|
What To Know When Buying Binoculars
Chuck Fitzgerald ©2004 All Rights Reserved.
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 onsideration – 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 soimportant 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!
============================================
About the Author:
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.
Resources
Shopping
More Articles
|
Resources
Shopping
Books
Article Index
|
6875 South Kiesta, West Jordan, UT 84084