| We are asked nearly every day: "What are
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| | - While compact binoculars weigh as
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| your best binoculars?" And every day we
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| | little as a pound, by using them you will
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| answer: "How do you plan on using them?"
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| | undoubtedly sacrifice performance. If
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| We are not trying to be evasive with our
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| | performance is your main consideration,
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| answer, but the truth of the matter is -
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| | full sized binoculars are preferred.
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| the best binoculars for one purpose may
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| | Anything weighing over about 1.5 pounds
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| be the worse binoculars for another. We
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| | will get heavy fairly fast. Use a
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| want you to Get It Right The First Time.
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| | binocular support system to evenly
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| Understanding your application is
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| | distribute the weight across your
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| paramount in determining the best fit -
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| | shoulders instead of using a strap around
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| for you. Although there are many other
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| | your neck.
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| specifications and qualities which
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| | - The amount of light available while
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| determine the usefulness of binoculars,
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| | using your binoculars will determine
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| we will discuss in this article the
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| | -more than any other consideration -
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| primary characteristics for determining
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| | which binoculars are best for you. Low
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| the best fit for your application. But
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| | light uses such as hunting, birding and
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| before we show you the list, we should go
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| | astronomy require larger objective
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| over some basic terminology.
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| | lenses.
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| What do the numbers on binoculars mean?
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| | - The distance you will be from the
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| All sporting optics (binoculars, spotting
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| | object you view will determine the
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| scopes, night vision goggles, etc.) use
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| | magnification power required in a pair of
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| the same nomenclature to describe
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| | binoculars. If your application is bird
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| important features. As an example, a
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| | watching, theater or sporting events, a
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| pair of binoculars may have 10x42mm
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| | low powered binocular will suffice in
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| listed as a technical specification. But
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| | most cases. But if you're into
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| what does this mean? The "10" refers to
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| | astronomy, you'll need a high powered
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| the magnification power of the binoculars
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| | pair.
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| - that is - objects viewed will appear to
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| | - The minimum focal point in binocular
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| be 10 times closer than when they are
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| | terminology refers to how near an object
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| viewed by the naked eye. The second
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| | can be to you and be still be viewed in
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| number in our example is "42mm." This
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| | focus. This tends to be important for
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| refers to the diameter, in millimeters,
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| | birding but not so important for most
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| of the objective lenses on the
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| | other uses.
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| binoculars. The objective lenses are
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| | - Binoculars with a magnification power
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| located on the end of the binoculars
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| | greater than 10x (and without a stability
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| furthest away from your eye when viewing.
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| | feature) will be difficult to hold
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| As with the aperture of a camera lens,
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| | steady. This becomes important when
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| the size of objective lens determines the
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| | viewing the night sky or distant
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| amount of light that can enter your
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| | mountains. A tripod may be a good thing
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| binoculars. If your binoculars are going
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| | to have if you're using binoculars with
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| to be used during low light (hunting and
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| | high magnification.
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| astronomy are good examples) you had
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| | - Using your binoculars outdoors will
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| better have large objective lenses.
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| | usually subject them to moisture.
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| Another important number describing
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| | Waterproof binoculars are preferred for
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| binoculars is called field-of-view. A
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| | all marine, hunting, birding and other
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| field-of-view of 390' indicates that the
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| | nature related activities.
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| width of the sight picture is 390 feet at
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| | - The greater the magnification, the
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| a distance of 1000 yards. Field-of-view
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| | narrower the field-of-view. If
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| is determined by magnification and the
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| | field-of-view is important to you, don't
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| focal lengths of the objective and
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| | purchase the most powerful binoculars you
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| eyepiece lenses. More magnification
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| | can find. This becomes very important
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| always means less field-of-view. This
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| | when viewing objects that move quickly
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| specification is sometimes expressed in
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| | such as antelope, race horses, shooting
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| degrees. A field-of-view of 6.5 degrees
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| | stars or race cars.
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| equates to 341' (6.5 times 52.5 equals
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| | - As with almost everything else in life,
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| 341).
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| | with binoculars you get what you pay for.
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| How well your binoculars will serve you
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| | There are binoculars that cost under $10
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| in low light conditions is described as
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| | and others which cost in excess of
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| Twilight Performance. Although many
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| | $2,500. My experience says you will need
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| things, such as overall design and
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| | to spend at least $250 for a pair of
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| quality of glass impact this
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| | binoculars worth having.
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| specification, magnification and
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| | - There is no such thing as
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| objective lens diameter are the chief
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| | "one-size-fits-all" when it comes to
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| components. A quick way to determine the
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| | sporting optics. If you have multiple
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| Twilight Performance of binoculars is to
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| | uses for binoculars, you will most likely
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| multiply the magnification power (first
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| | end up with multiple pairs of them - and
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| number) times the objective lens diameter
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| | that's O.K.
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| (second number). The higher the result,
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| | Your understanding of these few simple
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| the better the Twilight Performance. As
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| | tips will not only help you in acquiring
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| an example, 10x42mm binoculars will have
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| | the correct binoculars for your
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| better Twilight Performance than 8x50mm
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| | application, but they will also help you
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| binoculars (420 versus 400).
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| | with successful viewing - no matter what
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| Now that we understand some basic
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| | you're looking at. Use this information
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| terminology, here is "What to Know When
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| | and you'll Get It Right The First Time.
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| Buying Binoculars."
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| | Get Outdoors!
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