The choice of binoculars should be determined based on its purpose. Tourist optics is very different from hunting optics, and military and marine binoculars with high magnification and night vision are included in the category of special devices. Quality and price, respectively, they differ significantly. The main criteria for any binoculars are its size and magnification.
Characteristics of tourist optics
For a camping trip it is not necessary to purchase binoculars with a very strong approximation. The best option is a 7-10-fold increase. Everything that goes above these indicators is very difficult to hold in your hands for a long time, so you need a tripod.
Compact binoculars with a large magnification of 10 times the size are quite suitable in tourist conditions. It can be a rubberized model, which costs an order of magnitude cheaper than waterproof optics. It is important that the device does not take up much space and "holds" well in the hand. If the tourist activity is devoted to observing nature, then it is preferable to have a light model with a 6-8-fold approximation. It is quite enough that the object of observation was clearly visible, but could not smell the observer. This category includes binoculars from Celestron at a price of 3900 p. and Levenhuk with a cost of 5390 p. and higher.
Usually, optics is numbered from two digits, for example, 7x35 or 10x50, in which the first digit indicates the ability to bring objects closer this number of times, and the second indicates the size of the lens in millimeters.
Optics for hunting
For different types of hunting, you can choose binoculars with high magnification or medium. The higher the multiplicity, the smaller the review, therefore, to observe large game that can be lured to the selected location, binoculars with 10-15-fold magnification are suitable. It can be mounted on a tripod and directed in the desired direction.
If a large view is required to cover a section of a forest or a river, optics with a 4–7-fold approximation with a lens diameter of 25–40 mm will be the best assistant. An important quality for hunting optics is the shockproof and rubberized case, as well as its weight. It is unlikely that a heavy device will help with long-term tracking of game. A good example is the Nikon Aculon T11 8-24x25 Zoom worth 11590 p.
Special hunting optics
For hunters, modern industry produces models that were previously only available to the military. These are high magnification electronic binoculars. They are based on a laser rangefinder, the uniqueness of which is that it provides information on the exact distance to the object on the liquid crystal display. This greatly simplifies the possibility of a more accurate sight. Also, their obvious plus is the display of high-quality images even with very poor visibility or at night. Similar high-magnification binoculars - reviews and tips on the hunting equipment forums, confirm this - they are especially suitable for beginner hunters who haven’t got their eyes fixed yet.
Such devices make a margin of error of up to a meter, which makes it easier for an inexperienced “ranger” to take a good aim, and a professional can save time on this.
Marine binoculars
High magnification binoculars are a good helper for sailors and fishermen. In the open sea, the maximum horizon survey is considered to be the main one, therefore, here the choice should be in the middle link: a 7–10-fold approximation is quite sufficient to get a clear picture of the survey. If binoculars for a yacht are required, then you can choose a larger magnification with the optics mounted on a tripod.
Binoculars with large magnification "Nikon" 8x36 or Compass 7x50 CF WP (price 22,790 p.) Are quite suitable for sea travel or fishing. All optics of this kind are made in a waterproof case to protect it from splashes. Prices for marine binoculars are slightly higher than for hunting binoculars, but the quality of the resulting image is better. Tactical marine optics is in great demand.
Tactical binoculars
Marine binoculars with high magnification can also be tactical, since they are equipped with a rangefinder grid with a compass, which allows you to set up a clear picture even with strong pitching. Such optics do not sink in water, since the case in it is filled with nitrogen. Special lenses with a high level of aperture give good visibility both in clear weather, when there are glare on the water, and during fog or poor lighting.
Binoculars with a large increase in marine size are rather large precisely because of their multiplicity, while tactical binoculars have parameters 7x50, which makes them convenient and compact.
Many marine binoculars are equipped with autofocus, which adjusts both eyepieces at the same time, which makes them much more expensive, but better. In this case, it is enough to configure once so that all objects are clearly visible when the attention is transferred from one to another.
Astronomical binoculars
Observation of space objects has firmly entered the category of hobbies, so the demand for binoculars with a large increase began to grow. This category really requires a 10-14x zoom. The main thing is that the diameter of the exit pupil is from 3 to 4 mm. Optics with indicators of 10x35, 10x40, 12x40, 12x50, 14x50 corresponds to this standard.
Devices from 12x50 to 30x90 are considered specialized, have a narrow view, but give a clear vision of the details in space, for example, Celestron Cometron 12x70 worth 7490 p. Astronomical optics went beyond the scope of telescopes, so today you will not surprise anyone with the concept of “binoculars for astronomical observations”, although their prices are quite high. Binoculars with high magnification are large, so the presence of a tripod is required.
Optics manufactured in the USSR
During the Soviet Union, standards for military optics were considered the highest in the world. Optical-mechanical plants for its production, such as Zagorsky (B8x30 USSR ZOMZ price of 12,000 rubles), Salavatsky (B10x50 SOMZ, 13,500 rubles), Kazan ("Photon" -7BKFTS 7x35 KOMZ 11,000 rubles) famous for their products, some of which were exported to foreign countries.
All binoculars with a large increase (the USSR produced a lot of them) are still in demand, since they are cheaper than modern optics, but they may well meet even the highest demand. They differed in purpose: for example, military field and sea binoculars had a grid and a resolution of up to 20x60 mm.
Optics for hunters and tourists are simpler, but fully consistent with their application. Thus, light and small-sized binoculars of the Photon series were popular not only among lovers of hiking, fishing or hunting, but also with the coast guard. The resolution of 7x35 mm with multi-coated lenses and a robust housing made it possible to use them in extreme conditions, in bad weather and at dusk.
Very High Optics
Binoculars with a magnification of 100 times or more have an area of application in astronomical observations or for animals and birds. According to their characteristics, they are close to telescopes, and therefore require installation on a tripod.
Russian-made binoculars
Russian optical-mechanical manufactures produce binoculars both for military needs and for mass use. At the Zagorsk enterprise, for example, they produce not only electronic and conventional approximating optics, but also polarizing films and light filters, which are used for all types of spectrum. Among the large assortment of the plant, you can choose your own optics with an approximation range of 15 times. Their scope is astronomical observations, tourist activities, sea voyages, observation of animals and birds.
Binoculars with a large increase in Russian production, which are used at night, are produced at the Jupiter factory. These devices are suitable for use in complete darkness, both for monitoring distant and close objects. Specialized Russian-made devices, for example, Farvizhn BKS 20x50 M binoculars with stabilization cost 99,900 rubles, although conventional optics can be purchased from 1,500 rubles.
The most important technical specifications of binoculars
In order to choose the right optics, you should focus on the main indicators on which the quality, price and field of application depend.
- The most important is the indication of multiplicity. The most optimal and demanded are binoculars with an increase of 6-10 times. All that is above already requires either additional efforts and use skills, or mounting on a tripod. An increase in objects from 6 to 10 times is quite sufficient for the use of such optics in hiking, hunting and fishing, while observing animals. High magnification binoculars are not always the best choice if you need an easy assistant on the go.
- The next most important lens diameter: the higher it is, the clearer and sharper the picture will be. This is because a larger lens collects more light, making distant and dim objects bright. For ground observation binoculars, indicators from 30 to 50 mm are considered sufficient. If more powerful optics are required, for example, for astronomical observations, then the diameter can reach from 50 to 80 mm and even higher. The optimal ground-based binoculars have parameters 7x35, 7x42, 8x40, and with indicators 10x50 a tripod is already required for long-term observation.
Based on these data, you can choose the optics according to your preferences, but there are still indicators that affect its quality and price.
Center focus
More expensive binoculars have autofocus, a special grid or a laser range finder. Electronic optics with a rangefinder is located in the most expensive segment of the market. These are the most accurate instruments with quick setup of two eyepieces simultaneously.
Manual focusing is done independently, and if the binoculars are also equipped with diopter adjustment, then it can be done even for people with myopia and farsightedness. The new generation of optics provides fixed focus for those cases when there is no time to tune. Similar devices are used by firefighters, rescuers, hunters chasing prey.
Exit pupil angle and diameter
These parameters also affect the price of the binoculars and its scope.
- The angle of view indicates the distance that the human eye covers through binoculars. The higher the multiplicity, the smaller the person sees. Optics with a very high approximation, with indicators such as 30 and above, require a certain focus on the object. Whereas a shorter range gives a wide view, which allows you to use them both on the water, and in the field or mountains. This type of binoculars is called large-scale. To determine this indicator, manufacturers indicate the width of the field of view in meters, for example, 110/1000 m, which means a survey of 110 m with an object range of 1000 meters.
- The best indicator of the diameter of the exit pupil is considered an indicator close to the size of the human pupil, that is, it is 2-3 mm in the afternoon, and 6-8 mm in the dark. Therefore, data of 5–7 mm are considered to be a generally accepted standard. To find out the diameter of the exit pupil, it is necessary to divide the size of the lens by its magnification. For example, binoculars with an indicator of 7x35 have an exit pupil of 5 mm (35: 7 = 5). At higher rates, the light will not be fully accepted by the human eye, and accordingly, visibility will be worse.
Binoculars are also distributed according to what the lenses are made of. They can be lens and prism. The first is theater optics, and the second is all field devices.
Prism optics is divided into two systems:
- Porro, in honor of the optics from France, in which the lens and lens are distributed in successive steps, which expands the perspective of the review and gives a clear picture.
- The Roof system is a prism with two faces located at an angle to each other. Such optics are more compact and lightweight, but expensive because of the complexity of grinding and polishing prisms.
Thus, before making a choice of binoculars, it is necessary to identify several starting points for orientation in a large assortment of this product:
- the purpose of the binoculars;
- focused review or widespread;
- multiplicity of approximation;
- type of focus;
- country of manufacture and brand;
- estimated price.
Giving answers on these points, it is easier to make a purchase that will not bring disappointment and frustration.