Cheap binoculars are often mediocre in their durability, lens quality, and overall usability. Still, there are a few models out there that truly shine compared to their budget competition. The Wingspan Optics WingCatcher Binoculars are one of the best models for your money in the cheaper price brackets. They have good magnification range, excellent contrast, a wide field of view, and other features that make them an ideal addition to the birdwatcher’s gear backpack.
Having an 8x magnification and a 430ft field of view at 1000 yards, the WingCatcher is a worthy companion to any birding aficionado. It is fairly lightweight and has lenses which provide you with a crystal clear view of anything you want to observe. The body of these binoculars is durable and is nitrogen filled, making it fog proof and waterproof. What’s even better is the fact that you are getting a neck strap, carrying case, and protection covers. All that results in a better deal than anything else on the market currently.
Let’s go over some of the most important features now and see what makes these binoculars stand out from their competition.
Table of Contents
Product Overview And Features
The WingCatcher HD has a single advantage that is enough of a reason to consider it over any other model. It is cheap – plain and simple. What’s even better is that this extremely low price doesn’t come with any noticeable compromises. It has all the bells and whistles of more expensive models, such as the Nikon Monarch 5 but at the same time comes at half the price.
The fact that Wingspan Optics provides you with a lifetime warranty when you purchase any of their optics shows how confident they are in their production quality. Few are the manufacturers that offer such an option and even less of those come at such a bargain price.
- Excellent quality
- Weatherproof construction
- Good magnification & clarity
- Very cheap
- Comes with additional accessories
- Perfect for birdwatchers
With birding binoculars there is one key feature – how much will you be able to zoom in before you run out of magnification? Let’s see what this model has to offer in that regard…
Magnification
What the WingCatcher excels at is allowing you to easily recognize the vibrant colors of a bird which is 50 yards away as well as showing you an accurate image of a rare bird species that is more than a thousand yards from you. This is the power these binoculars posses in their magnification and focus ranges.
The BaK4 prism inside these binoculars is potent enough to portray an accurate image no matter how far away the bird is. There is a 7ft minimum focal length here which allows you to adjust your binoculars when viewing small birds that are in a close range.
Paired with the 8x magnification, you get a very wide field of view. At 1000 yards you will have 430ft of viewing distance thanks to the viewing angle of these binoculars. That will allow you to capture a wider picture and eliminate the need of moving too much or trying to find your bird after you’ve lost it.
The prism inside is also phase coated which contributes to the sharp and crystal clear image. Another thing that helps with that is the lenses. Let’s take a look at them now…
Lens Quality
Thanks to the 42mm lenses you get more brightness into your image and thanks to their multi-coated nature you will enjoy contrasted and vibrant colors. That full multi-coating will also create a resolution that can hardly be matched by any other model in this price bracket.
The lenses and the magnification have a combined effect of something that Wingspan Optics call “close focus”. In reality that is a marketing way to show off how crisp their prisms and lenses are even when you zoom in to the feathers of the bird. It isn’t something that other binoculars can’t do but it is definitely a step above some other budget options.
Materials & Construction
As it can be expected, the binoculars are made out of thermoplastics that is a material almost entirely resistant to 5-6ft drops. There is a thin layer of rubberized coating but it doesn’t feel grippy nor premium enough like some more expensive models.
There is a fair amount of adjustability from the central hinge giving you a 56-75mm interpupillary distance.
The whole body of the WingCatcher is nitrogen filled which is something very rare for this price and is a pleasant surprise for us to see. It won’t fog up even in a moist environment. Furthermore, these binoculars are water resistant for up to 30 minutes at 1m.
There are two color options – black and navy green. The total weight without the strap is 1 pound and 6 ounces which is a little heavier than most other models but is still in the lightweight range. Speaking of straps…
Additional Features
This model is very generous on accessories as well. In your package you will be getting:
- A neck strap
- Nylon carrying case
- Lens and eyepiece covers
- Microfiber cleaning cloth
Those are all the items that you will be needing in a birdwatching expedition and they are all included here adding no extra cost to your purchase.
Warranty
Perhaps the best feature of these binoculars is the fact that they come with a lifetime warranty. If that isn’t a testament to the confidence Wingspan Optics has, we don’t know what else can be.
That warranty covers damage and repairs for the whole period of owning their product which is an amazing thing to have even on something that won’t cost you an arm and a leg to be replaced.
Birding with your WingCatcher
Going out birding with this model is easy thanks to a number of features – its weight, the fact that it comes with a strap and a case, the great magnification, and crystal clear vibrant picture you will be getting out of it.
It is easy to carry around and quick and easy to operate. Pair that with an unbelievably good price and you got yourself a clear contender for your binoculars shopping shortlist.
If you want to learn more about best binoculars for bird watching and see other binocular models that are ideal for the occasion, you can check out our full Buyer’s Guide on the topic. There you will find tons of useful information and tips that will turn your birding trip into a lifetime memory!
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- Excellent quality
- Weatherproof construction
- Good magnification & clarity
- Very cheap
- Comes with additional accessories
- Perfect for birdwatchers
Cons
- Rubberized texture doesn’t feel as grippy and comfortable as more expensive models
Conclusion and Rating
Birding Rocks Rating:
If you are shopping for your next birdwatching binoculars and don’t want to spend a king’s ransom on a new model, then the Wingspan Optics WingCatcher is an option you should definitely consider. It has all the features a premium pair of binoculars will have without the big price tag. It can zoom in on birds that are more than a thousand yards from you and will keep the vividness and accuracy of the colors as true as possible. It is durable, fairly lightweight, and comes with all the accessories you will need on your expedition. The lifetime warranty is the cherry on top of it all. We gave this model five out of five stars rating!
