The eye-relief of an optical instrument refers to the maximum distance behind the eyepiece that a user can place his or her eye and still see the full etent of the field of view. Sometimes armour will include sculpted thumb indents and textured surfaces to improve the grip and handling of the binocular. Magnesium alloy: the strongest, lightest and most expensive material currently used for binocular housings, magnesium alloy is generally used on premium models from high end optics manufacturers.Īs well as a solid housing almost all contemporary binoculars will have some degree of rubber armour applied to both barrels to protect against minor impact in the field, and also to improve grip and comfort for the user.
Aluminium alloy: light and very strong metal, many manufacturers employ aluminium alloys in the construction of their mid- to high-range binoculars.Polycarbonate: light, very strong and relatively low cost, polycarbonate bodies are typically used in many budget- to mid-range binoculars.The quest for that elusive balance between weight and durability has led to three key materials being used in contemporary binocular construction: So binocular housings need to be lightweight, but they also need to be very strong. It is also the key component that protects the delicate optical system from the knocks and bangs that are a fact of life out in the field. One of the principal components that adds weight to a binocular is the body or housing material. Fully-multi-coated: all air-to-glass surfaces in the binocular have multiple layers of coating applied to them.Multi-coated: some air-to-glass surfaces in the binocular have multiple layers of coating applied to them.Fully-coated: all air-to-glass surfaces in the binocular have a special coating applied to them.Coated: some, but not all air-to-glass surfaces in the optical system have a special coating applied to them.These coatings vary enormously from manufacturer to manufacturer, and at different price-points in the marketplace, but broadly speaking binoculars sold today are either: The quality of the optical coatings is one of the key differentiators between mediocre binoculars and truly outstanding ones.Īll binoculars on the market today employ some form of coating on the lenses and prisms to improve light transmission and reduce internal reflection. High performance anti-reflective, high-transmission coatings are critical to the design and performance of contemporary optics.
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