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, sharpness, and depth-of-field. 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 8x42s. Learn more at Nikon’s websites: www.nikonbirding.com.
I’m at Cape May Point working on the Christmas Bird Count in the photo above. I’m with my trusty Nikon EDG Fieldscope 65mm, an amazingly sharp spotting scope that’s proven durable and reliable in the varied environments that I visit. I love the performance of this scope. It gives me exceptional sharpness, long eye relief, and stellar depth of field, especially 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 P100. It’s small, lightweight, inexpensive, and it takes great, sharp photos (look around my website for examples). With an optical zoom of 26x 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 The P100 has now been replaced by the newer Coolpix P510, learn about it here:
To learn more about birding with Nikon, visit the Birding to the EDG blog at: www.birdingtotheedg.blogspot.com
