subject: The Perfect Binoculars For Hunting [print this page] A good pair of binoculars will assist the hunter in two important ways. For one, the enjoyment of the outdoor experience will be greatly increased. The binoculars will help the hunter to see animals and scenery that he might have missed otherwise. For another, the hunter's chances for a successful hunt will be much higher than without binoculars. There are a number of features that the hunter should look for when selecting this important tool.
Most hunting conditions will require a pair of rugged, waterproof binoculars, so use that as a starting point. The price for binoculars with rugged assembly, rubber armor, and waterproofing will be higher than for bargain binoculars, but the mid-price range of $300 to $500 will offer many good choices.
Next, look for binoculars that have an appropriate magnification power. Magnifications of 6x, 7x, 8x, or 9x are generally the most useful for hunting. Larger magnifications are more difficult to hold steady and smaller magnifications will not bring in enough detail. When hunting in the woods binoculars with a 6x power, such as a 6x30, would be a good choice. However, when hunting in mountains where greater distances are involved larger power binoculars such as 8x30 or 9x35 would be more appropriate. For all around use a pair of 7x35 binoculars would work well.
Next, look for binoculars that have a good combination of objective lens diameter and exit pupil diameter. The second number associated with the binoculars' description, such as 6x30 or 7x35, refers to the size of the objective lens in millimeters. The larger the size of the front lens the more light it will gather which makes the view brighter. In dim light situations during bad weather or in dark woods the brighter binoculars are a big advantage.
Exit pupil diameter refers to the size of the opening next to the eye which allows the light and the image to enter the eye. A larger diameter exit pupil will allow more light to enter the eye which is generally an advantage. The exit pupil diameter is calculated as the ratio between the objective lens and the magnification. For example, in a 7x35 pair of binoculars the exit pupil is 35/7mm which equals 5mm. For most hunting applications an exit pupil of 4mm or 5mm is satisfactory. As a result, binoculars of 6x30, 7x35, 8x30, and 9x35 are generally the most useful.
Compare the popular sizes of hunting binoculars with a pair of 7x50 binoculars, which are the most useful general purpose binoculars when weight is not an issue. The 50mm objective lens covers a wide field of view and brings in a lot of light. The 7x magnification is easy to steady by hand yet brings distant items close. The exit pupil size of 50/7mm, which equals about 7.1mm is nearly identical to the pupil size of the human eye, which is about 7mm. That means that the eye is able to receive the maximum amount of light and information from the binoculars. However, the 7x50 binocular is considered too bulky and too heavy for most hunting applications. The smaller sizes of hunting binoculars listed above offer the best compromises among weight, light-gathering qualities, and magnification strength.
Compact binoculars with a 20mm or 25mm objective lens are usually too dim and too powerless to be useful for hunting. Though they are small enough to be carried along for other purposes, they should not be relied upon as the primary hunting binocular.
Similarly, a pair of binoculars with a zoom lens is not considered versatile enough to be used as the primary hunting binocular. They are generally too fragile and are difficult to hold steady at their higher power range.
A good quality pair of hunting binoculars will help you to enjoy the outdoor experience and will assist you in completing a successful hunt.
