If you are avid nature enthusiast with immense love for bird watching, having a good pair of binoculars is important. A quality pair of binoculars helps you get better bird views and in this article, we shed a light on the best binoculars for bird watching with glasses.
If you put on eyeglasses, you may have found yourself in an uncomfortable situation when using binoculars. This is because glasses get in the way of eye relief. You may also have had a difficult time finding binoculars that rest snugly on your eyes even with your eyeglasses on.
Modern day binoculars are now built to accommodate all users, with or without eyeglasses. The best binoculars for bird watching with glasses feature adjustable eyecups for customized eye relief. They are also designed with user comfort in mind which is important for functional handling.
Best Binoculars for Bird Watching with Glasses
If you are having a hard time trying to find the best binoculars for bird watching with glasses, we have made a list of the best eyeglass-friendly binoculars available on the market today. Without further ado, let’s take a look.
1) Nikon Monarch 7 8×42 Roof Prism Binoculars
Specifications
- Prism Type: Roof
- Magnification: 8x
- Objective Lens Diameter: 42mm
- Angle of View: 8.3° (Actual) 60.3° (Apparent)
- Field of View: 435′ @ 1000 yd / 144.4 m @ 1000 m
- Exit Pupil Diameter: 5.25 mm
Nikon Monarch 7 Roof Prism Binoculars are the best binoculars for bird watching with glasses . This top-quality pair roof prism binoculars is packed with an array of impressive features suitable for bird watching.
The 8x magnification is ideal for all-round birdwatching. It provides a wide field of view for comfortable bird watching and a long eye relief suitable for eyeglass/sunglass wearers.
The binoculars are made to last. They have a durable housing to ensure many years of field use. Better yet, the shock-absorbing rubber armored coating enhances durability and gives you an ergonomic, non-slip grip. The binoculars are also fully waterproof and fog-free for all-weather reliability.
When it comes to the optical performance, the anti-reflective multi-layer lens coating delivers bright, clear and more natural views. On top of that, the roof prism design enhances strength and durability while preserving image clarity and detail.
Weighing just 1.3 pounds, this pair of binoculars is extremely lightweight and great for travel. You can carry it for long hours and it won’t weigh you down.
Pros
- Fully waterproof and fog proof
- Long eye relief
- Shock-absorbing rubber armor coating
- Superb image quality and clarity
- Lightweight and easy to carry around
- Wide field of view
Cons
- Slightly uncomfortable eyecups during prolonged viewing sessions
2) Zeiss Conquest HD 10×42 Binoculars
Specifications
- Prism Type: Schmidt-Pechan
- Magnification: 10x
- Objective Lens Diameter: 42mm
- Angle of View: 6.6° (Actual)
- Field of View: 345′ @ 1000 yd / 114.54 m @ 1000 m
- Exit Pupil Diameter: 4.2 mm
When it comes to the best binoculars for bird watching with glasses for the money, you can hardly go wrong with the Zeiss Conquest HD 10×42 Binoculars. With a generous eye relief of up to 18mm, this unit is eyeglass-friendly.
Made with beginners in mind, the binoculars are intuitive and user-friendly. The center focus system is easy to use and suitable for beginners and seasoned birders alike.
With a 10x magnification, this unit is suitable for both close and long-range bird watching. It also features fully multi-coated lenses which provide bright and clear images under different lighting conditions.
For a fatigue-free observation, this optic is compact, lightweight and comfortable to hold. You also get the Zeiss shoulder harness for added comfort.
Overall, the binoculars are quality made and great for multiple outdoor use. They come with a 5-year no-fault policy. You can use this policy to ask for a replacement, if any problem arises during the five-year period.
Features
- Ultra-long 18mm eye relief
- Multi-purpose. Used for birdwatching, game viewing and other outdoor activities
- Conveniently placed fast focus knob
- Moisture proof and scratch proof lens coating
- Wide field of view
- Compact, lightweight and great for travel
Cons
- Costly for the budget-conscious buyers
3) Nikon Monarch 5 10×42 Binoculars
Specifications
- Prism Type: Roof
- Magnification: 10x
- Objective Lens Diameter: 42mm
- Angle of View: 5.6°
- Field of View: 293′ @ 1000 yd / 97.3 m @ 1000 m
- Exit Pupil Diameter: 4.2 mm
Nikon is renowned for its high-quality optics and the MONARCH 5 10×42 Binoculars are no exemption. These are the go-to binoculars for avid birders who are always on the go. They are compact, light and great for travel.
This pair of binoculars delivers superb optical performance under different lighting conditions. The unique Eco-glass lenses are fully multi-coated to enhance optimum light transmission and reduce light reflection. Moreover, the dielectric high-reflective multilayer prism coatings deliver enhance light transmission for bright, clear and detailed bird views.
The long eye relief makes the binoculars eyeglass friendly. You get to enjoy comfortable bird views with or without eyeglasses. These binoculars are made for use in all-weather conditions. They are fully waterproof and fog-resistant so you can use them even in wet and humid environments. They also feature a shock-absorbing rubber armored coating that adds on durability, while providing a secure, non-slip grip even in wet conditions.
Pros
- Nikon lifetime warranty
- Spacious field of view
- Superb twilight performance
- 100% waterproof and fog proof
- Shock-absorbing rubber armored coating
- Ergonomic, non-slip grip
Cons
- Pricey
4) Celestron Nature DX 8×42 Binoculars
Specifications
- Prism Type: Roof (BAK4)
- Magnification: 8x
- Objective Lens Diameter: 42mm
- Angle of View: 8.7° (Actual)
- Field of View: 393′ @ 1000 yd / 130.48 m @ 1000 m
- Exit Pupil Diameter: 5.25 mm
If you are on a budget, the Celestron Nature DX 8×42 Binoculars is your ideal option. These binoculars feature twist-up eyecups with a multi-stop function. This helps ensure comfortable positioning of the eyes for birders who wear eyeglasses.
With a close focus of 6.5 feet and a wide field of view of 300feet/1000yards, you get to enjoy every single detail of the birds you are watching. The lenses are fully multicoated to provide you with bright and clear image views. Additionally, the premium quality BaK-4 Prisms are phase-coated to increase contrast and produce true-to-life images.
Made for rugged outdoor use, this mid-sized binocular features a robust, waterproof housing. You can take anywhere you want regardless of the weather conditions. Moreover, the binoculars have a rugged rubber armor to enhance durability and provide an ergonomic, ultra-firm grip.
Weighing about 1.75 pounds, this unit is lightweight and easy to carry around. It comes carrying an array of accessories to make your birdwatching experience better and more enjoyable.
Pros
- Wide field of view
- Fully multicoated lenses
- 100% waterproof and fog proof
- Durable polycarbonate housing
- Multipurpose application
- Shock-absorbing odorless rubber armor
Cons
- Lacks edge-to-edge clarity
5) SkyGenius 10×50 Full Size Binoculars
Specifications
- Prism Type: Roof
- Magnification: 10x
- Objective Lens Diameter: 50mm
- Field of View: 367′ @ 1000 yd
- Exit Pupil Diameter: 5 mm
- Focus Type: Center Focus
The SkyGenius 10×50 Full Size Binoculars are budget-conscious bird watching binoculars suitable for family use. These binoculars are easy to use and great for both adults and kids. It has a large objective lens for superior light collection and fully multi-coated lenses which provide bright and clear image views.
Made for extreme outdoor use, the SkyGenius 10×50 Full Size Binoculars are waterproof, shockproof and fog-free. They are covered with an odorless rubber armor for added durability and an ultra-firm grip.
The foldable eyecups provide a customized eye relief. This provides comfortable bird views for all users with or without eyeglass. The binoculars are light, compact and easy to carry. Besides, they are tripod adaptable for snug, hands-free birding.
Features
- Flexible foldable eyecups
- Shock-absorbing rubber armor
- Lightweight, compact and great for travel
- Powerful 10x magnification
- Large and clear field of view
- Tripod adaptable
Cons
- Poor night vision
6) Occer 12×25 Compact Binoculars
Specifications
- Prism Type: BaK-4
- Magnification: 12x
- Objective Lens Diameter: 25 mm
- Angle of View: 7.5 degrees
- Focus Type: Center Focus
When it comes to outstanding image brightness and clarity, you can hardly go wrong with the Occer 12×25 Compact Binoculars. These bird watching binoculars provide good image views under all lighting conditions.
These binoculars are suitable for adults and kids alike. They are compact, amazingly lightweight and great for travel. You can easily put them in the pocket or stash them in your travel backpack for convenient travel.
The binoculars optical performance is commendable. The objective lens uses several layers of fully multicoated broadband green film to provide real color images with no color distortion. Not to mention that the lenses are fully multicoated to provide bright, clear and sharp views.
The two adjustable eyepieces let you to concentrate more on the views by giving you comfortable viewing. They also accommodate all users even those who put on eye glasses.
Made from heavy-duty ABS plastic, the unit is durable and sturdy. It also features a shock absorbing rubber armor that enhances durability. It is also fully waterproof and fog proof for use in extreme weather conditions.
Features
- Adjustable eyecups suitable for eyeglass wearers
- Compact, lightweight and great for travel
- Fully waterproof and fog proof
- Sturdy and durable construction
- Suitable for both adults and kids
Cons
- Poor low light performance
7) Vortex Optics Viper HD Roof Prism 10×42 Binoculars
Specifications
- Prism Type: Roof
- Magnification: 8x
- Objective Lens Diameter: 42mm
- Angle of View: 6.5° (Actual)
- Field of View: 341′ @ 1000 yd / 113.2 m @ 1000 m
- Exit Pupil Diameter: 4.2 mm
This list wouldn’t be complete with us mentioning the Vortex Viper HD Roof Prism 10×42 Binoculars. This is a mid-priced pair of binoculars suitable for multiple outdoor activities among them bird watching. It is easy to use and perfect for observing birds in thick bushes or in open spaces.
The well-balanced binoculars feature a HD optical system which provides outstanding optical performance. The optics are coated to produce bright and clear image views under different light conditions. It has a wide field of view for easy identification of birds in their different habitats.
Like any other Vortex optic, the binoculars are extremely sturdy and durable. It is O-ring sealed and argon purged to deliver reliable waterproof and fog proof performance respectively. On top of that, the binoculars are covered in a shock-absorbing rubber-armored chassis with perfectly placed indents that provide non-slip grip even in wet weather conditions.
With a long eye relief of up to 17mm, birders who put on eyeglass will find these binoculars very comfortable to use. At only 1.33lbs, this compact-size pair of binoculars is fairly light and comfortable to hold for long periods.
Pros
- Wide and clear field of view
- Shock-absorbing rubber armored chassis
- Fully waterproof and fog proof
- Fully multicoated lenses
- Superb low light performance
- HD optical system
- Ultra-hard, scratch resistant Armortek lens coating
- Twist-up eye cups
Cons
- Stiff focus mechanism
See Also
Buying Guide for the Best Binoculars for Bird Watching with Glasses
Whenever you are on the market for the Best Binoculars for Bird Watching with Glasses, here are the the important factors to consider in order to make the right buying decision.
Eye Relief
The amount of eye relief that a specific pair of binoculars offers is the most important thing to consider for when looking for the best binoculars for bird watching with glasses. This is the distance between your eyes and the binocular’s eyepiece. Try to look for a pair of binoculars that offers an eye relief of at least 17mm. If you can get one more, the better.
Field of View
Field of view refers to the area you can see with your binoculars without moving them around. To get the best bird watching views, try to look for model that offers a large field of view of at least 250ft at 1000 yards. If it’s lower than that, you won’t get much from your bird watching binoculars. Also remember that binoculars that offer a wider field of view offer generous eye relief.
Magnification
Magnification is the other important factor to look out for when buying the best binoculars for bird watching with glasses. Ideally, the best magnification for birding ranges between 7x and10x. If you are a beginner, an 8x binoculars will be ideal. On the other hand, if you are a seasoned birder looking for better views, a 10x binoculars suits you.
Waterproof and Fog Proof
Birdwatching is an outdoor activity that takes place all-year round, season after season. This calls for a unit that’s capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions. The best binoculars for bird watching with glasses are nitrogen filled and O-ring sealed to provide 100% waterproof and fog proof performance.
Durable Housing
When watching birds outdoors, your pair of binoculars is prone to harsh outdoor conditions. It can be scratched or damaged when dropped accidentally. This calls for a durable, shockproof and impact resistant binoculars to ensure long-lasting durability. Most of the binoculars listed above have a shock-absorbing rubber for added durability and protection.
FAQs About the Best Binoculars for Bird Watching with Glasses
- Which is the best magnification for bird watching binoculars?
The best magnification for birdwatching ranges between 7x-10x. If you are a beginner, a quality 8x binocular will be ideal. For professionals, 10x -12 magnification will do.
- What should I look for when buying birding binoculars for eyeglass wearers?
First, the binoculars should have adjustable eyecups and a generous eye relief of at least 17mm. It should also be lightweight, compact and easy to carry around. If you’ll be using the binoculars often, make sure that’s its comfortable to carry and hold for long hours.
- Can you wear eyeglasses/sunglasses when using binoculars?
Yes you can. All you need to do is get a pair of binoculars with adjustable eyecups and a long eye relief to provide snug and clear views even with your glasses on.
Conclusion
We hope that this buying guide gives you with the information you need to make the right buying decision. Remember that the amount of eye relief that the binoculars have will determine how comfortable your viewing will be with your eyeglasses on. Try to look for a model that offers a generous eye relief of at least 16mm eye relief. Use this guide to find the best binoculars for bird watching with glasses.