Which binocular magnification

What is the primary purpose of using the binoculars? Who will be using the binoculars and are there any special requirements Eyeglass wearers, poor vision, young person or old? Once these answers become evident, it becomes much easier to narrow down the particular models to 2 or 3, and then the choice becomes one of personal preference.

In this particular case the first place I would start looking in is the compact section with a power range of no more than 7x magnification.

The other recommendation was to go with a smaller sized zoom binocular which will offer you the capability of zooming in when you want to or if you are really sitting in the cheap seats. However, the price range was slightly higher than the recommended amount but by far a much more versatile binocular.

In this case, we sold the zoom binoculars and received a great response from the buyer. Eye relief , which is the distance a binocular can be held away from the eye while still presenting the full field of view, should also be considered. Consider binoculars that have over 16mm of eye relief for eyeglass wearers. Exit Pupil stands for the measurement of the circle of light that appears when you look through the binoculars while holding them at a short distance away from your eyes.

The exit pupil relates to how well a binocular will perform in dim light. If you hold binoculars away from your eyes and up to the light, you will see a bright circle in the center of the eyepiece. The exact size can be measured by dividing the objective lens by the magnification of the binoculars. As a guide, you should ensure that your binoculars have a similar size exit pupil to your own pupils.

So if you intend on using the binoculars during low light conditions or at night, choose a pair with a similar value exit pupil. The lens sizes are measured in millimeters mm. Remember this is the second number in the equation. The human eye will adjust based on what you are viewing and the surrounding light conditions but the general rule of thumb is 5 times the magnification level.

A greater amount of light will enter through a larger lens size. As we get older our eyes dilate less, so the exit pupil size we need decreases to around 5 millimeters. It is expressed in two ways; as the width in feet at 1, yards, or in degrees of field. When expressed in feet the field is called linear, and when expressed in degrees it is called angular. In most cases the field is indicated on the outside of the binocular, in degrees.

Average values are between 5 and 10 degrees, or roughly to feet. To get an actual idea of how wide this field is, think that in five degrees you can fit almost 10 Full Moon diameters! For astronomy, a wide field of view is desirable because if offers a more pleasant viewing experience, and you can see more of the sky at a better edge performance compared to a narrower field.

However, when increasing the field beyond a certain point images start to exhibit signs of distortion, especially near the edges of the field. Also remember that field of view is related to magnification; the higher the power of your binoculars, the smaller the field will be. Eye relief is the distance behind the eypice lenses at which the image is in focus, and indicates how far the binoculars can be held from your eyes and still allow you to see the entire apparent field of view.

Copyright Michael and Diane Porter. The Talon 8x42 binocular, from Vortex Optics, offers an open bridge design. It lets you wrap your fingers around each barrel. This contributes to a steady image, which results in your seeing a more detailed picture. You also get a remarkably wide field of view, too — feet at yards. Its eye relief of 18mm means it works great for people who wear glasses as well as for those who don't. And it focuses close on the birds just 6 feet away!

Think what that can mean for watching hummingbirds at the feeders on the other side of the window. They usually cost only a little bit more than 8-power binoculars. More steadiness to the image Everyone's hands shake — a little or a lot — but no living, breathing human being has perfectly steady hands. Wider field of view You usually get a wider field of view with an 8-power binocular than you do with the same model in 10 power.

Seen through 8-x binocular. Popular binoculars gallery. A large collection of images displayed on this page are available at. These binoculars come bundled with a phone adaptor so you can attach your mobile and take pictures from distance through the binoculars.

They provide 10x magnification and are waterproof in up to 2m of water for five minutes. The Nikon Prostaff 7S Binoculars are best-suited for wildlife observation and use mirror-coated prisms with high reflection to improve brightness levels.

Most have a central focusing wheel and a dioptre adjustment for focusing images. The dioptre adjustment is an important feature, as it compensates for the differences between the strength of your eyes. This feature can often go unnoticed by novice users who aren't certain what it does.

Follow these five easy steps and you'll get the best image possible:. Look through your binoculars at a plain scene, such as grass or sky, and move the central hinge until you see a single bright circle. Cover the barrel that has the dioptre adjustment on its eyepiece. This is usually on the right-hand side. Look at a fixed object in the distance, then use the central focusing wheel to focus the binoculars until the image appears clear and sharp.

While looking at the same image, cover the left barrel. Use the dioptre adjustment on the right eyepiece to make the image appear clear and sharp.

Binoculars can often be described in baffling language. While you don't need to know everything about their anatomy, an understanding of some of the key terms and features will help you get the best out of yours. W Which? Editorial team. In this article Questions to consider before buying a pair of binoculars Types of binoculars Binocular features to look out for Where to buy binoculars Popular binoculars from major retailers How to focus binoculars Binoculars terminology explained.

At what time of the day will you use your binoculars? The objective lens diameter is the measurement of the lenses at the end of the binoculars.