How does the measurement 8 x 42 work? How do I compare different binoculars by these measurements?
1671831
8X means 8 times bigger. The second number is the diameter of the light gathering lens (I think 42mm). To calculate how well and clear you will see things in dim conditions, do a math calculation - 42 divided by 8 equals 5.25. That is not very high. Aim for about 7.0 or more if you do bird or rodent watching in dim conditions like in a forest. Example, 7x49 gives a 7.0.
1671832
The first number always means the magnification. In this case the object will appear 8x bigger than with the naked eye. Sometimes you will see two numbers here, like 10-17 x 50. In this case it means it has adjustable zoom ranging from 10x - 17x. That sounds like it might be better, and often is, but when considering adjustable zoom you should know that the sharpness of the image will always be sacrificed for the moving parts so choose wisely based on your needs. The second number in the spec, in this case 42, is the diameter of the outer lens. The larger the lens, the more light it lets in. A smaller lens, like 25, means more compact but you will have a hard time seeing anything in darker conditions. A 50 would give you good visibility even at night. These being a 42 would give you good imaging in most cases except for deep night, I would think. Sadly there is no such thing as the perfect combination, it is always a compromise between image quality and size, but if you know what you will use them for most often you can find the right combination to suit your needs.
1910214
Everything depends on what you plan to use them for. If you are a bird watcher you will find the 7 X 26 much easier to use. The 8 X 42 would be better for a fixed item (like the moon) especially if you had a tripod to hold them steady. I don't know this for sure but strongly suspect that you can focus in closer, important on looking at up close subjects, like a butterfly that is only a short distance away, with the lower power (7 X 36) glasses. That is generally the case with other glasses, the higher the power the further away the minimum focus distance. I recommend looking here for more info: http://archive.audubonmagazine.org/features0911/betterBirding.html Everything depends on what you plan to use them for. If you are a bird watcher you will find the 7 X 26 much easier to use. The 8 X 42 would be better for a fixed item (like the moon) especially if you had a tripod to hold them steady. I don't know this for sure but strongly suspect that you can focus in closer, important on looking at up close subjects, like a butterfly that is only a short distance away, with the lower power (7 X 36) glasses. That is generally the case with other glasses, the higher the power the further away the minimum focus distance. I recommend looking here for more... » Read More Everything depends on what you plan to use them for. If you are a bird watcher you will find the 7 X 26 much easier to use. The 8 X 42 would be better for a fixed item (like the moon) especially if you had a tripod to hold them steady. I don't know this for sure but strongly suspect that you can focus in closer, important on looking at up close subjects, like a butterfly that is only a short distance away, with the lower power (7 X 36) glasses. That is generally the case with other glasses, the higher the power the further away the minimum focus distance. I recommend looking here for more info: http://archive.audubonmagazine.org/features0911/betterBirding.html « Show Less
1041721
Not sure..and they are not real heavy, but I did EXPECT them to be a bit smaller and a bit lighter than they actually were when they arrived. I imagine you can get the exact specs from the Company site.good luck. Ps they are fabulous binoculars, with incredible clarity!!
1508602
My wife owns an 18x50IS and a 10x42LIS. I own a 15x50IS. Never any issues. Have never dropped them. Knock on wood. We use lithium primaries only. The spotting scope gathers dust since we bought the 15 and 18 power binoculars. The 10's are MUCH brighter (4.2 exit pupil) and have a good field of view. The image stabilization is really worth it.
43024
Hello,Jody.i think 10x42 is better.the binoculars is good quality, and not very heavy. I use it to see bird,nice experience.
807976
These measurements are not absolutes because the case is flexible. In inches it is about 6.25 tall, 5.50 wide and 2 deep. My Swarovski EL 8X32 fit in fine and because the closure clip is adjustable a taller binocular would fit as well - this gives you about another inch in height. I hope this helps - I found it frustrating that the manufacture did not provide this information.
238184
These binoculars hinge in the middle and the IPD ranges from about 55mm minimum to a maximum of 70mm at the widest. I hope this helps.
1277830
I think those are for binoculars that are 10x, 12X, 20X in power. Those are binocs more suited to astronomy. These have such a wide field of view that most people don't use them for astronomy.
1050137
These binoculars weigh about 1.4 lbs. (600g)Length is 5.7 inches (145mm)Width is 5 inches (129mm)
1923609
http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/explore/optics/8x42-mid-priced-binoculars-reviews.php
1675746
I'm sorry, but i cannot answer your question because shortly after getting my binoculars they were taken by the Federal Transportation person from my luggage, so i hardly had a chance to use them. The government's response so far has been, "Sue us!" I may. What I as a naive traveler learned is never pack binoculars in checked luggage.
1111215
you need to follow the directions on the paper...binoculars have to be set up for the 1st use...or they will look blurry. There are specific steps needed to do it...
1340325
The first number is the power of the lens, that is how much it will magnify the image. The second number represents the diameter of the lens in mm. They work together to calculate a number called the "exit pupil" or "exit ratio". Take the lens size and divide it by the power to get this number. The higher the number, the brighter the image. For example, 10x50 will give an exit ratio of 5.0, 8x42 would be 5.25, 10x42 would be 4.2. In my opinion, the exit ratio is more important than the power. My favorite binoculars are 8x50 (6.25) but I also just bought 10x50 as a gift who is delighted with that configuration. Stay away from high-power binoculars. They, for me, are too hard to keep steady due to the high magnification. I hope this helps. -Norm
2125508
The 8 refers to the magnification, how many times closer the object will appear when looking through the binoculars. The 32 indicates the diameter of the objective lens.
947367
Actually they are quite large and I had to send mine back for that reason. I ordered Tasco 12x25 binoculars they are much smaller and fit neatly in my purse.
1160891
I don't have the binoculars to hand, so cannot measure the interpupilary distance directly, but this is a personal concern for me as some models are not quite narrow enough. I have no problem at all with these Vanguards.
681080
The eyepiece housing diameter for the binocular versions (IB-542/IB-442) is larger than the monocular version (IC-518/IC-418). You will not be able to use the monocular version to fit with binoculars.