The Christmas of self-gifting: treat yourself to the equipment you really want this Christmas
At Live Science, we’ve created a guide to 22 gifts for nature lovers to give you some ideas of what to buy other people, but what about yourself?
Items like cameras, binoculars and telescopes are not impulse purchases, much less filler items. These are also very personal, and often expensive, purchases. Trusting someone else to do the right thing on your behalf is a gamble, and frankly, we wouldn’t always recommend it.
We of course have individual guides to the best cameras, the best binoculars, and the best telescopes, but this guide was put together based on what our editors would buy for themselves – and have, in some cases – in each of the categories below.
Binoculars
This first section is for sky observers who don’t want a telescope, as well as wildlife watchers and bird watchers. Other people could think they know what you want, but it’s definitely worth doing the research for yourself. There’s more to binoculars than just their power.
Binoculars vary depending on their purpose. Stargazing, bird watching, wildlife and sports will all require different lens sizes, more suitable fields of view and will require different quality lenses and coatings. For example, a pair ideal for astronomy might be too heavy and impractical for long walks, while compact travel binoculars might not be up to the task under dark skies.
Comfort is also a crucial consideration. Weight, balance, eyecup design, interpupillary distance (will you use them with glasses?), and grip all affect how long you can comfortably use a pair of binoculars. These are things only you can judge.
Aside from comfort, optical preferences are also personal. Some people may prioritize brightness, while others prefer edge-to-edge sharpness or excellent color accuracy.
Binoculars are generally a long-term investment. A well-chosen pair can last for decades. It’s worth making sure they meet your current and future needs. Here’s a list of binoculars that we think offer the perfect balance of performance, versatility, and ease of use. Each is a standout choice in its category.
Telescopes
Next, we have telescopes – and as mentioned earlier, choosing the right telescope for you depends on exactly what you want to observe.
Do you want to see local planets and the moon, or deep sky objects? Do you want to use it for astrophotography? Do you often need to move it from point A to point B? Do you have room to store it in your home, assembled or not? There are many things to consider. Things that others might not think of.
Telescopes also have different experience requirements. Some are usable right out of the box, while others are for advanced users. A well-intentioned gift may be too complex, causing frustration for the recipient, or too basic, making it difficult for a budding astronomer to progress. Only you know your experience and/or patience level.
When so much money is spent on telescopes, whether it’s yours or not, there should be no compromise. You want something that will give you pleasure every clear night you can be outside. Here are some of our recommendations.
Cameras
A camera is another (and probably the most important) purchase in this guide that’s best made on your own rather than someone else guessing. You want something that matches your skill level and ambition. Additionally, photography is extremely personal and it’s difficult to buy a camera for someone else.
Each style of camera, and even each manufacturer, will have its own strengths. Ergonomics also matters. Button layouts and menu styles are a matter of personal preference. Specifications such as autofocus systems, megapixel count, and ISO handling will depend on the shooting style. Even questions like how your computer handles image files are questions only you know the answer to (and the frustration of your computer not being able to cope with it!). If you’re already a photographer with an ecosystem of lenses and accessories, you don’t want to have to change that because someone thought they were doing the right thing by offering you an “upgrade.”
Finally, it goes without saying that cameras are expensive. Buying your own camera gives you the exact tool suited to your photographer’s vision. Here are some of our recommendations for donating.
