What do the numbers mean on binoculars?
The number on the binoculars mainly indicates their magnification power and objective lens diameter.
The primary function of binoculars is to make distant objects appear larger and more distinct, even when viewed from a much closer distance. These numbers help you choose the suitable model of binoculars for you.
For example, in 10x42 mm binoculars, 10 is the magnification number called power. It makes objects appear ten times closer than they actually are. The greater the number, the closer the thing appears through the lenses.
The 2nd number following the magnification is the objective lens diameter and therefore expressed in mm.
In the following section, we will provide a concise summary of magnification and objective lens diameter to make things more understandable.
what do the numbers mean on binoculars?
What is magnification?
Magnification measures how much larger the items would appear when viewed via binoculars. Using 10x binoculars, for instance, an item 100 meters away will seem the same size as when observed with the unaided eye from 10 meters away.
While higher magnification may always be better, this is not always true. Extreme magnifications (12x and more) make it hard to keep a stable image unless the binoculars are mounted on a table or tripod.
This is a frequent mistake by new users, and it is critical to understand that high magnifications will not fit all requirements.
In fact, 8x or 10x magnification is optimal for the majority, and any magnification higher than that has numerous harmful impacts that would severely impair the viewing experience.
What is objective lens diameter?
The number that follows the magnification power is known as the objective lens diameter. This is a significant number, reflecting how much light the lenses can capture.
The larger the objective lens diameter, the brighter the image since the lens will capture more light. This value is crucial for observing the night sky or other low-light settings.
An 8x50 binocular has a 50mm objective lens; a 7x35 has a 35mm objective lens, and so on. Typically, wider lenses also increase the size of binoculars.