| Comparing Binoculars |
| Thursday, 15 February 2007 | |
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Binoculars have been described as two telescopes which have been joined together by a hinge. The reason for this is because binoculars use the same refracting lens as a telescope. The type of binoculars you purchase should largely depend on the purpose for which they will be used for. For example, if you are going to spend many hours bird watching or will be hunting using a moving vehicle, you would want to go for a pair of binoculars that are light, waterproof, and easy to handle.
There are two main types of binoculars. These are the roof prism binoculars and the Porro binoculars. Both these binoculars have their merits and demerits. As such, it will be up to the user to weigh the costs/benefits of using either binocular. It is widely accepted that Porro binoculars tend to be more user friendly than Porro binoculars. This is because they have less adjusting wheels and knobs. They are also lighter and more graspable than Porro binoculars. These key features of roof prism binoculars make them ideal for extensive outdoor use. However, because roof prism binoculars have to go through a more intensive production process, they are generally more expensive than Porro binoculars. So, it can be suggested that Porro binoculars are more cost effective, if a user just wants a pair of binoculars for general usage. In any case, before comparing and contrasting the features of binoculars, it is essential that the prospective user has a clear idea about how binoculars actually work. |