Binoculars

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Pocket, compact and full size binoculars from Gerber and Barska. The range runs from an 8x21 that lives in a jacket pocket through Explorer Series II BAK4 models to the Nautica HD 10x42 and the ED Diamond, plus a Barska 10x50 Colorado for low light. Whether it is stock across a paddock, game on a ridge or the harbour, the numbers on the barrel tell you most of what you need.

  • What the numbers mean

    The first number is magnification, the second is the objective lens diameter in millimetres. An 8x21 magnifies eight times through a 21mm lens. Bigger magnification narrows the field of view and shakes more; a bigger objective gathers more light and adds weight. 8x42 is the all-rounder for a reason.

  • Pocket, compact or full size

    A Gerber 8x21 or 10x25 pocket model folds down and goes in a jacket, so it is the pair you actually have with you. The Explorer Series II sits in the middle. The Nautica 8x42 and 10x42 and the Barska 10x50 are full size, brighter in poor light, and need a strap or a pack.

  • Glass and coatings

    BAK4 prisms and coated optics are what separate a usable pair from a cheap one, because they control how much light reaches your eye and how true the colour stays. The Gerber Explorer Series II and Nautica models carry BAK4, and the ED Diamond adds extra low dispersion glass to cut colour fringing.

  • Low light is where it shows

    Dawn and dusk is when animals move and when cheap glass falls apart. A 10x50 gathers noticeably more light than a 10x25, which is the whole argument for carrying the bigger pair. Pairs well with the hunting range and the archery gear.

Common questions

What do 8x42 and 10x50 actually mean?

The first number is how many times the image is magnified and the second is the front lens diameter in millimetres. So 10x50 magnifies ten times through a 50mm lens. The larger lens gathers more light, which is why it is better at dawn and dusk, and why it weighs more.

Is more magnification always better?

No. Higher magnification narrows your field of view and amplifies hand shake, so a 10x is harder to hold steady than an 8x and you see less at once. For general use 8x is easier to live with; 10x suits open country where you are glassing long distances.

What is BAK4 and does it matter?

BAK4 is a prism glass type that passes light more efficiently than the cheaper BK7, giving a brighter image with less edge distortion. It is one of the clearest markers of whether a pair is worth owning. The Gerber Explorer Series II and Nautica models use it.

Which binoculars suit hunting?

Something you can hold steady and use in poor light, so 8x42 or 10x42 for most people. Pocket 8x21 models are fine for spotting stock in daylight but give up too much light at dawn and dusk, which is exactly when you need them.

Come and see it at 2/153 Baylis Street, Wagga Wagga, or call (02) 6921 6300. Free shipping Australia wide on orders over $150, Click & Collect ready in two hours, and 10% off in store for Australian Defence personnel and recruits.