Choosing Binoculars
When choosing binoculars there are several things that need to be considered, firstly it is best to know what you will be using your binoculars for, at Cley Spy we stock a large range that cover all aspects from lightweight pocket binoculars to those with larger magnification for fixed point observation; for example a pair of binoculars with an 15x magnification is ideal for viewing shipping at sea but will of no use when trying to spot a small bird in a tree.

So what do the numbers on binoculars mean? well put simply the first number is the magnification and the second number is the diameter in mm of the objective lens (this is the large lens at the end, the lens you look through is called the ocular lens); therefore a pair of binoculars with the specification of 8x42 means that the magnification is 8x and the subject you are looking at will appear 8 times closer and the objective lens is 42mm in diameter. The larger the objective lens is then the more light will enter the binocular and the brighter the image will be but the larger and heavier the binocular will be.

Binoculars come in two basic styles Porro Prism and Roof Prism (see diagram below); roof prism style has become very popular in recent years because of their more compact slimmer design over the bulkiness of the more traditional porro prism it is also important to note that roof prism binoculars nowadays are mostly waterproof and fog proof with many now being filled with Nitrogen gas to keep moisture and dust out. Another feature which is found on many binoculars is the twist up type eyecups these are better for spectacle wearers and do not wear out as quickly as the old fashioned rubber cups.



For further information and advice on choosing binoculars without too much technical jargon please contact us on 01263 740088 or e-mail via the contact us page on this website. Alternatively why not visit Cley Spy at either of our shops in Norfolk.