Newsletter Archives

New at the Nest

Our customers are valuable to us. We continually search for new and better ways to serve you. In an effort to better meet your needs, BestNest aggressively adds new products to the website. Some of the new and exciting products that we've added are shown below. Be sure to check out our New Items department regularly.

Sales & Specials

We've decided to run a special on a handful of products. Act now on the following "Hot Buys" because the special ends on Monday, October 3rd. Be sure to check out all of our exciting specials by visiting the Hot Buys department regularly.

Clearance

A few of our deeply discounted items appear below. These items feature exceptional savings and value but are not all of our sale items. More discounted items may be found in their corresponding departments. Be sure to check out some of our other exciting deals by visiting the Clearance department regularly.

Understanding Binoculars

Most of us have used binoculars, but how many of us know anything more than they make things look bigger? Binoculars are a tool that will enhance common outdoor events like birding, hiking, sporting events, and star gazing. Understanding binoculars can be a bit technical and overwhelming at first; however, that is what will allow you to find the right binocular for your needs.

Every good pair of binocular will have two numbers associated with them, usually in the format 00x00. Knowing what these numbers mean is the first step to understanding binoculars. The first number indicates the magnification, or how many times larger the item will appear. Common magnification sizes are 6, 8, 10, and 12. The magnification will not only affect how large the image appears; but also impacts the field of view, FOV, which we will discuss shortly. The second number is the diameter of the objective lens in millimeters. The objective lens will often range from 28mm-50mm. The larger the objective, the more light gathering potential the binocular will have.

A binocular’s FOV will often determine its suitability for you. The FOV is very simply the amount of area you can see through the binocular at a particular distance. Typically, FOV is listed as distance in feet at 1000yds. A wide field allows you to see both your intended object and surrounding area, while a narrow field would focus more on the object itself. So, for sporting events a wider FOV is more commonly chosen over a narrow FOV. Generally, the higher a binocular’s magnification, the narrower the FOV will be and vice versa.

Binoculars are one of three designs – roof prism, porro prism, and reverse porro prism. You can identify what type a binocular is by looking at its shape. Roof prism binocs appear in a straight line from the eyepiece to the objective lens. Both porro prism and reverse porro binocs have an offset between the eyepiece and the objective. Porro prisms are wider at the objective end, while reverse porro prisms are wider at the eyepiece. Roof prism binocs tend to be the most versatile, but are more costly for a good pair. Having a straight line between the eyepiece and objective lens allows more light to be sent directly to the eye, making images brighter. Porro prism optics have the eyepieces close together and the objective lenses farther apart, offering you excellent depth perception and a wide field of view. Porro prisms also gather light well and are suited to a variety of uses. Reverse porro prisms do not gather light well, but their design makes them perfect as compact binocs for use in daylight or well lit events.

A waterproof binocular, or one with rubber armor, makes it more versatile, for use in many different types of weather. The armor protects the sensitive lenses from the elements, such as snow and excess heat, and the waterproofing design allows use in rain. Some designs use gas purging, which means that argon or nitrogen gas is sealed inside the optic to help prevent any water from getting in, so your lenses do not become foggy. Roof prism design pieces tend to have seals and gas purging, due to their straight shape. The porro prism and reverse porro prism models have an offset shape, and are virtually impossible to seal for gas purging or waterproofing. Thus, they tend to have more lens coatings and exterior armor than roof prism designs.

Almost any quality pair of binocular will have adjustable eye cups and a diopter. Adjustable eye cups are very important for eyeglass wearers. Eyecups that twist out will be effective and comfortable for binoculars with multiple users, as it allows you to change the distance from your eye to the lenses. A diopter is an adjustable ring or knob, that ensures the optics are focused for both eyes. Most people have one eye that is a bit stronger or more dominant than the other. In good binoculars, you can adjust one or both set of lenses separately so your views are always crisp for both eyes.

Becoming familiar with the common features of binoculars, as well as what these mean for you, will assist you in finding the best binocular for your needs. BestNest carries a wide range of Binoculars. For more information or personal assistance in understanding binoculars, feel free to call one of our customer service representatives toll free at 877-562-1818 or internationally at 513-232-4225 from 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday.