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  5. Sport Optics Guide -Binoculars-
  6. Basic Information about Binoculars
  7. Effective diameter of the objective lens

Basic Information about Binoculars Effective diameter of the objective lens

The effective diameter is the inside diameter of the objective lens frame. With the binoculars designated with a numerical formula 8x42 7.0°, 42mm is the effective diameter of the objective lens.

Given the same magnification, the larger the objective diameter, the greater the light-collecting power. This results in higher resolution and a brighter image. However, large-diameter objective lenses make binoculars bigger and heavier.

Binoculars are classified according to the effective objective lens diameter as follows.

Effective diameter

  • Below 25mm:Compact-type binoculars
  • 30 - 49mm:Standard binoculars
  • Over 50mm:For astronomical observation and business use