Branches Shopping cartLogin NowBranches Shopping cartLogin NowWhether you are birdwatching, at the theatre, hiking or hunting: a good pair of binoculars proves to be a valuable aid in many situations. However, if you want to buy a pair of binoculars, you will quickly realise, given the variety of models, that this task is anything but easy. Laymen in particular have difficulties deciding on a model. First of all, you should therefore decide on a specific purpose and thus on a concrete type, because binoculars can be divided into the following types, among others:
Whether you want to use binoculars for hobby or professional purposes, you will surely find something suitable in our range. In addition, there are a few other things you should think about when buying binoculars. The models available from us differ in size, price, performance and technical aspects. If you are unsure about your choice of binoculars, you can simply scroll down to the bottom section of our online shop. There we have listed five criteria for you to pay special attention to when buying your binoculars. We explain in detail how the criteria affect binoculars and why they are so important for your binocular purchase.
Binoculars offer the perfect opportunity to get closer to the distance than ever before. Experience great moments with the smallest details in perfect focus. Our range includes products that cover all areas where binoculars and co. are used: theatre or opera, animal and nature observation, sports and many more. They can even be used at night. There are hardly any limits to the variety of products to be able to see from the very back to the very front.
Generally, the following five criteria play an important role when buying binoculars:
The weight
The binocular magnification
The field of view
The exit pupil
The glass used
Binoculars should be neither too light nor too heavy. If you want to transport the binoculars over long distances - for example, when hiking or birdwatching - then they should by no means weigh too much. Otherwise you may quickly find the binoculars an unnecessary burden and tend not to take them with you in the future. However, a slightly heavier pair of binoculars is an advantage, especially for actual observation, because they are easier to hold steady so that you can see your subjects better. But how heavy are binoculars actually? Very light pocket binoculars weigh about 200 grams. Binoculars for astronomy, on the other hand, can weigh more than two kilograms. We recommend opting for the happy medium. Binoculars weighing between 700 and 1000 grams are a good compromise between stability when held and handiness when carried.
Most users only pay attention to the magnification when buying binoculars. It indicates the factor by which a subject appears larger through the binoculars. Very popular are binoculars with a magnification factor of 8 or 10. A factor of 10 means that an object 100 metres away appears as large as if it were only 10 metres away. A magnification factor that is too high makes little sense, because at some point you will no longer be able to hold the binoculars steady. From a factor of more than 10, you should therefore use the binoculars with a tripod or buy a model with image stabilisation. Unless you need binoculars for astronomy, a 7x, 8x or 10x magnification is usually quite sufficient.
The field of view is the diameter of the area that you can see at a distance of 1000 metres perpendicular to the line of sight. Here, the field of view is as large as the eyepiece field of view divided by the magnification factor. It is expressed either as an angle in degrees or in metres. In this case, one degree corresponds to about 17.5 metres. If the field of view is too small, you will have a so-called tunnel effect. This means that you only see the image as if through a tunnel. This value is very important, especially for people who wear glasses. If you wear glasses, you should be able to see at least 80 percent of the field of view with your glasses. This means that the distance between the eye and the eyepiece lens must be more than 14 millimetres. Also pay attention to the eyepiece field of view. Values that are above 55 degrees are considered good.
The exit pupil or exit aperture is determined by dividing the lens diameter by the magnification factor. You can think of the exit pupil as a beam of light that is a certain size and falls directly through the pupil onto the optic nerve, where it provides the image. As soon as it gets darker, the pupil opens a little more so that more light can enter. So the larger the exit pupil, the more suitable a pair of binoculars is for low light conditions. We recommend an exit pupil of 4 millimetres for ordinary use. For hunters who prefer to be out and about at dusk, however, the exit pupil should be at least 6 millimetres.
For a medium-sized pair of binoculars, the light must penetrate about eight to twelve centimetres of glass. It is therefore of great importance that all types of glass are as high quality as the glass processing. In this context, various factors are important, such as homogeneous glass quality. It ensures that the glass chosen and calculated by the designer is actually used. In addition, precise manufacturing of the mechanical and optical components is important, as is complex coating to reduce reflections and optimise transmission. Elaborate glass differs from simple glass in its peak transmission values, which can be just over 90 percent for good glass. In addition, expensive glasses are waterproof and tropicalised and do not need rubber, but are equipped with natural rubber. This is an important aspect for people with rubber allergies. In addition, high-quality glass can be repaired.
Whether you need such expensive glass depends, of course, on your desired area of use. Do you want to use your binoculars professionally for hunting or astronomy? Then you should look for a high-quality pair of binoculars. For occasional hobby use in daylight, cheaper binoculars will certainly suffice. For hiking, going to the theatre or birdwatching, there is a wide range of binoculars that offer very good value for money.
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