Types of Binoculars

Think binoculars, and you have plenty of options to choose from these days. Binoculars come in different sizes, with multiple features and of course price variations. The type of binocular you choose to buy depends upon the use. Here’s a look at the type of binoculars.

Travel and general binoculars

Binoculars with a magnification in the range of 8x to 10x are ideal for travel and general purposes. If you are going to use binoculars in places with extreme weather, it is better to travel binoculars that are waterproof, shockproof and equipped with eye relief features.

Birdwatching binoculars

Ideally binoculars built specially for bird watching activities come with powerful zoom feature. Also, bird watching binoculars include the field of view (FOV) and eye relief features. This helps in focusing better. Image stabilised bird watching binoculars use electronic power to stabilise images. Avid birdwatchers prefer these binoculars over regular ones.

Hunting binoculars

Hunting binoculars need high magnification lenses. These binoculars are also fog-proof, waterproof. You should buy hunting binoculars that have rubber armour to avoid any damage due to rough handling.

Safari binoculars

Safari binoculars are a must on safari expeditions for those memorable moments among the flora and fauna of the region you are visiting. Instead of spending on high magnification binoculars, you should look for 42mm lenses with 8x magnification.

Astronomy binoculars

Astronomy binoculars are a must even if you own a telescope. A 10x50 binocular is ideal for astronomy lovers and a tripod stand will help you get stable images.

Marine and whale watching binoculars

Obviously, marine binoculars as well as whale watching binoculars need to have protection from water, fogging and of course daily wear and tear. 7x magnification marine binoculars are an ideal bet for those regularly at sea.

Sports viewing and horse racing binoculars

When you want every piece of the action during a game of golf or at a horse racing event, you should have a pair of great binoculars. A good sport viewing binocular is light and compact with magnification ranging from 6x to 8x and a wider field of view.

Compact binoculars

If you are looking for an alternative to the bulky binocular, you should try monoculars and spotting scopes. They are compact in size, as powerful as binoculars and of course, include almost all features that you could find in binoculars. They can easily fit into your handbag or even in your pocket.

Binoculars for children

Children enjoy outdoor activities such as bird watching, safaris, trekking, sports viewing and marine sports. Gifting them binoculars is such a great idea. Instead of buying cheap binoculars or spotting glasses, it would be better to spend on binoculars specially meant for children. Look for children’s binoculars that are easy to hold, lightweight, durable are easy to stabilise and focus and with a magnification in the range of 6x to 8x.

If you research a bit, you will find a binocular to suit your need and budget. Invest wisely in a binocular because it will serve you immensely in the years to come. Go ahead, get your pair of binoculars today!

This article's author is Mohit Jain who is a self confessed travel enthusiast. He often likes going on trekking with friends and never forgets to carry his best monocular along with him. He has also added a new digiscoping product that helps with activities like star gazing, bird watching and image clicking at the same time.