BEST HANDHELD TELESCOPE FOR BIRD WATCHING PROFESSIONAL

BEST HANDHELD TELESCOPE FOR BIRD WATCHING PROFESSIONAL

It is important that there is as little movement as possible there are various gadgets available to hold cameras securely in place, or some digiscopers create their own.The Audubon Guide to Binoculars Whether you’re a novice looking for your first set of bins or an experienced birder looking for an upgrade, we cover excellent options for every budget.īinoculars are an essential tool for birders, but with so many models on the market, it can be daunting to find the perfect pair. It’s been three years since we first published our binoculars guide, so this summer we once again turned to professional ornithologists and dedicated birders to put a wide array of optics to the test. In July, dozens of attendees at the 2019 Audubon Convention descended upon a Milwaukee park to review nearly 50 pairs of binoculars from 16 companies under a range of conditions over three days. Make sure you use a good tripod, as any movement will cause camera shake and blurred pictures. A low magnification eyepiece is best, as they offer a brighter image. Larger objective telescopes work best, as more light gets into the camera, bringing a faster shutter speed. Cameras with zoom mechanisms that are internal, not external, work much better. The results depend on how well the camera and telescope work together. The advent of affordable digital cameras has meant that birdwatchers have developed a technique called 'digiscoping' when a digital camera is placed onto the eyepiece of a telescope, effectively using the camera as a long lens. In most cases, yes, but it is worth remembering that a telescope is designed to look through, not for taking pictures, and the results will not be as good as with a true camera lens. Because of the increased light transmission, zoom eyepieces are better suited to this type of telescope. These perform better in low light, but the large lens adds to the size and weight of the instrument. Some manufacturers offer telescopes with larger objective lenses, between 75 mm and 80 mm. A 20x or 22x wide-angle eyepiece will maximise the light reaching the eye. The smaller telescopes have 60 mm objective lenses and, because this makes them compact, they are ideal for general work. But remember, on the higher power, the amount of light passing through to the eye will be reduced. The range covered can be 15x to 40x, or 20x to 60x. Zoom eyepieces work well with some telescopes, usually the ones with a larger objective lens. In practice, this means that the higher power eyepieces are best used in bright conditions for stationary birds. The shimmer in the air can also be a problem, and any shake from the support becomes more evident. When using higher magnification, the image brightness and field of view decrease dramatically. Wide-angle eyepieces of 20x to 30x are good for general use a 40x might be useful for longer distance work. Most telescopes on the market have a range of interchangeable eyepieces available, so you can choose more than one. If the telescope has a fixed eyepiece, 20x or 30x is normal. Some specialist instruments offer even higher power. Telescope magnifications generally range from 15x to 60x.

It is important to care for your equipment correctly to ensure it gives you good service for a long time.Some telescopes have a sight line to help you do this. Use the telescope like the barrel of a gun to line up the bird you are trying to see.Learn to use either eye learn to use with both eyes open to reduce eyestrain over long periods.Whenever possible, use a tripod or other support remember you can use a tripod only partially extended while sitting down, or kneeling: useful in strong winds or in wide open spaces.

Once you have made your choice, the following points will help you get the most from your telescope: The low-dispersion (ED) glass in some of the more expensive models eliminates colour fringing and gives a brighter and sharper image. Many telescopes suffer from a greater or lesser degree of colour fringing (when objects are outlined with a coloured hue - which may only be apparent at higher magnifications).If you wear spectacles, choose an eyepiece which has a fold-back rubber or pull-up eyecup, although you will still lose some field of view.Again the wide-angle, fixed 20x-30x eyepieces are the best, but a zoom works well with this type of telescope.

The larger 75-80 mm telescopes are ideal for use in low light or from a fixed position such as a hide.

If you need higher power, choose a 30x or 40x eyepiece in addition to, but not instead of, the general one.

For general use, choose a compact 60 mm telescope with a wide angled 20x or 22x eyepiece.

Best handheld telescope for bird watching