Description

Choose your binoculars wisely

Binoculars are, as you know, necessary for seeing objects as if they were close by. Therefore, magnification or zoom is one of the most important metrics to consider. And in this case, more isn’t always better.

When examining binoculars, the first thing you’ll likely notice are the numbers – number x number. The first number indicates the zoom, or how many times closer an object appears when looking through them. For example, with 8×42 binoculars, it means everything you look at appears eight times closer than with the naked eye.

For most activities, 8x zoom is more than enough – including hunting, bird watching, and general observation. An important factor to consider with zoom is how steady the hand holding the binoculars is. The higher the power, the harder it is to stabilize the binoculars.

Binoculars and the objective lens

If zoom is the first of two important numbers, then the lens size is the second. When you see the numbers 8x42mm on binoculars, it means the objective lens diameter is 42mm. The larger the lens, the more light enters the binoculars. For most outdoor activities, 42mm is considered the ideal size.

Field of view and exit pupil

The field of view measurement shows how wide you can see through the binoculars. For example, if you are looking at an object 1,000 meters away, the width of the view you see is 105 meters.

If you hold the binoculars toward a light source and at least 30cm away from your eyes, you will see a white dot in the center of each lens. This dot is often called the exit pupil, and it refers to the actual point of light transmitted to your eyes through the binoculars. The size of this light beam results directly from the two factors mentioned above: zoom and lens size.

The importance of the exit pupil diameter is directly related to how our eyes function. In normal light conditions, the eye’s pupil is usually open about 2mm. In the dark, however, the pupil opens to let in more light, and its diameter can reach up to 7mm. If the diameter of the binoculars’ exit pupil is smaller than your eye’s pupil, the image seen through them will appear darker than with the naked eye.

The average user, who uses binoculars mainly during the day, won’t have problems with almost any binoculars on the market, as the exit pupil is large enough to work effectively in full light.

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