Binoculars by magnification: we give advice

Each pair of binoculars has an indication with two numbers. 8x42, for instance. The first number represents the magnification factor and the second number the objective diameter. 8x42 means that the binoculars have a magnification of 8x and that the objectives, the lenses at the front, have a diameter of 42 mm.

Magnification

When binoculars have a magnification factor of 8 the object is brought 8 times closer. If an object is located 80 meters away it will look as if it is only 10 meters away. With binoculars with a magnification factor of 10 an object that is located 100 meters away appears to be located about 10 meters away. Binoculars with a magnification factor of 12 leave you with a very narrow field of view and an image that is difficult to keep stable. These binoculars are often used in combination with a tripod.

Diameter of the front lens

The diameter of the objective is important because on the one hand it determines the light output and the viewing experience of the binoculars (in this case larger is better) and on the other hand it determines the weight and size of the binoculars. The larger the objectives, the more light will be captured by the binoculars, the lighter the image will be. A larger front lens is therefore important for binoculars that are used in the dark. However, these bins are also a little heavier. As such it is a compromise between the quality of the image and the weight and size.