Whether you like to watch wildlife from your living-room window or from a treestand while hunting, or if you travel to far-off destinations to watch birds, a pair of quality binoculars and/or a spotting scope enhance(s) the experience.
Some people have the best optics money can buy, but most have cheap or mediocre optics. Most binoculars users go through a stage where they buy a $50 pair, which usually leaves much to be desired. Eventually, most people who buy an inexpensive pair of binoculars upgrade. I sell optics across the country, and I receive many inquiries from customers about which optics best fit their style of hunting or wildlife watching.
It all depends on how much money you want to spend. At the end of the day, if someone is going to spend a lot of time looking through binoculars, good glass is a must. I always recommend that people spend as much as they can afford. Expensive optics can be a once-in-a-lifetime purchase if a person takes good care of them.
This puts things in perspective. If you’re buying a high-end rifle and you plan to keep it indefinitely, you’ll most likely buy something special. If you’re buying an RV, a house, or a sports car, odds are you’ll do the same. Optics should be no different.
Understand What You Need
When purchasing optics, buyers must consider which type of glassing they’ll do most. Most birdwatchers want a pair of lightweight binoculars that are easy to manage. In that case, a 7x35mm or 8x32mm will work well. Either configuration from any reputable optics manufacturer will offer good light transmission, a large field of view (FOV), and, of course, decent magnification.
People often get hung up on magnification and purchase binoculars that are super heavy and difficult to manage with a free hand. Birders rarely need high magnification; 7x or 8x is usually sufficient.
On the other hand, hunters often try to determine the size of a buck or bull, so they need high-powered binoculars. Regardless of brand, our most popular binocular configuration is the 10x42mm. Hunters find them easy to transport and easy to use, whether they’re sitting in a treestand or roving the backcountry.
The key to success is finding a pair of binoculars that you will use. That might sound silly, but many people buy run-of-the-mill binoculars and rarely use them. If you buy binoculars you’re comfortable with, you won’t want to put them down.
Spotting Scopes
Customers often ask me whether a spotting scope is a worthwhile investment. A spotting scope is heavy and expensive, and you can’t carry one around your neck. But, if you want to count individual points on a buck’s rack from a great distance, a spotting scope is essential.
A spotting scope can be difficult to carry around, thus, few people buy one, but a spotting scope is worth the investment. The amount of detail the user will see is mind-blowing. If you want to judge a bull or buck’s size, a spotting scope is the way to go.
If you want to see the colors on a beautiful bird, a spotting scope delivers.
Do You Need a Tripod?
Eventually, every serious optics user must ask themself whether they should have a tripod, but in my opinion, a tripod is a must-have accessory. Whether you’re using binoculars or a spotting scope, glassing from a tripod creates a pleasant experience.
A good tripod keeps the binoculars or the spotting scope steady, so you can focus on what you’re looking at. It eliminates the shakes, which reduces eye strain and makes glassing more fun. I believe every optics user should use a tripod because when you set it up, you commit to really glassing an entire area. Once I have my tripod out, I spend more time behind the glass, which is often when I discover a bedded bull or buck.
Optics lingo
There are many things to consider when buying optics. One reason people get confused is that retailers and manufacturers use puzzling technical terms when describing optics. Below are a few terms you should understand about optics before going shopping.
Field of View Field of view (FOV) is very important when selecting optics. If you plan on scanning lakes and fields in the Midwest, a standard by will do. If you plan on hunting in the West, consider buying optics with a wide FOV.
What’s the difference?
FOV describes the number of feet per 1,000 yards of distance. So, a standard 7x binoculars’ FOV is 372 feet. If you purchase a pair with wide-angle lenses, it goes up to 487 feet. The wider the angle, the more you see as your glass. If you hunt a lot, a wide-angle lens is often worth the extra money.
Lens Diameter
Lens diameter determines the amount of light that enters the lens; a large lens diameter allows more light to enter than a small lens diameter. More light means a brighter image. If you plan to glass late in the evening or early in the morning, consider buying optics with a 42mm or 50mm lens diameter.
The drawback to having a large-diameter lens is it’s considerably heavier than a small-diameter lens. If you’re backpacking in, consider a smaller-diameter lens—perhaps a 35mm—which weighs little and packs easily.
Eye Relief
Eye relief is important, especially if you wear eyeglasses. Eye relief is the distance, measured in millimeters, from the eyepiece lens to the point where the eye is positioned to view the entire image. Eye relief is affected by FOV, magnification, and the number of lens elements.
Most binoculars provide 8-13mm of eye relief. Binoculars with long eye relief provide 14-20mm. If you wear eyeglasses, choose optics with long eye relief. If you plan on glassing from a mountainside for long periods of time, long eye relief is a welcome attribute. Without it, you may get a headache, which could last all day and make your experience miserable.
Exit Pupil
Exit pupil is rarely discussed, but the exit pupil of your glass is extremely important. The exit pupil is the band of light that hits your eye. The greater the number, the more light will reach your eye. People will want a good FOV and a fair amount of light.
An exit pupil greater than 4mm is always preferred. A 10x42mm binocular has an exit pupil of 4.2. A 7x35mm has an exit pupil of 5. A 7x35mm binocular lets in more light than a 10×42 binocular but doesn’t have as much magnification or FOV. In optics, there are always tradeoffs.
Coated Optics
The coating on a lens plays a key role in image clarity. Quality binoculars always have some form of lens coating(s). The very best optics are fully multi-coated. “Multi-coated” means all glass surfaces on the optic(s) in question have multiple coatings to prevent them from losing or reflecting light.
Obviously, more coatings are better, and all high-end binoculars have multiple coatings. If you’re looking at optics that have been fully coated, that simply means all air-to-glass surfaces have been coated with at least one layer of coating.
Standout binoculars you should consider buying
Swarovski SLC 42
The Swarovski name is synonymous with high-end optics. This German brand Creates crystal-clear optics that last a lifetime. The SIC 42 Is available in 8x42mm and 10x42mm, and it rocks. It features unique—Swarovski-exclusive coatings. The tenses gather an incredible amount of light and will help you spot game even in low-light conditions. The SLC optics line is said to be lighter than previous models.
Check price and availability on Amazon.com.
ZEISS Victory SF
The remarkable Victory SF, Zeiss manages to take the world of binoculars by storm and offers a product with three noticeable advantages. The first is the whopping 130 meters wide field of view provided by an increasing lens size. The second remarkable characteristic is its balance and ergonomy. The binocular weighs just20.8 ounces, but it feels even lighter. Finally, you should know that SF in its name stands for “SmartFocus,” but it could be “SpeedFocus” just as well, considering the rapidity of zooming from close focus to infinity in just 1.6 turns of the wheel.
Check price and availability on Amazon.com.
Vortex Viper HD
Vortex Optics has gained a reputation for offering excellent optics at fair prices. Its Viper HD 10 x42mm is a great buy. It boasts high-density, extra-tow dispersion glass that delivers vibrant
color and resolution, even in low light. The Viper HD comes with fully multi-coated lenses, which greatly increase light transmission. Additionally, the HD comes with a dielectric prism coating, which clarifies and brightens the image. The HO features a locking diopter; adjust it once, lock it, and you’re set until you want to adjust It again.
Check price and availability on Amazon.com.
Final Thoughts
Purchasing binoculars or a spotting scope can seem intimidating. The information presented here will help you make an educated purchase next time you’re in the market for new optics. And remember, spend as much as you can afford and take good care of your investment. Do this, and you’ll only need to buy one pair of binoculars and one spotting scope in your lifetime.
This article has been written by Samuel Conditt for Prepper’s Will.
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