The field of view (FOV) is the amount of a scene the optics can take in. The right combination will depend on your use case: binoculars for astronomy often tend towards more magnification and aperture (15x70, 20x80, 25x100, etc.) that demands a mount while binoculars for nature, hunting, and events should be lighter and lower magnification (5x25, 6x32, 8x42) to hold comfortably in your hands.įield of view. The amount of light that a lens gathers scales with the square of the aperture: a design with a 50mm aperture gathers twice the light of a 35mm design and four times the light of a 25mm design. Greater aperture allows you to collect more light to improve the quality of a magnified image but also makes the binoculars heavier and more expensive. Magnification also magnifies your hand shake: 10x is generally the upper limit for most people’s tolerance for magnification when hand-holding though you may be able to get away with 12x or 15x with unusually steady hands or mechanical stabilization with a monopod or bracing yourself. Greater magnification brings you "closer" but too much magnification can result in shaky views that require stabilization like a tripod. There are engineering constraints and usability trade-offs when changing the magnification and aperture. The second number refers to the aperture, or the size of the front glass element (in millimeters). The first number refers to the magnification, or how much the optics enlarge a target. Common examples you see include 6x32, 8x42, and 10x50. These are the most important specifications for binoculars. Some of the most important terminology is summarized below followed by links to resources if you want to dive deeper. If you are on the market for binoculars, you might be confused by some of the jargon. As long as you set reasonable expectations about what binoculars can do, you will be able to enjoy your excursions, events, and trips more. The iconic images you see in newspapers, posters, and online were made using highly-specialized and expensive equipment while binoculars are general-purpose and inexpensive equipment. You are not going to get Hubble Telescope deep field images of the stars or telephoto close-ups of players' reactions on the field. If you are just getting started, something like a 6x32 or 8x42 in the US$100-150 budget may be the most versatile option. Each of these different types of observing has different demands that should lead you to prioritize some kinds of features over others. Travel, astronomy, nature, events, and security are some of the most common settings where you will encounter binoculars. Binoculars can be used for a variety of tasks where you need to make something small, dim, and/or far away bigger, brighter, and closer. This guide is meant to summarize the conventional wisdom and help you prioritize what meets your needs. Choosing the right binocular can be intimidating with the different specifications and features. Perhaps you used the binoculars of a friend during a trip or event, or you found binoculars going through a closet or attic, or you are interested in a hobby like birdwatching or stargazing that gets you outdoors more. This is a guide intended for a novice binocular user.
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