Monocular, Binoculars & Laser Rangefinders

UNDERSTANDING BINOCULAR TERMINOLOGY

The best binocular technology has always been developed and used by the military. With the end of the cold war, much of the top binocular technology is now available in the market place at falling prices. High power magnification scopes and micro binoculars once the domain of the military establishment and spy agencies can now be obtained. As much better binoculars at less costly pricing is in the marketplace, it's important for you to understand the optic technology behind this professional surveillance gear and understand the difference between cheap low-grade optics and the optics that you want for professional use.

• Monocular: A monocular is a one piece viewing scope whereas a binocular is a two piece viewing scope for both eyes. The monocular certainly has advantages in covert surveillance in that they can be stored in pants pockets and easily palmed in your hand for quick covert viewing.

• Binoculars: Binoculars are identified by simple code. It is usually two numbers separated by an 'X', for example, 10X30. The first number represents the power of magnification of the binocular which means that the object or subject appears to be this much closer than when viewed with the naked eye. The second number is the diameter of the objective (front) lens. The larger the number, the more light the binocular gathers and the brighter the image will be. Good binoculars are always a combination of magnification, objective lens diameter, image quality, size, weight, durability and quality. The quality of a binocular is not always apparent at first sight. Its robustness, such as extreme heat, cold, moisture and jarring.

• Central Focusing Wheel: The central focusing wheel of a binocular enables you to focus both eyepieces of a binocular at the same time. At the same time it is possible to compensate for unequal vision by adjusting of dioptric correction on the right-hand eyepiece.

• Coating: Done in order to reduce reflections and increase light transmission by evaporation of extremely thin layers of substances onto polished lenses and prisms of optical instruments.

• Exit Pupil: The exit pupil is that circle of light which can be seen i the eyepiece from a distance of about 25 cm. It is a mathematical value which size is determined by dividing the diameter of the objective lens by the magnification. The larger the exit pupil, the brighter the image will be in low light conditions.

• Field Of View: The field of view is a measurement of the viewing field or subject area which is expressed by width in the feet of the area you can see at 1000 yards. The wider the angle, the wider the area seen. A wide field of view is better for following fast moving action or scanning for wildlife.

• Focusing: The adjustment of an optical instrument in order to make the image sharply visible varying distances.

• Inversion System: If you look through an astronomical telescope you will see everything not only in reverse, but also upside down. The inversion systems in binoculars make it possible to see things 'normally'.

• Magnification: It indicates how many items closer an object or subject appears compared to naked eye viewing.

• Objectives: These are the large lenses at the front end of the unit that comprise a system of two or more individual lenses made of different types of glass.

• Resolving Power: Optical's's instrument capability to sharply reproduce, point by point, details of the object viewed.

  MAGNIFICATION (POWER) Binoculars are often referred to by two numbers separated with an 'X'.For example; 8x32. The first number is the power or magnification of the binocular. With an 8x32 binocular, the object being viewed appears to be eight times closer than you would see it with the unaided eye.

  
  OBJECTIVE LENS SIZE
  The second number in the formula (8x32) is the diameter of the objective or front lens. The larger the objective lens, the more light that enters the binocular, and the brighter the image.