Considering that binoculars are designed to bring clarity to your outdoor experiences, it's amazing how confusing things get when trying to decide which pair of binoculars is right for you. The best way to evaluate the optical performance and ease of use for a pair of binoculars is to go to a store and look through several before you make a final choice. That said, here are a few key things we can help you understand when choosing the best binoculars for you.

What do the numbers (specs) on binoculars mean? Model numbers on binoculars essentially tell you their strength (magnification power) and size (objective lens diameter). In 8x42 binoculars, for example, "8" is the magnification power and "42" is the diameter (in millimeters) of the objective lenses (the lenses closest to the object you're viewing). Objective lens size gives you an understanding of how physically big the binoculars are and how much light they can gather. When you understand what these numbers mean and how they affect your viewing, you'll know if you're choosing binoculars that will be good for birding, stargazing or using on a moving boat, for example. (Below, we'll go into more detail about binocular specs.)

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Why are binoculars with similar specs pricier than others? It's what's inside that counts, and advanced optics are a big reason why the price of similar binoculars can differ by hundreds of dollars.

What additional features are important to consider when buying binoculars? Protective touches like rubber coating, as well as waterproof and fog-proof construction, factor into price, and depending on your intended usage may be well worth the upgrade.

How do I choose binoculars for specific uses? If you want binoculars for a specific primary purpose such as bird watching, whale watching or astronomy, the basic guidelines below can help narrow down your choices. Magnification and size are the starting point, but optics and features should also factor into your decision.

For simplicity, binoculars are broken down into compact, midsize and full-size categories, based on the size of their objective lenses (the second number in model names). Note, though, that variations in optics, design and construction can still mean that models with the same size objective lenses will differ in size and weight.

If the binoculars are going inside your pack, then lightweight compact models make sense. Midsize models can give you brighter images and be more comfortable to hold for long periods. That might change with larger full-size binoculars, which some people find too heavy to hold for extended periods of time.

While it might seem that more magnification is always better, that's not always the case. Because magnification also amplifies the movement of your hands, binoculars with magnification powers greater than 10 make steady viewing difficult, so they would be a poor choice if you will be on a boat or other moving platform.

Having a narrower field of view can make it harder to locate small and/or moving objects (like birds) when you scan far away. That smaller field of view also lets in less light, so images will be slightly darker.

Because other factors, like eyepiece design, also play a role, the "field of view" spec is the one to check in order to get the true picture here. This spec states the width of the area you can view at a glance, 1,000 yards from where you stand.

The diameter of the objective lenses plays a key role in how much light your binoculars can gather. For two pairs of binoculars that otherwise have exactly the same specifications, the pair with larger objective lenses will capture more light, providing a brighter image. (Binoculars with higher quality optics will also have brighter images.)

Simply put, a higher number means brighter images. A higher number indicates better viewing in low-light situations, and it will be easier to maintain a full image of an object if your hands move or shake.

Exit pupil size is calculated by dividing the diameter of the objective lenses by the magnification number. For 8x42 binoculars, 42 divided by 8 equals an exit pupil diameter of 5.25mm. It indicates the size of the shaft of light that reaches your eyes, whose pupils vary from about 2mm in bright light to 7mm in total darkness.

Most binoculars have adjustable eyepieces that allow you to set them to their maximum eye relief value (the stated spec). That is usually done by rolling down rubber eyecups or by twisting a collar to shorten the eyepieces.

This is where advanced technologies (and a dizzying array of terms to describe them) come into play. The makeup of the glass and the coatings on the lenses that reduce reflection all add up to determine the clarity and brightness of your image. This is when test viewing is key. That will tell you what advancements your eyes can detect, and in turn, how much more you should consider paying for the image quality you want.

The prisms are the optical elements that direct the light from the image through the binoculars to your eyes. Older "porro prism" binoculars feature wide barrels in front that aren't aligned with the eyepieces. Newer "roof prism" models have eyepieces and objective lenses aligned. The difference in appearance doesn't tell you anything about the optical quality, but having roof prisms allows binoculars to be smaller and lighter.

If you'll be using your binoculars in a kayak, aboard a boat or on a trail in the rain, you'll want to look at waterproof or weather-resistant binoculars. Be aware, too, that manufacturers sometimes describe any level of water resistance as "waterproof," even though there is a distinction:

While it won't provide full-scale crash protection, a rubber coating is still helpful to guard against minor bumps and bruises. It's a worthwhile feature for any binoculars intended to be used in rugged outdoor environments.

To counter fog, binocular makers purge the air inside and replace it with nitrogen, which has no moisture content and therefore won't condense. This protects against fogging up of the internal lens surfaces, not the exterior ones.

Most binoculars have a central control that focuses both barrels at the same time. They also include a "diopter" adjustment ring to focus one barrel independently, allowing you to compensate for differences in vision between your eyes.

To get a sense of focusing ease, how comfortable binoculars feel in your hands and their optical clarity and brightness, you need to visit a store where you can try out several of the models you're considering.

If the retailer doesn't have a test chart to view, then focus on a detailed object across the store. Pay close attention to the overall sharpness and brightness of the image, as well as the consistency of clarity and brightness from side to side in your field of view.

The larger the aperture, the easier it will be to see fainter night sky targets such as galaxies and nebulae. As a rule of thumb, and under decent observing conditions, 7x35 binoculars will reveal a hundred thousand stars and 10x50s will show the finer details of the Moon, planets, Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31) and the Orion Nebula. Larger, heavier binoculars such as 20x80s and 20x100s, will open up a wealth of objects such as the fainter spiral galaxies Messier 65 and NGC 3628 and a selection of globular clusters and star-forming regions.

Without coatings on the optics of binoculars, images would be blurry and lack contrast since light transmission would be poor, glare would become prevalent and light would be lost through internal reflections. A poor, disappointing view would be had by the observer.

With a pair of the best binoculars, you'll be ready to view distant wildlife and sporting events in bright clarity. A good pair can even be taken stargazing, although those looking to use them for this purpose will want to look for large front lenses (known as the objective lens diameter) to soak in as much light from distant stars as possible, along with high magnification to bring celestial objects into focus.

At Space.com our experts know what they like in a pair of binoculars in terms of specs and features, and we've tested them out in the field to bring you all the best options for all different purposes and budgets. A quality pair of binoculars will be comfortable to hold, easy to transport (even more so with the best compact binoculars) and safe to use in all weather conditions. You'll find nothing less in this guide.

Binoculars tend to be more portable and affordable than telescopes, making them a good choice for casual stargazing and wildlife watching. Those who plan to get more serious about their stargazing will benefit from investing in one of the best telescopes, and for those who want to photograph the night sky, we also have guides to the best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography.

A contributing expert to Space.com, Live Science, All About Space and more, Gemma is the author of several books including 'Quantum Physics in Minutes'. She holds a degree in physical sciences, a Master's in astrophysics and a PhD in computational astrophysics and became fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 2011. Gemma is also the Communications and Outreach Office at the European Space Agency."}), " -0-7/js/person.js"); } else { console.error('%c FTE ','background: #9306F9; color: #ffffff','no lazy slice hydration function available'); }Dr Gemma LavenderContributing expertA contributing expert to Space.com, Live Science, All About Space and more, Gemma is the author of several books including 'Quantum Physics in Minutes'. She holds a degree in physical sciences, a Master's in astrophysics and a PhD in computational astrophysics and became fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 2011. Gemma is also the Communications and Outreach Office at the European Space Agency.

For hand-held astronomy, the Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars are among the very best you can get. Their standout feature is Canon's Optical Image Stabilization (IS). This clever technology uses gyroscope motion sensors to detect arm movement and a vari-angle prism to correct it by up to 0.8 degrees. With the push of a button, you can eliminate hand shakes and get a steady image, perfect for long viewing sessions when your arms might get tired. 152ee80cbc

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