Welcome to our very first binocular blog - we’re passionate about good binoculars and telescopes here at Newport Wetlands, and we want to share that passion with you! For our first blog, we’ll be sharing what you should have a think about before buying your first pair or an upgrade, as well as a little bit about our range.
This weekend we held one of our regular binocular and telescope events in the Lakeside Room - we set up our entire range so you can take your time, get a proper look, and compare all your options. It doesn’t hurt that there’s also some beautiful history objects from the Gwent Levels on display too!
Buying binoculars can be a big decision, so before you start looking, it’s worth thinking about three things:
1. You budget - our binoculars start at just £65, while some branded binoculars cost as much as £2,500, so it’s worth having a figure in mind of what you’d like to spend.
2. What you’ll be using your binoculars for - Do you spend lots of early mornings in a dark hide? Or do you do lots of coastal walking where birds and wildlife are further away? Do you want something light that can come with you on holiday? We’ll recommend some options to you based on what you tell us, so the more scenarios you think of where you’ll be using your binoculars the better!
3. Performance - All of our binoculars come with at least water resistance, and some are fog proof, dust proof, have enhanced eye relief, edge to edge clarity (which means the image around the object you’re looking at won’t be blurred), and flat image – for the best colour rendering. There’s lots to consider when you’re thinking about binocular performance, and we’ll talk you through your options.
Many of our staff, including myself, have RPSB binoculars, which start at just £65. The RSPB range offers fantastic quality binoculars at affordable prices, with all of the profits going directly back into our conservation and education work. I never go anywhere without my 10x42 Harriers, which give me a beautiful clear and bright picture. I paid a visit to RSPB Ham Wall recently, in the Avalon Marshes in Somerset, where I watched a marsh harrier carrying reeds in her beak for nest building – thanks to the wide field of view of my Harrier’s, I was able to watch her for a long time, following her across a large area with ease. Without my bins I might not have seen her brilliant camouflage for more than a few moments!
We also have selected binoculars from the highly regarded brands Swarovski, Zeiss, and Leica, and everyone has a preference when it comes to which brand is best! David, our Visitor Experience Assistant, favours Leica Ultravids, for their fantastic all weather and light conditions performance, and high comfort eye relief. Our Visitor Experience and Walking Guide Volunteer Jeremy loves his Swarovski ELs for their unmatched customer care and wide field of view. We also have smaller models from the brands, so if you’re someone who likes a pair of binoculars that can fit in your pocket, or your suitcase, we’ve got something for you!
Want to look even closer? Take a peek through one of our telescopes to see more than you ever have before! Our Visitor Experience Assistant, Josh, took this fantastic video of our resident kingfisher, using a mobile phone adaptor attached to a scope:
Our binocular and telescope events are held at least one weekend a month, so please check our events page for the next one. If you can’t make one, you can visit the shop at any time to speak with us about binoculars, and you can even give us a call on 01633 636363 to book some time for a dedicated 1:1 with one of our experts.
Thanks for reading! Please let us know if you’d like to see more binocular and telescope blogs in the future. We look forward to welcoming you to the shop on your next visit.
By Sarah-Jane Reece