How to choose the right binoculars for your needs

Despite the presence of a large number of digital devices and their immense popularity among outdoor enthusiasts, traditional binoculars have not lost their relevance to this day. This device is widely used, binoculars have gained immense popularity among hunters, fishermen and fans of various types of outdoor activities, as well as among those who are fond of paintball and airsoft. And in order to choose the most suitable model, which will fully meet the requirements of the buyer, it is necessary to determine the specific characteristics, as well as the purpose for which it will be used.

We define the range of tasks. What are binoculars?

It is this factor that must be taken into account in the very first place. Having decided on the specific tasks that will be assigned to this device, the buyer will be able to significantly narrow the range of potentially promising models.

Amateur binoculars

As a rule, they are compact models characterized by low weight and dimensions. They are widely used in everyday life, they are taken with them on hikes, they are used to monitor various sports and cultural events. They differ in a fairly simple design, 4-5 times magnification and installed lenses with a diameter of about 18-25 millimeters.

Advantages

• Compact dimensions;

• A wide variety of colors and shades;

• Minimum weight;

• Low cost;

disadvantages

• Low mechanical strength and scratch resistance of lenses;

• Not suitable for use in low light conditions;

Highly specialized professional models

Such binoculars cannot be called everyday – they are mainly used for all kinds of work, they are used by hunters, fishermen and employees of the Ministry of Emergencies. They are distinguished by excellent technical characteristics and provide an excellent picture at any degree of zoom. High quality workmanship – impact-resistant cases, scratch-resistant lenses, and a great variety of other options – you will find all this here.

Advantages

• High functionality;

• High aperture ratio, providing the ability to operate in any conditions;

• Can be operated on a tripod;

• Excellent zoom, crisp and clear picture;

• Resistant to mechanical damage, shock and scratches;

• High-quality assembly;

disadvantages

• High price;

• Large dimensions and weight;

What to look for when choosing binoculars?

Having decided on the type of a specific device, as well as the budget that you are ready to spend on a device of this class, you need to study the technical issues more carefully.

Binocular magnification and angle of view

The multiplicity of the device reflects its approximation ability and the ability to obtain a clear, detailed picture. So, traditional household devices, as well as children's models, have the ability to zoom from 3 to 7 times – this is quite enough for solving most everyday tasks. Professional models are characterized by greater zoom, as well as the ability to provide clear, high-contrast images in all conditions. The approximation of such models can reach 20-25 times. It should be noted that the higher the approaching ability of the binoculars, the more eyes get tired from prolonged observation;

The angle of view indicates the peripheral coverage that the binoculars are capable of reflecting during operation. The dependence here is as follows – the greater the approximation provided by the binoculars, the smaller its viewing angle. This feature should be remembered when choosing a device for specific purposes. So, binoculars with a narrow angle of view are unlikely to be suitable for observing all kinds of sports competitions, but they will also be the best option for observing the stars;

Circulation prisms

Depending on the type of prism, there are two main types of binoculars:

1. Porro. It is characterized by a fairly wide spacing of the lenses relative to each other and a special broken design, as a result of which the light hits the lens at approximately an angle of 45 degrees. This design is typical for most inexpensive and mid-range binoculars and is perfect for everyday use, hunting and fishing;

2. Roof. A special type, assuming close positioning of lenses, their special design, as well as long and narrow binoculars tubes. This design makes it possible to obtain a colorful image in almost any conditions, and therefore binoculars of this design are optimal for the process of observing anything;

Lens diameters and aperture

The diameter of the lens has the most direct effect on the degree of perception of the picture by the human eye. On sale you can find models with a lens diameter ranging from 20-25 and up to 100-120 millimeters. The regularity here is as follows: the larger the diameter, the more light hits the lens and the brighter, more natural and detailed the picture is. In addition, the high aperture ratio of the binoculars allows them to be used in low light conditions. Of course, the larger the diameter of the installed lenses, the more expensive the specific device, and therefore for normal everyday use, models with lenses with a diameter of 40 to 60 millimeters are quite sufficient;

Distance marks

Models designed for professional hunters and outdoor enthusiasts are often equipped with special markings applied directly to the binoculars optics. Guided by it, you can easily determine the specific distance to the object of interest to you.

Binoculars weight

Not everyone likes to carry heavy and bulky equipment with them, but in some situations there is no other choice. This is especially true of professional hunters and employees of all kinds of special services, who are forced to use highly functional models due to their duty. The higher the functionality of the binoculars, the better optics it is equipped with and the more 'chips' it has, the higher its weight.

The best manufacturing companies

The release of high-quality binoculars is a very important task, which is not within the power of everyone. Undoubtedly, compact household binoculars with mediocre functionality can be bought relatively inexpensively, without paying much attention to the manufacturer. However, in order to get a professional model at your disposal, preference should be given exclusively to the products of world famous concerns that produce optical devices:

1. Carl Zeiss;

2. Pentax;

3. Olympus;

4. Kodak;

5. Canon;

6. Nikon.

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Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a purchase guide.