Buy Binoculars

You're ready to buy binoculars. Now all you have to do is figure out how to decipher the numbers that come along with them. For example, you may see binoculars listed as 12x25, or maybe 7x50. Understanding what these numbers mean is simple, and it's very important if you want to be sure you have the right kind of binoculars for your needs.

Let's take the example 8x42. The first number you see, 8, is the Magnification Level. This means, with a 8x42 pair of binoculars, you will be able to see objects eight times closer than you normally could.

Now you may think, 8 times closer doesn't seem like a lot, especially when some of the binoculars are advertised with much bigger magnification levels. This is where the second number comes in.

In the same example 8x42, the 42 is the size of the Objective lens, in millimeters. By having a large objective lens, more light will be able to penetrate the binoculars offering you a more clear view.

With a high magnification level to objective lens ration, viewing objects at a distance can become more difficult as the small movements in your body can distort the optics in your binoculars. This means, although 20x25 binoculars will allow you to see twenty times distance, you may not get a very clear view. Where as with an 8x42 pair of binoculars, you will likely get a crystal clear view of the object you are trying to see.