Binoculars are designed to help you see distant objects more clearly. However, understanding how they work can be puzzling. However, comprehending what goes on inside your binoculars can help you pick the right set for your viewing needs.
If you’re in the market for a new set of binoculars, knowing what your options are can help you find the perfect pair. We’ve broken down the options for you to help you better grasp what each type of binoculars do best.
Table of Contents
Common Types of Binoculars
The easiest way to categorize binoculars is by the type of prism they use. Unlike a telescope, which uses a series of lenses to magnify distant objects, binoculars use prisms.
Why Binoculars Use Prisms
Prisms are the internal optical pieces that direct light from the image through the binoculars and toward your eyes.
Using a prism shortens the optical path, keeping binoculars compact and easy to transport. The prism also turns the image right-side-up. Without an internal prism, everything would appear topsy-turvy when you look through the optic.
Porro Prism Binoculars
Porro prisms are the more traditional type of binoculars. Named after the 19th-century Italian optician who invented them, Porro prism binoculars were the first modern binocular design. Still in use today, Porro prism binoculars send light in a zigzag pattern through a pair of triangular prisms.
Binoculars that use Porro prisms are wide, with objective lenses that are offset from the eyes. The design enhances image brightness and depth perception. It also provides a wide field of view.
The drawback to Porro prism binoculars is that they are bigger and heavier than other types of binoculars.
Advantages:
- More affordable.
- Better depth perception.
- Brighter image.
- Wider field of view.
Disadvantages:
- Bulky, heavy design.
What it’s used for:
Astronomy, concerts, stargazing, sporting events.
Roof Prism Binoculars
First appearing in the late 1800s, binoculars made with roof prisms are narrower, more compact, and easier to hold than Porro prism binos. Resembling the letter “H”, roof prism binoculars have objective lenses that line up with the optic’s eyepieces.
Roof prism binos require tighter tolerances for alignment, which adds to the expense. However, the design allows for higher magnification power. What the user gains in portability, ergonomics, and magnification power, costs them in other areas. Roof prism binos tend to have narrower fields of view. Depth perception and brightness can also suffer.
Advantages:
- More magnification power.
- Compact.
- Lightweight.
- Ergonomic.
Disadvantages:
- More expensive.
- Narrow field of view.
- Less image depth.
What it’s used for:
Birdwatching, hiking, hunting, safari, travel,
Monoculars
Modern monoculars may resemble old-fashioned telescopes, but they use an optical prism instead of relay lenses. This design provides magnification in a more compact, lightweight package than a magnifying telescope.
Although monoculars have similar optical qualities to modern binoculars, they are more portable and much less expensive.
Because monoculars use a single tube design, the image viewed is two-dimensional, making them best suited for applications where depth perception isn’t essential. Because using a monocular requires you to keep one eye closed, prolonged use can lead to serious eye strain. They can also benefit users with visual impairments like astigmatism, cataracts, or corneal ulceration.
Advantages:
- Inexpensive.
- Compact, lightweight design.
- Useful for viewers with visual impairments.
Disadvantages:
- Two-dimensional image.
- Narrow field of view.
- Eye fatigue.
What it’s used for:
Travel, hunting, spotting birds or wildlife.
Special Types of Binoculars
Marine Binoculars
Designed for boating, marine binoculars feature a corrosion-resistant housing that helps them endure saltwater environments. Many models will float, making them easy to retrieve if they happen to get tossed overboard. Marine binos with a brightly colored housing are also easier to spot as they bob among the waves.
High-end marine binos often feature integrated compasses, rangefinders, and image stabilization. Image stabilization helps reduce image shake so you can enjoy a steady image, even when the boat is jostling in rough water.
Advantages:
- Waterproof.
- Buoyant.
- Corrosion-resistant.
- May include special features like a compass, rangefinder, or image stabilization.
Disadvantages:
- Expensive.
What it’s used for:
Boating, fishing, whale watching.
Night Vision Binoculars
Night vision binoculars are electronic devices that allow you to see better in the dark. They use a combination of analog and digital technology to enhance the available light in your surroundings. Usually, the images are displayed on an LCD screen.
Digital night vision binos can also be used during the day, but most do not offer significant magnification. Binos that use traditional night vision can only be used in dark or low light conditions.
Advantages:
- Allow you to see in the dark.
Disadvantages:
- Expensive.
- Many models cannot be used during the day.
- Minimal magnification.
What it’s used for:
Hunting, security, surveillance.
Opera Glasses
Although they have a similar appearance, opera glasses (also known as theater glasses) use a simpler internal design than binoculars. Employing a Galilean optical system, opera glasses are basically two lenses placed one in front of the other.
The simplicity of the design makes them very affordable and ultra-compact. It also minimizes eye strain, allowing for longer magnified viewing. However, the optical clarity is less than stellar. Because of their design, opera glasses rarely offer more than 5x magnification. If you want a crisp, razor-sharp image of objects at a distance, binoculars are definitely the better option.
Advantages:
- Compact.
- Affordable.
- Stylish.
- Less eye fatigue.
Disadvantages:
- Poor image clarity.
- Low magnification.
What it’s used for:
Opera, theater, concerts, sporting events.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the types of binoculars on the market today is just one step in finding the right set for you. You’ll also need to consider magnification, clarity, brightness, and field of view.
The best way to tell if a pair of binos will meet your needs is to give them a good hands-on test drive.
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