Binoculars 101: A Comprehensive Buying Guide for Beginners

 

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Binoculars are quite important tools that can make your outdoor activities more enjoyable. Whether hiking, star-gazing, bird watching or even going to a concert, these tools can help you see everything closer, clearer and better. They are versatile optical instruments the purpose of which is to magnify distant objects, making them feel closer.

Unlike telescopes, binoculars are way smaller, more compact and functional which makes them easy to carry and move around. Just like any other similar device, these are also available in a large selection of types and sizes allowing you to browse thoroughly and carefully. All of this is important to pick the right one.

Things to Consider When Choosing the Right Model

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The online shopping world is full of a large selection of binoculars, so choosing the right one can be pretty easy. The first thing you should take into account though before choosing a handy binocular online is your purpose. Knowing why you need one will help you narrow down the features you need from your magnifying tool.

Type & Field of View

The first and most obvious thing to consider is the device's type. Quite often, those with 7x to 10x magnification are the most common choice among beginners because they are designed for general use.

Generally speaking, binoculars are referred to with 2 numbers like 7 x 35 or 10 x 50 whereas the first number is the magnification and the second is the diameter of the front lenses expressed in millimetres. For instance, 7 x 35 lenses are 35mm in diameter, and the 10 x 50 lenses are 50 millimetres in diameter.

When in the search for the right one, you should also know that binoculars with smaller magnification factors can produce less enhanced images, however, they will offer a wider and sharper field of view. So if you need a wide field of view for instance when watching a game, you should benefit a lot from 7 x 8 magnification.

When it comes to choosing magnification for hunting, you should choose a binocular online with larger magnification, for instance, one that pairs in the 12x range. In case you plan on going hunting in heavily forested areas, then you should choose a magnifying tool with lower magnification.

Size

When in the search for the right one, you should also consider its size. Beginners might not know but the size of the lenses can significantly impact the device's dimensions and performance. That's why you should choose from:

Compact

As the name suggests, these tools are smaller and lighter in weight which makes them extremely compact and easy to carry around. Tools of this size are super convenient especially when hiking, going to concerts or when in need to carry it in your bag for just in case. They are compact indeed, just keep in mind that they have smaller objective lenses up to 25mm which means that they won't gather that much light. So if you plan to observe something at night, this tool won't serve you the best.

Mid-Size

When compared to the previous models, these are larger and have slightly larger observing lenses. They create the perfect balance between performance and portability which makes them the perfect option when in need to observe something under different circumstances. All in all, they offer decent light-gathering capabilities while not compromising on your comfiness.

Large

These binoculars have the largest observing lenses and are the largest in size. Having larger lenses means being more powerful with the ability to gather more light which makes them perfect for stargazing and observing everything even wildlife under low-light conditions. Their only downside is their size and bulkiness, however, if you are a fan of observing things, this won't be a problem at all.

Brightness (Exit Pupil)

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The exit pupil (the width leaving the eyepiece) is of vital importance as this directly affects how bright the image will appear which is especially important under lower lights. According to users and manufacturers, the bigger the pupil, the brighter the image, so when in the search for the right observing tool, make sure to look at the exit pupil size which is listed in millimetres in the product's specification. For instance, an exit pupil of 5mm or more is perfect for environments with lower light while an exit pupil size that is smaller than this would be perfect for daylight observation.

All of these things are the first and most important things you should have in mind when choosing your first day/night observing tool. However, if you still aren't sure what is the best one for your needs, make sure to seek advice from a professional or from someone close who has experience in this. In the end, this is a one-time investment for most newbie observers, so make sure to make the right choice.