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On the Trail of Nature's Wonders with Binoculars
The Basics: Intended Use
Before you look at the first binoculars, you should consider the answer to the following question: What do you primarily want to use the binoculars for? The intended use determines which features your binoculars need to have. For example, a hunting binocular should provide a bright image even at dusk. A marine binocular for your next sailing trip should not have too high a magnification to ensure a stable image. Additionally, it must, of course, be waterproof. And for those who enjoy observing nature on hikes, a lightweight option is preferable. After all, every gram counts when you're out for a long time.
Here you’ll find our guides for your area of use:
The Two Most Important Specifications
Magnification
Bigger is better, right? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. A high magnification brings our observation subject particularly close when viewed through the binoculars, but it doesn’t necessarily indicate how much detail we’ll actually see. The clarity of the image depends on the objective lens diameter, glass material, coating, and the overall quality of the optics.
The ideal magnification for your binoculars primarily depends on the intended use. Sometimes, more magnification is simply too much. For example, if you frequently change locations and your subjects appear quickly, you should avoid magnifications above 12x. Higher magnifications make it difficult to maintain a steady image without a tripod, especially over extended periods. However, for astronomers, a high magnification is crucial since their observation targets are extremely far away. Unlike birds or wildlife, celestial objects don’t move abruptly, so they can be comfortably observed from a fixed position using a binocular on a tripod. On the other hand, when sailing, the unstable surface causes shaky images at high magnifications, making it hard to see clearly. For water-based activities, a 7x magnification has proven effective. And if you want to observe landscapes while hiking, remember that a higher magnification narrows the field of view, showing you a smaller area.
To help you understand how large your observation subject appears with a particular magnification, there’s a simple formula:
Magnification x 100 = Distance in meters at which the object appears to be 100 meters away
Therefore, if you choose a binocular with 12x magnification at a distance of 1200 m (12 x 100), your subject will appear as if it is only 100 m away.
The Objective Lens Diameter
The objective lens diameter refers to the size of the lenses located at the front of the binoculars. Unlike magnification, it provides important information about the imaging performance of the binoculars. The larger the objective lens diameter, the more light reaches your eyes through the optics, resulting in a brighter image. However, this also makes the binoculars heavier. Therefore, if you are planning to go on long hikes only in bright sunshine, you might choose a smaller objective lens diameter. The daylight and good weather provide sufficient light, and the optics will be lighter accordingly. On the other hand, observations at dusk require a diameter of at least 50 mm.
The Field of View
The field of view describes the size of the area you can see through the binoculars at a distance of 1000 m. Sometimes this measurement is given in degrees. You can quickly convert this to meters by simply multiplying the degree value by 17.45. A large field of view is especially important when observing fast-moving objects, such as at sports events. Only then can you quickly locate and keep your subject in sight through your binoculars.
The Glass Material
As with many products, there are significant differences in material choice for binoculars. The glass material used for the prisms and lenses is particularly important. For BRESSER binoculars
- Optical Bk-7 glass (Borosilicate Crown Glass) = standard for good image quality
- BaK-4 glass (Barium Crown Glass) = even better detail resolution and a brighter image
- ED glass (Extra-Low Dispersion Glass) = very high quality for color-accurate, brilliant images
Focusing
In binoculars, there are two methods to focus on the subject: the central focusing wheel and the individual eyepiece adjustment. A binocular with a central focusing wheel is quicker to adjust – an absolute advantage when observing moving objects or when you frequently switch subjects. When using a binocular with a central focusing wheel, pay attention to the focus travel, which is the number of rotations across the entire focus range. Often, very inexpensive binoculars have a very long focus travel of 2.5 to 3 turns. In contrast, most BRESSER binoculars only require 1.5 or 1.75 turns. This way, you can focus much faster when changing objects and won’t miss an important moment.
With individual eyepiece adjustment, there is a knob on each eyepiece that allows you to adjust the sharpness accordingly. This method is especially useful at sea, where the focus is set to infinity. The advantage is that you only need to make this adjustment once on the binocular since it doesn't easily change back like it does with the central focusing wheel.
Features for Glasses Wearers
Of course, BRESSER also offers suitable binoculars for nature lovers who need vision aids. These provide a comfortable view into the distance with the following features:
- Foldable rubber or twist-up eyecups
For glasses wearers, the eyes are automatically positioned further away from the eyepiece than for observers without vision aids. To restore the ideal distance between the eye and the eyepiece lens, the eyecups on the binoculars can either be folded outwards or twisted inwards. - Eyepieces with an elevated eye point of at least 13.5 mm
This allows glasses wearers to comfortably capture the complete field of view through their binoculars. - Diopter adjustment
You can quickly compensate for the difference in vision strength between the left and right eyes with the diopter adjustment. It may be worthwhile to check the maximum setting here.
The Coating
When observing with a binocular, one factor is particularly important: light. The more light that reaches the eyes through the optics, the brighter and more contrast-rich the image. Therefore, various coatings are applied to the glass in quality binoculars to reduce reflections and ensure higher light transmission. In addition to fully coated and even better fully multi-coated glass, high-quality BRESSER binoculars also utilize the excellent UR coating (Ultimate Reflection), which significantly enhances brightness. The outstanding dielectric coating is invaluable in twilight and poor weather conditions, as it allows for an even brighter and clearer image due to its high light transmission. For example, the BRESSER Pirsch-ED binoculars are equipped with this special coating. When it comes to contrast, binoculars with phase coating lead the way. Perfect for observing fur patterns or feathers while birdwatching, they provide a contrast-rich and high-resolution image.
The Exit Pupil
The exit pupil refers to the bright spot that hits the eye at the ocular side of the binoculars. Its size is particularly important for observations in low light conditions, such as during twilight, as it affects the brightness of the image. It can be calculated as follows: Objective diameter / magnification.
However, just like with magnification, bigger is not always better. The age of the observer plays a role here. While the pupils of a young person can expand up to 7 mm in darkness, the eye of a 50-year-old can only manage about 5 mm. Therefore, a 7x50 binocular would be unnecessarily heavy for a nature observer of that age, and a lighter 8x42 binocular would likely be the better choice.
The Housing
Whether on a hunt, a hike, or at sea, nature can sometimes be rough. Therefore, a binocular should have a sturdy and weather-resistant housing. A (partial) rubber armoring is especially practical, as it protects your binoculars from bumps and splashes. It also ensures a firm grip at all times. The rubber armoring on BRESSER binoculars is colorfast and resistant to sunlight during normal use. With a waterproof housing, the binoculars can withstand a downpour without any water seeping inside. Some binoculars are also filled with protective gas, such as argon or nitrogen, preventing the lenses from fogging up internally even when temperatures fluctuate significantly.
Porro or Roof Prism Design
When selecting your binoculars, you will often come across the terms "Porro" and "roof prism." These refer to the type of prisms used. Porro binoculars are characterized by a wider design and are not as handy, lightweight, or compact as comparable models with roof prisms. However, due to the greater distance between the objective lenses, your subjects appear a bit more three-dimensional. This effect is particularly noticeable at high magnifications and shorter distances.
Binoculars with That Special Extra
Some binoculars come with useful features that make the observer’s life easier. For example, certain marine binoculars have an integrated compass that directly shows you the cardinal directions. Additionally, a reticle can assist you in determining sizes and distances on the water. For those who prefer to observe with higher magnifications without using a tripod, a binocular with an integrated image stabilizer is a great choice. This allows you to enjoy shake-free images even at 16x magnification when held by hand. Take a look in the BRESSER online shop to find the ideal binoculars for your grand moments in nature.
With higher magnification, you can see more details, but the field of view becomes smaller. The larger the objective diameter, the more light enters the binoculars, resulting in a brighter image.
Square root of (magnification x objective diameter)
Therefore, an 8x42 binocular has a twilight factor of 18.3. Important: The twilight factor does not take into account performance-enhancing factors such as glass material or coatings!
In general: at higher magnifications, the image tends to be slightly darker and harder to hold steady. Additionally, you will have a smaller field of view. However, you will also see more details as a result.
