A good pair of binoculars is an essential piece of gear for The Weekend Nomad. You should make sure you choose the correct binoculars for your needs. We have prepared an in depth buyer’s guide to help you choose the best binoculars for various outdoor activities.
There are many scenarios where binoculars might be useful. Having a pair handy opens up new possibilities for activities on your outdoor adventures, not to mention the added safety benefits it brings. Depending on your activity you will need to consider different features as their importance will vary.
Here are five applications and the corresponding feature to look out for.
The first number is the magnification factor or power. The higher this number, the closer the object viewed will appear from a set distance. Higher magnification also reduces the field of view.
The second number indicates the objective lens size (aperture). The larger the objective lenses, the more light enters and thus the clearer the object appears.
Eye relief is the distance from the outer surface of the eyepiece (ocular) lens to the point where the Exit pupil is formed on the eye. Spectacle wearers will benefit from binoculars with larger eye relief since it allows for better performance without removing their glasses.
The exit pupil is the size of focussed light as it exits the binocular and hits the eye and is determined by dividing the objective by the magnification.
For example: 10×50 binoculars will have an Exit pupil of 5mm which is pretty good
Considering that the average size of the human pupil varies between 1.5mm – 8mm, depending on light conditions, the larger a binocular’s exit pupil diameter, the better the viewing experience will be.
If the exit pupil is the same or larger that the eye’s pupil, it will result in a more immersive experience. If it’s too small, it will feel like looking through a tiny hole which is not ideal.
Porro prism
These provide greater depth perception and, generally, a wider field of view.
Roof prism
The prisms overlap closely, so the objective lenses line up directly with the eyepiece. The result is a slim, streamlined shape and, it is claimed, better clarity.
Manufacturers often list lens coatings as a product feature, but what does it mean?
Anti-reflective coatings can help produce a brighter image by filtering different light rays.
The composition of these coatings and their effect on image quality differs from one manufacturer to the other.
The most common lens coating types are:
Now that you know what to look for, here are our recommendations:
With 10x magnification , the Leica Noctivid 10×42 offers the best detail rendition. The excellent stray light suppression and high contrasts guarantee the finest detail resolution even under the most difficult light conditions.
It has a short close focus range yet the generous field of view provides a wide overview at greater distances.
A non-slip rubber armouring covering a the robust magnesium housing, gives the binoculars a comfortable feel.
Ready for the rigors of the sea, the Marine Series 7×50 Binoculars from Bushnell offer a corrosion resistant and 100 percent waterproof performance with optics optimized for the open water. Thanks to hermetic sealing, the Marine Binoculars will remain water and fog free even if completely submerged. The durable, non-slip, non-skid rubber armor helps to ensure the binoculars stay comfortably in your hands, but also adds buoyancy should you or the binoculars go overboard. The Coast Guard recommended 7x magnification, 50-millimeter objective lens configuration with the Porro prism system delivers a wide field of view, ideal for the open water. Meanwhile, the premium BaK-4 prism glass and fully multi-coated optics with UV protection offer the clarity and light transmission you are looking for. Built to last, the Marine 7×50 Binoculars carry a limited lifetime warranty from Bushnell to be free of manufacture or material defects.
The Gosky 10X42 compact roof prism binocular, equipped with FMC(fully multi-coated) green film lens and clear prism, 10X power and solid construction, is a good gadget which enable you to observe target in distant world with more true-to-life details.
It brings the world closer and provides high-resolution images with extremely accurate colour reproduction. And bonus smartphone adapter allows you to capture and record beauty all around you!
The Falcon series offers powerful magnification at an economical price. Versatile, and ideal for stadium sports, bird-watching, hunting, and many other outdoor applications, the 10×50 model boasts a durable design and rubberized, abrasion-resistant finish. An InstaFocus lever provides smooth feedback, with just enough tension to fine-tune magnification, while a Porro prism and coated lenses provide sharp viewing. For those who wear eyeglasses, or sunglasses on bright days, clever fold-down eyecups protect your lenses from scratching.
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