The Perfect Choice! - Bushnell 10x42 H2O Waterproof Binoculars

My husband and I were going to Belize where I knew we would be spending some time in the rainforest birdwatching. I have never shopped for binoculars before nor have I really bird-watched, so I went through a bit of education learning the difference between magnification, optical length, field of view, etc. Given the humid conditions of the rainforest, I was advised to buy a waterproof binocular and for the intended use of birdwatching something at least 8 x 35. I finally decided on the Bushnell 10x42, originally because of the low price for features offered. Neither I, nor my husband, could be more pleased with the choice. The image is sharp and clear. He wears glasses and the fold down cups with a long eye relief, allows him to see clearly. We looked at other, much more expensive, models but this fine binocular beat them all. In fact, our trail guide had a $1,700 Swarovski scope for birdwatching that was only marginally better than our binoculars. I was concerned that the higher magnification level would make dawn and dusk viewing difficult due to the limited light, but this was not the case. Consequently, we most heartily recommend these binoculars for all birdwatching conditions. For all of you techno-junkies, here are the specifications (from the Eagle Optics site):

Field of View 346 ft./1000 yds.
Eye Relief 16 mm
Close Focus 15 ft.
Weight 27 oz.
Dimensions (HxW) 5.7 x 7.5 in.
Weatherproofing Waterproof/Nitrogen Purged (completely o-ring sealed for waterproof protection and nitrogen-purged for fogproof viewing). Features include durable rubber armoring, center focus and fully-coated optics for durability and clarity.

Three websites where you can find general information about what these specs mean to the viewing experience are:
http://adventurezones.com/catalog/binocular/p9001.htm
http://www.birdsforever.com/binocs.html and
http://www.rei.com/rei/learn/detail.jsp?URL=/rei/learn/camp/howbinocf.jsp&ls=Camping

Happy birdwatching!