For Birding
Buying a pair of binoculars can quickly turn into an overwhelming affair. The price range is all over the place; you can purchase a pair for as little as $50 (or less) or $5000 (and up). Then there’s the technical specifications, which can get so detailed you feel like you need an engineering degree to follow. We spent A LOT of time researching all these things in order to manufacture our own, and we’re going to share some basics. Please note, this is specific to birdwatching/wildlife watching. Binoculars for stargazing, for example, is an entirely different game.
Magnification
You will see numbers like: 8x42, 10x25, 12x50 etc. This is magnification strength and objective lens diameter size in mm. These numbers will help determine what they are best for ie. birding, boating, stargazing. So using 8x42 as an example: its magnification power allows you to see 8x closer than the naked eye. The objective lens is 42 mm in diameter, this tells you how physically wide the lens is and how much light can come in.
But don’t be fooled into thinking ‘oh, well then 12x50 would be the best!’ No. These would be terrible for birdwatching. The more magnification, the more “shake” you get. Meaning when you look through your lens, it will literally look shaky, because magnification amplifies your hand movements. Once you get into 10x magnification, steady viewing becomes really hard. No bueno for moving boats or following moving objects like birds. And the bigger the lens diameter the bigger and bulkier the binoculars physically are. (12x50 would be a good start for stargazing though as they allow more light in and your object is not moving).
2. Why is pricing so wildly different?
Like anything in life, you get what you pay for. But the variance is primarily due to the quality of the optics, the features and the build.
3. What should I look for when buying a pair?
For birdwatching, your field of view (FOV) is super important. A wider field of view, makes it easier to track moving objects like birds and scan larger areas quickly. This wider field of view is particularly useful for activities such as birdwatching, wildlife observation, or spectator sports, where you need to see a broader area at once. We went with an ultra wide field of view when making ours: 420ft@1000yds - which means you can see an area 420 feet wide when looking at something 1000 yards away (or 142 meters at 1000 meters).
But there are many other features that enable a better experience: quality of glass, size/weight, waterproofing, fogproofing etc. There is also something called ‘eye relief’ which is critical for people who wear glasses or want to use sunglasses when using their binoculars (this is also important if you have long eyelashes!). Eye relief is the distance your eye can be from the eyepiece and still see the full image. A longer eye relief minimizes the need to press your eye against the eyepiece, making extended viewing more comfortable.
The following info is straight from KMFO’s 8x42 Taiga binocular user manual. You should be able to use this as a reference guide when researching for your own pair.
Magnification Power 8x
8x magnifcation power makes distant objects appear 8 times closer than they would to the naked eye. It offers enhanced views without the drawbacks of higher magnifications that can cause image shake.
Objective Lens Diameter 42mm
The objective lens are the front lenses, and these are 42 millimeters wide. 42mm diameter allows more light to enter, resulting in brighter and clearer images, especially in low-light situations like dawn or dusk.
Field of View 420ft at 1000yds /142m @ 100m/ 8.0 degree angle
You can see an area 420 feet wide when looking at something 1000 yards away (or 142 meters at 1000 meters). The 8.0 degree angle represents the width of your view in degrees. Compared to standard binoculars, this is an ultra wide field of view. It makes it easier to track moving objects like birds and scan larger areas quickly. This wider field of view is particularly useful for activities such as birdwatching, wildlife observation, or spectator sports, where you need to see a broader area at once.
Exit Pupil Diameter 5.2mm
This is the size of the bright circle you see in the ocular lenses, when holding the binoculars at arm's length. 5.2mm exit pupil provides a bright image in various light conditions. It's close to the optimal size for the human eye in dim conditions, allowing comfortable viewing for extended periods.
Minimal Focal Length/Close Focus 2m
The binoculars can clearly focus on objects as near as 2 meters from you. 2 meters close focus is an uncommon capability in 8x42 binoculars, it allows for detailed observation of nearby subjects like flowers.
Eye Relief: 18.4mm
Eye relief is the distance your eye can be from the eyepiece and still see the full image. A longer eye relief minimizes the need to press your eye against the eyepiece, making extended viewing more comfortable. This distance is especially important if you wear eyeglasses (or have long eyelashes!).
Prism Type: Roof Prism
The roof prism design has aligned lenses, and light follows a path resembling a roof, hence the name. This design makes the binoculars more compact and lightweight, resulting in a sleeker look and more comfortable handling. Roof prisms are more complex to manufacture; this is one of the reasons they are more expensive than counterpart Porro prism models.
Prism Glass: BAK4
BAK4 is a speciality optical glass used in the prisms to make images clear and bright resulting in enhanced image quality.
Prism Coating: Phase Coated
Phase coating is a special coating applied to the prisms to sync split light waves back together. This improves image sharpness and color accuracy, especially in low light.
Lens Composition: Extra Low Dispersion Glass (ED)
This is a premium glass used in the front lenses that helps prevent color separation when light passes through. ED glass significantly reduces chromatic aberration (unwanted colored edges around objects), resulting in sharper images with more accurate colors. It helps you see fine details more clearly and enjoy a more natural, true-to-life view through your binoculars.
Lens Coating: Fully Multi-Coated (FMC)
Fully multi-coated lenses provide significantly better performance compared to coated, fully-coated, or standard multi-coated lenses. There are multiple layers of anti-reflective coatings on all lens surfaces to reduce glare. It substantially reduces glare and light loss, resulting in brighter, higher-contrast images.
Number of Lens: 7 pieces / 9 groups
The binoculars contain 7 individual lenses arranged in 9 groups within the optical system. More lens elements allow for better control of light transmission, resulting in sharper, brighter images with improved color accuracy and reduced distortion.
Hydrophobic Lens Coating
This is a high-grade coating on the outer lens surfaces that actively repels water and moisture, keeping images clear even in wet conditions for all- weather performance. It also makes for easy cleaning: water beads up and rolls off, making it easier to wipe away droplets or condensation.
Focus System: Center
You can adjust the focus by using the convenient knob located in the center of the binoculars. Makes it easy and quick to focus on objects.
Eyecup System: Twist-up
Eyecups can twist up or down for comfort, which is particularly convenient for glasses wearers.
Diopter System: ±3, Right Eye
You can adjust from -3 to +3 diopters via the right side eyepiece. This adjustment compensates for differences in vision between your eyes, allowing fine-tuning to match your individual eye strength. Ensures both eyes see a sharp image.
Interpupillary Distance: 56mm - 76mm
The distance between your eyes can be adjusted from 56 to 76 millimeters. 56mm - 76mm is quite generous, which means our binoculars can fit many different face sizes, allowing enhanced comfort and personalization.
Waterproof: 1m/30 minutes
Can withstand being submerged in water up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes Protects against rain, splashes, and accidental drops in shallow water.
Fogproofing: Yes, Nitrogen Filled
Air inside the internal chambers is replaced with dry nitrogen gas to prevent internal fogging on the interior surface of the lenses Prevents internal lens fogging when moving between different temperatures or humidity levels. Keeps the internal optics free from moisture, ensuring long-term clarity.
Weight: 704g
The binoculars weigh about as much as a small book making them easy to carry around.
Dimensions: 147mm x 128mm x 52mm
Size measurements of the binoculars (length x width x height).
Body Material: Magnesium Alloy
Magnesium alloy offers an excellent balance of durability and lightness. It is resistant to buckling which helps maintain the structural integrity of the binoculars. It also has thermal properties so it doesn't feel as cold to the touch making it more comfortable to hold in various weather conditions.
Body Armor: Secure-grip rubber coating
The durable rubber coating provides enhanced protection against small impacts while offering a secure grip. The binoculars are comfortable to hold and less likely to slip from your hands.