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Beginners Guide to Binoculars

MAGNIFICATION

This is the first number shown on your binocular.           
An 8x30 magnifies 8 times, so the subject appears 8x bigger or 8x nearer.
Similarly - an 8x40 magnifies 8x,
               a 10x50 magnifies 10x,
               a 12 x 50 magnifies 12x and so on.
Many are tempted to buy a binocular with the highest magnification, but this is not a good idea in practise as higher magnification has its down side:-
1.  The image is less bright.
2.  It has a narrower field of view.
3.  The bigger the magnification the more difficult it is to hold still, and above 12x a solid tripod is usually needed.

7x or 8x is ideal for general purpose, and bird watching for instance.  10x can be useful if more power is essential, and for plane potting, and horse racing 12x50 is an asset.

TO SUM UP - THE MORE POWERFUL YOUR BINOCULAR THE HARDER IT IS TO HOLD AND LOOK THROUGH.


BRIGHTNESS

Most modern binoculars operate perfectly in daylight and even twilight, but only if used at dusk or almost darkness does brightness become a real concern.

Factors affecting brightness:-

1. A bigger lens can give a brighter image.  An 8x40 gives a brighter image than an 8x30.  A bigger lens however means a bigger heavier binocular which possibly will be more expensive.
2. More powerful binoculars are less bright - e.g. a 20x50 will be darker than a 10x50.  A little extra magnification loses a lot of brightness, for instance a 10x50 can be four times as bright as a 20x50 and a 7x50 will be nearly eight times as bright.
3.  Brightness is also affected by better quality lenses, prisms and coatings.

FOR NORMAL DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS MOST BINOCULARS ARE FINE.


FIELD OF VIEW

The field of view (FOV) is how much of the scene you can actually see and is usually measured as an angle, in degress.

The field of view is affected by many design features but mainly by the magnification - higher magnification means less field of view.  For some uses, for instance, bird watching, field of view is important.

As an example for 8x magnifcation 4 degrees is poor, 5 degrees is average, 6 degrees good and 7 degrees very wide, but for 12x magnification 4 degrees is quite good and 5 degrees very wide.

PEAK DISTRICT BINOCULARS always have a good field of view.


SPECTACLE WEARERS

Most of our models have 'long eye relief' so that binoculars can be used further from the yes making viewing easier.

For spectacle wearers there are incorporated on the binoculars either soft rubber eye cups which can be rolled back or easy to use screw eye cups.


LENS COATINGS

There is a lot of confusion about lens coatings, but almost all the binoculars we stock have lens coatings.  Without going into undue detail good lens coatings reduces reflection and so increases brightness and clarity.  Do not worry about the colour of the lens coating whcih can vary.


QUALITY

What makes the difference between 8x40 binoculars costing £50, £100 or even £1000?

Generally more expensive binoculars use better materials and produce higher quality images, and may be more ruggedly constructed.

HOWEVER, you do not have to spend a fortune to get a very good binocular and all our models meet high standards of quality.

Sometimes when you spend more it will be a little better but unless you have very good eyesight you may not even see the difference!

Sometimes when you pay more you can be paying for heavy 'branding' backed up by expensive advertising for which somebody has to pay!








 
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