How do you choose the perfect binoculars?

Buying binoculars is not something you can do within seconds, at least not if you want to make the right choice. There are different types, sizes, prices and applications. Because of all these differences, you will first have to determine what you want to use the binoculars for, what extras you want to use and what amount you want to spend on the binoculars.

What do you want to use the binoculars for?

First you have to ask yourself what you want to use the binoculars for. If you want to take it with you on the water, it is useful that your binoculars are waterproof. And if you want to take the binoculars with you more often, it is handy that it is small and light. The field of view can also be very important for when you want to keep track of a moving object in the yacht. Make sure you know where your preferences lie and where to look for the perfect binoculars.

The size of your binoculars

This is one of the most important factors in the search for many people. Since you can easily put small binoculars in your pocket, but a large one provides a brighter and more stable image. One of the most popular sizes is 8x42, with the first digit representing the magnification factor and the second digit representing the diameter of the lenses in mm.

Glasses in combinations with binoculars?

If you wear glasses, you should take this into account when buying binoculars. You should then pay attention to the so-called eye relief or eye distance, which, as you might expect, indicates the distance from your eye to the lens. If you wear glasses, it is best to choose a viewer with a minimum eye distance of 15mm. With many binoculars you can set this yourself; which is also necessary when you often switch between glasses and lenses.

The magnification of the binocular

You can get enthusiastic and want to take the magnification very large, unfortunately this does not always give the desired outcome. The magnification you see through the binoculars increases the movements of your hand. A magnification greater than 8 makes it difficult for your brain to compensate for the vibrations in the image, so you quickly need a tripod.

Also important is the diameter of the exit pupil. This indicates the size of the light beam leaving the binoculars. It must be larger than your own pupil, if it is smaller than the pupil of your eye, it is more difficult to get a good picture. The exit pupil can be determined by dividing the diameter of the objective lens by the magnification factor. With an 8x42 binoculars, the exit pupil is therefore 42/8 = 5.25 mm.