Understanding the Numbers

So as a quick recap of the video, lets go over what an 8×42 binoculars is.

8 = 8x your naked eye magrnification

42 = 42 mm lens on the binoculars, this lens is on the opposite side from the lenses you directly look through.

Each typical option, 8×42 or 10×50, has their own pros and cons:

8x
• Wider field of view
• More stable
• Better in dense habitats ( ex. Looking for songbirds )
• Great for beginners as its easier to find the birds in the binoculars due to wider field of view.

10x
• More magnification for more distant birds
• Narrower field of view
• More handshake
• Better for open spaces where birds are easier to find in your view ( ex. Looking for waterfowl, shorebirds, birds of prey in the sky)

As I said in the video, I highly reccommend starting with an 8×42!