# Birding Binoculars **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 17, 2023, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birding-binoculars/990281 "2023-09-17T21:36:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2023, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birding-binoculars/990281/1 "2023-09-17T21:36:33Z")
My wife would like some birding binoculars for her birthday. I read [this thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/binoculars-for-birding-enthusiasts/453642) from 15 years ago, and I looked at [the Cornell Lab Review of budget binoculars](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/the-cornell-lab-review-affordable-full-size-8x42-binoculars/). A few years ago I bought her [Eagle Optics Triumph 8x25](https://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Optics-Triumph-Binoculars-TPH0825/dp/B0002CTXXG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8), but she wants something better. She values light, compact binoculars. I found a used Stokes Birding Series Talon 8x42 on eBay, but she thinks they are too big and heavy. If I could keep it under $200 I would appreciate it, but I may need to push it to $250. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2023, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birding-binoculars/990281/2 "2023-09-17T22:25:46Z")
Nikon Monarch M5 8x42 would be a good choice. They are 20% lighter than the Stokes model. You’d have to go to a smaller objective if she _really_ hates the weight, but most birders prefer 8x42 as the optimum compromise between weight and brightness. Check out the reviews, especially on birding sites - everyone rates them highly. And they are sold everywhere, so if you are not in an immediate rush you will certainly find a discount somewhere that brings them into your price range, list price is $290. And a healthy second hand market, either to buy or to resell later. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2023, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birding-binoculars/990281/3 "2023-09-17T22:54:20Z")
Does she wear glasses? If so, eye relief is an important factor. I have a pair with 15mm and one with 17mm of relief and the latter are a huge improvement. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2023, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birding-binoculars/990281/4 "2023-09-17T23:00:37Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Nikon Monarch M5 8x42 Just to note that there are several iterations of these over these where Nikon has changed the name slightly. I think the last prior version was called just “Monarch 5”. Some of the second hand binos on Ebay will be the older versions. I honestly don’t know how much performance difference there is between the versions, but there’s certainly a significant $ difference. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2023, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birding-binoculars/990281/5 "2023-09-17T23:03:59Z")
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a recent article and review of birding binoculars here [The Best Affordable Compact Binoculars (8x32): Our Review | All About Birds All About Birds](https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/best-affordable-compact-binoculars-review/?utm_source=Cornell+Lab+eNews&utm_campaign=22cb5064ed-Cornell-Lab-eNews-September-2023&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_47588b5758-22cb5064ed-351151269) ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2023, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birding-binoculars/990281/6 "2023-09-17T23:37:17Z")
No, she doesn’t though she may need to. She was going to get her eyes checked. She wears cheater glasses to read. I wear glasses, though, so if I were to use them eye relief would help me. ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2023, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birding-binoculars/990281/7 "2023-09-17T23:40:26Z")
Thanks for that–I didn’t see that one. She’ll have to decide where she wants to come down on size/weight/optics options. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2023, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birding-binoculars/990281/8 "2023-09-18T05:15:28Z")
And, no matter what you get, take some time to get the diopter adjustment right. It’s always a surprise to me how many people don’t know about this.