How do binoculars work?

Several centuries ago, people thought of combining two telescopes. As a result of this, binoculars appeared, which became indispensable devices for performing a variety of work. Such optics remain popular today. However, not everyone knows how it works. To eliminate this gap, you need to carefully study the information regarding the design, types and features of the operation of binoculars.

The structure of a binocular

The invention of binoculars has become important for mankind. This device consisted of two combined telescopes designed to observe distant objects. Throughout its history, binoculars have been transformed and improved many times. As a result, modern devices with a fairly simple design have become available to people.

All binoculars produced today have a lens and an eyepiece in their design. The first collects light and forms a visible image, and the second allows the user to see the final result of the device. Both of these design elements consist of convex and concave lenses. They have different shapes and help to collect or scatter light. Also important components of any binoculars are prisms. They are glass elements that act as a mirror. In addition, they help to correct the problem of image flip resulting from the passage of light through a convex objective lens.

Binocular styles

There are a huge number of classifications of binoculars. All of them divide devices into several groups according to certain criteria.

Types by type of prisms used:

Roof. Binoculars with prisms of this type are compact in size and light in weight. The process of their manufacture takes a lot of time and requires considerable financial costs. Because of this, these devices are quite expensive. Another feature of the Roof is that the light passing through them repeatedly changes its direction, following which it is focused in the eyepiece.
Porro. Devices of this type are widely used in various fields of activity. The prisms used are not the smallest dimensions, which negatively affects the size of the optics. At the same time, they provide accurate color reproduction, which contributes to the creation of a bright and clear image without any defects.

Also, their purpose is often used to classify binoculars. Depending on this, the devices you choose are perfect for one application and useless for another.

Types by purpose:

Theatrical. Such optics has a minimum size and weight. It also has a small multiplicity, so it is used only to observe objects that are close to the user.
Field. These binoculars are designed to view distant targets. They are distinguished by maximum magnification and a wide range of aperture changes.
Military. These devices are an improved version of field optics. They have the same characteristics, but have several important additions. The latter include increased strength, moisture resistance and an increased field of view.
Astronomical. These binoculars are used exclusively for observing the Moon, comets, nearby planets and other space objects. In this regard, they are distinguished by high multiplicity and the possibility of manual adjustment of most parameters. At the same time, this optics provides for the possibility of using a tripod, so it is made quite massive.
Marine. This particular type of device is used by sailors and rescuers. It has high strength and is characterized by the presence of a moisture-proof housing. Also, marine binoculars are often complemented by a rangefinder and image stabilizer.
Night. Such optics are suitable for use in the dark. It provides the user with a high-quality image and makes it possible to inspect the area even with minimal natural or artificial lighting.

How do binoculars work?

All produced binoculars have a similar principle of operation. It is simple enough to understand, so even people with basic education can understand it. The whole cycle of work consists of 4 main stages. On each of them, certain transformations of light occur, as a result of which the user receives a high-quality image of the observed objects at the output.

Operating principle:

At the initial stage, the lens captures the light rays reflected from a person, animal, plant or any inanimate object. This process takes a matter of fractions of a second, which avoids various delays in getting the user the opportunity to see the final image.
The lens is a convex lens. As soon as light passes through it, it refocuses and the image becomes inverted 180 degrees. To return it to its original position, a prism is used. This structural element is located inside the case, which hides it from the user’s eyes. It consists of two glasses, each of which flips the image 90 degrees. As a result, the desired position of the picture is achieved, which can be shown to the user.
At the next stage, the rays are focused in the eyepiece. It is a concave lens that diffuses light and allows the user to see the image created by the binoculars. Often, the eyepiece is formed not from one, but from several such lenses. The increased number of these structural elements improves the quality of the picture and avoids the appearance of various defects (for example, blurring).
At the last stage, the user puts the eyepieces to their eyes and sees the final image. It turns out quite clear and approximate several times.

How to choose a pair of binoculars?

Any optics is selected for specific tasks. In this regard, before buying, users need to consider many parameters that can affect the quality of the device.

Main selection criteria:

Appointment. Try to buy binoculars that are suitable for certain tasks. So they will be more efficient and able to meet your needs.
Multiplicity. This indicator is the main one for binoculars. The ability of optics to bring the image closer to a certain number of times depends on it. For ordinary users, 10-fold models will suffice. At the same time, to perform more complex tasks (for example, monitoring a large area, search and rescue operations, etc.), it is better to choose optics with a higher magnification.
Field of view. This parameter must be taken into account when buying binoculars. It is measured in linear or angular terms and makes it possible to estimate the amount of visual information available. The higher the value, the more area you can see. It is important to remember that excessively high values will lead to distortion at the edges of the picture.
Aperture. This feature is important when buying binoculars for professional use. It shows the ability of optics to create a bright image in low light conditions. The higher this indicator, the brighter the final result will be.
Body material. One of the most vulnerable parts of binoculars is the body. The durability of optics and the possibility of its use in extreme conditions depend on its strength. In this regard, the best option would be to purchase models whose body is made of durable, but lightweight material. In this case, it will withstand mechanical stress and will not create a large load on the hands in case of prolonged observation of various objects.
Waterproof. It is desirable that the purchased binoculars be reliably protected from water. In this case, it can be used even in rainy or snowy weather, without fear of the negative effects of moisture.
Brand awareness. Try to buy well-known brands. In most cases, it is made from quality materials and undergoes multiple tests before being sent to the consumer.
User reviews. Give preference to models that get a lot of good reviews. Most often they are the most high-quality and convenient to use. At the same time, the presence of many negative responses will indicate many shortcomings of the device in question.

Binoculars have been around for a long time. Despite this, they are still in demand and are used in various fields of activity. These products often have a similar design and principle of operation. Knowing them, you can fully reveal the capabilities of optics and make the process of its operation more efficient.