Binoculars

There are people who need a set of binoculars for the things that they like to, or have to, do. Unless you are in the Army, in which case the military will supply it to you, you will need to purchase your own pair.

Binoculars, however, come in several types.  These are the following :

• Standard
• Digital Camera
• Image Stabilization
• Military
• Rangefinders
• Waterproof
• Compact
• Giant
• Marine
• Night Vision
• Telescope
• Zoom

As if the above list is not long enough, there is another long list of binocular brands to choose from, not to mention the different models and their variations. Selecting the right one can be a journey into a maze of bewildering information and pressure sellers.

Thankfully, there is another list that can provide tips and guides to a confused buyer.

•  Decide what you will use the binoculars for. Binoculars have a wide array of uses. Hunters, fishermen, bird watchers, boaters, astronomers, sports spectators, campers, concert and theater enthusiasts, and even just plain travelers and sightseers could use a good set of binoculars. Your specific need should be the main point of consideration. For instance, if you are a theatergoer and you prefer sitting in the back rows, you definitely do not want to carry giant or night vision binoculars. Compact binoculars would suit your needs pretty well. Those who like to take mementoes of places they visit or sights they see could opt for digital camera binoculars.

•  Confer with friends who have experience with the type of binoculars you want to buy. If you are contemplating purchasing one for your hunting, look for hunter friends, or perhaps hunters’ groups in your area. You can also browse the internet and look for discussion groups and forums for advice. It is not advisable to walk into a dealer’s shop for advice. Usually, sales personnel are biased in favor of their own product. And they can make you feel that if you do not buy their product at that instant, you are losing the world.

•  To enable you to discuss binoculars intelligently with those you seek advice from, you will need to know a few terms, such as:

1.Objective Lens. These are the lenses at the front of the binoculars.  You should know that bigger objective lenses gather more light, hence they are better for low light conditions.

2.Prisms. Binoculars use two types of prisms, the porro and roof prisms. Porro prisms are larger and heavier than roof prisms, but the latter are more expensive.

3.Magnification. A magnification of 8x to 10x often works fine for most uses. Beyond this, the area you can view at once begins to get too small and the slightest shaking of your hand distorts the viewed image. A magnification of 8x means that the image you see appears to be 8 times closer to you.

4.Glass Types. The main glass types used for binoculars are the BK-7 and BAK-4. BK-7 is fine as a first unit, but if you are interested in quality, BAK-4 is your choice. Remember, though, that price increases with higher quality.

5.Focusing. Binoculars are incorporated with either center focusing or independent eye focusing. Your choice will depend mostly on which of these are you more comfortable with. You will want to go to the store and try them out for size.

Keep these few tips in mind and you can be sure that you are on your way to owning a fine set of binoculars.

Long range binocular - Courtesy-www.fotosearch.com

Men and women are created equal. This is not true with binoculars. They vary in terms of magnification, objective lens diameter, field of view, and eye relief. These variations define what makes a good pair of binoculars.

Most binoculars have a magnification level ranging from 6x to 30x. The figure 6x means that an image viewed through the binocular appears six times closer than it really is. Although people buy binoculars to magnify objects, it is not necessarily true that those with higher magnification are always better choices. This depends upon the intended use of the binoculars. For example, for travelers, a magnification of between 7x and 10x is considered practical. Binoculars with higher magnification need to be very steady when used and may require you to carry a tripod. As a traveler, you do not want this added weight. On the other hand, astronomers would appreciate a 30x equipment.

In binoculars, the magnification and objective lens diameter are given together, such as 7×50. The figure 50 in this example means that the objective lens (the front lens) has a diameter of 50 mm. Binoculars with bigger objective lenses admit more light into the lens barrel and are therefore better for low-light conditions. However, these tend to be bulky and heavy. You do not want these when you are traveling or hunting. A lens diameter of 30 mm or 35 mm coupled with a magnification of 6x to 9x would be suitable. Leave the 50 mm’s to the navies who patrol the seas both in the light and in the dark, and the 80 mm’s to the astronomers.

The field of view or field of vision (FOV) is also important in binoculars. It is expressed in feet or meters and refers to the width of the view that can be seen though the eyepiece at 1,000 meters. Variations in FOV depend upon the optical design of the binocular. For game hunters and sports spectators, a high FOV may be useful. However, this may not be true for users who only need to focus on small areas.

Some men have to wear eyeglasses. For them, the distance between their eyes and the eyepieces is farther away than for those who do not wear eyeglasses. This distance is called eye relief, and this varies from one binocular model to another. It is necessary to actually try out different models in the stores to determine which is best for your particular situation.

When buying a pair of binoculars, be sure you can intelligently discuss with the salesperson the merits and demerits of a certain model. If you know more about binoculars than he or she does, go to the next store.