A Comprehensive Guide on How to Use Binoculars

Are you having trouble with your binoculars? And no idea how to make it work the way you want? Don’t worry, let we show you “how to use binoculars” with complete guides.

How to Use Binoculars
Binoculars are very useful when you go on a trip

Binoculars are a necessary accessory for those who like to participate in outdoor activities. It is very suitable for sightseeing trips, mountain climbing, or traveling to the sea and island, etc.

To be able to take advantage of all of its features to achieve the highest efficiency, the first thing we all need to do is to understand how to use binoculars.

Owning binoculars seems common, but choosing it is unfamiliar to most people, let alone how it works. Moreover, if you have versatile binoculars, its parameters can make you confused.

In this article, we will share our experiences our experience using binoculars.

These are caveats to bring many exciting experiences as well as increase product life.

How to Focus Binoculars

Since objects are at different distances, focusing the binoculars is necessary. You can increase or decrease magnification to adjust the vision. 

But how?

The tips to get the best image focus are right below.

1. Central focusing

You need to adjust the focus by the Focus Knob to get the most standardized image.

The Focus Knob is usually in the center of the binoculars, between the two barrels. You need to target the object, rotate the knob until it has the sharpest and crispiest view you want.

The central Focus Knob
The central Focus Knob

You can read this article to know: What Do the Numbers on Binoculars Mean?

2. Individual focusing

In addition to the central focusing binoculars, there are also some types equipped with Focus Knob placed directly above the two eyes.

For these binoculars, you should get the standard for each eye because each one has different characteristics.

You squint one eye, rotate the knob in turn, start focusing the eyepiece until the object appears most sharply, and repeat with the other eyepiece.

Binoculars with this type of focus usually have a wide-angle field of view.

Hence, users do not need to adjust its magnification level much. However, one disadvantage here is that the individual focusing makes it difficult to get a clear focus for images.

Note: This is the most important step that requires training to continue with each viewpoint. So, you’d better practice as many times as possible to get the best vision.

Also, if you get eye strain, headache, or dizziness when using binoculars, your device may have problems. You need to adjust the binoculars or contact the manufacturer to fix the error.

How to Tackle on Your Binoculars Comfortably (7 suggestion)

It sounds simple, but holding a binocular also needs some practice. There are many ways to improve holding the binoculars stably and have the best observation.

1. Get some support

Like it or not, when you move and work in a natural environment, there are times your hands get shaky and fatigued.

In this case, you need accessories to assist with handling the item to improve stability. It can be a tripod to keep the glasses stable or an anti-vibration item.

If those are not available, you can make use of a wall or a tree, etc.

2. Set at low magnification

Magnification is a parameter indicating how many times the object will get bigger in the lens compared to the actual distance from the binoculars to the object.

The larger the magnification is, the narrower the opening of the viewing angle becomes. In contrast, viewing in low magnification, you can see the motion of the object at a much wider range.

For travel binoculars, the magnification index doesn’t have to be large. The ideal number of scale-up you should choose should fall from 7 to 8 times.

3. Look for a good position

A convenient, flat location is better than those containing lots of bushes, rugged terrain, or bumpy roads.

But, if you are in the wild, you should seek a flat ground before landing your tripod.

Lying on the earth is preferable if you watch creatures that live on and above the land. Moreover, leaning on the ground releases much strain from your hands.

4. Apply the sling technique

With a non-stretchable strap, you can gain additional support by putting your arms inside the strap loop and placing it on your elbow.

Then, you can push the elbow out to the maximum. Thus, the binoculars will be held steady while not making your hands trembling.

5. Wear a cap

Sounds ridiculous, right?

But don’t rush to judge, because you will need that shade when the binoculars are not in use.

You only need to wear the cap and hold the binoculars as long as the binoculars are just below the brim of the hat. Since the brim is quite sturdy, it can become a thing to keep your hands and binoculars fixed in the proper place.

6. Use a broomstick or Finn stick

Using Finn stick to support the binoculars
Using Finn stick to support the binoculars

Broomstick and Finn stick are popular solutions for using binoculars because they are effective to keep the gadgets from shaking.

Also, they are also surprisingly cheap. You can easily find ones in dedicated shops for travelers or at supermarkets.

7. Triangular arm brace

This arm technique is quite simple.

You just need to hold the binoculars and place the fist around your eyes so that your arms form a triangle with your head, neck, and shoulders. You can lean on a tree or a wall to have a stronger base.

If you practice regularly, how to use binoculars steadily will no longer be a problem for you.

Some helpful tips for newbie in this video:

How to Clean Binoculars

Knowing how to use binoculars includes knowing to clean and preserve the tool precisely.

Clean the binoculars

Your binoculars are outdoors equipment. So, chances are they catch a lot of dirt on the surface. That’s why they need to be cleaned regularly.

Improper cleaning can leave scratches on the lens. Over times, small scratches can blur the glass.

When cleaning the binoculars, be careful not to damage the lens but use a soft cloth to wipe the lens. It will help limit scratches that may easily occur on the lens.

In case, you have a cleaning kit, use a soft brush and a suction balloon to remove dust, dirt from the binoculars. Then, dip the fabric into the specialized cleaning solution to gently clean the lens and wipe them with a dry towel.

After that, have a look back through the lens to check the stain. If it’s still not clean, repeat the above steps as needed.

Preserve the binoculars

Sensitive products like binoculars need special care after use.

That said, we recommend not to let your binoculars exposure direct sunlight or place it in high-temperature places. Otherwise, high temp and bright will damage the quality of the lens as well as the image sharpness in the view.

It is best to use a durable strap whether you use or not use the binoculars.

You can pull up the gadget when there are things to observe things. Keep the binoculars in the neck to avoid unexpected problems such as dropping and external impact.

Usually, when you buy binoculars, the seller will suggest versatile dedicated bags, carrying cases, and lens covers to preserve the product better.

So, it’s highly recommended to equip these accessories for your binoculars. After using it, store the tool carefully as we mentioned.

Precautions

Particularly in winter, you should wear a glove to ensure stability and avoid vibration while using the tool.

Do not disassemble binoculars if it’s not necessary.

If you want to clean the inside parts, you must bring it to the experts. Otherwise, it will deviate the lens, leading to the issue that your binoculars cannot be used.

When transporting your binoculars, turn the eyepiece close to the binocular’s body and fold the two barrels close together. As a result, your binoculars will sit steady in its place.

Better yet, if there is a collision, it will minimize the impact.

When you fold the two barrels (to adjust the distance between the two eyes and store when moving), don’t hold the entire barrels but the rear binocular body (the prism part).

This is a mistake many people do that is very harmful to the binoculars. After some time, it will cause the binoculars to be misaligned.

Furthermore, grasping the end of the two barrels (do not touch the lens) will balance the weight of the binoculars in your hand and reduce shaking thoroughly.

Notably, it will come in handy to have a good observation even with binoculars weighing more than 2kg.

Last but not least, never use the binoculars to look directly to the sun without a dedicated filter. Otherwise, you can become blind or lose the majority of your eyesight immediately.

Children who learn how to use binoculars must have the supervisory of adults.

Use and Preserve Right

Hope that you can use your binoculars effectively and effortlessly with the information shared through our article.

Moreover, paying attention to preserve and use them properly will contribute to increasing the life of your binoculars.

If you need further information, feel free to contact us or visit our website. Don’t hesitate to like and share the article with others if you find it useful for you. Thank you, and have a good trip with your binoculars!

Vilis-bino


Binocular 101: All basic topic for beginer