What To Know When Buying Binoculars
We are asked nearly every day: "What are your best binoculars?"
And every day we answer: "How do you plan on using them?" We are
not trying to be evasive with our answer, but the truth of the
matter is – the best binoculars for one purpose may be the worse
binoculars for another. We want you to Get It Right The First
Time.
Understanding your application is paramount in determining the
best fit – for you. Although there are many other specifications
and qualities which determine the usefulness of binoculars, we
will discuss in this article the primary characteristics for
determining the best fit for your application. But before we show
you the list, we should go over some basic terminology.
What do the numbers on binoculars mean? All sporting optics
(binoculars, spotting scopes, night vision goggles, etc.) use the
same nomenclature to describe important features. As an example,
a pair of binoculars may have 10x42mm listed as a technical
specification. But what does this mean? The "10" refers to the
magnification power of the binoculars – that is – objects viewed
will appear to be 10 times closer than when they are viewed by
the naked eye. The second number in our example is "42mm." This
refers to the diameter, in millimeters, of the objective lenses
on the binoculars. The objective lenses are located on the end of
the binoculars furthest away from your eye when viewing. As with
the aperture of a camera lens, the size of objective lens
determines the amount of light that can enter your binoculars. If
your binoculars are going to be used during low light (hunting
and astronomy are good examples) you had better have large
objective lenses.
Another important number describing binoculars is called
field-of-view. A field-of-view of 390' indicates that the width
of the sight picture is 390 feet at a distance of 1000 yards.
Field-of-view is determined by magnification and the focal
lengths of the objective and eyepiece lenses. More magnification
always means less field-of-view. This specification is sometimes
expressed in degrees. A field-of-view of 6.5 degrees equates to
341' (6.5 times 52.5 equals 341).
How well your binoculars will serve you in low light conditions
is described as Twilight Performance. Although many things, such
as overall design and quality of glass impact this specification,
magnification and objective lens diameter are the chief
components. A quick way to determine the Twilight Performance of
binoculars is to multiply the magnification power (first number)
times the objective lens diameter (second number). The higher the
result, the better the Twilight Performance. As an example,
10x42mm binoculars will have better Twilight Performance than
8x50mm binoculars (420 versus 400).
Now that we understand some basic terminology, here is
“What to Know When Buying Binoculars."
* While compact binoculars weigh as little as a pound, by using
them you will undoubtedly sacrifice performance. If performance
is your main consideration, full sized binoculars are preferred.
Anything weighing over about 1.5 pounds will get heavy fairly
fast. Use a binocular support system to evenly distribute the
weight across your shoulders instead of using a strap around your
neck.
* The amount of light available while using your binoculars will
determine –more than any other consideration – which binoculars
are best for you. Low light uses such as hunting, birding and
astronomy require larger objective lenses.
* The distance you will be from the object you view will
determine the magnification power required in a pair of
binoculars. If your application is bird watching, theater or
sporting events, a low powered binocular will suffice in most
cases. But if you're into astronomy, you'll need a high powered
pair.
* The minimum focal point in binocular terminology refers to how
near an object can be to you and be still be viewed in focus.
This tends to be important for birding but not so important for
most other uses.
* Binoculars with a magnification power greater than 10x (and
without a stability feature) will be difficult to hold steady.
This becomes important when viewing the night sky or distant
mountains. A tripod may be a good thing to have if you’re using
binoculars with high magnification.
* Using your binoculars outdoors will usually subject them to
moisture. Waterproof binoculars are preferred for all marine,
hunting, birding and other nature related activities.
* The greater the magnification, the narrower the field-of-view.
If field-of-view is important to you, don't purchase the most
powerful binoculars you can find. This becomes very important
when viewing objects that move quickly such as antelope, race
horses, shooting stars or race cars.
* As with almost everything else in life, with binoculars you get
what you pay for. There are binoculars that cost under $10 and
others which cost in excess of $2,500. My experience says you
will need to spend at least $250 for a pair of binoculars worth
having.
* There is no such thing as “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to
sporting optics. If you have multiple uses for binoculars, you
will most likely end up with multiple pairs of them – and that’s
O.K.
Your understanding of these few simple tips will not only help
you in acquiring the correct binoculars for your application, but
they will also help you with successful viewing – no matter what
you’re looking at. Use this information and you’ll Get It Right
The First Time. Get Outdoors!
Chuck Fitzgerald is Owner and President of Phoenix, Arizona based
BackCountry Toys, an online store providing backcountry specialty
gear and educational information to outdoor enthusiasts. Visit
www.BackCountryToys.com to
receive the free newsletter "FreshAir”
or call (800) 316-9055.
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