Binoculars have become very popular in recent years. They have moved beyond military, police and surveillance use and become a common piece of equipment for recreational purposes. Beyond bird watching, they are increasingly being bought for use in hunting, fishing, boating, camping, hiking, in fact they can add to the pleasure of most outdoor pursuits.
These activities take place not just in the daytime but around the clock. Many people are looking for night vision binoculars now, but they are not all the same. They come in a wide range of prices for different uses and it's important to choose the right ones.
There is a difference between binoculars that make best use of low light conditions and a true night binocular. For use at dusk or dawn, low light binoculars could be suitable. Let's look at the concept of Exit Pupil.
This is the diameter of the beam of light as it leaves the eyepieces. If you hold the binoculars at arms length, you can see these small circles of light in each eyepiece. To find the actual size of the exit pupil, you divide the diameter of the lenses by the magnification. e.g. The binoculars are 12x50. 50mm divided by 12 is just over 4mm. A bigger exit pupil will do better in low light, but there are other considerations.
For true nighttime performance, you need an infrared light source to be able to see when there is no natural light. The effective range of these varies, so buy what you need. For hunting, a range of 10 yards is useless.
Different optical devices have different uses. A monocular, sometimes known as a spotting scope, does just that. Do a quick sweep of the terrain or the sea. Spot movements in the trees.
A bi-ocular feels more natural with two eyepieces, but still only has a single front lens. It is a compromise. A true night vision binocular, with two front lenses, allows the adjustment of each eye to the night vision viewfinder. This is more comfortable for long periods of use.
So, before setting out to purchase night vision binoculars, consider in what light conditions you will be using them and whether you will be using them for sustained periods. A true night vision binocular can set you back several hundred dollars and may be a waste of your money if they are more than you really need.
These activities take place not just in the daytime but around the clock. Many people are looking for night vision binoculars now, but they are not all the same. They come in a wide range of prices for different uses and it's important to choose the right ones.
There is a difference between binoculars that make best use of low light conditions and a true night binocular. For use at dusk or dawn, low light binoculars could be suitable. Let's look at the concept of Exit Pupil.
This is the diameter of the beam of light as it leaves the eyepieces. If you hold the binoculars at arms length, you can see these small circles of light in each eyepiece. To find the actual size of the exit pupil, you divide the diameter of the lenses by the magnification. e.g. The binoculars are 12x50. 50mm divided by 12 is just over 4mm. A bigger exit pupil will do better in low light, but there are other considerations.
For true nighttime performance, you need an infrared light source to be able to see when there is no natural light. The effective range of these varies, so buy what you need. For hunting, a range of 10 yards is useless.
Different optical devices have different uses. A monocular, sometimes known as a spotting scope, does just that. Do a quick sweep of the terrain or the sea. Spot movements in the trees.
A bi-ocular feels more natural with two eyepieces, but still only has a single front lens. It is a compromise. A true night vision binocular, with two front lenses, allows the adjustment of each eye to the night vision viewfinder. This is more comfortable for long periods of use.
So, before setting out to purchase night vision binoculars, consider in what light conditions you will be using them and whether you will be using them for sustained periods. A true night vision binocular can set you back several hundred dollars and may be a waste of your money if they are more than you really need.
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Lower prices have helped to increase the popularity of binoculars for recreation, but they can still be a costly item, particularly a night vision binocular. Before you think about buying, get advice on what will suit your needs. Don't pay more than you need to for your binoculars.
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