It’s hard to know who or what to believe anymore. One news channel will tell you one thing and the rival channel will tell you the opposite.

Sometimes, things you see with your own eyes are denied or distorted by the media or politicians. I believe that is called gaslighting, but I’m not entirely sure what that recently overused phrase actually means. Again, people seem to have different opinions on how to use the term.

It comes down to trusting your own instincts. The internet, the major source of “news” for so many people these days, is littered with opinions masquerading as facts.

I kept seeing a click-bait ad showing a banana with the text saying something along the lines of “these are the top 10 foods to avoid.” Are bananas bad for you? I asked myself. I did an internet search to find the “facts” and was amused with the results. Of the 10 stories that came up on the first page of the search, five said bananas were good for you and five said they were bad for you. (I think the argument against bananas is that they are high in sugars. The banana positive articles highlighted the vitamins and minerals in the fruit.)

I bring this up because the other day my brother asked me for advice on purchasing binoculars. He asked if 7×42 were good for birdwatching. I responded by text immediately saying 7x binoculars are fine, but 8x and 10x are good as well.

Afterwards, I was curious what the internet would have to say about this, so I searched “what are the best binoculars for birdwatching?” As you might have guessed, the answers were inconclusive. Many said it was a matter of preference, similar to the response I had given to my brother. Other sites made definitive statements and, of course, they didn’t all agree.

The headline on one site read, “The Winner is Clear, 10×42.” Another site wrote, “make sure your binoculars are labeled either 8×42 or 8×32.”

I was pleased to see that the consensus was that the best birdwatching binoculars are somewhere between 7x and 10x. I will admit, however, I was annoyed at the websites that presented as fact what the best magnification is.

At the risk of being guilty of doing the same thing I am condemning, I can say with certainty that there is not a “best” binocular out there. It depends on the individual birdwatcher. It’s like asking what type of apple is best. You could put 10 people in a room and get 10 different answers.

The best binocular power question can be narrowed down to three responses, for the most part. The vast majority of people will say either 7x, 8x or 10x. A few outliers may go down to 5x or 6x and some may go up to 12x or 15x, but they would be in the minority.

Quickly, here’s what the numbers mean. The first number is the magnification. An 8x set of binoculars will make birds appear eight times closer. The second number is the diameter of the lens and essentially dictates the amount of light being let in, which determines how bright the subject appears.

I’ve used and preferred different binoculars over the years. I used 10x for a long time and then tried 8x. I grew to like 8x and now that is my power of choice. That said, the binoculars that inhabit my glove compartment are 10x. I still use them and enjoy them.

In general, 7x or 8x offer a wider field of view making it easier to find the subject (birds in our case). There is also less vibration due to handshake with smaller magnifications. If you are more skilled at finding birds through binoculars and have steady hands, then 10x may be better as they offer a closer view of the bird.

For most birdwatching scenarios, however, 8x brings you plenty close to the action. It is also easier to follow a bird that doesn’t like to sit still. So, when asked for a recommendation, I say 8x, but that’s a recommendation based on my own personal preference and experience, not fact.

Whichever magnification you choose is based on your own preferences. No one should make the ultimate decision for you. Trust your instincts, believe your own eyes and don’t get gaslighted.