What Do The Numbers In Binoculars Mean?

What binoculars are made of and how they work are explained.

If you want to buy a pair of binoculars, you’ll find many choices, even for the same model. These models have different numbers, like 10×42 ,30×60, 10×50, 15×56. Why do binoculars have numbers on them? By the end of this article, you’ll know everything there is to know about binoculars and how they work, so you can choose the right ones for you.

Introduction to Binocular anatomy 

What a binocular is made of. Lover of Backyard Birds Backyard Bird Lover Binocular Anatomy

The three main parts of a pair of binoculars are the objective lens, the prisms, and the ocular lens. The middle of the lenses in a pair of binoculars is thicker than the edges, which bends light toward the middle. These lenses are called “convergent” because the light comes together in the middle. Because they bend light, they make things look bigger when you look at them through them. Magnifying glasses have the same shape as a lens. If you put two lenses that point in the same direction on either end of a tube, you can make a simple telescope. These two lenses are called the objective lens and the ocular lens. You can learn more about them in the “What do the numbers on binoculars mean?” section. But as you look through it, you’ll see that the picture you see is backward. This problem can be fixed with prisms that turn the image around. Binoculars are just two of these telescopes put together. The main advantage of binoculars over monoculars is that they let us see more. This is because they have two tubes instead of just one.

Here are some other things you should know about binoculars.

Focus Ring

The focus ring is in the middle of the two barrels. When you turn this ring, things come into focus. You’ll need to change the focus when looking at things at different distances.

Eye Cups

The eye cups are on the end of the binoculars that you look through. If you don’t wear glasses, open the eye cups. If you do wear glasses, keep them closed.

Diopter Adjustment

The diopter is a ring that can be moved. It is usually near the right eyecup. The diopter adjustment makes up for your eyes seeing things differently. To set your diopter, put your hand over the right barrel and turn the focus wheel until you can see clearly out of your left eye. Then put your left barrel in the cover. If the image you see with your right eye isn’t clear, you can change the diopter until the image is clear. The diopter has been set.

Tripod Diopter Adjustment

A threaded insert is on the front of the binocular’s hinge, where a tripod adapter can screw in. Most of the time, these are covered, but you can check your owner’s manual. The tripod adapter lets you put your binoculars on a tripod head to look through them steadily.

What Does It Mean When Binoculars Have Numbers?

The most common way to describe binoculars is by their power times the diameter of the objective lens. 

Why do binoculars have numbers on them?

The numbers on binoculars show how powerful they are and how big the main lens is. For example, the 10×42 is one of the most common magnification combinations and objective sizes (spoken as 10-by-42). The magnification is 10x in 10×42. When you look at something through a pair of binoculars, it will look closer the higher the magnification. For example, if you want a pair of binoculars to see small things far away, a 15-power would be better than an eight-power. If you want to see a larger area or field of view, choose a lower power, like an eight-power. The size of the objective lens is the second number. A bigger objective lens lets in more light, making the camera bigger and heavier. For instance, a 10X56 will work better in low light than a 10X42 but will also be bigger and heavier.

Eye Relief

How far away the eye cups are from your eyes? This detail is especially important for people who wear glasses. If you wear glasses, a bigger eye relief will be more forgiving and let you 

see the whole field of view without any dark spots.

Field of View

When you look through binoculars, the field of view is how much area you can see at once. Most of the time, this is given in terms of how much area you can see from a certain distance. For example, 1000 yards is 315 feet. You can also talk about the angle of the field of view, which can help you figure out how much of an area you can see from different distances.

Close Focus

If you want to look at things close up and far away, close focus is an important feature. It tells you how close you can get to something and still see it.

A tripod with binoculars on it.

Using a tripod to hold a pair of binoculars. 

Tips on How to Buy Binoculars

Think about how you’ll use a pair of binoculars before you buy them. Will you use them at night and in the morning? Will they be used in thick woods or on open land? Do you need to see small details, such as whether a deer is a doe or a button buck? Are you holding them in your hands? You can choose the best binoculars based on these things and how much money you have. In addition, read our guide about how what to look for when buying compact binoculars.

First, let’s figure out what your best power and goal are. An eight-power is for you if you want to hunt whitetails in the woods, want the widest field of view, or need light and small binoculars. If you want a versatile set of binoculars that you can use to look at whitetails one day and mule deer the next, get a set with ten power. If you mostly want binoculars that you can put on a tripod and use to look into basins or judge antlers, a 12 or 15-power is what you need. How big of an objective lens you choose will depend on how much weight and size you can handle. For example, a pair of Vortex Razor HD 10×42 binoculars weighs 24.8 ounces. The 10×50 Razor HD weighs 28.1 ounces and is an inch longer than the 10×42.

Prices for binoculars range from $30 to more than $3,000, and usually, you get what you pay for. No magic pair of $100 binoculars is just as good as a pair that costs $2,000. But how much you need to spend on performance will determine how much you need to spend. If you spend hours looking through your binoculars and need them to work well in low light, it’s probably best to save up for the best glass you can afford. If you don’t care as much about seeing fine details, there are a lot of good binoculars that don’t cost a lot but do a lot for the price. When you make your final choice, remember that different companies use different coatings that won’t look good on everyone. That’s why, in the end, all you have to do is look. Get a few different binoculars and look through them to see which ones give you the best view.

People Also Ask:

What magnification should I get for my binoculars?

You can’t go wrong with 10×42 binoculars because they have a good field of view and magnification. The most common binoculars that can be used for more than one thing are eight-power and ten-power binoculars. With these magnification levels, users can get a wide field of view, good light gathering, and useful magnification in a light package. When you look through binoculars with a magnification of more than 12 power, small movements are magnified, making it hard to use them by hand. High-powered binoculars like these can be used to look at things far away in open country, but they usually need to be used with a tripod.

Why do good binoculars cost a lot of money?

The performance of cheap optics is improving, but you need good glass, prisms, and coatings to get the best clarity and performance in low light. The cost of making these parts and checking their quality is high. The price of binoculars is based on how much these parts cost and how much it costs to make them.

What are the pros of spending a lot of money on binoculars?

Binoculars that cost money have better optical clarity and can see clearly at dusk and dawn. This lets the user see more detail in different kinds of light. Good binoculars also help your eyes feel less tired. Cheap binoculars can give you headaches and eye strain if you use them for a long time, but good binoculars are much better for your eyes.

You’ll wonder how you got along without them as soon as you get a pair of binoculars. A good pair of binoculars can help you see animals you would never have seen without them. You can also use them every day, like at a sports game. Use what you’ve learned in this article and the many binocular reviews in Outdoor Life to decide what to buy.

When you think about how binoculars are supposed to make your outdoor experiences clearer, it’s surprising how hard it is to figure out which pair is right for you. The best way to evaluate the optical performance and ease of use for a pair of binoculars is to go to a store and look through several before you make a final choice. So, here are a few important things to know to help you choose the best binoculars for you.

What do the numbers on binoculars (called “specs”) mean? The model number on a pair of binoculars tells you how strong and big they are (objective lens diameter). In 8×42 binoculars, for example, “8” is the magnification power, and “42” is the diameter (in millimeters) of the objective lenses, which are the ones closest to the object you’re looking at. The size of the objective lens lets you know how big the binoculars are and how much light they can take in. When you know what these numbers mean and how they affect your view, you can choose binoculars for bird watching, stargazing, or using them on a moving boat. (We’ll talk more about binocular specs down below.)

Why are some binoculars more expensive than others with the same specs? Advanced optics are a big reason why similar binoculars can cost hundreds of dollars more or less than each other.

What other features should you think about when buying binoculars? The price includes protective features like a rubber coating and a waterproof and fog-proof build. The upgrade may be well worth depending on how you plan to use it.

How do I choose the right binoculars for my needs? 

If you want binoculars for a specific reason, like watching birds, whales, or the stars, the basic tips below can help you narrow your choices. Magnification and size are good places to start, but you should also consider optics and features.

Backpacking and hiking binoculars

Because size and weight in a pack are important, you’ll want compact binoculars with a magnification of 8 or 10 and an objective lens diameter of less than 28 mm (8×25, 10×25, 8×28, and 10×28 are all fine choices). A pair with a rubber coating will last longer, and a water-resistant or waterproof pair will help when you have to go out in the rain or snow.

Suppose size and weight aren’t as important to you. In that case, you can look at midsize and full-size binoculars for birding (8×32 and 8×42 binoculars are popular with birders). Even though a 10-power magnification might help you see a small animal better, a pair of binoculars with an 8-power magnification will have a wider field of view, which is important for finding birds. Water resistance is also a good trait, as is the fact that some models don’t fog up when they go from a warm car to a cooler outside temperature.

Binoculars for watching whales, wildlife, and safaris

Popular models include 8×32, 8×42, 10×32 and 10×42. Use a higher magnification (10 instead of 8) when the animals are likely far away. If you want something smaller, choose a midsize (32mm objective lens) instead of a full-size (42mm objective lens). Water resistance is also good, but choose a fully waterproof model if you want to watch whales from a boat instead of from the shore.

Binoculars for paddling

If you’re on the water in a canoe, kayak, stand-up paddleboard (SUP), or whale-watching boat, you might want to stick with a lower magnification, like eight or less. A higher magnification (10-power) can make it hard to keep a steady view. Choosing a waterproof model is a good idea here, too, for obvious reasons. 8×32 is a popular size.

Binoculars for stargazing

Here is where you want to get the most out of your full-size binoculars’ ability to zoom in and gather light. You can choose between 10×42 and 10×50. You’ll need a tripod to keep the binoculars steady if you choose a higher magnification.