I’m often asked about optics.  Folks know that I need the highest quality optical equipment for my work.  I’ve looked at all the top brands, and my choice is Nikon for binoculars, spotting scope, and camera.

Rarely does a day pass when I don’t use binoculars for work, for play, or for both.  I use the Nikon EDG 8x42, the best glass on the market.  You’ve got to look through these to believe the brightness and sharpness.  Nikon has earned one of the best reputations in the field of optics, and the EDG is the best binocular Nikon has ever made.  The best of the best, now that’s hard to beat.  The EDG is also available in 7x42, 10x42, 8x32, and 10x32, but I’m in love with my 8x42.  Learn more at Nikon’s websites: www.nikonbirding.com/binoculars-edg.html and www.nikoncuttingedg.com

I’m in the rain forest at Bosque de Paz Reserve in Costa Rica in the photo at right.  I’m with my trusty Nikon Fieldscope 82mm ED, an amazingly sharp spotting scope that’s proven durable and reliable in the soggy tropical forests I visit.  I love the performace of this scope.  Usually I use the 38x wide angle eyepiece, which gives me exceptional sharpness, long eye relief, stellar depth of field, crucial when lining up birds in the confusing greenery of the tropics.  This scope works great with a digital camera for the art of “digiscoping.”  For more info: www.nikonbirding.com

The Nikon Monarch X 8.5x45 (left) is another binocular I sometimes use -- and more often I’ll loan these out on a field trip to someone whose binoculars aren’t working properly.  This model is truly the king of the mid-priced binocular, offering unbelievable quality for a fraction of the cost of the top models.  This is a very impressive instrument, try it out if you have the chance.  Read about the Monarch X at: www.nikonbirding.com

My camera is the Nikon Coolpix P80.  It’s small, lightweight, inexpensive, and it takes great, sharp photos (look around my website for examples).  With an optical zoom of 18x it performs well on birds

and other wildlife.  Its macro is great for insects and flowers.  Use it in full automatic mode or override for full control of exposures, etc.  The P80 has recently been replaced by the newer Coolpix P90, learn about it here: http://imaging.nikon.com

To learn more about birding with Nikon, visit the Birding to the EDG blog at: www.birdingtotheedg.blogspot.com