Comparison BRESSER Condor 10x25 WP vs BRESSER Hunter 10x50

— Binoculars. Binoculars are portable optical devices designed to observe with two eyes at the same time. They consist of two identical tubes, each of which has a separate optical system. This design provides the effect of a three-dimensional image during observation, moreover, it allows you to observe as naturally as possible without closing one eye. At the same time, binoculars are more expensive, larger and heavier than monoculars with similar optical characteristics; in addition, all their advantages are lost when it is impossible to see normally with both eyes at once — for example, with strabismus or the absence of one eye.

— Monocular. Optical instruments that look like half binoculars or a shortened spyglass; have one eyepiece and are designed for observation with one eye. Such devices do not allow you to get a stereoscopic image, unlike binoculars; on the other hand, they are lighter, more compact and cheaper, besides, they can be used even when it is impossible to see with both eyes at the same time.

Binoculars and monoculars are universal, night, marine, theatrical, astronomical, and for people wearing glasses.

The diameter of the area visible through binoculars / monoculars from a distance of 1 km — in other words, the largest distance between two points at which they can be seen simultaneously from this distance. It is also called "linear field of view". Along with the angular field of view (see below), this parameter characterizes the space covered by the optics; at the same time, it describes the capabilities of a particular model more clearly than data on viewing angles. Models with magnification adjustment (see above) usually indicate the maximum field of view — at the lowest magnification and the widest angle of view. This information is often supplemented by data on the minimum value.

The smallest distance to the observed object, at which it will be clearly visible through binoculars / monoculars. All such optical instruments were initially created for observing remote objects, therefore, not all of them are able to work at short distances. When choosing a model for this parameter, one should proceed from the expected observation conditions: ideally, the minimum focus distance should not be greater than the smallest possible distance to the observed object.

A complex indicator that describes the quality of binoculars / monoculars at dusk — when the illumination is weaker than during the day, but not yet as dim as in the deep evening or at night. It is primarily about the ability to see small details through the device. The need to use this parameter is due to the fact that twilight is a special condition. In daylight, the visibility of small details through binoculars is determined primarily by the magnification of the optics, and in night light, by the diameter of the lens (see below); at dusk, both of these indicators affect the quality. This feature takes into account the twilight factor. Its specific value is calculated as the square root of the product of the multiplicity and the diameter of the lens. For example, for 8x40 binoculars, the twilight factor will be the root of 8x40=320, that is, approximately 17.8. In models with power adjustment (see above), the minimum twilight factor is usually indicated at the lowest magnification, but data is often given for the maximum. The lowest value of this parameter for normal visibility at dusk is considered to be 17. At the same time, it is worth noting that the twilight factor does not take into account the actual light transmission of the system — and it strongly depends on the quality of lenses and prisms, the use of antireflection coatings, etc. Therefore, the actual image quality at dusk for two models with the same twilight factor may differ markedly.

One of the parameters describing the quality of visibility through an optical device in low light conditions. Relative brightness is denoted as the diameter of the exit pupil (see below) squared; the higher this number, the more light the binoculars/monoculars let through. At the same time, this indicator does not take into account the quality of lenses, prisms and coatings used in the design. Therefore, comparing the two models in terms of relative brightness is only possible approximately, since even if the values are equal, the actual image quality may differ markedly.

The lens diameter is the front lens of the binocular/monocular. This parameter is also called "aperture". Designate it in millimetres. Aperture is one of the most important characteristics of an optical device: it describes the amount of light that the device is able to "capture" into the lens, and largely determines the image quality in low light. Therefore, the second number in the traditional marking of binoculars / monoculars is precisely the diameter of the lens — for example, 8x40 mm corresponds to 8x binoculars with an aperture of 40 mm. In addition, with a large lens it is easier to provide a wide field of view without sacrificing magnification. In general, the larger the aperture, the more advanced the optical device is considered. On the other hand, the increase in lenses has a corresponding effect on the weight and dimensions of the entire structure. And you should not forget about the influence of individual components of the system (for example, prisms) on the overall image quality.

The diameter of the exit pupil created by the optical system of a binocular/monocular. The exit pupil is called the projection of the front lens of the lens, built by the optics in the region of the eyepiece; this image can be observed in the form of a characteristic light circle, if you look into the eyepiece not close, but from a distance of 30 – 40 cm. The diameter of this circle is measured according to a special formula — dividing the diameter of the lens by the multiplicity (see above). For example, an 8x40 model would have a pupil diameter of 40/8=5mm. This indicator determines the overall aperture of the device and, accordingly, the image quality in low light: the larger the pupil diameter, the brighter the “picture” will be (of course, with the same quality of prisms and glasses, because they also affect the brightness). In addition, it is believed that the diameter of the exit pupil should be no less than that of the pupil of the human eye — and the size of the latter can vary. So, in daylight, the pupil in the eye has a size of 2-3 mm, and in the dark — 7-8 mm in adolescents and adults, and about 5 mm in the elderly. This point should be taken into account when choosing a model for specific conditions: after all, fast models are expensive, and it hardly makes sense to overpay for a large pupil if you need binoculars exclusively for daytime use.

The method of aiming the optics of binoculars (see "Type") for sharpness.

— Central. In accordance with the name, focus in this case is carried out using a regulator (usually a rotary handwheel) located in the central part of the binoculars, between the halves. When such a flywheel is turned, both optical systems are adjusted simultaneously — this is convenient, because. allows you to quickly reconfigure the binoculars for different distances. On the other hand, such models are more complex in design than separate ones, have more weight and less reliability.

— Separate. In models with this type of focus, each eyepiece is adjusted separately. This is not as convenient as the central control, but it allows you to reduce the weight, dimensions and price of binoculars, and also facilitates the creation of "protected" devices.

— Automatic. The name in this case is not entirely true: we are not talking about automatic adjustment of optics, but about a fixed focus. Such binoculars do not require focus during use — they allow you to clearly see all objects in the range from the minimum focus distance to infinity, and the observer's eye itself performs the necessary adjustment (similar to what happens when viewing objects at different distances with the naked eye). Models of this type are very convenient for observing on the move, especially when th...e distance to the observed object is constantly changing, as well as in situations where the exact location of the appearance of this object is unknown — they allow you to "target" as quickly as possible and without unnecessary movements. As a result, autofocus is considered optimal for watching sports, wildlife, and the like. The main disadvantage of autofocus can be called the fact that it noticeably tyres the eyes — especially when alternating between the naked eye and the use of binoculars.

Coating is a special coating applied to the surface of the lens. This coating is intended to reduce light loss at the air-glass interface. Such losses inevitably arise due to the reflection of light, and the antireflective coating “turns” the reflected rays back, thus increasing the light transmission of the lens. In addition, this function reduces the amount of glare on objects visible through binoculars/monoculars. There are single-layer, full single-layer, multi-layer, full multi-layer. More details about them:

- Single layer. This marking indicates that one or more lens surfaces (but not all) have a single layer of anti-reflective coating applied to them. This is inexpensive and can be used even in entry-level optical instruments. On the other hand, it filters out a certain spectrum of light, which distorts the color rendition in the visible image - sometimes quite noticeably. In addition, in this case, on some lens surfaces there is no coating at all, which inevitably leads to glare in the field of view. Thus, single-layer coating is the simplest type and is used extremely rarely, mainly in budget models.

- Full single layer. A variation of the single-layer coating described above, in which an anti-reflective coating is present on all surfaces of the lenses (at each air-glass interface). Although this option is al...so characterized by color distortion, it is devoid of another, the most key drawback of “incomplete” enlightenment - glare in the field of view. And the mentioned color distortion is most often not critical. With all this, full single-layer coating is relatively inexpensive, which is why it is very popular in entry-level and entry-mid-level models.

- Multi-layered. A type of coating in which multiple layers of reflective coating are applied to one or more lens surfaces (but not all). The advantage of such a coating over a single-layer coating is that it uniformly transmits almost the entire visible spectrum and does not create noticeable color distortions. The absence of a coating on individual surfaces reduces the cost of the device (compared to full multi-layer coating), but it is impossible to completely get rid of glare in such a system.

- Fully multi-layered. The most advanced and effective of modern types of coating: a multilayer coating is applied to all surfaces of the lenses. This way, high brightness and clarity of the “picture” is achieved, with natural color rendition and no glare. The classic disadvantage of this option is its high cost; Accordingly, full multi-layer coating is typical mainly for high-end models.