Are you a bird watcher or a stargazer? Here are the different types of binoculars that are available for purchase today.
Having a hobby makes you 21% less likely to die before your time.
However, if you don’t have the right equipment for your hobby, it can be difficult to have fun. This is especially true if you love bird watching, star gazing, or hunting.
If you’re looking to get a new pair of binoculars, but you’re not sure what ones are best for you, we can help! Read on to learn about 7 different types of binoculars and who they’re perfect for.
Roof Prism Binoculars
Roof prism binoculars are great at magnifying images. How do these types of binoculars work? Roof prisms work by gathering light.
After entering the binoculars, the light waves bounce around multiple set pathways. Eventually, the light waves can exit from the binocular eyepieces. Hunters, as well as birdwatchers, enjoy roof prism binoculars.
One of the reasons bird watchers like roof prisms is because they’re great at magnifying images. However, you won’t have to worry about the magnification affecting the image’s quality. Everything you look at will still be crisp, clear, and bright!
Finally, roof prism binoculars are compact and straight. This makes them lightweight, and perfect for all-day use.
Waterproof Binoculars
For binoculars to be waterproof, the spotting scopes have an internal seal. It’s common for the seal to be an o-ring.
O-rings create a watertight barrier that rests between the lenses and the chassis of the binoculars. Even if you don’t intend on being around water, waterproof binoculars a great way to protect your view.
Imagine, seeing a rare bird. However, when you try to look at it through the binoculars, specks of dust are blurring the image. Luckily, with waterproof binoculars, this won’t ever happen to you.
The watertight seal will keep out air and other debris that could damage the inside of the binoculars. By keeping debris out, you can also guarantee nothing inside the binoculars disrupts your view.
Do you like the idea of using waterproof binoculars? If yes, then consider getting a pair that’s both water and fog proof.
Fog Proof Binoculars
Are you planning on using your binoculars in an area where there’s a lot of humidity? When you plan on being in humid environments, you’ll want to use fog-proof binoculars. On top of being annoying, fog can also damage the optical barrels.
Luckily, fog-proof binoculars have a special gas within the optical barrels. The gas is able to prevent fog from ever occurring.
It’s common for manufacturers to use nitrogen or argon gases. These gases work well since neither one contains any moisture. Having argon or nitrogen inside your binoculars does more than just prevent fog.
You’ll also be able to prevent any fungus or mold from growing on the glass surface. We suggest you consider customizing your binoculars by looking at different built-in features. Having a rangefinder built into the binoculars is an interesting option hunters can enjoy.
Self-Focusing Binoculars
Autofocus and focus-free, are a couple of the different names for self-focusing binoculars. However, the names can be a little bit misleading.
Self-focusing binoculars don’t have the power or ability to focus on their own. Instead, self-focusing binoculars are great for maintaining certain levels of focus.
For example, you can find self-focus binoculars that keep everything 40 ft away, in focus. Anything that’s 40 ft away, or further, will automatically be in focus. However, if you’re trying to view something that’s closer than 40 feet, you would have to readjust the focus.
Self-focusing binoculars have very few moving parts. Since these binoculars are less complex, they tend to be more durable and long-lasting. They also tend to be more lightweight, depending on the model you get.
Porro Prism Binoculars
If you’re want to get the best depth perception, Porro prism binoculars are a great choice. You’ve most likely seen these binoculars at least once before. Porro prism binoculars have a classic v-shaped body.
These binoculars allow the distance between each eyepiece to be narrow. However, they provide room for a longer distance between the lenses. Similar to roof prism binoculars, Porro prism binoculars capture the light.
Once inside, the light waves travel along a jagged path. Eventually, the light waves will exit from the binocular eyepieces.
Porro prism binoculars and roof prism binoculars both have a diverse range. Both binoculars are also easy to manufacture, so they’re fairly inexpensive.
Astronomy Binoculars
If you love stargazing, keep in mind that binoculars won’t replace your telescope. Instead, astronomy binoculars work particularly well when used along with a telescope.
To get the best pair of binoculars for astronomy, ask yourself how you’ll be using your binoculars. Will you only be using them to gaze at the stars during the night? Or are you intending on using your binoculars during the daytime as well?
If you want to be able to use your binoculars at night as well as day, then we suggest going for a handheld option. If you’re planning on only needing nighttime use, get large binoculars that you can place on a tripod. Large binoculars, specifically designed for astronomy, provide the best nighttime views.
Marine Binoculars
Marine binoculars are perfect for days that you’ll be out on the open water. Especially, when you want to look at objects that are far away.
However, you’ll want to find a model that provides image stabilization. If you don’t use image stabilization, the extra magnification will distort your view.
For an even better viewing experience, find a pair with a built-in compass. Built-in compasses are usually digital, and you can choose ones that illuminate for nighttime viewing. However, keep in mind, if the compass lights up, the binoculars require batteries.
Explore the Best Types of Binoculars
Now you know about 7 different types of binoculars for all sorts of uses. To make the right choice, consider how you want to use the binoculars. The perfect binocular for you is out there!
By buying binoculars specific for your hobby, you’ll be able to have the best experience. For more ways to find the things you need, read another one of our articles.
