About Binoculars

For sailors, birders, climbers, hunters, and astonomers...

The selection of binoculars nowadays is truly bewildering. Prices range from $30 to $3,000, and at first sight most models resemble each other. Finding information that can help the would-be buyer is a daunting task! The usual numbers touted are aperture, magnification, and field of view, but these don't come close to describing how the binoculars feel in actual use. Contrast, in our opinion, a crucial test, is impossible to reduce to a convenient number or symbol, and yet contrast can be all-important. In the same vein, colour correction and transparency make huge differences in the field. So, for that matter, do field curvature and various distortions, and yet these parameters tend to be neglected in the brochures. Buying a binocular is a bit like buying a fine pair of shoes - not something we would do in a hurry! We are constantly reviewing new units and revising our inventory, and would love to hear from any owners that have what they consider to be outstanding performers. As your binocular specialists, we have a duty to source the best and most economical units out there; certainly a never-ending work in progress.

Let's briefly review the features that we think are important.

Firstly, contrast: in lay terms we can think of contrast as the measure of "snap" that an optical system produces. Actually more complex by far than this definition, most of us will be readily able to distinguish between binoculars that have or don't have this elusive quality. In short, the more contrast the better, as long as other parameters are not being sacrificed. Attention by the manufacturers to the details we don't see, such as good internal baffling, lens element edge-blackening, and, of course, effective multicoatings all play their part in producing outstanding images.

Second, colour correction: this is a simple one - are objects, especially at the field edges, surrounded by by coloured fringes? Obviously the less of this the better! Creating a perfectly colour-corrected image is a tribute to the optical designer's skill, and usually a large drain on the buyer's wallet! Despite this, every binocular we sell has to please me, even bearing price in mind, and it is amazing how well corrected some binoculars are. They are a pleasure to show.

Third, field curvature. I have been astonished by the performance of some extremely expensive binoculars in this regard. Only a relatively small portion of the field is sharp, and the perimeter (sometimes as much as a third of the field of view) is simply useless, as it is out of focus. Some users might disagree with me here, but as the Buyer for the Store, I reject binoculars that suffer unduly from this defect. It is a given that the very edges of the field will be compromised in this way, but as soon as the distortion becomes intrusive, I look for another pair of binoculars!

Fourth, pin-cushion, or barrel distortion. Almost always present to some extent, these distortions which cause a "bowing" of straight lines, are my enemy! If this distortion is too noticeable, then as soon as I pan or sweep, I feel seasick. I find this distortion particularly offensive.

Most of the other features I will discuss in broad strokes only.

Aperture (the size of the front element) matters, all other things being equal, when you the user needs it. If you are always looking in the dimmest conditions, then the more aperture the better (as long as you can hold the unit). For most of us who use our binoculars for everything, then an aperture of between 30mm and 45mm offers the perfect synthesis of light-gathering capability and portability.

Magnification is like aperture - as much as you need will suffice. Again, for most of us, a magnification of around 8X will be perfect ESPECIALLY for those of us who (like me) wear glasses. The 8X binoculars most often offer an eye relief of 18-20mm, which means taking off glasses is a thing of the past.

Field of view is an interesting parameter. All things equal (they never are!), the more the better. Narrow fields of view are disappointing to look at, but huge fields usually come with many distortions. Careful auditioning is necessary here.

Last, transparency: a perhaps personal judgment. Some binoculars, but not many, simply disappear in use. They do not seem to "get in the way". One has the feeling of simply being brought closer to the object in view, and the binocular, like all good tools, doesn't require you to make too many allowances or "translations". Probably I am straying too close to the personal in this one, but maybe you'd agree with me...

Testing binoculars is an interesting process: looking in bright daylight at buildings across the street is what most people are allowed to do before they pay (sometimes a great deal of) money for a binocular which will serve them for many years. We have different tests! Our passion is for fine optics, and we love it when our customers feel our enthusiasm for a binocular that passes all the tests. What we have found particularly interesting is that, for a given maker, some in the line of models will sail through with flying colours, and others in the same line seem to fail, and sometimes dismally. Our shelves reflect this judgment. Price is no longer the final guarantee in this intensely competitive marketplace, and to some extent neither is brand. Whether you want a birding binocular, a giant astrononomical unit, or whether you simply want something portable for the glove-box, just call us. We LOVE showing binoculars!