So even though higher magnifications can, in theory, provide you with more image detail, there can be times when you are not able to take them in because there is too much image shake. Yes, Procular ships throughout the UK, EU, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and to over 200 countries worldwide. International delivery time is approximately 7 to 14 business days. The whole point of a compact binocular and the reason why you would sacrifice the greater light gathering abilities of larger instruments is to reduce the size and weight so this seems like the logical place to start. Choose a higher power (10x or 12x)– If you are going to be out in the open and observing objects at greater distances. These higher power binoculars are more popular with wildlife observation and hunting uses than birding.

Focusing is neat and smooth, and the binoculars remain steadfast in focus. (Image credit: Gemma Lavender) The advantage of the reverse Porro prism is that allows the Papilio binoculars the welcome ability to focus on subjects as close as 50cm, thus making them useful for enlarging detail on museum visits, not just viewing subjects from afar. Together these numbers inform you how much larger an object will appear through the binoculars, and how bright the image is seen will appear relative to the amount of light available. Where light gathering and low light performance is critical, like astronomy, for example, binoculars can have very large 100mm lenses or even more in some cases. It is best to go for the largest lens diameter you can get. Bigger lenses mean more light-gathering power and thus better views for you. Compact binoculars tend to have objectives in the 20-25 mm range. However, it is worth noting that even the largest of these will collect only a quarter as much light as a pair of conventional 50 mm binoculars. We don't recommend compact binoculars with a zoom feature, as this is simply asking too much of the smaller objective lenses on this type of instrument. Prism typeCelestron UpClose G2 10x25Not the highest spec compared with models on this list — you will get partially multi-coated lenses and BK-7 glass roof prisms. Still, they are well-priced and come with the reassurance of a limited lifetime guarantee.★★★★½ Whilst not always the case, the minimum focus distance tends to be closer on binoculars with lower magnifications. Whilst on a recent safari holiday in Zimbabwe some friends of mine were using a pair of compact porro prism Pentax 8x21 UCF Mini Binoculars and I thought that I would take some time out and give them a review. Please note that Pentax have updated these and they are now known as Pentax UCF R Binoculars, but as they are so similar and have almost identical specifications, I think that this review is still relevant and should give you a good idea of what to expect.

Nikon Aculon T02 8x21Despite minor flaws, their attractive design, high portability and good optics make them worth considering. ★★★★½ Next: If you are interested in buying your first binoculars, take a look at our guide: What To Look For When Buying Binoculars FOV stands for Field-of-view, and it is the same as vision. The magnification of binoculars is used to determine the width of the image. They are optical instruments that allow us to peer into the distance. Lippers, from Middelburg, invented the first Dutch binoculars in 1608. The magnification of binoculars is determined by the position of two identical telescopes mounted next to each other, and they are aligned to point in the same direction. The prisma in these files ensure that the image is raised correctly. The diameter of the light reflected in the eyepiece is referred to as the exit pupil. Pentax UD 9x21 If you're struggling to choose between the easier-to-hold 8x magnification or 10x magnification for closer views (especially noticeable on the moon and planets), then here's a compromise — 9x magnification, offering most of the benefits of both. ★★★½

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In normal daylight conditions most people’s pupils tend to measure around 3mm in diameter, so, in these conditions, exit pupils much larger than 3mm are not really necessary as the extra light does not pass into your eyes. We especially appreciate the large, tactile center-focus knob that enables adjustments on chilly evenings without removing gloves. The 6.9-degree field of view is very respectable too. The long summer months and intermittent rain meant that we had to not only wait for the sun to set well into the evening but also wait for several nights for the wall-to-wall cloud to clear after our first introduction to the Aculon T02 8x21. Given the small objective lens, and therefore suspected to not be able to handle low-light conditions, our expectations were low for astronomical viewing through the optical system.

Watch out for the 10x21 version of the Pentax UD, as they are not fully multi-coated, have less eye relief, and have an even smaller exit pupil at 2.1 mm compared to 2.3mm here. These 9x21 binoculars are a much better buy. Here it is all about ease of carrying and portability. Thes binoculars work best in good light and are ideal for uses like hiking, camping, taking to outdoor sporting events, walking safaris, etc. We'd opt for the Celestron UpClose G2 10x25 over the similar UpClose G2 8x21 due to their better twilight factor, at 15.8 instead of 13.0, which means the higher powered (and larger objective) pair gives better low-light results — much better for stargazing.As you increase the magnification, the field of view almost always decreases. This makes sense as the higher the power, the more “zoomed in” you are and thus as a consequence, you are able to view less of the bigger picture. Binoculars with 8x40, 8x42, 8x70, 8x32, or even 8x21 all offer the same magnification. They will all magnify the image by eight times. Likewise, 10x42 will magnify ten times, 12x50 will magnify twelve times. Hopefully, I have been able to demonstrate that even within the subset of compact binoculars, the combination of the lens size and magnification has a big effect on its performance and making the right choice for your particular needs is important.

The two measures, magnification, and size of objective lenses relate to the field of view. Field of view is how wide an area is encompassed in the image seen through the binocular. A larger objective lens captures more light and so the image seen is potentially brighter than on a smaller one. Thus even if we take the “largest compact” with 28mm lenses and combine it with a relatively low power, say 8x, you still only achieve an exit pupil of 3.5mm (28÷8). The large focus wheel is exceptional, and the handling is surprisingly impressive, requiring only two rotations to move through the entire focus range. The 6-degree field of view is adequate, although not as good as some of the UD's serious rivals. Very closely related to the objective lens sizes is the size of the shaft of light exiting ocular lenses that then passes onto your eyes. Known as the exit pupil, it’s size on a Roof or Porro prism binocular is largely determined by dividing the lens diameter by the magnification.We were particularly impressed by the contrast offered by these binoculars, even when viewing the illuminated side of the moon. Their lightweight build also meant that we barely noticed holding them and experienced almost none of the shake that can affect your view on heavier models. If you're mainly targeting the closer objects in the night sky, these will certainly give you a beautiful view, but more serious astronomers may need something more powerful. For Astronomy. Use a tripod with higher magnifications, but for handheld astronomy, if you want a clear view of the stars, keep the power down. For customers who enjoy star gazing or distant wildlife including bird watching, the S Series deliver high-quality, bright and clear viewing. These are suitable for low-light conditions thanks to a larger than 40mm objective.