Which binoculars suit me?
How do I choose the "right" binoculars?
Although many binoculars look very similar, they have many different characteristics in terms of use and performance. The information on these pages is intended to help you choose the right binoculars for your purpose, within your budget and according to your personal preferences. Every single pair of Bresser binoculars, even the cheapest, is made of high quality optical glass material, robust housings and precise mechanical components that guarantee years of use. The attention to detail and the long experience in manufacturing optical devices are perhaps even the best guarantee we can give you.
Binoculars come in well over a hundred designs with a wide variety of specifications, but all binoculars have these three components:
Binocular lens
The objective lens of binoculars collects light over a larger area than the unarmed eye can. This enables the binoculars to display distant objects magnified with high resolution. The objective lens of good binoculars usually consists of two separate lenses; a so-called crown glass and a flint glass element. The combination of these two types of glass enables the objects to be displayed in true colours.
Prisms: Lenses, i.e. the lenses of binoculars, have the property of imaging objects upside down and laterally reversed. The image produced in this way must first be straightened by the prisms and displayed laterally correct. For this purpose either so-called porro prisms or roof prisms are used. Porroprisms give the entire binoculars their characteristic angled shape, while roof prisms give the binoculars a slim design. No matter which prisms are used, with good manufacturing quality this has no influence on the imaging performance of the binoculars.
Eyepiece: The task of the eyepiece is to enlarge the image produced by the objective. Eyepieces consist of several separate lenses. Eyepieces with a high eye point and with a foldable rubber eyecup, also allow spectacle wearers to see up to 100% of the binocular field of view with glasses on. Now you know the three essential components of binoculars and can easily determine which binoculars are right for you for which application!
Binoculars designations: The designation of a pair of binoculars, e.g. 7x35 WW means that these binoculars provide a 7x magnification (7x) and that the lenses of the binoculars have a diameter of 35mm each. The addition WW (wide angle) means that such binoculars provide a particularly large field of view. Wide-angle binoculars are particularly suitable for observing moving objects (e.g. at sporting events).
Magnification The magnification of a binocular model is perhaps the most misunderstood feature. High magnifications can be useful, but the magnification itself is not a criterion for the quality, image quality or detail recognition of binoculars! The lens diameter, glass material, coating and the quality of the overall optics determine the ability to resolve small details. The disadvantages of binoculars with a high magnification (e.g. 16x or 20x) are: it is very difficult to produce a steady image over long periods of observation and the field of view is relatively small. With a magnification of 7x, for example, you can see an object at a distance of 70m as if you were observing it with the naked eye from a distance of only 10m (70m : 7 = 10m). Binoculars with magnifications above 12x are generally no longer recommended for use without a tripod.