Lighthaus Camera: How to Choose Binoculars

Now that the whales are here and putting on shows all across Hawaii's waters, what better way to see them than with a good pair of binoculars.

There are three main type of binoculars to choose from.  The most common full sized ones are 8x42 and 10x50.  The mid sized ones are generally 7x35 and 10x32.  And finally the compact ones sized at 8x25 and 10x25.

Full sized binoculars are usually better in low light situations, have wide fields of view, and are great for wildlife and sports usage.

Mid sized binoculars are moderate in weight and size, are good in above average lighting conditions and good for wildlife and sports usage.

Compact binoculars are the lightest and smallest binoculars and are perfect for backpacking, work well in daytime activities but can be a bit uncomfortable during extended periods of usage.

Now that you know the different kinds, what do the numbers mean?  The first number will be the magnification power and the second is the diameter of the objective lens (lens farthest away from your eyes).  For example, a 20x60 binocular will have a 20 times magnification and the diameter of the lens is 60mm.  Keep in mind that the larger the objective lens, the more light comes into your binoculars.  The other number you will see is the exit pupil which indicates how bright objects will be in low light level conditions.  The higher that number means brighter images.  For example 7x35 binoculars have an exit pupil diameter of 5mm. Use your elementary math skills to figure out how that number was determined.  The brightness levels of those 7x35 binoculars will be 25.  Just square the exit pupil diameter.  Now to throw a monkey wrench into what I've just explained, not all manufactures have identical brightness levels.  Another number you will come across is the eye relief or distance between the eyes and the eyepiece while the whole field of view is visible.  For those of us who wear glasses, look for eye relief of at least 11mm.  The last thing to consider is the field of view.  This spec will tell you the width of the area that you can view at a glance, 1,000 yards from where you stand.  Keep in mind that higher magnification power results in narrower fields of view.  Speaking of higher magnification (above 10 power), using a tripod or having image stabilization in the binoculars will keep your  image from being blurry.

Lighthaus Camera has four locations for you to choose from when you purchase your binoculars.  We carry Olympus, Canon, Nikon, Pentax, and Leica brand binoculars.  Options vary from store to store.

Happy whale watching!