Pentax Papilio Close Focus 8.5×21 Binoculars

field binos 2 copyHands down my favorite binoculars. They work great on distant birds with a bright, clear image but also can focus on insects or flowers that are only a foot and a half away. You can actually watch ants tending aphids or see the tongues of bees as they feed at flowers. It opens up a whole new world. These binoculars are also lightweight so you can bring them backpacking or anywhere you go. I like them for field sketching because they are light enough to hold in one hand (elbow braced on my knee) as I draw with my other.