Ultimate Vacation Spots

posted by Travel Cat on Apr 6

If you have never brought binoculars, but are interested in getting started, then this is the guide for you.

It covers the 4 basic factors that you need to take into account above all else, while selecting your first pair of binoculars. Checking for these will make sure that you have the right binoculars for your interests and for the results you wish to achieve. I mean do you want a general pair for basic identification while on country walks, or do you need a pair that can identify different breaching whales 2 miles away while you are hanging off the side of a boat?

However, until you actually start using binoculars, you won’t know what the most important features are to you, so you really shouldn’t spend a fortune on your first pair, I mean you don’t need the worlds best binoculars to check out grey squirrels in your local park. So, as a starting point for you, this guide only covers the details of a basic pair of binoculars, costing around $100-$200/£50-£100. Once you know what you like and what you need, then get more specific with your next pair.

Right, here they are:

Specification - This is the factor that determines how well you can see something and from what distance it will be clear too. It is expressed with all binoculars using 2 numbers, for example: 10 x 32

Magnification is the first number (10 in this example) and the higher this is the closer the animal will appear when viewed through them. Numbers normally range from 6 to 12 for this. Higher numbers do not necessarily result in a clearer picture though, so don’t be put off by lower magnification.

The second number (32 here) represents the size of the larger lens (the objective lens) and the larger this is the more light enters the binoculars, and the brighter your picture.

The ‘exit pupil’ is a commonly quoted phrase to represent the brightness of the image, where the higher the number the brighter the image. You can calculate the exit pupil by dividing the first figure (10) into the second (32) = 3.2mm in this case.

Close focus is just as important as distance to some people, so make sure you look at this factor if you intend to watch smaller creatures such as insects!

Optical Quality - This is how true to life the magnified image is through the lenses. There can be a great deal of difference between manufacturers and models, so depending on your needs (or desires) this should be investigated prior to purchase. Cheaper models are more likely to offer poorer quality and sharpness of image because of course, you are paying less for them - say that however, the images will all appear better than the naked eye if the object is some distance away, so beginners are not normally so affected by the optical quality.

Focusing - This is governed by a twisting mechanism near the eye cups, which basically moves the lenses closer together or further apart to help focus on things at different distances from you. It needs to be easy to use and in a position you can easily access and adjust with your finger tips without looking up at it (otherwise you will lose the exact location of the animal or plant in doing so). Make sure that it doesn’t move too easily when you change your position, but also that it doesn’t get stiff at each extremity.

Handling and Weight - Most importantly, how well can you use them? Are they bulky or very lightweight? Depending on where you want to use them or whether another aspect is more important this is usually where you can get fussy. If you want to carry them around a lot, then they are best under 700g, but if you want brighter images then you may need to go for heavier, more bulky models, to house the larger objective lenses. Can you hold and adjust the focus with one hand if you need to? Or do you only use them in a specific location and quality of image is more important? Test a few in the store and try out different actions.

Make sure you actually try out binoculars in a store before buying your first pair, otherwise you won’t know what the choices are and how different they can be - a photo on the Internet or in a catalogue can’t do them justice. There are just so many to choose from.

Final tip - The duller the casing the less likely you are to scare off the very things you are watching - so you won’t find shocking pink professional binoculars!

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