I Can See Clearly Now
May 24 '00
I always wanted to use the title of that song for one of my reviews! Well binoculars certainly fit the bill. So...you’re thinking about purchasing a pair of eyeball extenders? Step right up and I’ll give you a little mini-tour on what to look for.
Binocular Basics
My favorite binoculars are a pair of 10X50 Minolta standard size. The number 10 refers to the power or magnification. So your subject or object will appear 10 times closer or larger. An object that is 1000 yards away will actually appear to be as close as 100 yards.
The number 50 refers to the diameter, in millimeters of the front of the lens of your binoculars. So the larger your front lens is, the brighter the image will be when light conditions are not their best. So if I divide 10 into 50 this will give me 5mm of which lets in plenty of light for my early morning overcast skies birdwatching or close to dusk birdwatching feedings. For bright light situations, I don’t need that much lens exposure as my pupil constricts with the light. Therefore I could use a 7X35 pair of binoculars if I wish. It’s also important to note that as magnification power increases, brightness is dispelled and the field of view is decreased.
If your one of those with shaky hands and have no mounting for your binoculars then blurring will occur with unstable holding so you might also want to look into a tripod mount. Now you know why some bird watchers have those stands for their binoculars and telescopes.
You might also want to consider or make sure that your lens surface is coated. This helps to reduce the amount of light that is reflected back. For you eyeglass wearers you know what I’m talking about if you ever have gotten tinted glasses so it deflects the bright summer light.
Consider the long eye relief feature which provides an extended viewing distance from the rear eyepiece. This means the eyepieces needn’t be scrunched up to the eyes – thus offering greater viewing comfort for those who wear eyeglasses.
Check to make sure that your binoculars are water-resistant or weatherproof, this will extend the life of your binoculars.
Last but not least is the field of view at 1000 yards. Try to not to go under 300 feet. This is where extra-wide lens come in handy on the smaller magnifications. Also most compacts or pocket type binoculars are not known for long distances.
I hope whatever you are considering in buying binoculars whether it's for birdwatching, museum tours,hunting, sports events or even spying on your neighbors; I have helped just a tiny little bit in understanding those mysterious numbers connected to binoculars.
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Member: BJ
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