A set of Bino’s for a bearn.

[HKep1]

Afternoon group, could anyone suggest/recommend a decent set of binoculars for a five year old, not something I’d have to sell a kidney for, but something she could grow with.
Cheers all
John.

 

[Broch]

Hi, I'm sure you're aware that there are a lot of compromises when buying at the lower price range if binos. When it comes to clarity, focus range, size, weight, focus speed etc. it really is a matter of you get what you pay for. I can't really recommend any without an idea of your budget - you can get binos for £20 to over £4,000; decent mid-range ones are £150 plus, but I appreciate even that may be beyond your current thoughts.

I encourage you to go to a few physical shops and try some. In my experience (grand children) kids are more keen on focussing on a Peacock butterfly eight feet away than on a Buzzard half a kilometre away; most low cost binos will not focus anywhere near that close.

I have struggled to get even an 8 year old to use binos properly so, having said all that above, you may consider buying something quite cheap for now (or even second hand) and plan to upgrade to something in a few years time.

Whatever you do, if you go to look at binos, don't look at any you can't afford; it's frustrating to see the clarity that silly money can buy

 

[HKep1]

Nice one, thank you. I was thinking of the second hand route tbh. Don’t think I’d want to spend anymore than 80 on my grand daughters first pair, but don’t want toys either. She likes looking through mine but they’re more like a spotting scope ATM, lol, which I have to hold for her.
But yes, I like the sound of taking her to a shop to size a pair up.
Thanks again for getting back.
John

 

[Toddy]

I bought a pair of pocket carryable binos from Lidl's a few years ago. Cost me something like ten pounds, iirc. Small, lightweight, easy to use, no fuss to carry, inexpensive, and suprisingly good. They just focus in and out, no adjustment between the sides to accomodate vision issues, and no lens caps.
Very simple, but clear.

For a young child, I'd give those a look at before I thought to spend decent amount on a pair that might end up lost/ forgotten about/ damaged and thus stressful and not conducive to the child carrying them and using them.
I can use these little ones to find the bird singing in the tree, but it clears up the Moon quite nicely too.
Easy to read the signs on aeroplanes as well.

 

[HKep1]

Yeah, we got a pair from aldi middle isle for her last year, they lasted about a fortnight before one of the lenses fell out, might just invest in a spotting scope with a phone attachment thinking about it, she could take the photos and send them to her nan n mum from the field. Thanks both, that’s been really helpful, that’s made mi mind up for me.
Cheers
John.

 

[stonepark]

I use Celestron Nature DX on 10x25 and 10x42 but the former are at just out of your budget due to recent price rises but both give really good views especially for the cost.

Celestron also do a set called the Outland X in 8x25 etc which can be found below for about £35: -

Celestron Outland X

 

[Toddy]

Yeah, we got a pair from aldi middle isle for her last year, they lasted about a fortnight before one of the lenses fell out, might just invest in a spotting scope with a phone attachment thinking about it, she could take the photos and send them to her nan n mum from the field. Thanks both, that’s been really helpful, that’s made mi mind up for me.
Cheers
John.

They come with a five year guarantee for all that they're cheap.
I admit mine do not have the easiest life, but they've been rock solid reliable, and I'm not fretting about the pair that cost £450 getting damaged.

We didn't have Lidl's when my sons were little, I bought them Praktico ones.....which are still decent enough to use

Maybe be a little wary of a child using a scope too much. We were told quite clearly that those and kaleidoscopes were not good toys for children. They can 'pull' the eyesight on on side if they become a favourite toy and the child has any tendency to a lazy eye.

Rich uses his phone to take some amazing shots, I don't think he finds he needs to use a scope. Hopefully he'll see the thread and comment

 

[HKep1]

Ahh noted, thank you, reckon if I did, I’d use the phone to view through and focus off that, maybe you can’t, I’d have to look it up, that way, we could both look through the finder and she could press the screen for the pictures

lol, thought just came to me as I was reading your first post, the grand daughter is mad into song birds currently, we’ve just put another 2 feeders up this morning. Might just be a phase, hope not, but the seed has definitely been planted and I think it’s starting to sprout

 

[Toddy]

Ahh noted, thank you, reckon if I did, I’d use the phone to view through and focus off that, maybe you can’t, I’d have to look it up, that way, we could both look through the finder and she could press the screen for the pictures

lol, thought just came to me as I was reading your first post, the grand daughter is mad into song birds currently, we’ve just put another 2 feeders up this morning. Might just be a phase, hope not, but the seed has definitely been planted and I think it’s starting to sprout

I was a tiny child. I knew every nest in our hedges because I could see them. I mind feeding the blackbird worms as she sat on her nest in the hedge. The robin sat on my shoe expecting me to feed him crumbs.

I still feed the birds these days I have woodpeckers and nuthatches competing with the others. The only ones I don't like seeing nearby are the gulls.

I hope your granddaughter has as much quiet pleasure out of the birds in her life as I have done.

 

[demented dale]

I would just let her look through yours and teach her. If she is still interested in three months then look at buying her some of her own. Five year olds get bored very quickly. Do not spend money till you know it is being spent well. x