x10 is probably max for a garden. x8 may be better for close work on small birds.
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Thanks. I’m after an allrounder and will likely do more garden and woodland.
I’d probably stick x8 and a wide a field of view as possible for woodland. Coated lens and if you are going out and about in rain consider waterproof types. So many available now it just comes down to spec and price.
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I use Opticron, designed in the UK, made in Japan. Good binoculars with excellent optics at a fair price.
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Hawke and Celestron are other good value brands. The RSPB sell Hawke as their own brand.
Having said that I’m considering moving up to Zeiss Ultravid….
Agree that 8x42 would be best. Global Birdfair is coming up in July in Rutland. All the main makes will be there so you can see for yourself how they compare and your personal point of diminishing returns. Glastonbury for birders - just Google it.
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I/we have 3 pairs, 8x42 and two 10x42.
My go to is Opticron 10x42, does it all from garden to Serengeti.
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BirdFair is an excellent option if you can make it. Binoculars ideally need to be tried out as, a bit like HiFi, they are a personal choice and one which fits/appeals to one person may not suit another. Whether or not you wear glasses is a particular factor.
On the lens front, if the subject is birds, then I’d simply get the longest lens you can a) afford and b) can reasonably carry. Avoid silly min apertures of say f/11 as in an older APS-C camera it could get a bit too noisy when the light is less than perfect. Shutter speed is king for birds as they rarely stop moving. I’d be looking at least for 400mm at the long end for birds, even in the garden.
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For my garden, in the range of 200 to 400mm.
For when I’m on nature reserves fairly static (ie in a hide) 500mm + extenders/teleconverters.
On a reserve if mobile, 100-400mm zoom, with extenders in my pockets
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Under the canopy
An Eastern Wood-Pewee enjoys the afternoon breeze which kept carrying him from shade to sunlight without a move
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Sunny Side Up
We definitely need some serious rain. The water is evaporating fast from the ponds making it like fishing from a barrel. The egrets and herons are not breaking any sweat to catch their dinner.
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Mounted a bird feeder about 3 foot from my computer room window. Should have done this years ago. Little baby blue tit being fed by the parent. It hangs there vibrating its wings to get attention and fed. Thing is, once the parent flies off, the little chick feeds itself anyway from the feeder 
Only used 175mm lens to take this.
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No pictures please!
A humble Green Heron, the first one encountered this spring. For some reason, they tend to show up 4-6 weeks after the arrival of their larger brothers, the Blue Herons and the Great Egrets. He changed position just when I was passing by, otherwise I would have missed him.
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