What makes 10x42 binoculars different to binoculars with an 8x or 12x magnification and will it make any difference to my viewing experience out in the field? That is a question that often gets asked when weighing up the pros and cons of different strengths of magnification. Many of us are not aware of how magnification affects binocular performance and it definitely does make a difference.

As a rule of thumb you should know that as the magnification power in binoculars increase several different factors are affected. They in turn have impact on the viewing experience. Be aware of the following:

1. As the magnification power increases the field of view (this is how much area you can view from side to side) decreases.

2. Image contrast decreases in low light conditions as magnification increases, so the object being viewed needs to be well lit.

3. Image stability decreases as magnification increases, so any hand movements greatly exaggerate movement of the image when viewing.

All that means that 12x binocular will have a lower level of overall performance than that of a 10x binocular. It also means that 8x binocular will have a better overall performance than a 10x binocular. To choose the best binocular yoy need to think about the activity you mostly want to use the binoculars for.

For example – binoculars with a 10x magnification would be better suited to activities requiring seeing distant objects that are well lit. You will need a steady hand to enjoy good image stability - consider using a tripod if you want the image to be perfectly stable, such as planets or stars for instance.

If you need recommendation on the best 10x42 binoculars read this Nikon Monarch 10x42 ATB Binocular Review.