In order to end up with the binoculars best suited to your needs, you have to clearly understand what you are looking for and what options are available to you. This is done by researching in two areas.
Firstly, you research the market to find out what kinds of binoculars are available, familiarizing yourself with the different features, styles and price ranges etc. Secondly, you examine your own unique requirements in binoculars.
Research the market: Binoculars essentials
The first part of the research step is to investigate just what's available in the binoculars market. The range of options can seem overwhelming, but you can make a good start by understanding the following major features:
Type: There are 2 main types of binoculars; Porro prism and Roof prism. Porros have the classic bent shape with a wider front body and narrower eye pieces/oculars. Roof prisms are straight with the eye pieces directly inline and behind the front lens.
Magnification: For magnification you'll have a choice ranging from 6 to 25. If it is labelled a '6', this means objects you see will be magnified six times.
Aperture: The aperture tells you how much light will enter the lens at any given time. The amount of light let in is in direct proportion to the diameter of the lenses. The more light that enters the binoculars, the more detail you will be able to see.
Field of view: This is how much area you'll be able to see while looking through the binoculars.
Depth of field: This describes how much of your viewed scene will be in focus. Usually, the higher the magnification of the binoculars, the less your depth of field.
Eye Relief Measurement: We have a tendency to blink when something is held close to our eyes and most binoculars have eye cups to keep the eye away from the eye piece. The distance from the eyes to the eye piece is called the eye relief measurement.
If you wear prescription eyeglasses, you might want to consider a higher eye relief measurement, around 15 millimetres.
Cost: A basic pair of binoculars from a department store will cost only one-tenth the price of a higher-quality pair. The most durable, highest-quality pair of binoculars with high magnification could cost three times as much as a standard pair of binoculars.
Research your needs: Questions to ask yourself
Now it's time to determine what your requirements are in binoculars. For example, are you a dedicated bird watcher do you want a pair to take with you on your hikes just in case you see something interesting?
You can start this process by considering the following questions - as well as any others you think of yourself - and recording your answers.
| Have I used binoculars before? |
| | If you have used binoculars, work out what you did or didn't like about the binoculars. You may be looking for one exactly the same, hoping to upgrade, or even trying to avoid any particular features that you found inconvenient. |
| How often will I use the binoculars? |
| | You may want to use them for just one camping trip; or perhaps you are an avid bird or animal watcher and will use them almost daily. |
| How will I be carrying them? |
| | You could be packing them in your backpack for days on end, or maybe you will keep them next to you in your automobile. A heavy-duty pair of binoculars will weigh you down if you're backpacking. |
| How experienced am I at using binoculars? |
| | You may be upgrading, or you could be just starting out. If you're starting out, you may try a cheaper pair to test out your newfound hobby. |
| What will I be primarily using the binoculars for? |
| | Will you be using the binoculars to watch a sporting event 50 or 60 yards away or will you be bird watching over a long distance. Will you be using them in bright light conditions or darker environments? This will determine the type of magnification or aperture you will need. |
| Will I be using a tripod or holding the binoculars? |
| | When holding binoculars our body tends to move and the image we see through the binoculars will appear to shake. Using a tripod eliminates the shake but fixes the view to one spot. Some modern binoculars come with image stabilization technology reducing shaking. |
| How much do I want to spend? |
| | Decide how much you want to spend beforehand because prices vary greatly. |
Understanding your needs is the key to a successful purchase and you can revisit your list of needs at any time during the buying process.
Once you complete this Research step, having informed yourself about the essentials of binoculars and identified your needs, you are ready to move on to the next step: Evaluation.
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