Jacobs Digital | Optical Equipment

Get up close and personal with today’s rugged, waterproof, compact, lightweight and portable binos. Here’s what to look for when seeking out a pair...

Utilising a pair of symmetrical telescopes to provide a three dimensional image, binoculars are split into two camps: compact roof prism devices and larger, more conventionally styled Porro prism devices.

Both are classified by a numerical figure that is a measure of their magnification times the diameter of the integral objective lens (10x25 for example); generally the larger the diameter the brighter the image.

While some boast toughened rubber casings and anti-misting features, others are waterproofed to five metres or more.

Bear in mind shock absorbing or nitrogen filled housings cost extra, and take care to match a model to your needs: high magnification binoculars are difficult to hold steady without a tripod.

If space and portability is an issue, also consider the monocular, while spotting scopes are a favourite of bird watchers.

Zoom binoculars offer a wide field of view and bright image at lower power. They have part of the ocular lens – the lens in the eyepiece – movable so that power and magnification can be adjusted, commonly from 7x to 20x.

More specialised binoculars include water/rain resistant, anti misting (nitrogen filled), image stabilised (no need for a tripod) and shock resistant models, while better quality binos have coated lenses to maximise light transmission.