You may also want to bring your own binoculars on safari so we’ll go over some considerations to factor in when buying a pair.
What Do All Those Numbers Mean?
7 x 32, 8 x 40, 10 x 50. You’ll see these specs when referring to binoculars. The first number is the magnification – 7, 8, or 10 times what your eye can see. You’ll want a decent amount of magnification since that’s the reason you’re using the binoculars in the first place.
However, there can be a limit. Too high a magnification, like 12X, may make the image shaky and difficult to hold the binoculars steady.
The second number – 32, 40, 50 – is the size of the lens in millimeters. The larger the lens, the more light it will let in. This is especially important in low-light situations like night safaris.
But again, there is a limit to how large you’ll want your lens to be because bigger also means heavier. An ideal weight for a pair of binoculars you’ll be carrying around all day is about 1.5 lbs. or less.
So, a pair of 10 x 42 binoculars will magnify 10X and let in a good amount of light for early morning or evening game drives.
More Important Binocular Facts
Lens coating – this chemical treatment protects the binoculars’ lens from dirt, dust, and scratches when you’re out in the wild.
Eye Relief – the distance from your eyes to the eyepiece. The larger this distance, the easier on your eye. 12mm – 16mm is a good range.
Fog Proof – this is a method used to keep condensation from settling on the glass and mucking up your otherwise perfect image of that charging wildebeest.
Waterproof – important on the unexpected trails of a safari where splashes occur… and then, of course, there’s also the rain.
The Binoculars’ Prism – this ingenious development replaces several stacked lenses formerly used for magnification. A prism is lighter and clearer than multiple pieces of lens glass.
Or, Just Use Our Excellent Olympus Binocs
But you don’t have to go out and buy a pair of binoculars if you don’t have the budget or you are only intending to use them once for your safari. At Africa Kenya Safaris, We are happy to offer our Olympus binoculars for every day of your journey with us.
It’s just one of the many extras we offer you on your personalized adventure with us.
