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Binoculars are an essential bird-watching tool or for anyone who enjoys outdoor activities, especially activities that rely on clearly observing your surroundings. Whether you need a pair of binoculars for bird-watching, stargazing, marine observation, or hiking, with Heartland America, you can buy the best binoculars online at the best price. We carry day- and night-vision binoculars for a variety of uses at discounted prices, and our helpful customer service staff is here to make it as easy as possible for you to place your order. Whether you shop with us online or from our printed catalog, your satisfaction is guaranteed when you buy binoculars from Heartland America!

Understanding Binoculars

When you’re looking for a new pair of binoculars, it’s important to keep in mind the size you’re looking for, the magnification, the field of view, and the brightness.

• Size: Binoculars are broken down into compact, mid-size, and full-size categories. A compact set of binoculars has a lens size smaller than 30 mm; mid-size binoculars have lenses from 30 mm to 40 mm, and full-size binoculars have lenses larger than 40 mm. Compact models are great for long hikes because they are easy to carry, but mid-size models can show you brighter images and are comfortable to hold for longer periods of time. Full-size binoculars offer the best images but might be too heavy for long trips.
• Magnification: The best magnification power levels to look at are 8x and 10x. A pair of 8x binoculars will offer a wider field of view, but the 10x option offers a closer and more detailed view. If you’re interested in night binoculars, you will probably be looking to buy a pair with a lower magnification; higher magnification usually results in less clarity.
• Field of View: Magnification has a direct effect on your field of view. A lower power expands it, while a higher power narrows it. A narrower field of view can make it harder to locate small moving objects from farther away.
• Brightness: The exit pupil gives you an indication of the brightness of the image you’ll see and how effective the binoculars will be in low-light situations. This is a number calculated by dividing the diameter of the lens by the magnification and indicates the size of the shaft of light that reaches your eye. This is most important when you buy night binoculars because you’ll need an exit pupil of 5 mm or more to make viewing easier; day binoculars will be fine if they have an exit pupil greater than 2 mm.

What Is the Best Magnification for Binoculars?

Either 8x or 10x magnification is a good choice for zoom binoculars, but deciding between these two options is a personal choice. A 10x pair of binoculars is better for viewing from a distance but usually means a narrower field of view and a darker image in low light, while 8x gives you a smaller image that’s wider and brighter.

Which Is Better: 10x50 Binoculars or 10x42 Binoculars?

Binoculars with 10x50 mm lenses have the potential to capture more light and more information, so they may give you brighter and better-quality views. However, on a day with an average amount of daylight, the difference between 10x42 and 10x50 zoom binoculars is negligible.

Which Binoculars Are Best?

Ultimately, everyone’s idea of the best binoculars will be different: The best pair for someone with excellent eyesight observing things up close during the day will be far different than the best pair for someone who wants to see things that are far away and/or at night. But whether you need to find day- or night-vision binoculars for sale, you’ll always find the lowest prices when you shop with Heartland America.

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