Choosing good binoculars • Binoculars for fishing, hunting and tourism

Choosing binoculars is a very serious and very difficult task. Do not think that the most important thing when choosing binoculars is its “magnification”. Binoculars have a fairly wide range of technical characteristics that must be considered when buying it. Therefore, before you go to the store to buy binoculars, you must first familiarize yourself a little with the basic terms and definitions, the structure and types of binoculars. And also to answer the question Why do you need binoculars?»

So what are binoculars?

Binoculars - an optical device consisting of two parallel telescopes connected together to observe distant objects with both eyes. Due to this, unlike the spotting scope, the observer sees a stereoscopic image.

binocular device

The main design elements of binoculars include:
* eyepiece lenses
* ocular cone
* prisms
* anti-kick cone
* objective lenses
* light
* upper hinge cover
* central focus wheel
* lower hinge cap (and tripod socket)
* rubber eye cup
* diopter ring
* diopter adjustment indicator
* bridge
* top case cover
* fastening of the neck belt
* bottom case cover
* objective barrel
* lens caps

Binoculars classifications

According to their dimensions, binoculars are classified into compact (with fixed and variable magnification) and classic (with fixed and variable magnification). Compact binoculars, as the name suggests, are much smaller in weight and dimensions than classic ones. They are generally recommended for use by hunters and hikers. But the classic ones can be suitable for a variety of purposes: hunting, fishing, birdwatching, wild animals, sports competitions. Binoculars are divided into two types according to the focusing method: with central focusing and with separate focusing.

Binoculars with central focusing are distinguished by the presence of a central screw, which ensures focusing for both eyes; at the same time, one of the eyepieces has its own focusing mechanism, which provides a diopter difference.

Binoculars with separate focusing are distinguished by the presence of their own focusing mechanism on each of the eyepieces. The following classification - by technical purpose - is the most important. There are several parameters here at once, which determine the belonging of the binoculars to one or another group: magnification, diameter of the entrance lens, diameter of the exit pupil, aperture ratio, field of view, etc. Based on different technical characteristics, they distinguish:

theater binoculars, designed to observe objects that are at a short distance from the observer (for example, in theaters, at concerts and stadiums). Such binoculars are distinguished, as a rule, by a small magnification (x2.5-5), a wide field of view, large aperture, as well as rather small dimensions and weight (due to the exit pupil diameter of 7-10 mm).

Compact binoculars also differ in small size and weight, but at the same time they have a large multiplicity. The diameter of the entrance lens of such binoculars is small, therefore, the diameter of the exit pupil, as well as the aperture ratio, is correspondingly small. Such binoculars are usually used for short-term observations in sunny weather.

Field binoculars are the most common, as they have good luminosity (the diameter of the entrance lens is 30-50 mm, and the diameter of the exit pupil is 4-7 mm), as well as a large magnifying power (from x7 to x20). Such binoculars are often used by signalmen, surveyors, topographers and power engineers.

Military binoculars are lightweight and portable, but at the same time durable and water resistant. The short length of such binoculars guarantees a wide field of view, which allows you to cover a fairly large area. Plus, such binoculars must have sufficient magnification.

Astronomical binoculars have a magnification starting from 6-7x and are usually used with a tripod (to avoid image shaking when zoomed in). Typically, astronomical binoculars are divided into three subspecies: 8x40 (wide angle of view, light enough), 7x50 (wide field of view, good aperture ratio, but not enough magnification, for example, to resolve double stars, bad when observing at dusk and in urban backlight), 10×50 (heavy, narrow field of view, but the maximum magnification, which helps to see the details). There are also specialized binoculars with high magnification (from 12x50 to 30x90), which are used only with a tripod.

marine binoculars are highly resistant to adverse weather conditions (have a unique waterproof coating). Plus, for the production of such binoculars, multi-layer smc-coated lenses are used, which reduces light loss. These binoculars, among other things, have a built-in 360-degree compass and a goniometric rangefinder scale. And of course, these binoculars have a very powerful magnifying power.

Night vision binoculars usually small and light, have a wide field of view and the best image quality in natural night light conditions (thanks to a powerful IR illuminator of various ranges).

Main technical characteristics of binoculars

In order not to make a mistake with choice of binoculars, it is necessary to have at least a brief idea of ​​its technical characteristics. We will not list them all, but consider the most important of them. This:

* prism wrapping system
* binocular magnification
* entrance pupil, or the diameter of the front lens of the objective
* exit pupil diameter
* light transmission of binoculars
* aperture
* field of view width
* focus system

1. Prisms turning system

Prism binoculars use two principles of prism inverting systems - porro (porro) and roof (roof). The inverting system of Porro prisms is a classic, binoculars with it have an easily recognizable shape: the distance between the lenses is greater than the distance between the eyepieces. In binoculars with roof prisms, the eyepiece and objective of each spotting scope are on the same axis. The use of roof prisms allows you to make binoculars compact. But the plasticity inherent in binoculars with the Porro wrapping system is lost in this case.

Thus, according to the principle of construction, binoculars are divided into 2 main types, depending on the type of prism of the inverting system (an optical system that turns the image turned upside down into the normal state obtained by the objective lenses):

* Roof prism binoculars ( compact binoculars) - lenses and eyepieces are located on common optical axes, which makes the binoculars more compact.

* binoculars with a Porro prism The optical axes of the binoculars' objectives are wider apart than the optical axes of the eyepieces, and because of this, the device is more bulky. But the quality of the image observed through such binoculars is higher.

2. The magnification of binoculars

The magnification factor of the binoculars determines how “closer” the observed object will be to you: for example, the opposite bank of the river, located 100 m from you, when viewed through 10x binoculars, will look like it is only 10 m away.

The higher the magnification of the binoculars, the more it "brings" very distant objects. However, as the magnification of binoculars increases, the comfort of observation decreases: the image begins to “jump” at your slightest movement. This means that binoculars with a high magnification factor (over 10) can be comfortably used, giving it the most stable position (installed on a tripod, rested against a tree trunk or car roof, etc.).

Thus, the choice of binoculars according to the criterion of magnification must be reasonable, otherwise the main advantage may turn into the main disadvantage ( True, there are binoculars with image stabilization, but this is a subject for a separate discussion.).

Magnification (fold)- the ratio of the angular dimensions of an object observed through binoculars to the dimensions of the same object, visible to the naked eye. Simply put, the multiplicity shows how many times the image seen through binoculars will appear larger than when viewed without binoculars. Binoculars can have constant (magnification) or variable magnification (zoom) magnification.

In the binoculars marking, the magnification is indicated in the first number before the “x” sign. Binoculars with low magnification are considered 2-4x, with medium magnification - 6-8x. High magnification binoculars are 10x, 12x 16x and even 20x binoculars. Such binoculars have large dimensions and weight, and are also expensive, therefore, when choosing binoculars, the magnification should be approached from the standpoint of reasonable sufficiency. In other words, the practical task that a person sets himself in a field and brings an optical device to his eyes is to recognize a distant object. And do not admire it at all or see it as large as possible. Therefore, the usual magnification (magnification) of binoculars intended for field observations is 6-8 times.

Sometimes a higher magnification is needed. But it must be taken into account that 8-10x magnification is a practical limit, after which observation from the hand becomes almost impossible due to jitter, the value of which is proportionally amplified by the optics in addition to a reduced field of view. Binoculars with strong magnification (15-20x) show their positive aspects when viewed from a tripod. To do this, special adapters are available that allow you to mount the binoculars on a tripod. In addition, the weight and dimensions of powerful binoculars are very significant, and they are not suitable for long-term wear.

There are also binoculars variable multiplicity (zoom). In them, the degree of magnification can smoothly change, as in zoomed lenses of photo and video cameras. The device of such binoculars, of course, is more complicated than usual. Binoculars, bringing the observed objects closer, do not deprive vision of its stereoscopic properties. This is the advantage of binoculars over spyglasses and monoculars. Stereoscopic vision makes it possible to distinguish the perspective arrangement of observed objects, their mutual distance, to see objects in volume.

The magnification characteristics of binoculars always appear in the model name and, as a rule, are indicated directly on the body of the device, for example, Delta Optical Sport 10x25 or Delta Optical Sport 8-24x25 ZOOM. The key here are the designations 10x25 and 8-24x25. Before the symbol "x" indicates the magnification of the binoculars. If there is one number, it means binoculars with a constant magnification factor, for example, 10, and if there are two numbers, binoculars with a variable magnification factor, in our example - from 8 to 24. By the way, if the model name contains the word ZOOM, we are talking about a device with a variable magnification factor . After the “x” symbol, the diameter of the lenses of the binoculars in millimeters is indicated.

3. Entrance pupil, or diameter of the front lens of the objective

The entrance pupil, or the diameter of the front lens of a lens, determines the amount of light that is involved in the formation of an image. The larger the diameter, the brighter the image in the binoculars. In binoculars, the size of the entrance pupil is indicated in millimeters after the “x” sign. Thus, the designation 8x36 indicates that these are eight-fold binoculars, in which the diameter of the front lens is 36 millimeters.

The diameter of the objective lenses determines the light transmission capability of the binoculars, that is, how bright the image you are observing will be. This parameter becomes especially important when observing at dusk, when the observed scene cannot be seen with the naked eye due to the fact that it is very far away, and nothing can be seen through binoculars due to the fact that it is very dark! The larger the diameter of the front lens of the objective, the more light falling on its surface it will collect, the brighter the image that we see through the eyepiece will be. Thus, of the two binoculars 8x20 and 8x40, 8x40 is more suitable for twilight observation. But 8x20 is much more compact.

4. Exit pupil diameter

Binoculars are optical instruments built according to the laws of geometric optics, and their characteristics such as the diameter of the front lens of the objective and the magnification are rigidly related to each other. Thus, another characteristic arises - the diameter of the exit pupil: the quotient of dividing the diameter of the front lens of the objective by the magnification factor.

For binoculars 8×20 binoculars will have an exit pupil diameter of 2.5 mm, and for 8×40 binoculars it will be 5 mm. This characteristic of binoculars is closely related to the possibilities of our vision, namely, the ability of our pupil to contract and expand depending on the lighting conditions. The pupil of a young, healthy person is able to expand up to 7 mm. With age, this ability is lost, and our pupil dilates to about 4 mm.

Based on the foregoing, if the diameter of the exit pupil of the binoculars is 2.5 mm, then during daytime observation, when our pupil is narrowed, this value is quite enough, but at dusk, when our pupil is dilated, it is desirable that the diameter of the exit pupil corresponds to the diameter of ours. If it is less, we will lose in the brightness of the observed image, if it is more, the optics will work in vain, since we are still not able to perceive an excess of light flux that does not fit into our pupil.

Thus, exit pupil is the diameter of the light beam entering from the binoculars into the observer's pupil. Numerically equal to the ratio of the magnification to the diameter of the entrance pupil. It is the size of the exit pupil that characterizes the binocular aperture, since with the same objective diameter, binoculars with a higher magnification will have a lower aperture than binoculars with a lower magnification. The optimal diameter of the exit pupil is 6-7 mm. Binoculars with a pupil of 3-4mm can produce a fairly bright image in sunlight, but at dusk they will be difficult to use.

Exit pupil diameter- an important characteristic of binoculars. The diameter of the exit pupil should not be confused with the diameter of the eyepiece itself. The exit pupil is that white spot that is reflected on a sheet of paper when we bring it to the eyepiece of binoculars aimed at the light, within the working segment. The working segment is the distance from the eyepiece at which the eye sees a clear image. The working segment is relatively large in optical sights, where it is necessary to take into account the force of recoil and the movement of the weapon back. Binoculars are designed for the direct approach of the eyes to the eyepieces and the length of the working segment is small and averages 10-15 mm, sometimes reaching 18-20 mm. In the latter case, the removal of the exit pupil allows the use of binoculars with glasses (in military binoculars - also through gas mask glasses). In order to determine the diameter of the exit pupil not by direct measurement of the light spot, but by calculation, it is enough to have the diameter of the lens, which is always indicated on the device itself by the number after the X sign - 8 X 40 - divided by the magnification. In this case, it is 5 mm.

5. Light transmission of binoculars

The ability of binoculars to transmit light is inevitably affected by the loss of light when it passes through the lenses and, especially, when passing through the glass-air barrier, since in this case additional light scattering occurs. It is possible to improve the characteristics of binoculars in terms of light transmission by increasing the optical quality of the lens glass, by reducing the number of barriers. glass-air» and through the use of special coatings on the surface of the lenses, called anti-reflective coatings.

In good binoculars, in addition to using high-quality lenses, optical components (objective, eyepiece) are assembled into monoblocks, in which the lenses are glued together with special adhesives to eliminate their contact with air. If the surface of the lens does come into contact with air, it is coated with a multi-layer coating (reflection), the optical properties of which minimize unwanted light scattering. Light transmission (Transmittance) - the ratio of the amount of light that comes out of the optical system to the amount of input light.

If the lenses of an optical instrument do not have an anti-reflection coating, this value can be less than 50 percent, since each air-tangent surface of the lens reflects approximately 5 percent of the light. A high-quality optical device, as a rule, contains 10–12 lenses. An antireflection coating allows you to increase the transmittance. The best optical instruments today have a transmittance of 97 percent.

Binoculars, which are specially adapted for twilight observation, have a lens coating that reflects the rays of that part of the spectrum that our eye does not perceive at dusk (or perceives poorly), but transmits rays that are well perceived by us. It is known that our eye at dusk best perceives the yellow-green part of the spectrum. The lens coating of good binoculars transmits rays from this range and reflects rays from the red and blue regions of the spectrum, so the lenses of such binoculars have a characteristic red-blue or purple reflection.

6. Aperture

Depending on the angle of view and the magnification of the optical device is its luminosity (relative brightness). Aperture determines the brightness of the image obtained on the retina when viewed through an optical device (in our case, through binoculars). Aperture is determined by the ratio of the brightness of the image of an object on the retina when viewed through an optical device to the brightness of the image of the same object on the retina when viewed with the naked eye.

The luminosity of the device is directly proportional to the diameter of its exit pupil. However, it is rather difficult to determine the magnitude of the aperture ratio from the above ratio. Therefore, in practice, the luminosity is denoted by an abstract number - the square of the diameter of the exit pupil. For 6x30 binoculars, the exit pupil will be 5 mm, and aperture, respectively, 25.

As is known, when light rays pass through an optical system, absorption and reflection losses occur, and the brightness of the image decreases. Therefore, when observing through an optical instrument, we see objects less illuminated than they really are. The more complex the optical device, the greater these losses.

To avoid additional losses in illumination Images, it is necessary that during operation the diameter of the exit pupil of the binoculars should not be less than the diameter of the pupil of the eye. The size of the pupil of the human eye varies depending on the illumination. Practice shows that the diameter of a person's pupil is from 2.5-3 mm in bright light, up to 7-8 mm at dusk and darkness.

Aperture, magnification and field of view of binoculars (any optical system in general) are closely related. You cannot change one of these settings without changing the others. Ceteris paribus, an increase in magnification will entail a decrease in the field of view. Increasing the exit pupil with this lens will increase aperture but decrease magnification.

7. Width of field of view

Also in the technical specifications there is such a parameter: the width of the field of view (angle of view), expressed in angular or linear values. For example, the width of the field of view of some 16x40 binoculars is 3° or 105 m by 1000 m. This means that the space observed through this binoculars expands as it moves away from the observer, and at a distance of 1000 m the width of the area visible through the binoculars will be 105 m In other words: if you construct an equilateral triangle whose vertex angle is 3° ( there is an observer), and whose height is 1000 m, then the width of the base of such a triangle will be 105 m.

With the help of geometry, it is possible to convert the angular width of the field of view into a linear one. In general, it is enough to keep in mind that the wider the field of view of your binoculars, the more valuable information you can get and the less time it will take to search for an object that you "spotted" with the naked eye. It should also be remembered that the higher the magnification of the binoculars, the narrower the field of view.

The field of view of binoculars is understood as the angle formed by two imaginary lines drawn from the center of the lens of an optical device to the extreme points of space, the boundaries of which are visible when viewed through the device. However, this is the real field of view. Distinguish between true and ocular field of view.

Unlike the true ocular field of view (apparent field of view) is the angle formed by lines connecting the pupil of the eye with the extreme points of the image built by the optical system in the device. Accordingly, the ocular field of view is larger than the true one in proportion to the magnification of the device. Sometimes both of these characteristics are indicated. If the field of view (true) of 6x binoculars is 100, then the ocular field of view is 600. Often the field of view is indicated not by a degree angle, but by the width of the viewed segment at a certain distance. These values ​​are easily converted from one to another.

8. Focus system

And finally, it is necessary to mention the various focusing systems, because the eyesight of all people is different, and it is required to achieve the sharpest possible “picture”. Most compact binoculars (with a prism roof) are equipped with a central focusing system: one of the eyepieces has a diopter adjustment ring, with which you adapt the binoculars to the features of one of your eyes while closing the other, and then achieve sharp vision with the remaining eye using the drum central focus. As a result, the “picture” then observed by both eyes will be sharp if the difference in “optical characteristics” between your eyes is not too great.

IN binoculars with a Porro prism, separate focusing of the eyepieces is more often used, which allows you to fine-tune each “half” of the binoculars, taking into account the characteristics of your vision. Good binoculars also differ from mediocre ones in their great depth of field. For example, with good binoculars, an object at a distance of 20 m from you and an object at a distance of 300 m will be seen equally sharply. In addition, binoculars are characterized by such a parameter as the minimum focusing distance. So, through 16x binoculars, you can sharply observe objects located no closer than, say, 15 m. The smaller the value of the minimum focusing distance, the more comfortable the observation.

So the focus binocular eyepieces may be central or separate. In the first case, the handwheel common to the two eyepieces is located at the swivel of the pipes, in the second case, the adjustment is made separately by direct rotation of the diopter ring of each eyepiece. Separate focusing is more typical for military binoculars, because. the design becomes simpler and stronger.

Other Important Features of Binoculars

Now let's talk about the performance characteristics of binoculars. The binoculars must have sufficient mechanical strength, that is, to withstand shocks, bumps, falls, which are very likely in the harsh conditions of extreme travel. The body of the binoculars, moreover, should be comfortable so that you can hold them securely, and should not slip out of your hands even in heavy rain. Special article - moisture resistance body and the tendency of lenses to fog from the inside. Separately, you should consider those binoculars, the body of which is 100% waterproof (waterproof).

And so that the lenses do not fog up from the inside during temperature changes and atmospheric humidity, the body of the binoculars is filled with nitrogen under vacuum conditions. Filling the body of binoculars with nitrogen (Nitrogen-filled) indicates its high class, which, however, inevitably affects the price.

Designations on binoculars

Here it is immediately worth dividing all binoculars into Russian and non-Russian, since the designations on them will differ significantly from each other. On Soviet and Russian binoculars, the designations are indicated in Cyrillic. Below are the most common abbreviations:
"B" - binoculars,
"P" - prism binoculars,
"G" - Galileo's binoculars,
"K" - compact binoculars,
"P" - field binoculars,
"T" - theater binoculars,
"C" - sports binoculars,
"B" - high-luminosity,
"B" - high magnification,
"W" - wide-angle,
"C" - central focus,
"F" - internal focusing,
"O" - extended exit pupil.

For example, the abbreviation BPC on binoculars would mean "prism binoculars with central focusing." Russian binoculars the abbreviation consists of three or four letters: the first letter is B (binoculars), the second is the type of binoculars (Galileo - G, or prismatic - P), the third is compact (K) or not, the fourth is the purpose (field, theater, sports) or feature (high aperture, high magnification, wide angle, etc.). At the end of the abbreviation, there may also be a number - the model number of the binoculars (for example, BPC5).

Now consider the abbreviations that are indicated on the binoculars of foreign manufacturers.
l.e. - extended exit pupil;
WA - wide-angle binoculars;
Spot - large depth of field, no focus;
UCFmini - ultra-compact;
UCF V - compact, Porro prisms;
DCF - compact "with a roof";
CF - standard size, Porro prisms;
PCF III - standard binoculars, Porro prisms;
WP - waterproof, up to a depth of 1 m;
PIF - waterproof, 5m deep, filled with dry nitrogen, multilayer coated, separate focusing;
EXPS - binoculars of a high category;
HR - quality;
IF - with distance scale;
BD - with a laser rangefinder;
IS - optical image stabilization;
AF - autofocus;
N - night vision binoculars.

Also, whole words can be written on binoculars, for example ZOOM - variable magnification, as well as, of course, the name of the company (for example, Nikon).

Binoculars for fishing, hunting and tourism

Binoculars for tourism- This is the largest selection of all kinds of models. Often, the buyer, choosing binoculars for tourism, is lost in a variety of options and chooses the binoculars he needs for a long time. This is because almost all binoculars are suitable for tourist purposes. But, as elsewhere, there are several basic parameters on which, we would advise you to focus your attention as much as possible:

overall dimensions binoculars can be any, as well as the security of the case. Here it is not necessary to take sealed and waterproof binoculars, it will be enough to take just a rubberized model. Adequate magnification (you should not take binoculars with a magnification of 30-40-50x on a trip. 10x will be quite enough). Large lens diameter (try to focus on the standard 10x50, where 50 is the diameter of the lens. Such binoculars will let in a lot of light and have a wide field of view).

Hunting. In any hunt, dynamism is important. Therefore, binoculars that are suitable for tourism are completely unsuitable for hunting due to their size. In hunting, dimensions play a huge role, and the smaller they are, the better. Therefore, it is better to choose binoculars with a magnification of 4 to 7 and a lens diameter of 25-40 mm. Here, as in tourism, it is important to have durable rubberized binoculars, but without excesses.

Fishing. If you are going to go fishing or go sailing, then perhaps the only main property that you should worry about in binoculars is moisture protection. Because, splashes will certainly fall on the binoculars, which can get inside and ruin the optical design. Sealed binoculars with moisture protection prevent this. The magnification and diameter of the lens is up to you.

What should you pay special attention to when buying binoculars!

So, you got acquainted with the structure of binoculars, learned about the main technical characteristics of binoculars, decided for what purposes you need binoculars. Now feel free to go to the store! Here are a few tips that you may find useful when buying binoculars.

* buy binoculars only from a reputable manufacturer. Production technology plays a decisive role in the production of binoculars. If a company has been producing telescopes, microscopes and cameras for more than a year, then you can safely buy their binoculars. The choice is so great that you can buy expensive binoculars for professional work and inexpensive binoculars for home use.

* magnification should not be a decisive factor when buying binoculars. Try an experiment. Take two binoculars from the same manufacturer with different magnifications, for example, 7x50 and 12x50 and look at a sheet of text attached 15 meters from you. You can check that 7x50 binoculars make text easier to read, as it lets in more light and has a larger angle of view.

* All people are individual. When working with binoculars feeling of comfort is very important. When buying, be sure to look through binoculars in daylight. If someone from your acquaintances praises a certain brand of binoculars, this does not mean at all that this binoculars will suit you.

* pay attention to the body of the product: it should not be deformed, the painting should be even, and there should be no scratches on the lenses. Remember, the main thing in binoculars is the objective lenses, so you should pay attention to them first of all. If you notice even small scratches or dirt on the lenses, immediately refuse to buy such binoculars. By the way, in order to check the lenses for the presence of any debris, you need to look into it at a light solid background.

* test the binoculars on distant objects. Pay attention to the quality of the image: it should not double, the contours should be clear, colored “auras” are not allowed around objects ( evidence of chromatic aberrations). Also take note of your own feelings. Remember, if you feel any excessive tension in your eyes, then this copy is not worth buying (most likely, the parallelism of the axes is violated in it).

It is not difficult to buy binoculars for hunting now, since the choice is huge, it is difficult to buy the one that suits your needs specifically. Now binoculars are made for different purposes and devices with high magnification will not necessarily be the best. World practice divides them into categories: for hunting, tourism, observation of nature, the night sky, theatrical and farsighted. They differ in magnification, lens diameter (aperture), stability, latitude of the field of view (field of view at 1000 m), reliability, design, etc., so you need to immediately decide what exactly you need binoculars for.

A bit of theory

Among hunting binoculars, the choice will vary depending on the method and place of hunting. So hunting from an ambush differs from running, just like hunting in the steppe, from hunting in the forest.

The main requirements for binoculars for hunting are: impact resistance, water resistance, light weight and dimensions (for running hunting), good field of view, light sensitivity.

As for the multiplicity, for the forest, a 7-8-fold increase will be enough, for the lso-steppe and steppe - 10, for the mountains - a 12-fold increase. Therefore, when analyzing which binoculars to choose for hunting, adhere to the following ratios of magnification and lens size:

• forest, taiga - 7x35, 8x32, 8x35, 8x40;
• open spaces - 10x40, 10x50;
• mountains - 12x50.

What brand and model of binoculars is better to buy - this question can be answered with a simple answer, or a practical one.

Simple answer: Since binoculars have been made for a long time, they have learned to make very high quality and very expensive during this time. The best binoculars, according to most experts, are Swarovski, Carl Zeiss And Leica. Among them you will find excellent optical instruments, though the price of such models will start from 150,000 rubles.

Now let's try to give a practical answer. It will come in handy for people who buy their first binoculars, or a second instead of an unsuccessfully bought first.

For this we present review of budget binoculars for hunting with a price in the region of 6,000 - 10,000 rubles. The rating was compiled taking into account the main parameters of binoculars, the price-quality ratio was recognized as important. When compiling, we took into account domestic and world ratings, top sales, models with good user reviews and special editions. In the top ten, we did not include world-famous brands and models that are poorly represented in our country.

binocular rating

When ranking we took both binoculars with a certain specialization, and quite universal ones. In some cases, we indicated a specific model, in others the name of a line of models, if they match in properties with a small price difference.

10. Olympus 8×40 DPS I

Good binoculars with excellent image for a reasonable price. Suitable not only for forest hunters, but also for travelers, tourists and outdoor enthusiasts . The older “brother” from this line, 10x50 DPS I, has approximately the same advantages and disadvantages, but is larger and the price is slightly less attractive.

• Magnification - 8 times.
• Latitude of the field of view - 143 m.
• Weight - 710 g.
• Dimensions - 182x139x58 mm.

Convenient compact, rubberized case; good value for money; good image sharpness, luminosity and color reproduction.

Not waterproof housing; slight distortion at the edges of the lenses; weak set.

Price: from 4070 to 7300 rubles.

9. KOMZ BPC 10x40

Classic army field glasses. High impact resistance. Excellent optics with good light sensitivity and color reproduction. Will work at dusk and in fog. Judging by the descriptions and reviews, the rest of the binoculars in the line have the same advantages and disadvantages.

• Magnification - 10 times.
• Latitude of the field of view - 114 m.
• Weight - 750 g.
• Dimensions - 180x160x60 mm.

Strength and maintainability; high-quality optics with good clarity and image quality; operating temperature range -40…+50°С.

Small diopter adjustment, very tight and uncomfortable case, poor equipment.

Price from 5300 to 8300 rubles.

8. Yukon 8-24×50

Sufficiently versatile binoculars from the Belarusian manufacturer. It is possible to change the magnification in a fairly wide range. Suitable for hunting in the mountains and in open spaces. Can be used at sea and travel. At long distances, trembling is felt. Quite massive. Comfortable case, good equipment.

• Magnification - 8-24 times.
• The width of the field of view is 70 m.
• Weight - 1100 g.
• Dimensions - 197x217x70 mm.

Comfortable and relatively light body; good image clarity; the possibility of a large increase.

Inconvenient tuning wheel; mixed reviews on strength; not the best light sensitivity.

Price from 7200 to 10900 rubles.

7. Celestron Skymaster 12×60

An unexpected, but worthy representative from the manufacturer of "spacecraft". Binoculars are great for hunting from ambush and observation at long distances. In addition, it allows you to admire the night starry sky. Provides visibility in the most minimal light. It has a very comfortable, albeit somewhat bulky body. According to many foreign publications, one of the best in terms of price offer. This also includes the Sky Master 15×70 model, its advantage in a waterproof case, and the disadvantages in greater weight and dimensions. The price is slightly higher but just as attractive in relation to the parameters.

• Magnification - 15 times.
• Latitude of the field of view - 92 m.
• Weight - 1110 g.
• Dimensions - 210x72x206 mm.

Excellent performance for its price; high aperture and image contrast; comfortable and relatively light body.

There is no protection against moisture; a little big in size.

Price from 8900 to 11200 rubles.

6. Bushnell H2O 8x42 Roof

Probably one of the best choices for fishing and hunting on the water will be these binoculars. The American company Bushnell has been making binoculars for 60 years and does it at a high level. This binoculars has a comfortable, rubberized, shock-resistant, fully waterproof body filled with nitrogen. The latter guarantees against fogging. The binoculars are compact and handy.

• Magnification - 8 times.
• Latitude of the field of view - 123 m.
• Weight - 709 g.
• Dimensions - 175 x 155 x 70 mm.

Full waterproof; convenient, compact shock-resistant case; fog protection; good, contrasting, clear optics.

Not detected.

Price from 9700 to 11500 rubles.

5. BRESSER Hunter 8-24×50

Another fairly versatile binoculars for hunting and active pastime. These are pancratic binoculars from a German manufacturer at a good affordable price. It is quite compact and light for its parameters, with a comfortable body with rubber pads. It has an excellent clear image at a magnification of up to 14, good aperture. There is a central focus, the ability to use glasses.

• Magnification - 8-24 times.
• Latitude of the field of view - 66 m.
• Weight - 826 g.
• Dimensions - 188x197x63 mm.

Good value for money; light, convenient and compact with its optical parameters; high magnification with easy adjustment.

With an increase of more than 14, the clarity of the image begins to float.

Price 6 490 rubles.

4. Pentax 7×50 Marine Blue

Quality binoculars for extreme conditions. Comfortable, rubber impact-resistant, nitrogen-filled waterproof housing. Light-sensitive optics, perfectly seeing at dusk and at dawn, with a good clear picture. There are markings for navigation, it is completed with a compass with illumination and a rangefinder scale.

• Magnification - 7 times.
• Latitude of the field of view - 116 m.
• Weight - 976 g.
• Dimensions - 175x134x62 mm.

Full waterproof; comfortable, impact-resistant case; fog protection; built-in compass, backlight, rangefinder scale; good, bright, contrasting optics.

Not the most humane price.

Price from 12900 to 17000 rubles.

3. Bushnell Falcon Vari Zoom 10-30x50

Another binocular from this manufacturer. This model line has been included by many experts and professional publications in the ratings of not only the best hunting binoculars, but also the best binoculars for their price. Comfortable rubber body. High-quality optics with good luminosity, gives an excellent image even at dusk. Thanks to the magnification capabilities, the binoculars are quite versatile. Convenient adjustment, a system is provided for quickly changing focus to a moving object.

Binoculars is an optical instrument used to observe distant objects. Binoculars consist of two spotting scopes connected together, so that the image is stereoscopic. This makes observation more comfortable and allows you to more accurately assess the size of the object and the distance to it, and since our brain is adapted to process information as efficiently as possible when it comes from both eyes, you can see the object in more detail with binoculars than with a telescope the same multiplicity.

Binoculars, as a rule, consists of an optical part, a housing and a mechanical system. Theatrical, as well as the cheapest binoculars, are made according to the Galileo scheme: their optical system is a combination of a convex light-collecting lens (eyepiece) and a concave divergent lens (objective). These binoculars are quite compact, but their noticeable drawback is a small field of view.

The vast majority of modern binoculars are made according to Kepler's scheme. Such binoculars have converging lenses both in the objective and in the eyepiece, and in order for the resulting image to have the correct orientation, inverting prisms are placed between the lenses of the binoculars.

Lens- part of the optical system that forms the image - can be lens (that is, consist only of lenses), mirror (represent a mirror) or mirror-lens (consist of lenses and mirrors). SLR and SLR binoculars are usually cheaper and lighter than lens binoculars, but noticeably inferior to them in image quality. How bright the image obtained with binoculars will be depends on the size of the lens of its objective, more precisely, its aperture, the inlet limited by the frame. The larger the aperture of the binoculars, the brighter they will be.

Eyepiece- the exit lens of the binoculars - is turned to the eye of the observer. In order for the image to have as little distortion as possible, binocular eyepieces are made of several elements, each of which is made of 1-3 lenses glued together.

For the production of top quality binocular eyepieces, special optical glasses with extra-low dispersion (ED-glasses) are used.

Scheme of binoculars with porro prisms

Mid-range binoculars are often equipped with eyepieces whose lenses contain aspherical elements. These eyepieces help correct some optical aberrations with just one lens. This makes the binoculars cheaper and lighter. Aspherics are not used in extra-class binoculars.

Prism wrapping systems are of two types - Porro (porro) and Roof (roof, otherwise roof-shaped prisms).

In binoculars with porro prisms double Z-shaped prisms are used, as a result of which the optical axis of such binoculars “breaks” and its tubes have a protrusion. Due to the fact that the optical channels of binoculars with Porro prisms are sufficiently widely spaced in space, such binoculars provide a bright image with a good reproduction of the volume of the object of observation.

Binoculars with roof-prisms more compact than binoculars with porro prisms. In them, there is practically no break in the optical axis. Two types of roof prisms are used in modern binoculars: Abbe-König and Schmidt-Pechan. The most common binoculars with Abbe-Koenig prisms. The advantages of binoculars with roof prisms include the fact that, due to the peculiarities of their design, such binoculars are easier to make airtight than binoculars with porro prisms. Roof prism binoculars, however, tend to be more expensive than porro prism binoculars because they are more difficult to manufacture. In addition, binoculars with mid-priced roof prisms tend to have a less bright and less contrast image than binoculars with porro prisms of the same size and same magnification.

Scheme of the passage of a beam of light through a Schmidt-Pehan prism

For the highest quality binoculars, prisms are made of VAK-4 optical glass. Lower priced binoculars may have BK7 glass prisms.

Phase Correction Coating only applies to binoculars with roof prisms (binoculars with porro prisms do not need them). As a result of multiple internal reflections of the light beam occurring inside the roof prisms, the light is partially polarized. An angle occurs between the polarization vectors, called the phase shift angle. Subsequently, when these two vectors are added together, the resulting image is less bright and less contrast than Porro prism binoculars. The phase-correcting coating helps to preserve the brightness and contrast of the image and its correct color reproduction.

The amount of light brought to the eye by binoculars depends on the features antireflection coating his optics. If the optics of the binoculars did not have an antireflection coating, then about 10% of the light would be reflected from any glass / air surface.

Single coat reduces light loss by up to 4%.

Multi-layer coating helps to reduce them to 0.25% for each lens and even more. The best binoculars have a light transmission of 95-97%.

It is very important that the binoculars have a sufficiently large exit pupil. exit pupil is the diameter of the light beam entering the observer's eye. The size of the exit pupil is determined by the ratio of the binocular aperture, expressed in mm, to its magnification. If the exit pupil of the binoculars is small (3-4 mm), then it will be possible to observe with the help of such binoculars only during the day. At dusk, the amount of light coming out of it will be insufficient, and the image will turn out very dark. If you intend to observe in low light conditions, it is better to choose binoculars with an exit pupil of 7-8 mm. If the exit pupil of the binoculars is larger than this value, some of the light will be wasted.

Magnification (magnification) of binoculars- a value that shows how many times a given binoculars magnifies the image of an object compared to how it would be visible to the naked eye. As a rule, binoculars with a magnification of 10-12x are enough to conduct full-fledged observations of the Moon. Moreover, for observations with the help of such binoculars, the observer does not need a tripod, since the image will be stable. If the magnification of the binoculars exceeds this value, then its image will “jump”. Its stability is affected by a seemingly imperceptible trembling in the hands of the observer. Therefore, binoculars with a magnification of 16x and above are recommended to be used only with a tripod. You should also take into account the fact that with increasing magnification, the field of view of binoculars decreases, that is, only a narrow sector of space is visible through binoculars with high magnification. High magnification binoculars, as a rule, are intended for astronomical observations. They have a large aperture (60-120 mm) and weigh over 3 kg. Therefore, it is often simply impossible to hold them in your hands for a more or less long time.

Astronomical binoculars Miyauchi 26x100 "Galaxy" Bj-iCE APO

In addition to binoculars with constant magnification, there are binoculars with variable magnification (pancratic binoculars). Their magnification can vary from 7x to 35x and even from 10x to 60x. As attractive as the idea of ​​replacing several binoculars with one may seem, it is worth thinking carefully before buying such binoculars. Pancratic binoculars are quite difficult to manufacture. The image obtained with their help is always inferior in quality to the image obtained with binoculars with a constant magnification. It can be difficult for a manufacturer to make sure that when changing the magnification, the beams of light in both channels of the binoculars remain parallel, the image does not rotate around its axis, etc. And a large number of moving mechanical parts make these binoculars less reliable than fixed magnification binoculars.

Source - http://www.profoptic.ru/articles/?id=53

In this section you will find practical information to help you choose binoculars from the variety available on the Russian market. We did not set ourselves the goal of copying Wikipedia and giving general information of an encyclopedic nature, on the contrary, we tried to systematize our experience and the scattered data that can be found on the net.

The main characteristics of binoculars:

Typically, the name of the binoculars contains 2 or 3 numbers indicating the diameter of the lens and the magnification.
For example, Nikon Aculon 10x50 means binoculars with a magnification of 10x and a diameter of 50 mm.
Or Nikon Aculon 8-18x42 - means a variable magnification from 8x to 18x and a lens diameter of 42 mm.

Common mistakes when choosing binoculars

• The higher the multiplier, the better.
  This is far from being the case and depends on how and under what conditions the binoculars will be used, as well as on its aperture (lens diameter).
  If you want to make panoramic observations in the field or from a window, then you should not take binoculars with a magnification of more than 12x. Otherwise, the binoculars will give a small field of view, and they will most likely have to be mounted on a tripod.
  For binoculars with an aperture of less than 40, we recommend choosing a magnification of no more than 10x. Otherwise, the image may appear dark to you.
• Chinese binoculars are all poor quality
  Once upon a time this may have been true, but now such well-known manufacturers as Nikon and Zeiss are moving their production to China. And even lesser-known manufacturers have a line of extra-class binoculars made in China.
• The more expensive the binoculars, the better they are
  To simplify too much, it is. The expensive Zeiss is much better than the cheap Veber. But if we compare models from different manufacturers, but of the same class (by type of optical glass, enlightenment, moisture protection), you can see that prices can differ significantly. Often it's all about marketing, or brand awareness. For example, Levenhuk (a relatively expensive brand) gives a lifetime warranty on its binoculars, but this does not mean that these binoculars are better than other Chinese counterparts.

FAQ

• I want to buy binoculars. What do you recommend?
  Depends on the budget of the purchase and the purpose of use. Of course, budget models are less preferred in terms of quality and functionality, but you can find suitable binoculars in every price segment. There are no universal binoculars for all occasions, and you will need to decide on your goals before buying.
• What manufacturer would you recommend?
  We recommend Nikon - these binoculars combine high quality and value for money. However, in our assortment, not only this brand is worthy of attention, but also other manufacturers represented by us.
Are zoom binoculars perfect?
The idea to buy a device with a variable magnification (zoom binoculars), of course, is obvious. But we must remember that due to the design, the device is not hermetic (it can fog up or “catch” water), and in terms of quality, such an object will show a picture of worse quality than binoculars with a fixed magnification.
• What does the name binoculars mean? For the convenience of the buyer, the binocular manufacturer, the name of the line (budget, hunting, theatrical, etc.) and the magnification of the binoculars and its aperture (lens diameter) are included in the name.
  The magnification and aperture indicators are what determine the image in binoculars, its distinguishability and quality. The first digit in the binocular model is the magnification, the value of the magnification of the desired object. The second number is aperture.
  The higher the magnification, the larger the object, but the field of view decreases accordingly, and the image becomes darker. The larger the aperture, the more light will enter the telescope, the image will be brighter, but a larger aperture will increase the size of the binoculars.
  There are binoculars with variable magnification, it is usually indicated in the name by numbers through a hyphen.
• Why do binoculars have different shapes?
  It depends on the type of prisms used. Some (porro prisms) are machined from a single piece of optical glass, and the contours of the binoculars follow the complex shape of the prism, so some binoculars have a “step” between the lens and the eyepiece. Others use a roof prism, which is more compact.
  If we talk about the image quality of different types of prisms, then the porro prisms are considered the best, although in modern roof prisms there is practically no loss of quality due to special processing.
• What is the best binocular magnification?
  The magnification of binoculars is always associated with expediency and range of applications.
  It is possible to create theatrical binoculars with exceptionally high magnification - up to 20 times, but this will automatically give a small field of view and the ability to examine the performers' costumes that are insignificant from the point of view of the plot.
  Usually, manufacturers themselves calculate the parameters necessary for various needs, among which you can already choose the desired range of multiplicity. But not only the multiplicity should be paid attention to - the aperture is very important, on which the illumination of the image depends.
• How to choose binoculars?
  Decide on the budget and purpose of use, the manufacturer continue to consider acceptable magnification (preferably in comparison) and illumination, paying attention to the necessary parameters - moisture protection (for use in bad weather), gas filling (lenses will not fog up), tightness (moisture or dust will not get into ), dimensions (they are affected by the type of prism).
• Nikon Action EX 10x50 CF and Nikon Aculon A211 10x50. What is the difference?
  The magnification and aperture of these binoculars are identical, and the dimensions differ very slightly. It can be seen that one model is twice as expensive as the other.
  In more expensive binoculars, there is also a gas filling of the pipes - this prevents the lenses from fogging.
  Also, in more expensive binoculars, the field of view is somewhat larger, and rubber as the material of the eyecups is more convenient if you look into the device for a long time.
• Which binoculars "give" a brighter picture?
  If you are guided primarily by the ability of the device to collect light, you need to pay attention to the diameter of the lens (aperture) and the coating of optical parts.
  The larger the aperture, the more light the binoculars will collect. But if you choose between coating options, preferably FMC - full multilayer coating of all optical elements.
• Why do you need a binocular bracket?
  Large binoculars are difficult to use without a tripod bracket: hands get tired, the image may begin to “shake”. The bracket will take the load and transfer it to the tripod.
  Mainly such support is needed for large astronomical models, marine binoculars.
• What binocular accessories can I buy?
  The main parts that you may need are usually already included in the kit. This is a strap for carrying the device on the chest, a case for safe transportation, a bracket (if necessary). There is no tripod included with the binoculars.

Main criteria when choosing binoculars

Lens diameter (aperture) is the most important characteristic of an optical device. Affects the aperture ratio, resolution, viewing angle, dimensions of the binoculars.
Field of view at a distance of 1000 m is the distance from the extreme right to the extreme left point of the region visible through binoculars.
Multiplicity (increase) How many times does the binoculars magnify the visible image? The higher the magnification, the larger the object, but the smaller the field of view and the aperture ratio of the binoculars (the picture is darker at high magnification). A more versatile option is variable power binoculars, but this versatility comes at the expense of image quality.
Prism system- serves to obtain a direct image when viewed through binoculars. Without prisms, the observer would see a mirror image. Prisms are Porro or Roof and affect the appearance and dimensions of the binoculars. The design of Porro prisms is more bulky, but since the prism consists of a single piece of optical glass, it does not incur additional light loss. Roof prisms are more compact, but they are glued together from two optical glass elements and create additional light loss. To correct this effect, in advanced models of binoculars, a special phase-correcting layer is applied between the elements.
Type of optical glass prisms: BK7 (Borosilicate Crown) is an inexpensive glass used in basic binoculars. BaK4 (barium crown) is a glass with a high refractive index, which results in less light scattering at the edges of the field of view.

What are binoculars for?

Binoculars for hunting
Binoculars with aperture from 35 to 50 mm and magnification from 7x to 16x. Preferably in a sealed and nitrogen-filled case, this will provide protection from adverse weather conditions.

Universal Zoom binoculars (for observations in the city and in nature)
Binoculars with variable magnification. The aperture and range of magnifications can be completely different, depending on the dimensions of the binoculars. Variable magnification makes it possible to use binoculars both for panoramic observations and for studying small details of a distant object. But this versatility also has a downside. The image quality in such binoculars is usually worse compared to the analogue of constant magnification.

Compact binoculars (for tourism and hiking)
Binoculars with aperture from 20 to 30 mm and magnification from 7x to 12x. Their main advantages are light weight and small dimensions. On the other hand, the small aperture makes these binoculars quite dark and limits their field of view.

theater binoculars
Theatrical binoculars are made according to the optical scheme of Galileo (there are no turning prisms). Such a scheme gives compactness, but at the same time, a sharp deterioration in the picture at a multiplicity of more than 4x.

Astronomical binoculars
Large and heavy binoculars with apertures from 60 mm and magnification from 20x. Used to observe celestial objects. Due to its weight and dimensions, tripod mounting is required.

marine binoculars
These are waterproof binoculars that should provide maximum image brightness even in low light conditions. Usually the best option in this case is 7x50 binoculars. There are also so-called float binoculars. Often marine binoculars are equipped with a built-in compass.

Binoculars are a compact observation device consisting of two identical optical channels, each of which contains a lens, a turning system and an eyepiece, structurally designed in the form of two hingedly connected tubes - monoculars. Binoculars are used to observe distant objects with both eyes. The most common types of binoculars at present are prism binoculars, in which the image is flipped using a prism system. The two main prismatic systems are Porro prisms and Roof prisms.

The presence of two optical channels preserves the three-dimensional spatial vision of a person or the stereoscopic effect, that is, it provides the ability to feel not only the height, width, but also the depth of the space perceived by vision, or, in other words, retains the ability to evaluate the size, volume, spatial arrangement of objects based on direct visual sensation , space relief.

Binoculars on a hike, on a trip or on a country walk can be very useful. With it, you can see what attracted attention from afar, without approaching. And thereby save yourself, on occasion, from an extra path or wandering, and even from an extra meeting. This is the main task assigned to field binoculars and determining its properties.

In other words, the practical task set by a person who is in the field and brings an optical device to his eyes is to recognize a distant object. And do not admire it at all or see it as large as possible. Therefore, the usual increase(magnification) binoculars intended for field observations - 6-8 times. Sometimes a higher magnification is needed. But at the same time, it must be taken into account that 8-10x magnification is a practical limit, after which observation from the hand becomes almost impossible due to jitter, the value of which is proportionally enhanced by the optics, in addition to a reduced field of view. Binoculars with high magnification (15-20x) show their positive aspects when viewed from a tripod. To do this, special adapters are available that allow you to mount the binoculars on a tripod. In addition, the weight and dimensions of powerful binoculars are very significant, and they are not suitable for long-term wear. There are also binoculars. variable multiplicity(zoom), also called pancratic. In them, the degree of magnification can smoothly change, as in zoomed lenses of photo and video cameras. The device of such binoculars, of course, is more complicated than usual.

The next important characteristic is lens diameter(entrance pupil) binoculars (mm). These two parameters, as a rule, set the characteristics of binoculars in the most general form, for example: 6x35 means a magnification of 6x, the lens - 35 mm. Since the binocular aperture parameter is related to the diameter of the lens, when choosing the diameter, it is necessary to decide in what light conditions you will mainly use the binoculars. In low light, the lens diameter should be larger. On the other hand, a lower magnification factor makes it possible to observe at lower illumination with the same lens size: 7x50 binoculars have better illumination than 10x50 binoculars.

Universal for use in field conditions, hunting, etc. are binoculars with parameters 6x30, 7x35, 8x40. If you want to observe very distant objects in the daytime, binoculars with 8-10x magnification and a lens diameter of 30-40 should be preferred. If the observation will take place at reduced illumination, at dusk or at dawn, then you need to choose a larger diameter, and, possibly, give up the increase, stopping at the ratios 6x42, 7x42, 7x50.

Exit pupil size binoculars is defined as the ratio of its diameter to the magnification, say, for 6x30 binoculars it is 30:6 = 5. The optimal ratio is considered to be close to the diameter of the pupil of the human eye (7 mm).

Another important physical characteristic of binoculars is field(or angle) vision. It is usually set in degrees and determines the width of coverage of the given visual device. Note that this value is related by an inverse proportion to magnification: the more powerful the binoculars, the smaller its field of view. Binoculars with a large field - wide-field or wide-angle.

Depth of field- the range of distances to the target, in which it is not necessary to change the adjusted focus. It is not indicated in the parameters of the binoculars as an indicator, but it is important to consider that it decreases with increasing magnification of the binoculars.

The universal method of focusing is central, it allows you to quickly bring the binoculars into focus, observing, for example, a moving object. However, binoculars separate focusing are more reliable. In addition, they provide better conditions for people who have significantly different levels of vision in the eyes. Some of these binoculars have divisions for focusing in accordance with the level of vision: so that a person, knowing the diopter of his eyes, can immediately adjust the eyepieces. Center focusing binoculars sometimes have an eyepiece adjustment mechanism to adjust for different eye diopters.

Exit pupil removal- the distance to the eyepiece at which the binoculars can be focused. With a distance of 18-20 mm, you can observe with glasses or, for example, in a gas mask. For ordinary binoculars, this distance is 10-12 mm. Binoculars with eye relief can also be used without glasses: the eyepieces are "extended" with soft plastic rings.

So, you have decided to choose binoculars. Where to begin? It all depends on your future plans. If you are going to take it with you on a hike, hunting, expedition, role-playing game or orienteering competition - you need field glasses, but sports binoculars may also be suitable.

Sports binoculars can be a good gift for a teenager. If you like extreme sports or go to a friend's or boss's birthday and want to show that you think he is a really cool man, night vision binoculars will come in handy for you. A gift to your beloved mother-in-law is theater binoculars. If you are a ship owner or are fond of astronomy, then you will probably need binoculars with powerful magnification.

What are the characteristics of these models?

The defining property of binoculars is magnification (multiplicity). This is the ratio of the size of an object as seen by binoculars to its size as seen by the naked eye. This characteristic of modern binoculars is in the range from 3x magnification (theatrical binoculars) to 22x (heavy powerful binoculars are usually used with a tripod).

By magnification, binoculars can be divided into groups:

low magnification (2-4 times)
medium magnification (5-8 times)
high magnification (10-22 times).
Let's add right away that chasing magnification at the expense of other characteristics of binoculars is about the same delusion as wanting the maximum number of megapixels from a digital camera: first you need to understand what magnification is required for your specific tasks.

Most binoculars in the mid-price range fall into the mid-range range. It is quite enough for a tourist, hunter or sportsman. Inexpensive sports binoculars have 4-5 times magnification. Binoculars with a magnification of 7-10 are considered good. It should be noted that a 10x magnification is the maximum at which it is possible to use binoculars while holding them in your hands. At higher magnifications, image vibration increases so much that a tripod or built-in image stabilizer is required. By the way, the weight of powerful binoculars is such that no one will probably want to hold them in their hands for a long time: 1.5-2 kg, or even more. When buying powerful binoculars, you should pay attention to whether it has a threaded hole for mounting on a tripod.

There are binoculars with adjustable magnification (with "zoom"), but they are more complex and, as a result, more expensive. In addition, these binoculars are capricious in handling. Note that fixed magnification binoculars are better than zoom analogs in terms of their optical characteristics, since it is not possible to provide high image quality at all magnifications.

The next important characteristic is the diameter of the lens (entrance pupil) of the binoculars (mm). These two parameters, as a rule, set the characteristics of binoculars in the most general form, for example: 6 × 35 means a magnification of 6x, the lens is 35 mm. Since the binocular aperture parameter is related to the diameter of the lens, when choosing the diameter, it is necessary to decide in what light conditions you will mainly use the binoculars. In low light, the lens diameter should be larger. On the other hand, a smaller magnification allows observing at lower illumination with the same lens size: 7x50 binoculars have better illumination than 10x50 binoculars.

Universal for use in field conditions, hunting, etc. are binoculars with parameters 6×30, 7×35, 8×40. If you want to observe very distant objects in the daytime, binoculars with 8-10x magnification and a lens diameter of 30-40 should be preferred. If the observation will take place at reduced illumination, at dusk or at dawn, then you need to choose a larger diameter, and, possibly, give up the increase, stopping at the ratios 6 × 42, 7 × 42, 7 × 50.

The value of the exit pupil of binoculars is defined as the ratio of its diameter to the magnification, say, for 6 × 30 binoculars it is 30:6 = 5. The optimal ratio is considered to be close to the diameter of the pupil of the human eye (7 mm).

Another important physical characteristic of binoculars is the field (or angle) of view. It is usually set in degrees and determines the width of coverage of the given visual device. Note that this value is related by an inverse proportion to magnification: the more powerful the binoculars, the smaller its field of view. Binoculars with a large field - wide-field or wide-angle.

Depth of field - the range of distances to the target, in which it is not necessary to change the adjusted focus. It is not indicated in the parameters of the binoculars as an indicator, but it is important to consider that it decreases with increasing magnification of the binoculars.

The three-dimensionality of the image (also called stereoscopicity or plasticity) is provided by the periscopicity of binoculars - a property in which the lenses (outlets) of the binoculars are separated wider than the eyepieces (inlets). Stereoscopicity is considered a plus, for example, in the field. In the theater, on the contrary, it interferes with the perception of what is happening on the stage, so the theater binoculars are designed so that the distance between its lenses is equal to the distance between the eyepieces.

Turning system device

According to the internal structure, binoculars are divided into binoculars with a prism and lens turning system, but the latter is practically not used in modern binoculars, since it requires a longer telescope. The most commonly used prism turning system, proposed by the French optician Porro.

In addition, modern binoculars often use inverting systems with special prisms that have a "roof", that is, two faces located at right angles to each other and similar to a gable roof.

Focusing

The universal way of focusing is the central one, it allows you to quickly bring the binoculars into focus, observing, for example, a moving object. However, binoculars with split focus are more reliable. In addition, they provide better conditions for people who have significantly different levels of vision in the eyes. Some of these binoculars have divisions for focusing in accordance with the level of vision: so that a person, knowing the diopter of his eyes, can immediately adjust the eyepieces. Center focusing binoculars sometimes have an eyepiece adjustment mechanism to adjust for different eye diopters.

There are also focus free and autofocus binoculars, which, as a rule, provide not very high image quality, but are convenient for situations in which a long adjustment is not possible, for example, for firefighters or rescuers, as well as for observing a rapidly moving object.

Exit pupil removal- the distance to the eyepiece at which the binoculars can be focused. With a distance of 18-20 mm, you can observe with glasses or, for example, in a gas mask. For ordinary binoculars, this distance is 10-12 mm. Binoculars with eye relief can be used without glasses: the eyepieces are “extended” with soft plastic rings.

Night vision - night vision binoculars form a separate group of devices using infrared radiation. An additional important characteristic for them is the time of continuous operation of the power source. It is essential to have IR illumination for working in extremely dark conditions, as well as a protection system in case of accidental activation in bright light.