I personally think that the next big thing when it comes to binoculars will be image stabilization - binoculars with mechanical or electronic devices built in to compensate for the inevitably trembling human hand and body. Efforts along this line to date have indeed been the “next big thing” - large, clumsy binoculars which often have sub-par optics in them, so what you wind up with is a steady but fuzzy image. (The exception is the now discontinued Zeiss 20X60 image-stabilized binoculars, which were indeed too massive for normal birding but offered marvelous clarity.)
Until clear, crisp, light weight image-stabilized binoculars come along, birders must find other means to keep our bins from bouncing and quivering. Posture and grip while scanning are important, but the best way to keep binoculars still is by bracing them, or you, with something solid.
Try Using Your Tripod - With most tripods, if you set an angled spotting scope to the correct height for your eye then tip the scope forward, the tripod handle winds up in a perfect position to brace binoculars for scanning (see photo #1). I use this position frequently while scanning shorebird flocks or while seawatching. Binoculars, with a field of view much wider than a scope’s, make it possible to cover large areas quickly. Quite frankly, truly steady binoculars may seem like a scope you are using with two eyes! Furthermore, if you sight a distant candidate that needs closer inspection, it’s merely a matter of flipping the scope up and into play.
Use a Walking Stick - A simple wooden walking stick is nothing more than a monopod without a mount on the top. Make yourself a walking staff of just the right height on which to rest your bins.
Car Tricks - When birding from the car, shut the engine off whenever you stop to scan. Not only does this make a huge difference in how much you can hear out the window, it eliminates the engine vibrations. Try this: roll down the car window so that your binoculars can rest comfortably on the top of the window, at exactly the correct height for viewing. A stable platform, and view, will result (see photo #2). If you are out of the car, rest your elbows or bins on the roof as you scan.
Use What’s Available - A railing, tree, or other sturdy object (even if it is the wrong height), can provide excellent support. Lean against a tree or pole, lift your binoculars and lightly rest the back of one of your hands against the trunk (see photo #3). Now your body is still, and your binoculars are, too. If a railing is too low to use as a binocular rest, lean your body or thighs against it for support.
Get Down - Sitting on a low stool, bench, or on the ground while resting your elbows on your knees is an excellent way to obtain a stable view through binoculars.
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Learn through Photos |
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Use Your Tripod
“Use your tripod to brace your binoculars while scanning.” Photo by C. Hughes. |
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Car Tricks
“Automobiles make great blinds, and observation platforms. By rolling the window part way down, the top of the window becomes an excellent binocular rest.” Photo by Don Freiday. |
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Use What’s Available
“By leaning your body against a post or tree and actually resting your binoculars against it, binocular shake is minimized. This is especially helpful in windy conditions.” Photo by Don Freiday. |