Binoculars magnification is an important capability that has a big impact on your ability to see distant objects. Many binoculars have an integrated design, so there are several factors that can affect the magnification capability. in this article, we will examine 7 tips to help you understand binocular magnification and make it work for you.
1) How is magnification defined?
Magnification notation is usually presented as part of a pair of numbers separated by a small x. For example, 7×50 or 8×32. The first number in the pair is the magnification factor, or some times called the power of the binoculars. For example, if the first number is an 8, then the object you are observing will appear 8 times closer than if you were looking at it with the naked eye.
2) What part of the binocular affects the magnification?
Magnification capability is determined by the prisms and the eyepiece. The prisms bend the light into the eyepiece for your viewing, so the two are interrelated
3) What is the biggest benefit of high magnification?
Use of high magnification will have the effect of making the objects you are observing seem closer to you. Depending on the model, you can get anywhere from 6x to as much as 20x magnification!
4) How stable will my viewing be under high magnification?
You should be all right with handheld observations up to 10x magnification. Above 10x, some kind of mounting system is required to minimize the effects of motion.
5) What is the relationship of magnification to brightness of the image?
At high magnification levels, less light is coming through the binoculars and the area is smaller, so brightness levels are reduced. Lens coatings can offset this effect to some extent.
6) How does field of view and magnification relate to each other?
The lower the magnification, the wider the area you can view through your binoculars. If your observations are better suited to wide field of view, you may not want to go above 7x magnification.
7) Does viewing location affect recommended magnification levels?
Astronomical viewing with binoculars has a special provision. In this case, the darker your sky is, the lower the magnification level needed for optimum viewing. In urban areas where light from cities creates a brighter sky, a range of 8x to 12x is preferred, with 10x being the best. For a darker sky in rural areas, 6x to 9x is sufficient, with 7x being the most common setting.
As you can see there are many factors that affect the use of binocular magnification. These tips should help guide you in picking the right magnification level for you.