Binoculars, Spotting Scopes and Tripods for Bird Watching

We recommend you try using binoculars/spotting scopes prior to making a purchase.

We carry the best selection of optics and spotting scopes in Toronto. 

We stock optics from nine different companies

Over 70 different binoculars ranging in price from under $150 to $4,000

Over 30 different spotting scopes ranging in price from $273 to over $4,000

Brands:

Vortex   Swarovski   Zeiss   Nikon   Kowa   Celestron   Vanguard   Opticron   Kite

Observing your birds in your backyard or going out to a park for a bird/nature walk is a great way to relax and enjoy your free time. Observing the behaviour of your birds from a far can be very satisfying but there are times when a pair of binoculars can add greatly to your enjoyment.

Binoculars are not just for "birding hikes" where they are a must to get a good view of a bird that is sitting in a tree a few hundred feet away but when watching birds in your backyard extra detail will be available to you if you have a good pair of binoculars on hand. Binoculars will bring the image of the bird you are observing close enough for you to distinguish the various markings on the bird to help you make positive identification. Were you looking at an American Goldfinch in its winter plummage or was it a Pine Siskin at the finch feeder? You might be watching a bird you can easily identify without binoculars but what you miss from a far is the more subtle behaviour. How often have you seen a Cardinal at your bird feeder eating your seed? Probably many times. But how often have you ever actually been able to watch how the Cardinal actually opens up a black oil sunflower seed?

We carry a large selection of binoculars at various price points for the beginner, advanced or backyard birder. We feature models in the three main categories; compact, mid-size and full size. In each category we have 8x and 10x power binoculars available.

Our birding experts can help you choose which pair is right for you based on how you plan to use your pair of binoculars. We can help you: 

  • understand what all the "numbers" mean and which ones are important to you
  • which pair "fits" your face the best
  • the adjustments required if you wear glasses or if you do not require glasses
  • how to set-up your binoculars properly to achieve the best focus
  • lead you through a series optics quality tests to help you decide if the cost of the binoculars is justified

Don't let all the technical jargon make you throw up your hands up in frustration and just decide not to make a binocular purchase, come by and see us and we will assist you in making a logical and educated decision for the right pair of binoculars. 

Spotting Scopes

Brands:

Vortex   Swarovski   Kowa   Celestron   Kite

With the fall/winter season now here a spotting scope can really make a difference on your next birding trip. Winter is a great time to make a trip out to look at breeding ducks, migrant gulls and rare sea birds. A trip down to the lakeshore at many parks throughout the GTA can provide some new sightings but many of these birds are not close to shore. A pair of binoculars will let you see the bird but details will be vague even with a 10x binocular.

Spotting scopes can offer much higher magnification, up to 60x. All of a sudden that bird you could kind of see in your binoculars is brought to life in full colour and detail. We only started using a spotting scope a few years ago when we got much more interested in ducks, gulls and seabirds while birding the Tip at Longpoint. We used to use the "house" scope and realized when we returned home we needed our own. Now a trip to the Lakeshore is not complete without our spotting scope. Of course a spotting scope is great in the fall and  spring to catch the migrating shorebirds all along the Lakeshore.

Tripods and Monopods

Brands:

Manfrotto   Vortex   Celestron   Kite

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