A closer look at your binoculars.

Most outdoorsmen have some kind of optic, whether it be a binocular, spotting scope, telescope, etc. A good pair of binoculars and a good spotting scope will give many rewarding moments.

How to focus your binoculars

I am often surprised at how many people do not know how to focus binoculars correctly. I sell binoculars and have had to explain how to focus them to quite a few people. To focus them properly is very important because one side might be slightly blurry and the other clear. This does not give a clear picture and can make even good binoculars look bad.

First, let me explain that binoculars have two focusing places, one is the center focus knob on the top, and the other is the right eye adjustment.

First you'll want to close your right eye and turn the center focus knob on top until the image with your left eye is clear.

It is good to focus on something with detail such as a tree with branches or a sign with letters.

Next, close your left eye and adjust the right eye adjustment until the right eye is clean Now both eyes are clear on the object you focused on. From now on use only the center focus knob on top to focus. It's good to remember where you turned your right eye adjustment, because another person's eyes might be different from yours and may turn it to his/her liking. Usually there is a zero, along with a plus and a minus, somewhere printed on the side of the right eyepiece.

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Why don't you focus your binoculars now and see if it doesn't make them better?

Understanding the numbers on your binoculars

We have discussed how to properly focus your binoculars. Now we'll discover what the numbers (7 x 35,10 x 50, etc.) on your binoculars mean. Binoculars have a job-to bring an image up closer or to make it look bigger. There are two numbers printed on binoculars that are important to understand. The first is the power (or magnification); the second is the diameter of the large lens (or objective lens).

When you see the numbers 7 x 35, the 7 is the power, or magnification. It means that this model makes objects look seven times larger, or closer, than they do with the naked eye. A 10 x 50 would mean a 10-times magnification (sometimes shown as 10x).

The second number being 35 in this case is the diameter of the objective lens (the big one facing the object being looked at) in millimeters. The diameter of this lens helps determine the brightness of the binoculars-important to those who use them in low light conditions (early morning or late evenings).

A 50 mm lens is the largest one commonly available. 50ram is approximately 2" across. Larger objective lenses let in more light. The bad part is that larger objective lenses make the binoculars larger, heavier, and usually more expensive.

The 3rd number: 7 x 35, 225FOV. Usually there is another number after the first two, in this case it is 225ft. or FOV. FOV means field of view. This is how wide your field of view is at 1,000 yards away. The field of view can also be listed in degree. (Example: 5[degrees]FOV) One degree is equivalent to 52.5 feet. Binoculars with a 5[degrees] field of view would have a FOV of 262.5 feet (5x52.5). This is always at 1,000 yards away.

So when you see binoculars with the numbers 8x40, 262 feet, you will know that this model magnifies the view eight times, has an objective lens diameter of 40mm, and has a field view of 262 feet at 1,000 yards.

An 8 x 4 or a 10 x 42 is the most common size for a binocular. An 8x binocular usually has a wider field of view than a 10x and is also brighten Most serious birders have 8x42 binoculars.

Most westerners buy 10x binoculars because of the great distance that they usually look and they want that elk or mule closer to see how big his rack is.

I recommend Roof Prism binoculars all the way (the one with straight barrels). This style is less bulky and toughen

For more information or a catalog of outdoor equipment, contact: Edward Beachy, Ed's Outdoor Store, 32040 Allison Road, St. Ignatius, MT 59865; ph. 406-745-5115.

EDWARD BEACHY

ST. IGNATIUS, MONTANA