Binocular Characteristics
The basic function of binoculars is to magnify an image being viewed. It's called bi-nocular, because "bi" stands for the number 2, since we have two identical telescopes mounted side-by-side and aligned to point in the same direction as per the definition given in wikipedia.org. Binoculars provide a 3D image, as the two separate monoculars present slightly different viewpoints but when merged together, they form a single image, giving the feeling of depth so that distances can be calculated. Compared to monoculars, binoculars have several big advantages in terms of the comfort they provide. First of all, a binocular is much easier to hold and also it doesn't require you to close one eye in order to avoid confusion (that's the case with monoculars).
When you are choosing a binocular, there are several important factors to consider, before you make the final decision. Binoculars have certain optical parameters that you must be aware of. Bottom line is that those parameters determine what is the specific application of a given binocular, and hence determine whether or not, the given model will suit your particular needs.
If you examine the description of a given binocular model, perhaps the first thing you will notice is for example 10x25. The digits before the 'x' signify the magnification power, that is how many times close an object appears compared to viewing it with a naked eye. In this example, the image is magnified 10 times. Of course, there are models that provide much higher levels of magnification and usually provide you with a leveler so that you can switch from 6 to 8 or 10 for example. But keep in mind that as you zoom in on a given object, there will be some distortion of the image, as less light will be gathered so the viewing field will be reduced as well. The thing with binoculars is that the more light passes through the lenses, the brighter the image will be, or in other words, the image will have greater clarity and detail. That amount of light is determined by the diameter of the lenses, which is given by the numbers after the x (10x25), which as in the example given above is 25. 25 means that the lenses have a diameter of 25mm.
The downside of having a binocular with larger diameter is that it becomes bulky, cumbersome, heavy, hard to handle and carry. That's why, depending on your goals and what you will be using the binocular for, you must choose between image quality and size. When you sacrifice the image clarity a bit, you will get a more compact and manageable model.
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