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Are all binoculars made the same?
Home » Astronomy » Binoculars » Are all binoculars made the same?While at first glance all binoculars might seem to be created equal, there are two distinct common types—the porro prism and roof prism designs. Each works on the same principle: correcting the image and refocusing the light back to the secondary lens—but only one model is best suited to astronomy.
Porro prism binoculars are the bulky, offset binoculars that are most common—and fortunately the best for astronomical applications. They come in a variety of sizes and expense ranges, but even the least of these can become an invaluable astronomy companion—either as an observing tool or a spotting aid.
The roof prism design tends to be more streamlined and will appear as a twin set of optics mounted side-by-side. While there is nothing wrong with these, they tend to deliver dimmer images on astronomical targets and are more expensive.
In researching binoculars, you may also find the reversed porro prism, but this design increases the fold of the light’s path, losing brightness.
All binoculars have one thing in common—a central focus. This moves the secondary lenses in or out. Be sure to look for models that also include focusing of the right lens as well.
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