Understanding optics...

Magnification

The magnification is the lens power of a telescope or binoculars.

Magnifications of between 6.5 x and 10 x are normal for hand-held scopes and binoculars. As magnification increases, the size of what you look at will appear larger, but any slight hand movements will also be exaggerated so that you may not be able to keep the binocular steady.

A magnification of factor 8x, for example, produces an image as if one were 8x times closer to the subject. A magnification of factor 30x produces an image as if one were 30x times closer to the subject.

The amount of magnification you need depends upon the subject matter you want to look at. A larger magnification, the more powerful your telescope or binoculars will be. You will see more detail and get closer to your subject matter.

However there is a trade off...

The greater the magnification results in a smaller field of view and smaller the magnification results in a greater field of view.


See also:

- What do the numbers on my scope mean?

- What is magnification?

- What is the field of view

- What is an objective lens?

- What is eye relief?

- What is the exit pupil?

- Twilight Factor

- Relative Brightness