Does anyone know what to look for in binoculars?????

Question

My husband wants binoculars for Christmas and I know nothing about them?????? Nothing real expensive or complex?? HELP

Answer 1

Here are a couple of questions you need to resolve. 1. does your husband wear glasses? If so you need to buy a pair that has 17 mm eye relief. Will he be using the binoculars in inclement weather? If so you need to buy a pair that is water proof and fog proof. Do you think that he may wish to look at butterflies and dragon flies through them? If so you will want a pair that has close focus.

Now for generalities. Binoculars come in different powers and with different size objective lenses. The most popular binculars are 8x40 and 10x40. The first number refers to the power of the binoculars the second to the size of the objective lens. 8 power are somewhat more popular than 10 power because some people have a difficult time holding 10 power steady enough so that the object one is looking at does not shake. Binoculars of this type are somewhat heavy due to the size of the objective lense and somewhat bulky. If weight and bulk are a consideration, then binoculars with a smaller objective lense are a consideration. Maybe 30 mm or 20 mm. But anything below 30 mm will not be suitable for eyeglass wearers.

The least expensive excellent quality binoculars will cost about $200. There are less expensive binoculars available, which I will discuss but they have limits.

Nikon ultra wide view 8x40 $69.00 not suitable for eyeglass wearers, not waterproof, no close focus.

http://www.binoculars.com/products/nikon-8x40-action-ultra-wide-view-23794.html

Bushnell 8x42 waterproof binoculars $76.00 marginally suitable for eyeglass wearers, waterproof and fog proof, focuses to 12 ft.

http://www.binoculars.com/products/bushnell-8x42-waterprooffogproof-roof-prism-14129.html

Pentax 8.5x21 Papillo butterfly binoculars $149.00 not suitable for eyeglass wearers, not waterproof, but close focus to 1.6 feet. Compact and light, 10 oz.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/pentax-85x21mm-papilio-butterfly-binoculars.html

Celestron Out Land LX 10x42 $106 not suitable for eyeglass werarers, waterproof, close focus to 6 feet. Also available in 8 power.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/celestron-outland-lx-10x42-binoculars.html

Swift 8x42 ultralight waterproof. $250. Suitable for eyeglass wearers. Close focus to 13 feet. Also available in 10 power.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/swift-8x42mm-ultralite-waterproof-binoculars-961.html

Bushnell 8x32 Legend $155. Marginally suited for eyeglass wearers. Close focus to 4 ft. Waterproof. These are a medium weight and medium compact binoculars.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-8x32-legend.html

Generally speaking one of these pair should suit his purpose and last a long time provided he does not drop them and knock them out of alignment. That happens quite frequently.

You could spend a lot more but unless your husband is an avid birder, one of these will do the trick.

Answer 2

The size of my handy-dany pocket binoculars is fine for carrying around for hydroplane races & spotting whales off shore but maybe he wants the larger, more powerful variety with a 20x power. I know I want some 7-21x50mm but they are hard to find & a little more expensive. (Okay, alot more expensive) Most conventional ones are only 7x35mm but the best have a 'zoom' from 8-21x35mm. The same feature of zoom 8-21x can be on a larger, more light allowing 50mm front. The numbers can get confusing as the 35mm & 50mm refer to the 'size' of the front lenses (further from the face) while prefix #s '7x'or '10x' refer to the 'power'. The zoom features a dash from the lowest to the highest 'power', typically 7-15, some 8x21. So a number like 7-21x50mm indicates a zoom quality large set of good binoculars. The 7x35mm is a smaller, no zoom toy! The quality of the manufacturers lens can add hundreds. You should be able to find a reasonable 7-21x35mm for about $195-295 US. If you want a larger 7-21x50mm, expect $250-400 US & many/much more varieties over the $300 marks!

Answer 3

You'll just have to look for a binocular that can view object well in a good distance. How rugged it can be in condition. Is the lens replaceable. Does it have night vision?

Answer 4

a good high quality pair of binoculars will cost you between 25 and 75 dollars at a sporting goods store manufactured by a company like bausch & lomb, dont bother looking at wal mart theyve only got cheap 5 dollar crap wich will break within a few months of ur husbands using it. also dont get any mini pairs with 1/2 inch lenses ask for a pair wich is between 7x50 and 15x50.

Answer 5

yah just expensive but for your husband know

Answer 6

.............just get the one which is of medium range..............and not very big to handle............don't go for the expensive kind ...........they are all the same...............

Answer 7

one that would make objects seem bigger and closer.... idk!