{"product":{"product_id":"0007268149","title":"Collins Bird Guide","price":"31.62","image_url":"https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41WjXYP1EGL._SL500_.jpg","url":"https://www.amazon.com/dp/0007268149"},"comments":[{"body":"Guides depend on where you're from. For Europe [Collins](http://www.amazon.com/Collins-Bird-Guide-Lars-Svensson/dp/0007268149) is without a doubt the best guide there is.\r\n\r\nAs for binoculars, I would recommend getting a simple 10x42 or 12x42 (the first number is the times it magnifies, the second number is the diameter of the objective lens in mm) to start with. A big objective lens is useful because that way the binoculars will get more light and therefore the image will be clearer in low light situations. Too big, however, and your bins will be too big and heavy. They don't have to be expensive at all. Getting a scope and three binoculars + six guides is bad advice for a beginner and completely unnecessary. It will make the hobby seem more complicated and expensive than it really is. All a beginner really needs is one pair of binoculars, one guide and a lot of patience.\r\n\r\nAs for the bins you recommended, I would only go for the bigger one and leave the two smaller ones. Especially the 8x21 will be quite useless. 8 times magnification is too little for most practical birding and 21mm objective lens will be too dark in forests and when when it's cloudy or starting to get dark. Furthermore a scope is completely unnecessary for a starting birder. It will just be another thing to haul around which you definitely don't want at all when you're just casually starting to discover the hobby.","subreddit_name":"whatsthisbird","author":"ruk_hai"},{"body":"For European birds:\r\n\r\nhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0007268149\r\n\r\nCollins Bird Guide\r\n\r\n(other bookshops are available)\r\n\r\nI never leave home without it","subreddit_name":"birdwatching","author":"welshmanec2"},{"body":"https://www.amazon.com/Collins-Bird-Guide-Lars-Svensson/dp/0007268149","subreddit_name":"birding","author":"DatRagnar"},{"body":"[Collins Bird Guide](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Collins-Bird-Guide-Lars-Svensson/dp/0007268149) is definitely the best, most comprehensive field guide for Europe. If you just want UK however, the RSPB make some good field guides.","subreddit_name":"birding","author":"justwannaboogie"}]}