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How to Select Binocular Power

Article Summary: The first step in picking out a pair of binoculars is determining the power you should get. This article will help you in choosing the binocular power that works best for your needs.

The most important step in picking out a pair of binoculars is determining the power you need. Binocular power is described by two numbers, as in these examples: 6x30, 7x50, 8x26, 10x42, and 12x60. The two numbers are not directly connected; the first refers to the magnification and the second refers to the diameter of the objective lens.

-- Magnification --

The first number, which is invariably the smaller of the two, corresponds to the amount of magnification that the binoculars allow for. This is an indication of how much closer the observed image will appear when observed with the binoculars. While bigger sounds favorable, that's not always the situation with binoculars. Picking the optimal magnification will vary depending on your planned usage.

Lower magnification binoculars, 7x and lower, allow for a wider field of view which can make spotting objects far away—like ships, birds, or other animals—easier. A bigger field of view also makes it easier to track movement of the object being observed. Since they let you see more of the scene, they collect more light. As a result, the image will usually be brighter and easier to see even though the scene is not as greatly magnified. Due to the lower magnification, they are also less affected by movement or vibration. If you are going to be in the wild making use of your binoculars without a tripod, this can be a critical consideration. Lastly, lower magnification binoculars can usually focus on objects that are closer by than comparable higher magnification binoculars.

But of course, lower magnification binoculars allow for less magnification, and consequently reduced detail when compared to higher magnification models. If you actually need high magnification binoculars, typically 11x and higher, for your application, be certain that you also buy a tripod or get a model with image stabilization. The higher the magnification, the more affected the binoculars are to vibration and movement. Once you starting thinking about 10x magnification binoculars, they will be nearly insufferable to use without a tripod or an image stabilization system. Higher magnification binoculars are also almost always heavy. If you plan on using them for an extended length of time, a tripod will be a better choice than binoculars with image stabilization.

As for cost, it's probably not surprising that higher magnification binoculars tend to be more expensive than equivalent lower magnification models. Unless you have special needs or uses intended for your binoculars, a reasonable middle-of-the-road magnification amount is 8x. Binoculars at this amount of magnification offer a reasonable trade-off of magnification while still providing reasonable cost, good brightness, and low weight.

-- Objective Lens Size --

The second number in the power represents the diameter of the objective lens in millimeters (mm). The objective lens is the lens on the front of the binoculars, away from your eye. Larger objective lenses usually indicate binoculars that are larger overall in size.

Binoculars with objective lens sizes of 30 mm and smaller are most often found on pocket and compact models. While compact and pocket binoculars tend to be lighter and easier to carry, the downside to reduced lens size is that the smaller lenses let in less light. This can make images darker and harder to see. If you plan on using your binoculars at nighttime, binoculars with smaller objective lenses will not be a good choice.

If nighttime use, or brightness is important, objective lenses that are 50 mm or larger will work best for you. However, these binoculars will almost always be large and heavy. If you intend to use binoculars that have large objective lenses, you will want to have a tripod available, regardless of the magnification level.

The most common objective lens sizes used are between 35 and 50 mm. Since the magnification level also has an effect on the brightness of the image (higher magnification will be darker), the objective lens sizes tend to increase as magnification increases to compensate for the lost brightness. For a good general rule, look for binoculars that have an objective lens diameter that is at least 5 times larger than the level of magnification. For example, 6x30, 9x45, 12x60, etc. While there are some binocular manufacturers with exceedingly good optics that will provide good brightness at a ratio under 5, the surest thing is to stay at or above this ratio for adequate brightness.

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About the Author:
Buster Carnelli
Buster is a long-time bird watcher. You can view his bird watching binocular rankings at binocular-rankings.com.