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.
