There are lots of optical instruments available such as telescopes microscopes and binoculars however the most popular by far are binoculars. Used by fisherman, hunters, sports enthusiasts and bird watchers they are a very popular item common in many households.

Binoculars work like your eyes and are twin lenses mounted side by side. The fact that you can look through a lens for each eye gives your vision the same depth of field as your eyes. The result is that images viewed through binoculars have a 3D look to them.

Binoculars use prisms to essentially fold light so that the instrument can see very long distances using a relatively short device. Binoculars come in many sizes with the smallest fitting in a pocket or purse and the larger models actually requiring a tripod or stand to hold them steady. An example of this are the familiar coin operated binoculars common at National Parks.

A good pair of binoculars will produce two identical images, one for each eye. You should check to make sure there are no variances in color or shape of the images or internal reflection.

The amount that a binocular will magnify is referred to by X… 7x 8x etc.. This simply means that the instrument will magnify 7 or 8 times the original size. The basic range of magnification is most commonly 6X to 10X.

Your best bet when shopping for binoculars is to stick to a known brand. All the name brand manufacturers produce their own lenses and many are big in the camera business. Name brands include; Minolta, Nikon, Pentax Zeiss, Celestron and Sworvski. Choosing a binocular from any of these manufacturers is pretty much a sure thing as far as quality goes.

If you are going to be traveling there are numerous light weight yet powerful models to choose from. Travel models are built with a specially reduced prism designed to provide maximum magnification for the size. Make sure that the model you select fits comfortably into what you plan to carry it in, be it a shoulder bag or suitcase.

If you are looking at binoculars as a first step to astronomy, then be sure to get as strong a magnification as you can afford. Also be sure that the binoculars have a tripod screw so that you can set them up to do steadier stargazing.

If you are using them for sports your needs can vary from a simple compact set to a powerful rangefinder for hunting practice, so be sure to match the binocular to the task.

Lastly be sure to have cleaning tools handy. An ideal item is a can of compressed air to blow dust from the lens and body. After that, treat the lenses carefully when you clean them by using ocular wipes to clean the lenses from the center out in a swirling motion. You can use a toothbrush and damp cloth to clean the body of any grime that can build up through use.

By following these tips you will end up with the right pair of binoculars for your needs and be able to keep them in top operating shape for years to come.

Author Bio: Frank Stuart is an author and webmaster who writes articles mainly for his own websites. If you are looking for a pair of binoculars be sure to drop by the Binoculars Blog

Category: Advice
Keywords: binoculars,spotting scopes,astronomy,cannon,nikon,minolta,zeiss