Hi, I'm new to birding and just got a hummingbird feeder for my backyard. How do I choose a good pair of backyard birding binoculars, preferably for viewing these small birds at the feeder? My family has a cheap 16x50 pair, but its minimum focal distance is 35 feet, which is too far for the hummingbird feeder 15-20 feet away.
I think it's this model
http://www.amazon.com/Bushnell-13-1...w/dp/B00000J6WY
I hear 8x42 or so is an ideal spec for bird watching, but will that be the same for my case? Even with the 16x magnification, the hummingbirds still look tiny. Or does that have to do with the fact that I'm too close for its minimum focus? Will a 8x42 with a closer focal distance be better? What should I look for? I'd primarily be using them for looking at stationary hummingbirds at their feeder and perhaps other stationary birds if I get another type of feeder.
Look at Nikon Action and Action Ex series binoculars in the 8x to 10x range. They will give you very nce views of the hummers and still be useable for other things like backyard astonomy. A 16x binocular will be very difficult to hand hold. If you really want to use that much magnification consider getting a tripod.
I have two suggestions. One, consider the Leupold Yosemite 6x30. You might think the 6x is not enough magnification but it does allow you to hold the image steadier thus rendering more detail. Plus the Yosemites are sharp, bright and have excellent color representation. All of which will help greatly for hummingbirds.
Another consideration may be a fairly inexpensive spotting scope. I found a great deal of enjoyment in having one of my spotting scopes aimed directly at the hummingbird feeders in the backyard. You can tinker with the zoom to find the ideal setting for your particular circumstance plus the larger objective of most models (in comparison to binoculars) will allow you to receive a brighter image at any given magnification.
Maybe something like the Celestron Ultima 65? You can usually find them around $100-$125.