If you are looking to obtain a pair of binoculars initially, you will be faced with a tough choice of makes and models. Binoculars come in all shapes and sizes and range in cost from below $20 to thousands of dollars, so finding the right pair to fit your preferences and budget is not always that easy.
Basically, all binoculars work alongside the same concepts, so your very first step to choosing a pair of binoculars is to understand the jargon associated with binoculars.
All makes of binoculars receive a number that appears like this: 8X35 or 10X42. These are the two most important numbers that identify any pair of binoculars. You will see many combinations of these numbers.
The initial part of the number lets us know the magnification of the binoculars. 8X magnifies an object eight times, and 10X magnifies the subject ten times. When considering the magnification of a pair of binoculars, you should also be aware that the higher the zoom, the smaller the location you can see becomes. This is known as field of view (F.U.V.) and is also often noted as a number of feet per 1,500 yards.
The second section of the number is the diameter of the objective lens, in millimeters. Objective lens size plays a major part in the type of image we see. The bigger the lens, the more light is let into the goggles, and the sharper and brighter the image you see. While it might appear that bigger is most beneficial, having a larger zoom lens also makes your binoculars a whole lot larger and bulkier, which might prevent you from carrying them around with you.
These are the fundamental numbers you should understand before investing in a pair of goggles. Knowing these will help you make the right choice. Additional specifications you might want to consider are:
There are two different types of binoculars available: porro prisms and roof prisms. The particular Porro prism models are the classical-looking models with offset lenses, which make the binoculars as large as they are long. Binoculars with Porro prisms are generally heavier and bulkier, but because of their design, they tend to let in more light and produce crisper and brighter images. When you see a couple of binoculars that look more like straight tubes with no offsets, these are roof prism goggles. Roof-prism goggles are a much newer design that makes for a more compact camera. Roof prism models can still have a fairly large lens; however, the physical weight and size of the binoculars are greatly reduced. On the other hand, don’t expect to see any large binoculars that make use of roof prisms. Typically, the image you see in roof prism binoculars is not always as sharpened or vivid as traditional Porro prism binoculars.
Attention Relief: This specific is the distance involving the lens you look into and the actual position of your attention. If you wear glasses, then look for a camera with long eye relief.
Exit Pupil: You might want to consider this specification if you are planning to use your binoculars in dark light. The greater the exiting student, the brighter the image will seem.
What you ought to consider next is how you are planning to use binoculars. Presently, there are many binoculars on the market suitable for different activities, like marine binoculars and hunting goggles. These binoculars will have special features like waterproofing and rugged designs, which will add to the associated binoculars.
One more thing that can greatly affect the price of a pair of binoculars is the use of the use of special anti-reflective lens coatings. These special coatings are designed to cut down on glare and help ensure that as much light as possible is collected by the optics. While coated optics are desirable, they can quickly raise the price of your binoculars.
So now you already know the fundamentals of binoculars and are ready to make a decision. Be sure to look for a pair that has the features you need for their intended use; this alone can save you a lot of money. When you go to get a pair of binoculars, also be sure to test them out and get a good feel for how they perform and how comfortable they are in your palms. Also, make sure you ask about the warranty on your new binoculars. They could be buddies forever.