With 743 species recorded in the country thus far and a third of them found no where else in the world, the Philippines is without a doubt a birdwatcher’s paradise. Since I moved back to Manila last year, birding or birdwatching has become my way of getting my necessary dose of nature during my free time while living in the urban sprawl of the Philippine capital. A pair of quality binoculars – or “bins” for short – are essential to birdwatching. Three months ago, I upgraded my pair to a sponsored premium model from Celestron, a leading US-based manufacturer of optical instruments for the past 60 years.
Celestron is distributed in the Philippines by Cutting Edge, which has an online store and retail outlets at Greenbelt 5 (Makati), Mitsukoshi BGC (Taguig) and Ayala Malls Manila Bay (Parañaque). The brand also has a local flagship store at Shangri-La Plaza Mall, where you can personally test binoculars, spotting scopes, and other optical instruments.
I’ve taken my pair of Celestron Trailseeker 8×42 Roof Binoculars to all my birding trips since September, testing it in different environments and under different weather conditions – from highland forests occasionally drenched in rain to sunny, open wetlands. This streamlined model with a roof prism system (which is more compact than the Porro system) has the ideal specifications for birdwatching with 8x magnification and an objective lens size of 42mm.
Here are five reasons why I’ve enjoyed birdwatching so much more with this high-end pair:
Bright & clear images
The first thing I noticed when using the Celestron binoculars was how delightfully brighter and clearer the views were compared to my old and cheap pair of bins (which were also smaller in size at 10×25). Fully broadband multi-coated optics and BaK-4 prisms with phase and dielectric coatings increases light transmission through the prism system for brighter images, increased contrast, and better resolution. The superior optics was most vital when birdwatching in low-light environments like dense forest, where I search for often elusive birds in the dim understory. With the new bins, I could even see the details of backlit subjects, making identification easier.
Close focusing distance
Featuring a minimum focusing distance of only 6.5 feet (approximately 2 meters), this model allows you to see subjects that happen to be closer to you. During my birding trips, this became useful when observing details of plants and other wildlife that were easier to approach such as insects, reptiles and amphibians.
Solid construction
Built with a magnesium alloy body, the Trailseeker is built to last for several years of rugged outdoor use. This consequently gives it some heft. Some might find its weight of 655 grams cumbersome but I love how its solid construction not only makes it durable but also stabilizes viewing.
Waterproof & fog-proof
What’s more, this pair of binoculars is fully waterproof and filled with dry nitrogen gas to prevent internal fogging of lenses. While waterproof, I don’t recommend submerging the equipment in water on purpose. Indeed, my pair of bins has withstood rainy birding excursions in Bohol and Quezon.
Adjustable eyecups
The Trailseeker also features adjustable eyecups, which accommodates eyeglass wearers. If using the binoculars with a pair of eyeglasses, simple twist down and retract the eyecups. Otherwise, simply extend them upwards for comfortable viewing.
Carrying harness
Lastly, aside from a pouch bag and neck strap, the Trailseeker comes with a carrying harness, which you wear on your upper body. This relieves strain from your neck and makes it so much more comfortable to carry around the bins, especially on longer excursions. Full day birding excursions are no longer a pain in the neck!
Celestron binoculars, spotting scopes, and other optical equipment are available at Celestron Store Philippines, 6/F East Wing, Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City. They are also sold by Cutting Edge at their online store and retail branches, located at Greenbelt 5 (Makati), Mitsukoshi (BGC) and Ayala Malls Manila Bay (Parañaque).
