Barska Binoculars
Barska offers a large retail selection of binoculars. From its headquarters in Pomona, California, it maintains a worldwide association of suppliers and able to supply binoculars from all around the world. It supplies everything from compact pocket binoculars up to full-power, full-size binoculars.
What is the number code on a set of binoculars?The number code provides two bits of information:
- The number, or numbers, before the "x," denotes magnification.
- A single number, like 10, indicates a preset magnification, and you see objects 10 times as large through the binoculars as with the naked eye.
- A range of numbers like 10 to 25 indicates adjustable binoculars, also called zoom binoculars. Zoom binoculars offer a range of magnifications.
- The number after the "x" is the size of the front lenses in millimeters. The size of the front, or objective, lens determines how bright the image will appear, especially in low light conditions.
Not all Barska binoculars are waterproof. Those labeled as waterproof have a dry gas, such as nitrogen, pumped into them under pressure and then sealed in with O rings. The dry, pressurized gas makes the binoculars both waterproof and fog proof.
What is a field of view?A field of view is the area of the sight picture. It is either expressed as a number of feet at 1,000 yards or as an angle. If expressed as an angle, multiply the degree of the angle by 52.5. An 8-degree field of view equals a sight picture 420 feet wide at 1,000 yards.
Is there a difference between optical coatings?Different coatings designations have different definitions as follows:
- Coated: at least one glass surface exposed to air, usually the objective lens, has an optical coating
- Fully coated: both glass surfaces exposed to air, the eyepiece and the objective lens, have an optical coating
- Multicoated: at least one glass surface exposed to air; usually, the objective lens has an optical multicoating; usually, the eyepiece has at least a single optical coating
- Fully multicoated: both the eyepiece and the objective lens have a multicoating
Two distinct prisms are used in all binoculars:
- Porro prism binoculars: cause the image to make a "Z" shape inside of the binoculars and are generally bulkier and heavier; offer a sharper, brighter sight picture than roof prism binoculars
- Roof prism binoculars: allow the image to move in a straight line through the binoculars and are better suited to lighter, more compact binoculars.