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Wildlife Gear

Ireland’s Wildlife gear reviews offer independent objective reviews of the latest wildlife and birding optics, outdoor clothing, wildlife photography equipment and accessories (including cameras, lenses, remote cameras, tripods, etc), wildlife observation gear (hides, camo gear, etc.) and more.

Vanguard VEO ED 10×42 Binocular Review

Pros: Excellent entry level ED binocular that ticks a lot of the right boxes for birders and wildlife enthusiasts. Lightweight, with reasonable field of view for a 10x binocular, the VEO ED delivers sharp high-contrast images. Great blend of high-end features at a very reasonable price point. Cons: Focus is….

Sofirn SP40 Headlamp Review

Pros: Convenient, lightweight and robust headlight with four very useful brightness levels. 1,200 Lumen “Turbo” mode ludicrously bright. Convenient recharging via micro-USB. 3000mAh 18650 battery included. Magnetic base makes for a convenient and versatile work-light when detached from the head-strap. Wide beam pattern ideal for headlamp and use and general….

Fenix PD35 v2.0 LED Torch/Flashlight Review

Pros: Fantastically bright, versatile and compact every-day-carry torch/flashlight that’s built to last. Eco mode of 3 lumen great for low-level task lighting and can provide an insane 430 hours (almost 18 days) of continuous light on a single battery. Battery charge level indicator is a handy addition. Rechargeable 18650 batteries….

Kite SP65 17-50x Spotting Scope Review

Pros: Detailed, bright image for a smaller scope, which stays sharp right to the edge of the field of view. Dual focus knobs make for quick and accurate focusing at any magnification. Robust aluminium body is lightweight yet feels as if it’s made to last. Compact contemporary design. Unusual 17-50x….

New wildlife ID tech announced by Swarovski Optik

Swarovski Optik, one of the upper-echelon brands for birding and wildlife optics, is branching out into the tech world with the release of in intriguing new piece of high-tech kit. The new dG (Digital Guide) pairs cutting-edge optics with digital camera technology, integrated WiFi and automated digital identification apps for….

Hawke Frontier HDX 8×32 Binocular Review

Hawke Frontier HDX 8x32 Highly Recommended by Ireland's Wildlife

Pros: Outstanding build quality, excellent optics and superb ergonomics in a very affordable package. Image is crisp, bright and clear in the centre of the field, with plenty of detail and good contrast. Cons: Softening around the field edges is noticeable when panning with a moving subject or scanning a….

XP Pen Deco 03 Graphics Tablet Review

XP-Pen Deco 03 Tablet Review

A graphics tablet may seem like an odd thing to be reviewing on a wildlife and nature site, but in today’s increasingly connected online world the content we create plays an incredibly important role in helping us reach and engage with more people. Whether you’re a wildlife photographer, artist or….

Hawke Frontier EDX 8×42 Binocular Review

Hawke Frontier EDX 8x42 Binocular Review

Pros: Superb image quality and premium build quality deliver excellent all-around performance. Contemporary design looks great, is ergonomic, lightweight and a delight to carry and use for extended periods in the field. Top notch accessories complete the package. Cons: Minor observations rather than real “cons” — lack of thumb indents….

New Lumix G90 mirrorless camera announced by Panasonic

LUMIX G90 with kit lens

Regular readers of Ireland’s Wildlife will recall that I’ve been using Panasonic’s flagship micro-four-thirds format stills camera, the Lumix G9, for about a year now, and I’ve been very impressed by the results. It’s an extremely capable camera, with lenses to match, and is ideally suited to the kind of….

Review: Wunderbird Clothing for Birders

Wunderbird: outdoor clothing for birders

Wunderbird is a startup company creating a unique range of clothing designed especially for birders and wildlife enthusiasts. Their clothing is lightweight, breathable, quick drying and has a number of special features specifically aimed at birders. They sent us one of their “Peregrine” long-sleeved T-Shirts to try out… here’s how….

Hawke Endurance ED 20-60×85 Spotting Scope Review

Pros: Crisp, high-resolution image, impressively bright and sharp across the field of view. Fast, accurate focussing thanks to dual focusing knobs. Tough magnesium-alloy body. Included stay on case functional and effective. Excellent optical quality at a very compelling price point. Cons: Not many, at the price — as with most zoom eyepieces….

Vanguard Alta+ 264AO Tripod Kit

Alta+264AO

Pros: Compact, lightweight yet sturdy tripod that folds small for transport but extends to a decent height for comfortable use. Capable of supporting a full-size spotting scope or DSLR camera equipment securely. Two-way pan-head is smooth and easy to adjust with just one hand. Designed with birders in mind for spotting….