Magnification

View as Seen With and Without Optics

Binoculars: More magnification is not necessarily better

The first number (8 x 42) refers to the magnification, or how many times larger an object will appear. An 8x or 10x binocular is considered adequate for a variety of situations. As magnification increases, eye relief, field of view, and brightness often diminish, and images may shake.

Spotting Scopes: Zoom versus fixed magnification eyepieces

The first numbers (20–60 x 80 or 30 x 80) refer to the magnification, or how many times larger an object will appear.

  • Zoom magnification eyepieces are popular because of their versatility.
  • Fixed magnification eyepieces are appreciated for their wide fields of view.

In general, as magnification increases, the eye relief, field of view, and brightness diminish, and images may shake.

Our Eagle Optics professionals are available to answer your questions at 1-800-289-1132 or info@eagleoptics.com.