The task of buying binoculars, UK or otherwise isn't easy to say the least but one way of simplifying the process is by buying binoculars from UK online stores where searching for specific functionality is so much easier than on the high street.

Making the decision to invest in binoculars is the easy part but once you take those first tentative steps towards buying binoculars you soon learn that the process isn't as simple as it seems. There's an amazing amount of choice, numerous top quality binocular manufacturer (are you thinking of buying UK binoculars, German binoculars, US binoculars), hundred's of different types and sizes on offer (waterproof binoculars, IS binoculars (image stabilising), compact binoculars, lightweight binoculars, marine binoculars, bird watching binoculars, the list is endless) and a decision to be made regarding such things as magnification, objective diameter, lens quality and eye relief.

One of the biggest problems with buying binoculars in the UK is that there is so much choice it's hard to make a decision and when you start to realise the whole new world that binoculars give you access to you tend to want to go for the best money can buy (which can get expensive).

So there you have it, buying binoculars (UK), is a minefield, be prepared to follow a few guidelines before you start:

Be clear about what you are buying binoculars for. You can buy binoculars for general use, many of which are very good but if you are looking for astronomy binoculars for example and you want the best quality viewing it's best to opt for specialist binoculars, particular given UK weather conditions.

If you want to use your binoculars in wet, salty, environments then search for marine binoculars which will be waterproof, fog-free and built for extreme weather conditions. The best marine binoculars are also corrosion resistant.

A lot of binoculars aren't waterproof and in nice hot climates this isn't an issue. For UK residents, when buying binoculars, UK weather conditions have to be taken into account, given the number of wet or damp days we have are none waterproof binoculars going to provide you with the flexibility you need?

Do you want to be able to use high magnification binoculars without a tripod? If so you may want to consider buying IS binoculars (image stabilising) which will eliminate the distortion caused by slight movements in your hand normally apparent with high magnification binoculars. If you're buying binoculars to use in a moving vehicle then IS binoculars are ideal.

Are you buying binoculars for travel, UK and abroad, if so look at compact binoculars. They are light enough and small enough to carry around wherever you go maximising the use you get out of them.

Unless you are going to use a tripod or IS binoculars look at buying binoculars that have a magnification of 10x or less. Anything higher and you start to get image distortion due to slight movements in your hand. The Canon 10x42L IS Binoculars are a popular choice.

If you want to take your binoculars out and about all day, weight could be important. Lightweight binoculars are worth looking at with modern materials enabling a significant weight reduction even in full-size binoculars.

In the UK we have some wonderful wildlife which shouldn't be missed, for the best quality viewing try and buy binoculars with high quality Bak-4 prisms and fully multicoated lenses.

• uncoated lenses give extremely poor quality viewing, not recommended

• coated lenses is one coat and isn't necessarily all lenses

• fully coated is one coat all lenses

If you wear glasses or for comfortable all day viewing look at buying binoculars with long eye relief (15mm and above).

Rubber armoured binoculars tend to be more robust.

One final tip for buying binoculars (UK) is that price doesn't guarantee quality but it is worth paying a bit more if you want good quality lenses and an unforgettable viewing experience.

Many bird watchers are enthusiastic about any new binocular that guarantees the best possible view of birds in the bushes. Although many such promises remain unfulfilled as the conventional models do have some limitations and that is why the users are not satisfied with the results.

The trickiest part is in watching small birds hidden in thick bushes or woods. With any ordinary binocular it would be next to impossible to spot the bird, and hence it is more or less useless in such situations. But the needs of the bird watchers do not go unanswered; at least the new technology is there to help them with what they want.

One such new edge product is the digital camera binocular which is precisely what the bird watchers need.

It is a device that not only exceeds the conventional bird watching device with its amazing clarity but also helps to capture and store the image with the help of a high resolution digital camera.

Not only that but these will help you shoot short video with help of the integrated digital camera while you are bird watching or doing similar activity. This is the biggest reason of making this kind of binoculars highly popular among the birdwatchers. This device will not only help you to watch the action up close but also to capture and store it in a digital format wherever necessary.

On size aspects, it is bit bulky due to the digital camera if compared to the conventional bird watching models. But with the features it offers, the little bulk is agreed to by the users. In this model the camera is mounted in between the shafts of the binocular eyes.

This helps in getting the perfect as I see it, shot while you are bird watching. Most of these don't suffer in binocularity. In fact they have the same zoom options and optical quality that you will find with any of the standard bird watching model. On comparing with

the standard models it is quiet inexpensive with the feature it offers.

With the increasing popularity, many manufacturers have started integrating digital cameras onto the binoculars giving the buyer more options to choose from. While you look for a new digital camera binocular, remember to compare it on the features and look for few aspects like video capture options, LCD display, image resolution, objective lens size etc.

If budget is the constrain, you can decline the video capture option from it and go for a still digital image capturer. In all, these devices have given a new high to the birdwatchers and have made them launch into the wood more often.

Binoculars are better for viewing general objects than telescopes because they are basically two telescopes smacked together which allow for greater depth perception.

Binoculars have been around since the 1600's century after telescopes have been invented. People use to connect two telescopes together and in able to see with both eyes.

During the 1800's a porro prism binoculars were created that enabled greater depth perception and also spaced the eye pieces wider apart. These binoculars were more powerful than the standard ones before then.

The cheapest binoculars are porro prisms that create detailed images and good color views. These are big and wide and sometimes need to be re adjusted to work properly.

A more costly pair of prism binoculars are roof prism binocular. These binoculars are lighter and smaller but lose some light. An advantage to them is that they usually never have to be re-adjusted. These binoculars weigh much less. Many roof prism binoculars have coated lenses.

Coated Lenses help make a bright image by reducing the amount of light that reflects. With out this, the binoculars will create a hazy picture.

Most Binoculars are focused by moving a round wheel that focuses both eye pieces at once. More complicated binoculars require independent focus which requires each eye piece to be focused separately.

More expensive binoculars have image stabilization which dampen sudden movement. This means that binoculars with high magnification can be hand held when normally they couldn't. This feature is very expensive.

Coin-op binoculars can be found at many tourist attractions. These are always on a tripod or bipod.

Military Binoculars are at a magnification 7x. Military binoculars are tougher than other binoculars and they also use independent focusing because it is more sturdy . Most military binoculars also have special features that help it work while wet. Boating binoculars are meant to be easier on the eyes so you don't get sea sick.

Astronomy Binoculars help you to view far away elements in the sky from far away. There are a lot of different planets like Pluto that can be seen with binoculars. It is nice to look with a lower powered binoculars because they have larger field of view.

I hope that you will come to see how great looking at the stars can be with binoculars. No matter what kind of binoculars you chose to buy, the most important thing out there is that you enjoy what you are using them for. You can still have fun with a $100 pair of binoculars if you enjoy looking at the stars with your kids. Teaching your kid's about the big dipper is something you will never forget.