and go rapidly up in size from there. To be sure, I, personally, own and use 70 mm and 80 mm astronomy binoculars and I know plenty of folks that use 100 mm binoculars for astronomy. Those are huge binoculars and a far cry from what most folks have around the house in the way of binoculars.

Do you really need …

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Birdwatching by canoe or kayak

Joannie K — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:51:00 +0000

Summer birdwatching can be a challenge, thanks to all the heavy cover, not to mention that, once birds are on the nest, they tend to call and sing much less, so the odds of identifying birds by their calls or songs, alone, is greatly decreased. So, put the birding binoculars away until fall migration brings new birds into our area?

Hardly. You can still enjoy birding in the summer. It just takes a bit more work on your part. Much of the time, it means pushing back into the heavy cover or finding some means of getting closer to the …

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Hummingbirds

Joannie K — Thu, 31 May 2012 13:59:00 +0000

The only bird feeder that I currently have setup in the yard is our hummingbird feeder, but it is doing its job. Have seen several hummers at the feeder and, as always, it is fun to do a little birdwatching for hummingbirds. These birds are so full of energy, you can’t help but get a little excited when one is nearby.

Away from the feeders, it is sometimes hard to get these very active birds to sit still long enough for a good look with the birding binoculars. Putting up a hummingbird feeder, though, greatly improves your chances for a …

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Binocular size

Joannie K — Wed, 30 May 2012 14:01:00 +0000

When it comes to binoculars, I tend to gravitate to the extremes in binocular size.

I like my dedicated birding binoculars on the small size, usually something in a 30 or 32 mm objective and I also use compact binoculars for much of my birdwatching. In other words, I’ve never been a fan of big binoculars, especially in situations where I am wearing binoculars around my neck for any length of time. Just makes for a stiff neck and a long day. Smaller is better when it comes to binocular size, right?

Not always. With astronomy binoculars, the name of …

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Old and new astronomy binoculars

Joannie K — Tue, 29 May 2012 10:34:00 +0000

I’m not sure when my new old Untiron 20×80 binoculars were made, but I suspect it was in the 70s or, perhaps, as late as the mid-80s. The fact that they were premium astronomy binoculars in their day and only fully coated, instead of multi-coated, suggests a 70s vintage, since multi-coating technology did not appear until the 80s as a commonly available feature. 70s vintage or 80s vintage, these vintage astronomy binoculars that I received in the mail, last week, are in showroom new condition, even though I am now the third owner of these binoculars. Fortunately, the previous owners …

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Porro prism binoculars

Joannie K — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:40:00 +0000

Porro prism binoculars no longer rule the roost in the binocular world, the way they once did, but they are a long way from being extinct. To be sure, most birding binoculars, hunting binoculars, sports binoculars and general use binoculars are now of the roof prism binocular design, but the venerable porro prism binocular design still offers advantages.

For one, porro prism binoculars are optically more optically efficient – they use no mirror surface, as in roof prisms, so they transmit more light, all else equal and, porros have no phase correction problem, so no need for special phase correction …

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More birds in the binoculars

Joannie K — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:56:00 +0000

I’ll be putting up the bird feeders in another week or so, now that we’re confident the bears have settled into their back woods summer homes and won’t be visiting our feeders. Fortunately, the bears were not an issue this spring for anyone in our area because everyone took down their feeders, early, thanks to the record-breaking early warm spell we had in March.

My birdwatching, however, has suffered for lack of our bird feeders during our neighborhood “bear season”. It’s amazing how often I’ve reached for the binoculars out of habit since taking down the feeders, before it dawns …

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Binocular coverings

Joannie K — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:20:00 +0000

At the risk of being an old fogey in the world of binoculars, I still like the old fashioned leather covering, sometimes called leatherette, on my binoculars. Sure, rubber or synthetic armored covering on binoculars is the height of practicality and efficiency, but the feel and the look and, yes, even the smell of leather-covered binoculars is in my blood. To me, that old-fashioned leatherette covering spells binoculars. Maybe that’s why two of my compact binoculars are covered in leatherette and all of my astronomy binoculars are covered in leatherette.

I’ll be the first to admit that this attachment to …

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20×80 astronomy binoculars

Joannie K — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:49:00 +0000

I’ve been looking for astronomy binoculars with more magnification to complement my excellent Nikon 10x70Astroluxe. While 10x is wonderfully useful for so much of binocular astronomy, it is lacking for some types of work, such as splitting double stars, seeing detail on the moon or resolving some star clusters. Then, too, it is nice to have another excuse to buy binoculars.

The first option that comes to mind is a Nikon 18×70, which is the higher power version of the Nikon 10×70 Astroluxe, but that kind of money isn’t in the budget. I do wish to stay with that old …

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Types of binoculars

Joannie K — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:16:00 +0000

What makes binoculars, say, astronomy binoculars or birding binoculars or hunting binoculars or any other so-called “type” of binoculars? Are there “must have” features that make a given binocular one of these types of binoculars?

The truth is that all types of binoculars are really just variations on the same basic design and that any binocular will work to one degree or another for any application. This is especially true with current binocular models, thanks to binocular manufacturers loading their binoculars with all the features they can in order to market the binoculars to more users. Thus, it is quite …

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Astronomy binoculars and birding binoculars

Joannie K — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:28:00 +0000

When it comes to binoculars, I’ve always been one to push the limits of what a given type of binocular can do; I tend to think outside the binocular box, so to speak. I’ve done this on several occasions with both astronomy binoculars and birding binoculars with mixed results.

There was a brief period in my life (very brief) when I was down to only one binocular, my 11×80 astronomy binoculars. I had some new birding binoculars being shipped to me, but I was scheduled for a birdwatching outing with a group and didn’t want to show up without binoculars. …

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Where are the warblers?

Joannie K — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:55:00 +0000

The birdwatching for warblers has been a bit slow. There’s been no great influx of warblers in the area, as of yet, though it’s unlikely i missed any great push of warblers through the area, since I’m outdoors most of the day and constantly carry binoculars around my neck. That’s not exactly a burden, since the binoculars are small compact binoculars. When I start seeing a major movement of warblers, I’ll start crying full size birding binoculars, of course. In the meantime, I am outdoors and how can that be a bad thing and, heaven knows, there is so much …

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Compact binoculars price

Joannie K — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:10:00 +0000

One of the many things I like about compact binoculars is their relative affordability, in the sense that you can own a premium or at least excellent compact binocular for what it costs to buy a basic, average quality full size binocular. Smaller binocular bodies, smaller lenses and so on, do add up to a smaller price. Yes, there is some overall loss of optical performance with smaller lenses, but given the choice, I’ll opt for more quality for my optical dollar and give up a little performance. In other words, I’d rather have the very best in compact binoculars …

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How far can I see with binoculars?

Joannie K — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:21:00 +0000

How far can I see with binoculars? If you’ve ever sold binoculars or been in a position to help someone buy binoculars, you’ve been asked this question. It’s a perfectly natural question to ask about binoculars, but it’s really only half a question. It’s a question that cannot be answered until you have the entire question. “How far can I see an object of this or that size?” Now, that’s the entire question. Until you know the size of the object in question, you really are flying blind.

Given that I have always had a healthy curiosity about optics, in …

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What can you see in astronomy binoculars?

Joannie K — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:17:00 +0000

What can you see in astronomy binoculars?

The short answer is that you can see exactly the same types of objects in astronomy binoculars as you can see in telescopes, but you wot see as many of them in the binoculars, nor will you see them in as much detail.

So, yes, with binoculars – in fact, even small compact binoculars – you can see the moon, the planets, open and globular star clusters, planetary nebulae, reflection and emission nebulae, double stars and, of course, galaxies. Okay, if you are not familiar with the nature of those objects, that may …

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Summer birding will soon be here

Joannie K — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:46:00 +0000

Our hardwood trees – maples, birch and oaks – are beginning to leaf out and that means the view of the landscape is about to change and change, quickly. No longer will I be able to see some distance back into the woods, as I have been doing all winter and, especially, no longer will I be able to spot birds in the binoculars so easily. Birdwatching definitely becomes more challenging when the leaves are back on the trees. This “now you see them in the birding binoculars and now you don’t”, thanks to the leaf cover, can be frustrating. …

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High magnification binoculars

Joannie K — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:24:00 +0000

One of those binocular rules of thumb has always been that 10x (the first binocular number) is about all the magnification that the average person can hold steady enough to be effective. Go any higher than 10x and what extra detail you gain will be lost from unsteadiness, simply because magnification magnifies both the target AND every shake or movement in your hands. Going higher in magnification also reduces your field of view and that can also make binoculars more difficult to use.

For the most part, this is a good general guideline when it comes time to buy binoculars …

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More north woods birds

Joannie K — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:48:00 +0000

I’ve been hearing a Tennessee Warbler around the yard for the last few days and finally managed to spot it in the birding binoculars while walking down to the dock on my way to do a little canoeing on the lake. As warblers go, the Tennessee has an easily recognizable call, so if the bird is singing, you can easily identify it by it’s call, even if you never get to see it in the binoculars. I got lucky, though, and spotted the singing bird in my Nikon 10×25 Premier LX binoculars. Always nice to both hear a bird and …

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North woods wildlife

Joannie K — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:04:00 +0000

We’ve been watching a pair of beaver through the binoculars and spotting scope, each evening, as these jumbo rodents come along our shoreline and feed on water lillies. It’s been great entertainment for us, of course, but it’s also helped reduced the water lilly growth on the lake and that’s a good thing, since the lillies have all but taken over the lake these last couple of years.

The beaver have been here, before – there are old lodges scattered around the lake and old beaver damns on both ends of the lake where the creek enters and leaves. The …

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Using binoculars with one hand

Joannie K — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:04:00 +0000

Can you use your binoculars with one hand? Maybe a better question to ask is whether you need to use your binoculars with one hand. If so, you need to be fussy about certain binocular features that some folks overlook. Who uses binoculars with one hand? Since I am a very active outdoors gal, I use my binoculars with one hand much of the time – when I’m carrying a tripod and spotting scope over one shoulder while hiking the birdwatching trails, when I have a fishing rod in one hand, when I am paddling the canoe, riding my bicycle,…

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Wildlife binoculars

Joannie K — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Do you need special binoculars for observing wildlife? Are there certain binocular features that make for good wildlife binoculars?

While there are certain features you do want in some types of binoculars, such as birding binoculars (close focus) or hunting binoculars (waterproofing), there really are no special features that are required for a wildlife binocular, though if I were to pick one feature that is going to be very helpful, it would be waterproofing. After all, there is a good chance you’ll hit some rough weather sooner or later while observing wildlife. This presents no problem, since you actually have …

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May birdwatching

Joannie K — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:46:00 +0000

I’m starting to see a few warblers in the birding binoculars. That’s to be expected in early May because May is traditionally a big month for warbler migration. Yesterday, using one of my compact binoculars while on my daily walk with the dogs, I spotted several Yellow-rumped Warblers and a single Black-and-White Warbler. Okay, that’s not enough to set the birding hotlines on fire, but it is a start and there will be more warblers to come. My binoculars and I are ready. Bring on the warblers.

May is such a huge month in the birdwatching world. It’s THE month …

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11×80, 10×70, 10×50 astronomy binoculars

Joannie K — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:02:00 +0000

My first “serious” astronomy binoculars – binoculars that I bought specifically for astronomy – were Orion 11x80s. That was back in the 80s and those old 11x80s served me very well. 11x80s as a size, though, have almost disappeared from the astronomy binocular scene. Why?

Most folks who opt for 80mm binoculars mount them on astronomy binocular tripods because of their size and weight and, if you’re going to use a tripod, might as well get more magnification than 11x if you’re going to all that trouble. That, I suspect, is why 11x80s have fallen by the wayside and almost …

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Birding without binoculars

Joannie K — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:11:00 +0000

It dawned on me, the other day, just how often I’ve managed to identify birds by hearing them before actually seeing them in my birding binoculars. In fact, I often identify birds without ever seeing them in the binoculars. Not that I would ever intentionally go birdwatching without my binoculars, of course, because any binocular, even compact binoculars, are better than not having binoculars when looking at birds. No way will I leave home without my binoculars. Still, hearing birds can be every bit as useful in identifying birds as seeing birds in the binoculars.

The other day, for instance, …

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A binocular is still a binocular

Joannie K — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:13:00 +0000

One of the things that makes binoculars so endearing to me in this digital, high tech world, is that binoculars are still … well, binoculars. Binoculars, today, are still the same in terms of function and use as binoculars have always been. You look through your birding binoculars, hunting binoculars or astronomy binoculars, focus as needed, and observe. There are no buttons to push, commands to give or programs to select. There’s no upgrading, rapid obsolescence or growing old the minute you take binoculars out of the box. In other words, binoculars are refreshingly retro.

Not that binocular manufacturers haven’t …

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Woodpeckers

Joannie K — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:48:00 +0000

Up here in the north woods, as in any type of habitat, some birds are better represented than others. Now, if you love birdwatching for woodpeckers as much as I do, the north woods is a great place to see a variety of woodpeckers in the birding binoculars. On any given day in the spring, right from my kitchen window, I may see a Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and, the most spectacular of them all, the Pileated Woodpecker. Oftentimes, I will see several species in the yard at one time, especially when the bird …

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Seeing is believing with binoculars

Joannie K — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:44:00 +0000

The more you handle and use binoculars, the more you notice subtle differences and the more you appreciate when a binocular get’s it right in terms of optics and construction. In this sense, binoculars are similar to any other gear, of course, but with binoculars, I still encounter some folks who insist their cheap binoculars are every bit as good as the high-priced stuff. I don’t see this as much with digital cameras, spotting scopes or telescopes.

Who am I to argue, though? If someone can’t see the difference between cheap binoculars and expensive birding binoculars or hunting binoculars, I …

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Kitchen table birdwatching

Joannie K — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:03:00 +0000

We have a nice view to part of our lake that is visible from our kitchen table and it provides us with endless hours of birdwatching and wildlife watching. No wonder we keep several binoculars of various sizes – full-size birding binoculars and small, compact binoculars – parked right on our kitchen table, ready to grab the minute we see something out on the lake.

This kitchen table bird watching can be done in comfort anytime of the year, but when the weather is nice, we just move everything, even our meals, onto our deck, which is right off our …

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Small binoculars, small digital cameras

Joannie K — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:57:00 +0000

I carry binoculars all the time, even to the point of being silly, I suppose. I do have binoculars, though, whenever I need them and that’s the point. Even the finest birding binoculars are little more than a paperweight when they are sitting back at home and you need to take a closer look at a bird. No wonder, small, lightweight compact binoculars are my constant companion. I used to be that way about my digital cameras, too. Somewhere along the line, however, I’ve gotten out of the habit of always carrying a digital camera and, of course, it’s cost …

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Binocular size, astronomy binoculars

Joannie K — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:34:00 +0000

When you need large binoculars, you need large binoculars. As much as I love my compact binoculars and as much as I use compact binoculars for daytime work where other folks tend to use larger binoculars, I know there are some binocular used where compact binoculars are a poor choice. Astronomy is one of those. Large binoculars are the norm in astronomy for two reasons. One, of course, is that larger binocular objectives deliver more light to the eye and this is a big asset when it comes to locating the faint objects in the sky that astronomers love to …

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Spring bird report

Joannie K — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:27:00 +0000

April showers in most parts of the country mean warm spring rains, but in our part of the country, April showers can mean either snow or cold rain. Yes, it’s been a wet, cold, blustery and even snowy couple of weeks, up here in the north woods – in other words, a typical April for us. Such weather tends to stall out songbird migration, so I have to say it hasn’t been a great couple of weeks of birdwatching for songbirds. I have spotted a few Yellow-rumped Warblers, a number of Fox Sparrows, quite a few Song Sparrows and a …

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Osprey

Joannie K — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:59:00 +0000

Was out in the canoe, the other day and spotted a newcomer on our lake – an Osprey. Not that I haven’t seen plenty of these fish hunting birds in my life; it’s just that it’s nice to see one show up on our little lake. Can’t say if this particular Osprey was just passing through or actually scouting for a place to nest, but I’ll take what I can get. I love Ospreys. They are beautiful birds in either the birding binoculars or the birding spotting scope and when you get one to pose for the digital camera, as …

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Birdwatching and water birds

Joannie K — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:11:00 +0000

My favorite places for birdwatching have always involved water. Give me a lakeshore, river, stream or marsh, throw in my favorite birding binoculars or birding spotting scope and I am one very happy birder. Maybe it’s my Norwegian blood that draws me so unerringly and incessantly to water, but any birder soon learns that where there’s water, there will be birds. Little wonder, then, that being near water was at the top of my list for a place to retire. Our 77acre lake is a mere puddle for a north-country lake, but sometimes smaller is actually better for seeing birds. …

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Waterproof binoculars

Joannie K — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:01:00 +0000

Having been in canoes all my life, I have to say that I’ve paddled in as much nasty weather as I have in bluebird day kind of weather. Just returned from my morning paddle, for instance, and managed to get back to the dock before the big weather change I knew was coming hit in full force. Didn’t keep me form getting a little wet or my binoculars, either, but I timed the paddle to avoid the worst of the storm. My canoeing and cross-country skiing binocular of choice these last eight years has been my trusty Nikon 10×25 Premier …

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Binocular sizes

Joannie K — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:35:00 +0000

I tend between the extremes when it comes time to choose binoculars. I use large “giant binoculars” for my astronomy. Astronomy binoculars tend to be large for the sake of performance and, since you don’t carry astronomy binoculars any great distance or wear them around you neck for many hours at a time, that extra size and weight is not a big deal. Sixe and weight only become issues when you need astronomy binocular tripods to support your binoculars. My favorite astronomy binocular, for example, is my Nikon 10×70 Astroluxe and, at nearly five pounds in weight, no one ever …

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Birdwatching and paddling

Joannie K — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:57:00 +0000

Much of my winter birdwatching is the sedentary type – watching birds at our bird feeders, using binoculars or spotting scopes to get a better view (we have a large yard). When the snow is right, I do get out on my cross-country skis and carry one of my compact binoculars in case I spot some birds, but most of the time, the action is back home at the bird feeders. Come spring, though, I go mobile. I either go walking, birding binoculars around my neck or, when the ice is gone, I kayak or canoe on lakes and streams …

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Astronomy binoculars and work

Joannie K — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:57:00 +0000

The difference between astronomy with telescopes and astronomy with binoculars is sometimes a subtle thing. Sure, there is a huge difference in the equipment used, but there is also a difference in how the equipment is used and that is one of the reasons I so love using astronomy binoculars to view the night sky. This week was a good example. Earlier in the week, I managed to get a little observing done with my large Dobsonian telescope As usual, there was some crouching and stretching and back wrenching to see through one of the finder scopes on the telescope. …

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What is the best binocular?

Joannie K — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:15:00 +0000

What is the best binocular? Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just choose one model of binocular and declare it the winner? Might make things a lot easier when it comes time to buy binoculars, that’s for sure. It’s not that some folks haven’t tried to find the mythical “best binocular”. Binocular “shoot outs” are popular on the internet and they make for great reading, but the truth is they really can’t answer which binocular is going to best for you. Why? You, yourself, can probably think of any number of ways to answer this “best” binocular question. It …

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Up the creek for birdwatching

Joannie K — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:37:00 +0000

Up the creek without a paddle is not a good place to be, but up the creek WITH a paddle is a superb place to be, especially if you like birdwatching. The stream that feeds our small lake is a great place to see birds. The stream is narrow, lined with alders and rushes on both sides with spruce, tamarack and pines higher up on shore. Best of all, the stream cuts though several sections of undeveloped bog land with no houses or cabins. The only practical way to access this boggy, watery mini-wilderness is with a small boat. It’s …

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Kayak binoculars

Joannie K — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:36:00 +0000

We’re still several weeks away from fishing season, but I have been out I the kayak doing some birdwatching when the winds haven’t been blowing too chilly and cold. It may be too early for fishing, but I enjoy early spring bird watching by kayak as much as I do when walking the trails on foot. Sitting low as you do in a kayak gives you a unique perspective and allows you to quietly approach birds and other wildlife. In short, kayaking is simply a wonderful way to do some birding. Really nothing special needed for kayak binoculars other than …

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Spring warblers

Joannie K — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:07:00 +0000

Been prowling the woods with my birding binoculars in hope of seeing some early action on migrating warblers. Okay, it’s a little early to see much in the way of warblers, but I have seen my first Yellow-rumped Warblers and that’s a sign of more warblers to come. Besides, it’s not like I need an excuse to grab the binoculars and head to the woods on a sunny spring day. We’re still seeing flocks of Juncos in the binoculars as well as a fair number of Song Sparrows and a few Fox Sparrows, here and there. The Flickers are back …

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Astronomy binocular tripods

Joannie K — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:34:00 +0000

It’s been a long time since I’ve put my Nikon 10×70 Astroluxe on a tripod, but with the moon so high and prominent in the sky, this week, I decided to hook everything up and do a little moon observing with the binoculars. Besides, I have the Nikon 7806 tripod adapter, made specifically for this binocular and it wasn’t cheap. Time to put it to good use. I generally avoid putting my astronomy binoculars on tripods because it robs me of the one thing I like most about suing binoculars for astronomy, namely the freedom to move about the sky …

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Don’t leave home without your binoculars

Joannie K — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 20:01:00 +0000

I have a friend that always carries her knitting with her, just so it’s there when the mood strikes her to do a little knitting. In truth, she doesn’t use her knitting kit all that often when she’s out and about, but it does make her feel better knowing her knitting bag is at her side. I feel the same way about my compact binoculars. I always carry one of my small binoculars in my purse, but I don’t actually pull the binoculars out of my purse all that often. Mostly, it just makes me feel good to know I …

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Little brown birds, Fox Sparrow or Song Sparrow?

Joannie K — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:13:00 +0000

Beginning bird watchers sometimes have a hard time telling Fox Sparrows and Song Sparrows apart in the binoculars, especially since the two sparrows are often seen, together. It is a big mistake, though, to simply dismiss these two handsome sparrow species as “little brown birds” and move on to easier to identify birds. Both of these sparrows are a birdwatching delight, so take a closer look when you can. It’s worth the effort. We have both sparrows migrating through our yard, this time of year and the Song Sparrow also nest on our property. Both are wonderful birds to see …

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Ring-necked ducks in the binoculars

Joannie K — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:13:00 +0000

I keep a pretty good eye on our small woodland lake with both my binoculars and spotting scopes. Not much I miss in terms of birds and wildlife that use our lake, in other words. Now, being that our lake is small and surrounded by forest, what species of ducks do you think I see most often in the binoculars in the spring? Mallard would certainly be a popular guess, since Mallards are regarded as “pond ducks”. Yep, we do have Mallards on our lake, but Mallards are not the species most often seen on our lake in the spring.…

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My first birding binoculars

Joannie K — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:18:00 +0000

Unless you’ve lived your entire life in a very different socio-economic class than I have, you did not start your birdwatching with premium birding binoculars. Like so many birders, I started watching birds, some forty plus years ago (the distant past) with what we would call budget binoculars. Not that I didn’t lust after Zeiss binoculars or Leitz binoculars (now Leica binoculars), but what port starving college student could afford them? Nope, it was Tasco binoculars for me and not even top of the line Tasco binoculars. As binoculars of that era went, my first birding binoculars were as ordinary …

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Birdwatching in the north woods is different

Joannie K — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:41:00 +0000

Living as we do in the north woods, the “different habitat, different birds” principle is something we witness every day in the binoculars. The mix of bird species we see in our yard is quite different than the species I observed while living in other locations across the country. Perhaps the most obvious birdwatching difference in our neighborhood is the total absence of typical backyard, urban and suburban birds, namely House Sparrows, Starlings and Rock Doves (pigeons). Whatever the reason – climate, geography or some missing ingredient in habitat – those are species never seen in the birding binoculars in …

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Just what can you see in astronomy binoculars?

Joannie K — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:52:00 +0000

Just what can you see in astronomy binoculars when it comes to objects in the night sky? Are astronomy binoculars a poor second to telescopes? Why invest a lot of money in astronomy binoculars when you can buy a telescope, sometimes for the same amount of money? These are all good questions. The truth is that astronomy binoculars can be used to see most of the same things you see in a telescope eyepiece, but they really should be considered observing instruments in their own right rather than a substitute for telescopes. True, some objects are better viewed in the …

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Juncos in the binoculars

Joannie K — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:51:00 +0000

When it comes to birds and birdwatching, you never know what kind of bird behavior you will see when using the binoculars. There are exceptions to just about every general guideline on where or when to expect to see birds in the birding binoculars. Juncos are a good example. Juncos are primarily ground feeding birds, though you will see them in the bushes, now and then. Either way, you rarely see Juncos far from the ground and, because there are other ground-feeding birds that keep company with Juncos, I always scan flocks of feeding Juncos on our lawn with my …

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Bird watching therapy

Joannie K — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:19:00 +0000

Being able to sit at your kitchen table or, weather permitting, sit out your deck with one of your birding binoculars and just watch birds for hours at a time has to be one of life’s great luxuries. Being able to do so when you are surrounded by north woods and have a view to a lake is all the more special. I haven’t always lived in such a birdwatching paradise, though. Still, even when trapped in the big city, I’ve always spent a goodly amount of time watching birds through a kitchen or living room window in my home. …

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Spring bird migration, bears

Joannie K — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:55:00 +0000

Even though our birdfeeders are safely tucked away from the bears for now, our yard is still filled with migrating birds. In fact, my birdwatching has been better than ever, now that the spring bird migration is underway. I’ve barely had a chance to put the birding binoculars down, the last few days, trying to keep any eye on flocks of Juncos and Tree Sparrows on the ground around the house with just enough Fox Sparrows and Song Sparrows to add a little variety. Meanwhile, up in the trees, flocks of Chickadees are working the maples and, back in the …

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There is so much more to birdwatching and binoculars than identification

Joannie K — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:55:00 +0000

We birders use binoculars to view birds for a couple reasons. First, of course, we use our birding binoculars to identify birds. That’s the obvious use that most people associate with birding binoculars and it certainly is important, especially for beginning bird watchers. Experienced birders, though, need binoculars much less often to identify birds. In fact, some birders only occasionally need their binoculars to identify birds. Nevertheless, all birders carry binoculars, since there are times when even an expert needs to a closer look to distinguish between similar species. There is so much more to birdwatching and binoculars than identification, …

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Birdwatching schedule

Joannie K — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:33:00 +0000

With our record setting warm spell, the spring bird migration in our area has been earlier than usual. In fact, in a single day, I had a handful of new arrivals that I either heard or spotted in the binoculars that I didn’t see until April, last year. The Song Sparrow, the Purple Finch, the Red-winged Blackbird and the Northern Flicker all appeared on our property on the same day and I’ve been out with the birding binoculars checking for new arrivals on a daily basis. These birds nest on our property and I am delighted to see them, of …

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Bears and bird feeders

Joannie K — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 20:52:00 +0000

My winter bird-feeding season is over a bit early, thanks to the record setting warm weather of late. The feeders are down and stowed away, safely. My birdwatching continues, of course, but without the benefit of my bird feeders. Now, I know what some of you other bird feeding experts are thinking – you can feed birds all year round and no reason to stop feeding birds when winter is over. I used to feed birds all year round, too, but that’s before I moved to the north woods. Spring in our neighborhood means bears and by neighborhood, I mean …

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Keep those birding binoculars and spotting scopes handy

Joannie K — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:46:00 +0000

As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, birds in spring migration tend to push the envelope – as soon as conditions are favorable, birds move north. For a birder, then, it is time to keep those birding binoculars and spotting scopes handy because new species of birds literally appear overnight. Spring bird migration is definitely a dynamic, ever changing event in the birdwatching world. In our area, this phenomenon occurs as soon as even a small pond of open water appears in an otherwise iced-in lake or as soon as patches of open ground appear in the snow. Birds, at least…

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Spring birdwatching and spring cleaning

Joannie K — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:45:00 +0000

The Juncos are back. I see Juncos in October as fall gives way to winter and again in March as winter gives way to spring. At our place in the north woods, Juncos are only rarely seen in the birding binoculars during winter, though. The deep snows we have in the winter make it tough for a ground feeding bird like the Junco to find food. So, our Juncos are back! I spotted a few in the binoculars, feeding on some open ground where the snow has melted away. Joining them in feeding was a flock of Common Redpolls. It’s …

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Hawks

Joannie K — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:12:00 +0000

It’s been a week for seeing hawks and birds of prey around our place. Not that we live in an area with a high density and large variety raptors (birds of prey), but it is always a treat for me to see them in the binoculars. Seeing more birds of prey in the spring as they migrate and move is also a birdwatching tradition with me. Bring them on. I love my hawks. We have a nesting pair of Bald Eagles somewhere in the general vicinity, though I’ve yet to find the nest. The eagles do visit our lake on…

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Astronomical League Binocular observing programs

Joannie K — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:19:00 +0000

Want to have some fun with just about any binoculars you might own? Ever think of using your binoculars for astronomy, but not sure where to begin? Let’s face it, astronomy can be overwhelming for a beginner and little structure and guidance to get you started is invaluable. Where can you get that kind of help? Join the Astronomical League. They have observing programs, specifically for binoculars, such as the Deep Sky Binocular program and the Binocular Messier program and back them up with some wonderful resources. I know several new astronomers who got their start in just this way. …

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Binoculars and M44, the Beehive cluster

Joannie K — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:49:00 +0000

In ancient times, the Praesepe, otherwise known as the Beehive Cluster, M44 or NGC2632 was used to predict the weather by the ancient Greeks. If this cluster of stars visible to the naked eye from a dark observing site did not look clear and crisp, it was thought to announce the arrival of approaching inclement weather. I looked at the Beehive on Saturday night. This cluster of stars is visible to the naked eye from my location in northern Wisconsin if you know just where to look. The Beehive looks much better in the binoculars, though and I never pass …

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North woods birds

Joannie K — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:41:00 +0000

Saw another Ruffed Grouse, last week, or possibly the same Ruffed Grouse I saw four weeks, ago. Either way, I took it as a very positive birdwatching event. The bird was making its way over the top of the snow, down in our bog land, out in the open, plain to see. Good opportunity for a photo, so I exchanged the birding binoculars for one of our digital cameras and walked over to the spotting scope to do a little digiscoping. Of course, that’s when my cell phone rang, followed in quick succession by a call on our landline. By …

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Birds and spring

Joannie K — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 16:15:00 +0000

The trend at our bird feeders this week has been more visits at the feeders, in general and more sightings of Pine Siskins, Common Redpolls (see pic) and American Goldfinches. These seed eaters tend to wander quite a bit in search of food during the winter, but with our recent thaw, I would love to think that I am seeing more of these birds in the binoculars because spring is on the way. I can’t confirm this with the birds, of course, so I’ll just choose to think spring is almost here. Now, unless you have lived in the north …

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Using a binocular with one hand

Joannie K — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:22:00 +0000

Binoculars are best held and used with two hands for the sake of steadiness. You don’t have to be a binocular expert to know that, nor do you have to be an engineer to understand that binocular manufacturers design binoculars to be held with two hands. It’s obvious. Still, there are a lot of us that hold and use binoculars with one hand, simply because we need the off hand to carry other gear. When I’m out birdwatching, for instance, I often carry my birding spotting scope and tripod combo over my shoulder and use one hand to secure and …

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Using binoculars with one hand

Joannie K — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:18:00 +0000

Binoculars are best held and used with two hands for the sake of steadiness. You don’t have to be a binocular expert to know that, nor do you have to be an engineer to understand that binocular manufacturers design binoculars to be held with two hands. It’s obvious. Still, there are a lot of us that hold and use binoculars with one hand, simply because we need the off hand to carry other gear. As a birdwatcher, for instance, I often carry a spotting scope/tripod combo over my shoulder and use one hand to secure and balance it as I…

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When binoculars don’t work

Joannie K — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:32:00 +0000

We’ve all had the miserable feeling that comes with turning the key in our car or truck and … nothing, deader than a doornail, zilch, out to lunch. Whatever the cause, your trusty wheels aren’t going to roll. Are there times when your trusty binoculars, like your trusty vehicle, just don’t work? Yes, there are, but it’s not usually the fault of your binoculars. There are certain environmental situations when that binocular magnification can actually make things worse. Ever try to use binoculars in a snowstorm or rainstorm? If so, you know that trying to magnify though a storm only…

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Birdwatching calm before the storm

Joannie K — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 15:37:00 +0000

March is the calm before the storm month for birdwatching in our area. You really start to see different birds in the binoculars come April and that is a welcome change after seeing the same birds all winter. May is literally an explosion of songbird migration and the time update your birding lists. Summers are sweet and short in the north country and birds move quickly to breed and raise families before it ends. They show up, suddenly, and get right down to the business of perpetuating the species. Maybe that explains why I have been picking up the birding …

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Buy astronomy binoculars

Joannie K — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:18:00 +0000

My beloved Nikon 10×70 Astroluxe with its 7mm wide exit pupil (the beam of light that exits the eyepiece) has been with me a long time and it will stay with me, always, even though my old eyes can no longer open wide enough to use all of that 7mm wide exit pupil. What’s the deal with exit pupil size? You can use exit pupil size in a binocular as a rough indicator of image brightness and image brightness is important in astronomy binoculars since we astronomers like to hunt for faint objects. To determine the exit pupil size on …

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