A good pair of binoculars, or binos, as many people call them, can be really exciting. Nothing else is so important for good close up land viewing. You'll see wildlife much closer, in more detail from a distance and you won't frighten it away.
But deciding what you need isn't easy. There are plenty of good and bad (many) binoculars around.
Hopefully I should be able to steer you in the right direction
Power x Brightness
On every pair of binoculars you'll find two numbers with an X between them: 8x30, 7x35, 10x50 etc. The first, lower number is the magnification, in other words an 8x pair of binos will magnify eight times, or bring things eight times closer than the naked eye.
Bigger is not better
Don't be conned by people who insist that the higher the first number, the better the binoculars will be. You won't be able to hold your binos steady at anything above 10x at the very most, and 7x or 8x are better, especially if it's windy. Even more important don't be seduced the variable-power (zoom) binoculars. They don't let enough light in the majority of uses and are quite difficult to use.
The second number - x30, x35 or x50 in the above examples - is the diameter of the largest lens, called the objective lens, in millimetres. Therefore an 8x30 pair magnifies eight times and has an objective lens that is 30mm in diameter. The larger the objective lens, the more light the binoculars let in and, quite often, the more of any scene you have in view (field of view).
This means that an 8x30 is much better in dull weather or at night, than an 8x21, and it's brighter image makes it easier for finding and following individual birds or animals in the scrub or trees. However it's also bigger physically and heavier, so you have to choose between light gathering and ease of use and whether you will be prepared to carry them around all day. Having said that 8x30 binoculars are not exactly big.
Personally I'd rather have a pair that was brighter than a pair that was smaller.
Close and distant
You won't always want to look at things in the distance. You might want to get a closer view of a dragonfly or butterfly without disturbing it.
The closeness that a binocular can focus depends on how it is made rather than its power. Try focusing as close as possible in the shop and see if you think it's close enough. Most binoculars will focus down to around 3mtrs or so. But there a few that will come as close as 2mtrs.
While we're talking of focusing, you need to see how far the central wheel needs to be turned to get the image sharp for different distances. The less you have to turn it the better because it makes finding and following birds and other fast moving subjects easier and quicker.
Once again you may be tempted by binoculars that are FOCUS FREE, my opinion is that these are not at all satisfactory other than for quick general viewing. They don't suit everybody especially those who wear glasses.
Feeling good in your hands
Don't buy binoculars you haven't looked through as different types suit different people, and you can't always expect the binoculars manufacturers to make one size to fit all.
Some binos have minimal movement for adjusting to the width of a viewer's eyes and can be quite tiring to use for even short periods of time. Make sure you can look through them with both eyes at once without strange black shapes looming at the side of your vision. Some binoculars don't fold closely enough together or open up wide enough (especially the compact folding types). What you see should be in a sharp, black circle, without any unusual colours around the edges (fringing) of what you are looking at. The image should be clear and sharp edge to edge. The more you pay will generally give you better edge to edge sharpness, this is important if something is moving around in your field of view and you won't have to move the binoculars to keep it in focus.
Make sure that your fingers can reach the central focusing wheel comfortably and that it moves easily but with a slight resistance so that you can follow flying birds etc. Sense how balanced they feel in your hands. Also remember, that you may have carry your binoculars all day, so weight could be important. Check the strap, many straps are too long so see if it can be shortened to fit you. Many straps are to thin and if the binoculars are of the more heavier type they'll feel as if they are cutting into the back of your neck. Although if required you can always modify the strap later.
If you wear spectacles, make sure you choose binoculars that have the fold down rubber eyecups and with good eyepiece adjustments. Binoculars that are rubber coated can often feel more comfortable for most people. But please remember rubber coating does not necessarily mean they are waterproof or even water resistant. The rubber ones are definitely easier to grip, and the rubber will help protect against damage from minor knocks.
Looking after your optics
Binoculars quite often look more tough and sturdy than they really are. The insides can be easily broken if dropped or knocked. Looking after them is, of course, common sense and can help them to last a lifetime or more. I know people who still use their grandfathers binoculars.
Keep them dry unless they are certified waterproof. Large eyecups over the eyepieces will allow you to use them in light rain. You must keep the lenses clean. Blow any dust or sand away and then wipe them gently with a soft cloth. Be especially careful on the beach as the sand can badly scratch lenses and the salt spray can cause later corrosion
Above all, don't drop them or throw them around. They are precision instruments and need to be treated as such. That is, unless you want to replace them every year. The internals are more easily damaged than the exterior. If you start seeing a double image, get them repaired quickly or they could damage your eyesight or give you headaches after a short time.
Ask a friend to look through them from time to time, they will easily spot problems that you may have got used to. Unfortunately many binoculars even those costing a few hundred dollars are unable to be repaired, and even if they were the cost could be quite high. So it pays to be careful and look after them properly.
How much do binoculars cost?
Some binoculars cost over $2,000, others cost under $50. A good pair for bird watching for instance would start around $200, as with many things you get what you pay for.
Many people carry a cheapish compact pair the glove box of the car, these can cost as little as $50 for an adequate pair. These are not high quality glasses but you wouldn't want to keep expensive ones in the car anyway.....would you?
If you'd like to find out what type of binocular you need, just drop me an email telling me what you need them for, where you'll be, if anyone else will be using them, do they need to be portable etc. The more information you give me, the more precise my recommendation will be.
Creative Pictures
The Photo Specialist for
South East Victoria
We always have a huge range of binoculars in stock from folding pocket types to enormous glasses for mounting on a tripod. We also have access to almost every leading brand.
There's a huge difference between looking through an El Cheapo pair and looking through quality binoculars. The better they are, the easier they are to look through, the more you'll use them, therefore the greater the value for money.
