subject: Compact Binoculars [print this page] Compact Binoculars Compact Binoculars
Many people find buying binoculars confusing. When you try to buy them you are going to be faced with numbers like 9x50 which you need to be clear on if you want to get the proper pair. You will also need to be able to keep in mind any special features or any of the specialized types like night binoculars or stabilized binoculars. The main thing to making the right decision is to keep in mind how you intend to use them, and then the rest should come together nicely.
Magnification and diameter of the lens are by far the most important things that you will need to consider when you are buying compact binoculars. These are clearly marked on all binoculars with a number like 7x35 or whatever. The first number will tell you the magnification which is simply how much closer the object will appear. The number that comes second will let you know the size of the lens in millimeters. The field of view is going to be bigger if you have a larger lens diameter. In a perfect world you would want to get binoculars where these numbers are as big as you can find but that isn't always the wisest choice. It is difficult to pick up moving objects if you have a high degree of magnification, so that might be a problem for some uses. There is a great field of view when you have a big lens diameter but it comes at the price of binoculars that are large and heavy, not something you want in many cases.
The next major consideration in selecting binoculars is the brightness, the size of the exit pupil will determine this. You can determine the size of the exit pupil by dividing the diameter of the lens by the magnification. The larger this number is the more light will make it to your eye. This can be a disadvantage when the sun is shining but is pretty much a necessity if you use your binoculars when it is dark. For night time use you are going to want an exit pupil of at least 7 mm. However if you plan to use them in bright sunshine 3 mm is probably good, 5 mm is a good compromise for general use.
Personal choice will largely determine most of the other factors that you will have to consider so there are really no general rules. A few buyers consider something like the prism or how the binoculars are focused are important issues while some people couldn't care less. You are also going to want to think about any of the specialized types of binoculars that are available like compact binoculars or marine binoculars. Having how you are planning to use the binoculars in mind will help to make certain that you make the right selection for your needs.
