How To Choose Binoculars (19 Helpful Tips With Pictures)

How To Choose Binoculars

Today, we will discuss how to choose binoculars for hunting to make sure you’re selecting the perfect one for whatever you intend to view. So, binoculars are known for bringing clarity to your vision to see far away objects more clearly. Unfortunately, the answer to this question of how to choose binoculars for long distances is not that simple as there are tons of different features and aspects to consider.

The ideal approach to test the optical efficiency, ease of use, and comfort level of a pair of binoculars would be to go to the market and look at a few of them before you make a final decision. There are different types of binocular brands, you can choose the top brands when you buy binoculars.

That being said, below we will discuss some core aspects to keep in mind while choosing the best hunting binoculars.

How To Choose Binoculars | Complete Informative Guide

Keep in mind these steps and points when you choose binoculars for bird watching or other purposes. If you need binoculars for wildlife viewing must keep in mind these steps in mind.

Step 1. Construction Material of Chassis

Let’s start by discussing the construction material of the binocular frame. It plays an important role in their overall performance and durability. It comes in a variety of options:

Aluminum

The most common chassis material available on the market is aluminum or aluminum alloy. It is by far the most preferable material, as it is lightweight, robust, and much more economical than the other choices we see today.

They also need less maintenance as they are corrosion resistant so you can use them in all sorts of weather conditions.

Polycarbonate

The next most liked material is polycarbonate. It is a polymer resin that is also easy to use, inexpensive, corrosion-proof, and very strong.

The biggest benefit of using polymer is that it is temperature tolerant If you intend to use the binoculars under extreme conditions, particularly when it’s cold, the casing will stay at a neutral temperature—unlike Aluminum which can get incredibly cold to the touch.

Construction Material Of Chassis

Step 2. Magnification Of The Binocular

While purchasing your first pair of Binoculars, you might come across specifications such as 7×42, 8×30, or 10×42. Here the number 7, 8, or 10 is the magnification value of that particular Binoculars.

Thus, the 8×30 binoculars must have a magnification value of 8, implying that the target would appear eight times nearer than it would to your unaided eye.

Mostly, you can pick between 8 or 10 magnification values, although you can also select versions with lower or higher magnifications depending on how you want to use the binoculars. The 8-power magnification offers a rather wider field of view, whereas a 10-power magnification shows a very detailed and closer view.

Magnification Of The Binocular

Step 3. Objective Lens Diameter Of The Binoculars

The diameter of the objective lenses is also a significant factor to consider when purchasing a new pair of Binoculars.

For two sets of binoculars that otherwise come with exactly the very same characteristics, a pair of goggles with larger objective lenses can capture additional light as well as provide a brighter image.

The 10×42 specification indicates that the objective lens has a diameter of 42 millimeters. As the objective Lenses will often be the biggest chunk of the gear, it will impact the total size and weight.

We highly recommend lenses between 30 mm and 42 mm since they seem to find a perfect balance between efficiency and size.

Step 4. Eye Relief Of The Binoculars

The eye relief is just the maximum distance from your eye to the eyepiece or perhaps the focal point through which the light travels into the eyepiece.

Most companies place eyecups on the eyepieces to position the wearer’s eyes at the right distance from the eyepieces to make them more effective to use.

Many binoculars include eyecups that can be retracted to serve eyeglass users or extended to offer shade to non-users. Always look out for long-lasting, durable, and multi-position adjustable eyecups for a better experience.

Step 5. Lens Materials Of The Binoculars

The quality and nature of the glass used in the construction of the lenses play a very critical role in terms of overall performance. Typical optical glass, which is not properly grounded and polished, can bend light improperly. This might lead to a very blurred and distorted image.

On the other hand, highly specialized glass is designed to provide a very clear image with negligible distortion, and it also transmits light much better. Therefore, allowing you to see crisp and bright visuals with actual color rendition.

Some modern binoculars also come with eco-friendly glass which does not include lead or arsenic. While this may or may not have a major effect on the image quality, you are not creating any chemical waste if you throw it away.

Step 6. Prisms Of The Binoculars

The prisms of binoculars are also the optical components that steer the light from the image toward your eyes with the help of binoculars. The former Porro prism goggles incorporate large front barrels that are not aligned with both eyepieces.

Whereas, the modern roof prism versions are aligned with both the eyepieces and objective lenses. The Prism material also impacts the image quality significantly, the known materials are:

BAK4

Barium Crown glass also known as BAK4 is known to be the highest form of prism glass. It seems to have a high refractive index with a much lower critical angle than most other materials, which implies that it transmits light better with much less light.

BK7

BK7 glass is probably the most commonly used binocular glass. Even though it may be of marginally lower quality than BAK4, it features outstanding light-transmission characteristics and a small number of internal flaws.

SK15

SK15 is an unusual material that strikes the happy medium between BK7 and BAK4. It boasts a better refractive index than either of those with a dispersion that lies between BAK4 and BK7. The images gathered through the SK15 prisms are of high quality with high color contrast.

Test the focusing

Step 7. Lens Coatings Of The Binoculars

Lens coatings are thin films glued on the lens surfaces to minimize overall glare and reflection. These films improve light transmission and contrast and contribute to making the colors appear more vibrant. The different types of coatings are:

Coated Lenses

Single-coated lenses are by far the most basic type of lenses available today. It indicates that the lens surface features at least one thin layer of film coating it to prevent glaring.

Multi-Coated

Multi-coated lenses are the improved and better version of single-coated lenses.  It has multiple layers of film coating on each surface of the lens. This results in better image quality than the previous one.

Fully Multi-Coated

Multi-coated lenses are by far the most advanced lenses with several layers of thin film added to each surface. This allows the highest degree of light transmission, visibility, brightness, contrast, and color rendition.

Lens Coatings Of The Binoculars

Step 8. Field of View Of The Binoculars

In simple words, the field of view is the visible region you see from your binoculars when you gaze through them. The FOV is inversely proportional to the magnification power. The higher the magnification, the smaller the overall FOV that can be involved in a single look.

Having a smaller FOV will make it difficult to find tiny or moving targets (such as birds) while scanning far away through your Binoculars. The narrower field of view also allows less light, so the images would be slightly darker.

Step 9. Straps Of The Binoculars

Binoculars are highly valued in hunting and other outdoor activities, however, on such adventures, carrying extra gear is a hard call. Straps come in handy on such occasions, you can hang them around the neck with the help of straps to make them more comfortable on long trips.

There is also no risk of losing your binoculars by wearing a strap, as it is always around you.

Step 10. Eye Cups Of The Binoculars

Eyecups are an important enhancement to binoculars as they provide a comfortable area when looking through binoculars without any discomfort as they are soft and cushioned. The eyecups are pre-installed on the binoculars, but the dealers have additional eyecups if one is ripped out from extreme use.

Step 11. Tripod Stand Of The Binoculars

Some of the best binoculars with night vision also come with a video recording feature to make them the right gear for professional wildlife photographers. However, often it takes time to capture rare animal encounters, thus the tripod helps to hold the device for a long time.

Step 12. Adapter Cables & Rechargeable Batteries

The best high-end binoculars are delivered with USB adapters to quickly move data from binoculars to computers. Backup rechargeable batteries are essential to provide backup power to binoculars in areas where electricity is not available.

Step 13. Protection Features For Binoculars

The Binoculars should also come with some protection features, such as:

Step 14. Water Resistance

All the latest binoculars are water-resistant and have better IP ratings, which is a big improvement in the industry. This protective function of the binocular makes it ideal for use in rainy conditions without any fear of damage.

Water Resistance

Step 15. Sealing

In dusty conditions, there is often a danger of mechanical hardware being damaged or worn out, however, the seal on the binoculars around the lens keeps the lens safe from the inside.

This protection prevents all kinds of small particles from destroying the performance of the binoculars and even the best budget binoculars have this feature.

Step 16. Rubber Coating

Rubber coating makes the binoculars highly durable from the outside by having a thick surface that prevents damage and scratches. This helps the user to store them in tight locations without causing any harm to important materials.

Step 17. Fog Proof Lenses

In cold weather, the lens provides less visibility due to fog induced by the user’s exhalation and therefore can ruin the fun experience. Therefore, fogproofing is necessary to prevent this situation as it makes the lens clear and most visible under any condition.

Step 18. Testing Out New Binoculars

You may test out the newly bought Binoculars by following these steps:

Step 19. Test the focusing

To check the timing and range of the focus, the user may use the assigned focus button to test its capability. The device that is pre-tested during assembly can be verified by the consumer with the focus button. The user may also verify the claims of binocular dealers by using the same button.

The above 19 tips and steps about how to choose binoculars or binoculars how to choose for hunting, must help you when you buy binoculars for stargazing, hunting, hiking, and traveling.

Viewing Angles

The user should decline and incline the binocular to verify that the binocular offers flawless lens imaging and it is preferable to see sideways too. This exercise will confirm whether, without any distortion, the binoculars can provide complete visibility at all viewing angles.

Grip and Handling

To make a binocular handy and to prevent it from becoming slippery, grip padding on handles is a significant need. The consumer can grip each side one by one to ensure that it does not slip to confirm its stability.

For your information, we have added an informational article, On how to clean binoculars, you can read it and follow these steps when you want to clean your binoculars.

Uses of Binoculars

Binoculars can have a variety of practical, professional, fun, and educational uses. Not only that but under certain conditions, the use of binoculars could even be a lifesaver. Let’s have a look at some of the areas where binoculars are extensively used:

Hiking

For an adventure seeker with a quest to hike deep into the wilderness and appreciate the quality of nature, a pair of high-resolution binoculars come in highly useful. How to choose binoculars for hiking?

The 8×40 binoculars may offer you the best opportunity for exploring new trails and watching wildlife.

Birding

Observing birds is an exciting noble hobby done by conservationists in the birds’ natural habitat. A powerful pair of binoculars comes in handy to keep enough distance so as not to scare the birds away while enjoying observing their wild sanctuaries.

How to choose binoculars for bird watching? A 7X magnification binoculars can offer a broader field of view that is beneficial to viewing more elusive birds.

Wildlife Hunting

Binoculars are an important tool for hunting, like bird watching, and binoculars for deer hunting as well.

How To Buy Binoculars For Wildlife Hunting?

Based on what kind of game you might be hunting, a magnification value from 8x to 10x will allow you to see your goals while ensuring a safe distance.

Marine

To ensure the best use of a pair of binoculars, seafaring people need a wide field of view.

How to Choose Binoculars for Birding or Marine Life?

For marine binoculars, the standard specs are 7×50, an ideal ratio to mitigate the adverse effects of the unavoidable trembling and movement at sea.

Accessories

While purchasing binoculars, one must look out for accessories that come with them.

Conclusion

The world of binoculars is enormous and ever-changing, making decision-making more and more difficult. No matter what you intend to use them for—from a football match to comet-watching – there’s always something for everyone at every tag.

You can easily find the best hunting binoculars under $1000 and even the best hunting binoculars under $500. In this article, we tried to address the most asked question of how to choose a binocular or, What To Look For When Are You Buying Binoculars.

We included everything that would affect your overall buying decision and the efficiency of the Binoculars. Once you have made your decision, don’t forget to consider the accessories that can turn a decent view into a great view for you. If you want to choose the best binoculars for elk hunting then click on the link.

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