What to look out for. How much to spend? How do they work? Our quick focus guide to the perfect binoculars for you
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Christmas. The big day is now only a month away (which, if you’re like this writer, means it’s now only 29½ days until it’s time to start contemplating getting ready for Christmas) and, if you don’t already have some, then we reckon the perfect Christmas gift for every Geographical reader is a decent pair of binoculars.
A good quality, long-lasting pair of binoculars can be quite an investment, but how do you ensure that the binoculars you focused on are right for you? Read on to find out how to bring the world closer to you.
Why are you buying binoculars?
Most people automatically associate binoculars with wildlife watching, and it’s certainly true that this is the most common reason someone would invest in a pair of binoculars. But binoculars come in a multitude of styles for different types of usage.
Wildlife Whether you’re heading out on an exotic African safari or simply watching the birds in your back garden, a decent pair of binoculars is an absolute essential to help you catch the action up close and identify the creature.
Dark skies Specialist astronomical binoculars can be used to get close to the stars in the eternal search for little green men. And talking of the night sky, there are even specialist night vision binoculars which can be used for night time wildlife viewing. However, most of the very best quality night vision binoculars are military binoculars and not readily available to the general public.
Sport and culture Small, pocket-sized, binoculars are also sometimes used at sporting events such as horse racing so that the viewer can always keep the action in focus. Or, they could be used at cultural events such as the theatre or ballet. Think of those period dramas where spectators in the theatre’s VIP box use tiny binoculars on sticks.
Children’s binoculars There are even binoculars designed exclusively for the use of children. This means they’re brightly coloured, easy to focus and, most importantly, almost indestructible. Unfortunately, though, they don’t yet come with a superglue-like substance that keeps them stuck to your child’s hand to prevent them losing them…
So, with binoculars for every job your first task is to decide what you actually want to use them for. For the purposes of this article, we are going to assume that they are for wildlife viewing and general use.
How are binoculars built?
A good pair of binoculars is a complicated bit of equipment. Inside those two tubes are a series of lenses and prisms. The big bits of curved glass at the front end of the binocular are the objective lenses. As light passes through these objective lenses the image of the object being viewed is turned upside down. Next, the light passes through the prisms and the image is turned the right way up again. Finally, the light passes through the eye pieces, where the actual magnification of the objects being viewed occurs.
How much cash have you got?
As with almost everything, you get what you pay for. While you can find binoculars out there for less than £50 both the optical and build quality means you might quickly regret such a cut-price purchase. Upping the budget into the £200-300 realm will get you a solid pair of binoculars, but even then, there can be build quality issues.
Over the years, this writer has had several different binoculars in this price range, and while they have all started out strong, we’ve discovered that after a few weeks or months of heavy usage, the image quality deteriorates as the optics shift about slightly. That said, most people are a lot more careful of their equipment than I am and, if you look after your binoculars well, then a pair in this price range are likely to give you many years of viewing pleasure.
Going up to the next level, there are many different models priced between £500 to well over a £1,000. Buying a pair in this range guarantees superb optics, a solid build, and the binoculars will feel good in the hand.
Have you got a big head?
Today we’re accustomed to buying things online. But, like with a pair of shoes, it’s always best to actually try a pair of binoculars out before buying them. Each and every pair is of a different size and weight and has a different feel in the hand and against the eye. So, if you have the opportunity then always visit a specialist shop in person to try out various binoculars for look, feel and brightness before parting with your money.
It’s all about the power
Binoculars are made to bring the distant closer and they do this through magnifying the objects. One of the most confusing aspects for a first-time binocular buyer is understanding magnification and deciding what’s best for you. When buying a pair of binoculars, you will be confronted by a couple of different numbers separated by an x. For example, 8×42 or 10×50. The first number indicates the number of times the image is magnified, so in the examples above the first pair of binoculars magnifies the image eight times (the x stands for times) and the second ten times. That means the 10x binoculars make a distant object appear bigger than the eight times.
The second number, which in these examples are 42 and 50, indicates the diameter of the main objective lens. The larger this lens the more light is gathered and the brighter the image appears. But, while this might make it sound like the 10×50 binoculars are the clear favourites, that’s not necessarily the case. These binoculars will naturally be bigger and heavier to carry than a similar-priced pair of 8×42. In fact, many dedicated wildlife watchers would choose 8×42 over 10×50 for this reason alone.
Also watch for
Waterproofing Chances are that one day, your binoculars are going to get soaked in a heavy rainstorm, so make sure you get a pair with good water proofing.
Life time warranty Some top-end binoculars come with a life time warranty. If you’re shopping in that category, then ask before buying what kind of warranty your binos come with.
