Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
the field-of-view will be smaller than through the same binoculars with lower magnifica-
tion.
I use 6x binoculars, and if I'm looking at the same kettle of hawks as a birder next to
me with 10× binoculars, I will be able to see more birds in my field of view at any given
moment. If someone yells out that there's a Golden Eagle flying in, I'll usually be able
to find it more quickly because of that wider field of view. The trade-off is that the other
birder will be able to see more detail on the birds because of the greater magnification.
If there's a strong northwest wind and we're both shivering, the view through my 6x
binoculars will be less shaky. If we're looking at shorebirds on a hot, sunny afternoon,
my 6× glasses will show less distortion. For a given price point from the same manufac-
turer, the optics of lower-power glasses virtually always provide a crisper, clearer view
than those of higher-power glasses, especially noticeable with lower-quality binoculars.
And yet, those higher-power glasses do bring the birds closer.
Forbinocularsofthesamemagnification,thebiggerthesecondnumberis,thebrighter
your image — a good thing. But the bigger that number is, the heavier the binoculars are
— a bad thing. You'll optimize the amount of light gathering if the second number is at
least 5 times the first number; that is, 6×30, 7×35, 8×40, or 10×50. This guideline is par-
ticularlyimportantwhenyou'rebuyinginexpensiveorevenmid-rangebinoculars,which
don't have the superior coatings and special low-dispersion glass that top-of-the-line bin-
oculars have.
Comfort and Ease of Use
This should be another important consideration. Don't choose binoculars that are so
heavy you won't want to use them. Make sure that when you look through them, you see
one full image. If the eyepieces are too far apart, or if the binoculars aren't well suited to
the kind of glasses you wear, you may see two images or a partial image. It should also
be easy for you to reach and turn the focus wheel.
Try binoculars within the highest price range you can comfortably afford, and rank
them based on your preferences for magnification, brightness, sharpness, field of view,
and comfort. Try to look at the same object in the distance with each pair so that you
get a useful comparison. Once you settle on a pair of binoculars, stop reading about new
models and comparing your glasses with those of other people! There really is no perfect
binocular, and you'll maximize your satisfaction by putting your focus back on birds.
