We know this business! Since 1988, we have been carefully surveying the binocular market to offer the best models in every size, use, and price category. We do the homework for you!

We are binocular and spotting scope experts - we don't offer all models because not all models are worth buying! Our prices are competitive, our service is fast and knowledgeable, and we don't sell junk! We are scrupulously honest.

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If you have any questions during your checkout process, you may contact us at (800) 485-6884.

We currently are only able to ship within the continental United States. We ship via UPS and accordingly must have a physical shipping address (not a Post Office Box) when you place your order.

We currently offer two flat-rate shipping options* for all of the items in your cart:

$7.95 for UPS Ground
$24.95 for UPS 2nd-Day Air

This flat-rate shipping charge applied to all items in one single purchase/order.

*Heavier, "Oversized Items," like telescopes, have a flat-rate shipping cost of $15.00 and will only be sent via UPS Ground. UPS 2nd-Day Air service is not available on these items. These "Oversized Items" are clearly marked on the product page (with the box you see to the right), alerting you to the additional shipping charges.

If you have multiple items in your cart, including a heavier "Oversized Item," you will be able to upgrade your shipping to UPS 2nd-Day Air, however the "Oversized Item" will still only be sent via UPS Ground. All other items in your cart will be sent via UPS 2nd-Day Air.

It is best to let the manufacturers repair their binoculars. We cannot keep all the parts in stock for the many models sold. If a binocular you purchased at DiscountBinoculars.com is in need of repair, you may send it directly to the manufacturer or send it to us and we will forward it to the manufacturer on your behalf!

We want you to be pleased with your purchase from DiscountBinoculars.com! If you are not satisfied with your purchase, please return it to us in new condition with original packaging within 30 days after receipt for a full refund, less shipping costs. Please contact us if you have any questions or would like to exchange your purchase for another item.

We may charge, at our discretion, a Restocking Fee of up to 15% of the original purchase price if any binocular, spotting scope or microscope has been used or lacks original packaging, warranties, and instruction manuals.

Items should be returned to us with adequate packaging, with prepaid shipping and insurance to our address.

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Not necessarily! Many of our customers cannot hold a higher power binocular steady which makes the image jumpy or blurry. Higher power binoculars are generally less bright, have a narrower field of view and can seem less clear because any particulates in the atmosphere (heat, moisture, dust) are also magnified to a greater degree. Ten power (10x) is often the magnification at which you may see too much jumpiness.

The first number is the Magnification (usually 7x, 8x, or 10x), meaning the image will appear 7 times, 8 times or 10 times larger than the naked eye sees it.

The second number is the Diameter of the front lens (objective lens) in millimeters. Objective lenses vary in size, usually from 20mm up to 50mm. Bigger objective lenses gather more light and will be better at dawn, dusk or in the woods where you may be viewing in more shadows. Bigger lenses are also heavier so sometimes a compromise size is best! For more information on brightness, see Exit Pupil below.

The final number that is printed on the binocular is the Field of View, generally expressed in angular degrees (i.e. 6.2 degrees) or linear feet (325 feet at 1000 yards). This is a measure of how panoramic your view is from left to right as you look through the binocular. A wider field of view allows you to more easily follow fast moving action such as a flying bird or a home run ball! Keep in mind that a higher magnification binocular will have a narrower field of view than a lower magnification binocular.

Bigger is brighter! A bigger binocular gives you a brighter image therefore you see more detail. An analogy would be the difference in what you see in your hallway when there is only a night light turned on compared to using the full overhead light.

A bigger binocular does NOT give a wider field of view (field of view is related to magnification - see the question directly above).

To determine the actual brightness of a binocular, divide the magnification into the lens diameter. The resulting number (Exit Pupil) is the diameter, in millimeters, of the beam of light that hits your eye. For example, a 10x42 binocular has an exit pupil of 4.2 mm and an 8x42 binocular has an exit pupil of 5.25mm. Same lens diameter, different brightness.

When you are viewing in lower lighting conditions, your pupils dilate from the normal approximately 2-3 mm to a dilated 4-8 mm. The pupil is dilating to try to "find" more light; a binocular will be brightest when the exit pupil is equal to or greater than your pupils. In other words, a bigger/brighter binocular will allow you to see more in lower lighting conditions. (Assuming equal quality of lens and optical coatings!)

This is a common misconception. Bigger is brighter, not wider. A larger binocular does NOT by itself give a wider field of view (field of view is related to magnification - see the two preceeding questions above).

Waterproof binoculars have O-rings to keep our moisture and dust. They are also filled with an inert gas which keeps the binocular from fogging internally.

"Water Resistant" is a marketing expression with no true definition. For best protection in yucky outdoor conditions use a waterproof binocular.

More expensive binoculars generally use higher quality components for better durability, clarity and resolution. Colors are more vivid, contrast is enhanced, internal reflection is diminished - the view is clearer! Medium-priced binoculars have improved in quality and value in recent years and are close in performance to the more expensive top-of-the-line models.

We do not recommend binocular/camera combination units. These were all the rage when they first hit the market but they offer marginal-quality binoculars with limited-performance cameras. Users with close-set eyes cannot get the binoculars adjusted to their face. And, the biggest misconception about these units is that the camera captures the same image as seen through the binocular. Not true! The camera lens is in the center of the binocular barrels.

A gray market binocular is one that has been purchased and sold outside the normal U.S. distribution network. It will not have the same warranty and may not have the same features. If you see a product price that is significantly lower than ours, be very suspicious! Do you really want to send your Leica or Zeiss binoculars to Germany if they need repair? And do you want to pay for those repairs? Do you really know what model you're getting?

DiscountBinoculars.com is an Authorized Dealer for the manufacturers whose product we sell. All products we sell have full U.S. warranties which are the best warranties in the world!

Most spotting scopes provide magnifications of 15 or 20 power up to 45 to 60 power. This compares to binocular magnification that is usually 7-10 power. There is a limit to how much you can clearly magnify an image during the day and that limit is a function of the clarity of the air. Heat, moisture, fog, pollution, or dust will also be magnified along with your ultimate target. Heat or fog magnified 60 times looks hotter or foggier than if it was magnified 20 times! Higher power, therefore, does not always look as clear as lower power.

Spotting Scopes are often sold with a choice of eyepiece/magnification. Generally, fixed power eyepieces provide somewhat greater clarity and a wider field of view than the same magnification in a zoom eyepiece. Zoom eyepieces provide more magnification choices -- and tend to be more popular for that reason.

No, not necessarily! Higher power magnifies the heat, moisture or dust in the air so the image will seem less clear. Also, higher power has a narrower Field of View making it harder to find moving targets. Higher power is also darker, thus limiting the amount of detail seen.

Higher power magnifies the heat, moisture or dust in the air so the image will seem less clear.

The sky's the limit! On a clear day you can see to the horizon. Clarity of the air is the limiting factor in how far you can see. At night, spotting scopes can also be used for basic lunar and planetary viewing.

Spotting scopes mount on camera or video tripods that are generally sold separately from the spotter. If you have a sturdy camera or video tripod, it may be sufficient for your spotter. The tripod must be sturdy enough to steadily hold the scope with a minimum of vibration.

If you plan to buy a tripod for a spotter, we recommend video tripods because they "pan" smoothly as you move the scope. Both camera and video tripods have a quarter-inch 20 standard screw on the head of the tripod that can also be used with still cameras or video cameras.

ED (extra low dispersion), HD (high definition) and APO (apochromatic) are terms that are utilized to describe a higher grade of glass. Chromatic aberration, or false color and color fringing, can be eliminated or improved with the use of this better, more expensive, glass.

Spotting scopes are available with eyepieces set at a 45-degree angle from the scope body or in a straight line with the spotting scope. One design is not better than the other; rather it is simply a matter of personal preference.

The straight-through eyepiece design can provide a more natural "line of sight" view, making it easier for users to properly aim the spotter at the target they are seeing with the naked eye.

Angled eyepiece designs may be more comfortable if you are sharing the instrument with users of different heights, i.e. children. The angled design is also more comfortable when looking at taller or overhead objects or views.

Digiscoping is capturing images on a digital camera using a spotting scope as a telephoto lens. There are many ways to do this with varying degrees of resolution. A digital SLR camera can be cleanly adapted to almost any spotting scope with the purchase of appropriate "T-Adapters" and "T-Rings".

"Point and Shoot" compact digital cameras can work extremely well but are more challenging to adapt: many of the spotting scope manufacturers have adapters that hold the camera up to the eyepiece of the spotter. There are also some "after market" universal adapters. But not all cameras will adapt!

At this time, Nikon, Kowa, Swarovski, Zeiss and Leica have good digital camera adapters, but not for all camera models. Please see the specific adapters listed in both the manufacturer and in our "Digiscoping" categories.