Whether you’re an avid bird watcher, or you just got into bird watching, you would need the best binoculars to make your experience as magical as possible.
If you’ve been searching for the best roof prism binoculars to get for bird watching, then you’ve come to the right page.
Birds rarely spend time on the ground and are always in the air, so you’ll need good binoculars that have several elements to be able to watch them.
Although, choosing the best bird-watching binoculars comes down to individual preference as what you would prioritize as a feature won’t be the same for another person.
In this article, we would recommend some of the best roof prism binoculars for bird watching and why we recommend them.
What is the uniqueness of roof prism binoculars?
Roof prism binoculars are designed to be more compact and easier to handle than traditional Porro prism binoculars.
The peculiarity of roof prism binoculars lies in the way they reflect light through their optical system.
Unlike Porro prism binoculars, where the objective lenses and eyepieces are offset from each other, in roof prism binoculars, the objective lenses and eyepieces are in a straight line.
This is achieved by using two roof prisms to reflect the light path, which results in a more compact design.
The roof prisms in roof prism binoculars are also oriented in a specific way, known as the “roof” design, which allows for a narrower inter-pupil distance (the distance between the center of the pupils of your eyes), making them more comfortable for people with narrower faces.
However, the roof prism design can be more complex to manufacture and align than Porro prism binoculars, which can lead to higher production costs and potentially lower optical performance if the prisms are not aligned properly.
What to Look For In The Best roof prism binoculars Binoculars for Bird Watching
Sure, instead of reading and knowing about the features of a binocular, you can just go for the one with the most powerful magnification as that might seem like the most important choice to you.
Well, you should know that there are other things that should make you choose binoculars and not just magnification alone.
You also have to look for waterproofing, prism design, a sufficiently sized objective lens (the bigger the lens, the more amount of light comes in), close focus, and more.
Without further ado then, here are some steps to pick out the best binoculars.
Pick a magnification
This is one of the first things you do when searching for a good binocular. You’ll need to decide if you want to go for 8x or 10x binoculars, and this is completely a personal choice so go for the one you would like.
If you’re new to bird watching and you don’t know what those specifications are, the. 10x are better at watching birds from a distance, but it also means your view would be a bit narrow and the image would be darker in low light.
While the 8x gives a smaller, wider, and even clearer image which would be perfect to find birds.
Check the eye relief
You need to check if the binoculars you’re buying have eyecups which are great for those that wear glasses.
This is a great way to prevent shading for your eyes and it is a very user-inclusive design. If you wear glasses, then you’ll need to put this at the back of your mind.
Go for clear and crisp binoculars
There is no point in getting binoculars if the image is not as clear as can be. Ensure that you test out different ones and go for the one that is clear. Pay close attention to the clarity score as this would help you decide on the image quality.
Price
One thing that is important when buying anything, binoculars included, is the price of said binoculars. Sure, expensive ones are much better but you need to do your research before settling for one.
Some of our Best Roof Prism Binoculars for Bird Watching
Below are some of our top picks when it comes to the best binoculars for bird watching:
1. Swarovski Optik 15×56 SLC Series Waterproof Roof Prism Binocular
The Swarovski SLC series should definitely be your go-to binoculars if you’re new to bird watching or you just want to change your binoculars.
It has the highest magnification in the entire Swarovski range which is why it is different from the others.
The dark green rubber armor of these binoculars gives a firm texture and it provides quite a grip around it. It is not slippery so you don’t have to worry about it slipping off your fingers while you use it.
Another added advantage to prevent it from slipping is the thumb indents on the bottom side of the binoculars which gives it a very comfortable grip.
It is also dust and waterproof as the internal focus along with the air-right seals an external element that is a great barrier against dust and water particles.
It is also fog-proof, so you can go bird-watching in the early hours of the morning without worrying about fog.
This binocular is very popular amongst hunters who would like to see their prey from a distance and know how best to corner and kill them.
It is best for hunting because of its quality and also low-light performance which comes in handy in a hunt.
If you wear glasses, then you’re in for a treat. The eye cups in the Swarovski SLC are one of the fantastic features of this binocular.
When down, the binocular’s eyecups sit quite low and close to the eyes, which means that with glasses you can use almost all 16mm of eye relief.
The eyecups are also easily removable and not screwed on permanently.
All in all, these would be our number one recommended roof prism binoculars because of their amazing features.
What we like
- Excellent eye relief for glasses wearers
- Very light and compact
What we don’t like
- Very, very expensive
Specifications
- Objective lens diameter – 56 millimeters
- Material – Aluminum
- Eye relief – 16 millimeters
- Magnification – 15x
2. Vortex Optics Razor HD Roof Prism Binoculars
Inexpensive, bright, and the perfect binoculars. The Vortex Razor HD is one of the best binoculars you can buy and the price range is around $1000.
You don’t have to splurge on very good binoculars and this is an example of that.
You might be skeptical about the price because this is how most amateur binoculars are priced but you don’t have to worry about that because it is the real deal and it comes packed with amazing features.
One thing that draws anyone when buying a product is the way it looks and for this aspect, you don’t have to worry about it as the Vortex Razor HD has a very pleasing design.
It is slim, neat, and possesses thumb-grabbing dimples by the side which would make it easier to use even on one hand.
It is not too heavy which is perfect for beginner birders which is one of the best features of these binoculars.
You can carry it around anywhere as it is very portable and has a harness attached to it.
Now down to the field view, the most important part. These binoculars come in a clear, crisp HD view and it has a wide field of view and lens that takes in about 4.2mm of light.
Just as it is light and compact, it is very durable and made with strong material.
This means that the last thing on your mind should be worrying about the binoculars getting broken after one or two drops.
When it comes to bird watching or any animal watching, then the Vortex SLC HD is the way to go. Its magnification is amazing and it handles dust and debris very well.
What we like
- Affordable and great for beginners
- Excellent optics
What we don’t like
- The rubber eyecups frequently screw off on their own.
Specifications
- Weight – 24.8 ounces
- Field of view – 362 feet at 1000 yards
- Eye relief – 16.5mm
- Close focus – 6 feet
- Material – Magnesium
- Magnification – 10x
- Objective lens diameter – 42 mm
3. Maven C1 10X42 mm ED Binocular Gray/Orange
These binoculars come from a new company and its release made a statement around the industry.
If you cannot afford the two binoculars that were listed above, then the Maven C1 10×42 is definitely the one for you.
The binoculars come with a neck strap which is simply a must for most binoculars. The neck strap is thick and very comfortable to wear.
It is also adjustable so you can put it into your desired length. It also comes with a lens cover to prevent the lens from any wear and tear.
It is waterproof and the image when out in the field is very clean and crisp.
What we like
- Good image in light conditions
- Affordable
- Classic look and design
What we don’t like
- The lens cap easily falls off
Specifications
- Objective lens diameter – 42 millimeters
- Material – Polymer
- Weight – 24.5 oz
- Height and weight – 5.7” x 5.2”
- Eye relief – 16 mm
- Exit pupil – 4.2 mm