The Binoculars Advisor

by Michael and Diane Porter

Michael Porter Diane Porter Answers to questions from real people with real questions about how to choose a binocular. The questions are listed at right.

Situation: Is there a binocular that will focus close without making my eyes feel strained? I want to be able to see a butterfly up close, and I want to see it with both eyes at the same time.

Advice: Check out the Pentax Papilio. It focuses as close as 18 inches! And you see the whole picture with both eyes, not just a sliver of overlap like most other ultra-close-focusing binoculars.

We loved this small binocular so much we had to get one the moment we saw it. Lucky for us, it isn't expensive. It seems like a great gift for a birder who already has binoculars but who also is interested in butterflies.

The Binoculars Advisor

by Michael and Diane Porter

Which binocular?