Digital Binocular
Tools designers these days often produce gadgets that can perform several functions. Lighters double as flashlights, walking canes convert to stools. Hi-tech gadgets are not excluded. Your wristwatch no longer only tells time. It can incorporate a heart rate monitor and even a GPS navigation device. Your cell phone not only connects you with your family and friends, it connects you to the world with its Internet browser. It can also take pictures. And so can your binoculars.
The combination of a binocular with a digital camera, called either a digital camera binocular or digital binocular, opens new possibilities and opportunities. For one thing, you no longer need to carry two separate gadgets to view spectacular sights and record them during your travels, hunting, or bird watching trips. You can watch sports events as if you were up close and take photos of that moment when the ball is dunked into the basket, or when a batter hits a homerun.
In a digital camera binocular, the magnification of both camera and binocular is set at the same level. The most common settings range from 7x to 10x, which is a range that meets the requirements of most binocular users. Because of the same magnification of the binocular and camera, the picture that you get will be close enough to the image that you see in your binocular. However, you cannot expect them to be identical. This is because a digital camera binocular will never be able to look at the world in the same way your eyes can.
Digital camera binoculars available in the market have objective lens diameters starting from 25 mm up to a high of 50 mm. Those with the larger lenses allow you to view images and take pictures even in low-light conditions but you have to sacrifice portability as these are bulkier and heavier.
In terms of the graphic resolution, you can choose a digital camera binocular with a 1 up to 4 megapixel capacity. If you plan to print large photos you will want a camera with a higher megapixel rating. For a high quality 5″x7″ print, for instance, you will need at least 3 megapixels. One megapixel, however, will suffice for your personal album collections.
The LCD screens in digital camera binoculars can come either as a flip up type or one that lies face up on top of the camera. The former comes with more expensive cameras but the ease and convenience it offers offsets this additional cost. With the flip up type, you do not have to drop your camera to view the LCD screen.
There are also digital camera binoculars that offer autofocus options. This feature is a huge help in taking clear, crisp, and sharp photos.
While the best qualities of a digital camera and a binocular may be sacrificed when they are combined into a single gadget, the features available in them are more than sufficient to meet the needs of most users. On balance, digital camera binoculars are a good investment.
Night Vision Binoculars
Amateur astronomers study the heavens as a hobby relying mostly, if not exclusively, on optical tools, since they do not have access to hi-tech equipment that measures infrared or ultraviolet radiations. They use either a telescope or binocular depending on the kind of heavenly image they want to study.
The most common celestial bodies observed by amateur astronomers are the moon, stars and star clusters, planets, galaxies, comets, nebulae, and meteor showers. Since these are better seen at night, their optical equipment must be suited for low-light conditions. Telescopes are often used, but for certain purposes and under certain conditions, binoculars are a better choice.
One of the main advantages of binoculars over telescopes is their wider field of view (FOV). When studying star clusters or widely dispersed meteor showers, you will want an FOV wider than what most telescopes can offer. Another advantage of the binoculars is their ease of use and portability.
You will want a binocular that can pick up images even in surroundings with very low-light. The three factors that can give your binocular this capability are:
- Prism type. Porro prisms, named after their inventor, Ignazio Porro, are deemed better than roof prisms in terms of gathering light. The type of glass used for the prism is also important. BAK-4 type is often preferred over BK-7 as it offers superior quality.
- Objective lens diameter. With a bigger lens diameter more light will be able to pass into the optical tubel, thus providing a clearer image. You may need a minimum of 50 mm for good nighttime observations.
- Exit pupil. If you hold your binoculars at arm’s length, you will see a circle of light in the eyepiece. That is the exit pupil. Its diameter is determined by dividing the objective lens diameter by the magnification. This opening controls the amount of light coming out of the binoculars. If it is larger than the pupil of your eyes, some of the light will fall on your iris, and thus will remain undetected. On the other hand, if it is smaller, you will perceive the image as dim because only a portion of your pupil will receive light. Therefore, since most astronomical observations occur at night, and since your pupils dilate when it is dark, it is advisable to choose a binocular with a wide exit pupil. Indeed, an exit pupil of at least 7 mm is recommended for nighttime viewing. You can get this measurement from a 7×50 mm binocular.
Most amateur astronomers consider a 7x magnification sufficient for their hobby. However, magnifications of up to 30x coupled with a 60 mm objective lens are also available for binoculars. This increase, however, comes at the price of portability and handiness.
Binoculars and telescopes are not rivals when it comes to observing the skies. They have their own roles to play and they actually complement each other. If you can afford to purchase only one of these fine optical tools, God bless you. That is a very difficult choice.
