Best Bang for Your Buck

 

Vortex 8x32 Diamondback Binocular

 

“They are great!”  That’s what is being said by satisfied customers.  This mid-sized gem does a great job at delivering a great image.  You’ll enjoy these for years to come.  Learn more.

Visit us at www.kingbirdfeeders.com for quality binoculars, spotting scopes, bird feeders, bird houses, field guides, and gear. roy@kingbirdfeeders.com

Birder's Best Buy Choice

 

 

 

Broad-winged Hawks and other raptors are flying overhead even as we speak.   Wilson Warblers and Kinglets are to be found in the foliage.  You don’t want to miss the events of migration.  For this, there’s the birder’s best buy choice—the Vortex Viper HD binocular.  Available in 8X or 10 X.

Visit us at www.kingbirdfeeders.com for quality binoculars, spotting scopes, bird feeders, bird houses, field guides, and gear.

Back to the Field

 

 

Uppies are being heard overhead.  Black & White, Yellow Warblers and a Canada are showing up at birdbaths. Orioles and Blue-Gray Gnatchaters are passing through.  The regulars are giving way to migrants.  That means it’s time to grab your gear and head to the field, forests, and ponds.

 

Vortex Viper HD Binocular

Impressive in every way, rugged, lightweight, remarkable color fidelity and crystal clear and bright images.  Learn more about this award winning binocular.

 

Visit us at www.kingbirdfeeders.com for quality binoculars, spotting scopes, bird feeders, bird houses, field guides, and gear. roy@kingbirdfeeders.com







Great Binos for Young or Beginning Birders

We adults recognize we should be doing all that’s possible to foster the upcoming generation of birders and conservationists. Many Audubon Groups have stated this as a goal and mission for the next few years.


The Central Texas Audubon Society a couple of years ago purchased almost two dozen binoculars for their youth education programs. CTAS supplemented these with field guides in a one to one ratio. The San Antonio Audubon Society Education Outreach Committee has done similarly, purchasing new Vortex Raptor Binoculars in its efforts to grow young birders.



Vortex Raptor Binoculars

 The Vortex Raptor Binoculars are designed specifically with Young Birders in mind. The lightweight bins have sharp optics, and the eyepieces and binocular body are just right for smaller faces and hands. The field of view is great facilitating locating the bird. Focusing is pretty easy, too.


Yet, any small adult beginning birder wanting a lightweight alternative would find them perfectly serviceable as well.

These binoculars are great and well worth the price for your youth or beginning birder program.

Review of the Vortex Diamondback Binocular

Since you are considering a new binocular, consider the Vortex Diamondback. First, note that Vortex Optics has implemented argon purging of all its models. This is important because this sets Vortex binoculars above and beyond others. Argon, an inert gas, is used in these models to water and fog proof. Argon does not attack the seals and o-rings. The choice of this gas instead of nitrogen leads to an extended life of the binocular.

The Diamondback is a roof prism type of binocular. This allows for several important advantages. First, it allows for internal focusing which in turn is the reason for such great water and fog proofing. Secondly, its design is ergonomically balanced. It feels comfortable in your hands.

Its large field of view, 420 feet, makes this a binocular that is superb for the novice as well as the expert. With such a large field of view, it becomes much easier to locate even small song birds. This field of view is one of the best on the market.

If you are into searching for and viewing damsel flies and dragonflies, you will be interested in the close focus of 4.5 feet.

The Diamondback is a versatile model. The specifications discussed above make this an excellent choice for astronomy, birding, or butterfly viewing. It is as valuable in the woods as in a marine setting.

Vortex Optics endeavors to manufacture quality products. It is willing to back up this goal with a lifetime no questions asked warranty. They will repair or replace your item without asking for any explanation.

Binocular Basics

What should one know about magnification?

Most binoculars are either 8x or 10x. 8x magnification is well suited for most purposes. It will afford you a view of the item as if you were one-eighth of the distance to it. 10x will give you a little advantage in that it you will now be seeing the object as if you were one-tenth of the distance.

There are other magnifications to consider. 6.5x might be good if one will be doing a lot of hiking or bicycling as these magnifications result in lighter weight binoculars. 12x would be considered if one were checking out large open fields or open water.

What should one know about field of view?

Field of View (FOV) relates to how much area can be viewed in the objective lens. Most of us would do well to look for, at least 300 ft FOV at 1000 yards. If you are a novice, look for something that may have at least 400 ft FOV at 1000 yards as it will make it easier to locate your object.

Should one desire water and fog proofing?

Yes! You want a clear view, with crisp images and color trueness. You are investing in a tool you want to last a long time. The best water and fog proofed binoculars are using argon gas. Argon gas, a noble gas, does not attack the seals and O-rings and, therefore, extends the life of the binocular. For instance, all Vortex Optical binoculars are argon purged.

What should one know about the size of the objective lens?

First, manufacturers use this to classify their products by size. Full size is 42 mm or larger; 32 mm is considered mid-size, and anything less is a compact.

Second, the size of the objective lens is an important aspect of the light gathering power of the binocular. A 42 mm lens gathers quite a bit of light, a 32 mm lens less. In moving from 8x to 10x magnification the light gathering power is diminished. This can be compensated by using a larger objective lens, such as a 50 mm lens.

Finally, in choosing a binocular, consider how it will be used and how often. Also, and importantly, consider the manufacturer and the warranty offered.