The problem with binoculars, if you ask a novice buyer, is that they really look totally the same – whether they cost $20 or $200. Of course, the difference among different models is likely to be in the quality of the optics used inside. So if you want to buy the best binoculars for your budget and your purposes, you are going to have to learn about what makes one pair of those handsome black tubes better than another.
In general, binoculars come in two kinds – the Porro Prism kind and the Roof Prism kind. The Roof Prism binocular variety is the most easily available these days. They make them to look like the letter H, they are compact, waterproof, fog proof and so on. It used to be that these were considered inferior to the Porro Prism kind.
But times certainly have changed. The Roof Prism model has completely taken over the market and it is considered superior in every way.
When you go out shopping for the best binoculars for your money, you’ll usually find that the stores choose to list a number of specifications for the models they display. Let's take a look at these to help you find the best binoculars for your purposes.
Usually, they'll display binoculars with a figure like 10x30 next to them. What they mean by this is that the objective lens is 30mm in diameter, and the image that this lens puts out is magnified 10 times by the front lens. The larger the second number is, the better quality your image will be. Remember telescopes and binoculars are not devices that magnify distant objects for you. That's not their primary job.
The job of with these devices is to train on a faint and distant object with as a large lens as possible. A large lens is able to collect visual light information from a distant object over a large area. One reason your eyes by themselves are unable to see distant objects clearly is that your eyes are very tiny – they only collect a tiny speck of light. Telescopes or binoculars with large lenses on the other hand act like large surfaces to collect light with to funnel into your eyes. So for the best binoculars possible, look for something with the biggest objective lenses you can afford.
Of course, large lenses(50mm and up) are likely to be big and heavy. It isn't just people who are into astronomy who will appreciate huge binoculars though. Birdwatchers will, too. They cost about $100.
Actually, 50mm binoculars are not that large. They actually happened to be the most popular size. If you want something for astronomy, look for something over 60mm.
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