Wide Angle Binoculars

What is the Angle of View?

It is easier to start with the field of view (FOV) of a pair of binoculars, which is a measurement that indicates the width of the view you see through the binoculars at a specified distance, it is most often represented in feet at 1,000 yards, but increasingly common is in meters at 1,000 meters.

The angle of view (AOV) which is also known as the Real field of view is the angle expressed in degrees between the left and right extremes of the FOV and the center of the objective lenses of your binocular (sounds complicated, but take a look at the diagram below). So in the example represented in the diagram below, the field of view of theses binoculars is 315 feet at 1,000 yards and the angle is 6°

Apparent field of view (AFOV)
Some binocular manufacturers list their field of view as the Apparent field of view, this is the value of the real field of view multiplied by the magnification of the binoculars (Apparent field of view = Magnification x Real field of view). This value is important because it is comparable even among binoculars of different magnifications.

On top of this there is something known as the Apparent field of view ISO 14132-1:2002 standard, that some manufacturers are adopting, the formula is fairly complicated, so for simplicity I will stick with the "standard" Apparent field of view in this article.

What are Wide Angle Binocular Binoculars Best for?

A binocular with a wide field of view eyepiece will often have reduced eye relief and a wider field of view also usually means a less powerful magnification. So in general, the higher the magnification, the smaller your angle of view, there is always a compromise and so you need to decide how you will mostly be using your binoculars for and get your ideal setup.

Binoculars with a wide field of view (Wide Angle Binoculars) basically "fit" more into the image that you see when looking through them, this makes finding objects, especially moving ones that much easier. That is why the best bird watching binoculars tend to have lower magnifications and higher FOV's especially in wooded areas. Obviously if your main birding is done out in open areas like at the sea or on lakes and dams, then a higher magnification may be preferable over a wide field of view.

What is a Wide Angle Binocular?

Ok, so now we know what the angle of view (AOV) is, the Apparent field of view (AFOV) and why for some uses a binocular with a wide angle of view is preferable, but what should you be looking for and what binoculars are considered to be Wide Angle Binoculars? Well there isn't a a magic number, but lets take a look at what most people consider to be some of the best wide field of view birding binoculars on the market to use as a reference point:

I'm not suggesting that to get a wide angle binocular great for bird watching, that you have to buy one of the top of the range binoculars listed above. What it does is to act as a reference point as almost every birder I know would be more than happy with any of those listed above. It also shows that some figures can be misleading and it is worth taking all of the measurements into account when deciding on the right pair for your needs.

Based of the binoculars above, a wide angle binocular would have an:

• Angle of View (Real field of view) of around 8° or more
• Apparent field of view of about 61° or more
• FOV of around 140m @ 1,000m (420ft @ 1,000 yards)

Comparing binoculars can be difficult as not all manufacturers list all of the stats and so to make it easier I have created a Field of View Conversion Table, that should help.

Xtra Wide Binoculars

Apart from the standard wide angle binoculars there are a few specialist ultra or xtra wide binoculars, that have huge fields of view, one of the best know is made by Bushnell and is primarily designed to be used for sporting events or even as opera or theatre binoculars.

The Best Wide Angle Binoculars (Standard)

Below are some of the best standard wide field of view binoculars that I have either reviewed or know about and I hope this helps you to make up your mind:

Best Wide Angle Binocular Reviews

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Swift 8.5x44 Audubon Binoculars Swift Sport Optics were designed by birders for birders and subsequently been rated "Best Buy" by Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Better View Desired, and the English publication "British Birds." Their 8.5x44 optical formula is in their opinion, the perfect ratio for the ultimate birdwatching binoculars. Combine this with BaK 4 prisms and fully multi-coated optics, a tough exterior that is shockproof, waterproof and fogproof and you start to think that they could be right. Price: (4/6) Mid-High Value Binoculars Best Binocular Reviews Ratings: Body Quality: 9/10 85% Outstanding Body Stats: 8/10 Optical Quality: 8/10 Optical Stats: 9/10 Image Quality 8/10 Extras & Details: 9/10

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Swift 8.5x44 Audubon ED Binoculars With uncompromising quality, this top of the range Swift Audubon model is designed with nature and bird watching specifically in mind. Just like the other models in the Audubon range they come with a tough exterior that is shockproof, waterproof and fogproof, high quality BaK4 prisms, fully multi-coated optics, but also include extra low dispersion glass (ED), to give an even clearer, sharper images. Price: (4/6) Mid-High Value Binoculars Best Binocular Reviews Ratings: Body Quality: 9/10 88% Outstanding Body Stats: 8/10 Optical Quality: 9/10 Optical Stats: 9/10 Image Quality 9/10 Extras & Details: 9/10

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Swarovski 10x32 EL Binoculars Because of their compact design and light weight, the Swarovski EL 10x32 binoculars are ideal for travelling with. This combined with Swarovski's unique wrap-around grip also makes them easier and more comfortable to carry in the field. If you then combine this with the quality that only comes with a Swarovski binocular, they also make excellent binoculars for birdwatching as well as wildlife observation and are therefore one of the best binoculars in the world to take on safari. Price: (6/6) Expensive Binoculars Best Binocular Reviews Ratings: Body Quality: 9/10 92% The VERY Best Body Stats: 8/10 Optical Quality: 10/10 Optical Stats: 9/10 Image Quality 9/10 Extras & Details: 10/10 Discount Binoculars: The Swarovski EL 10x32 binoculars are available at a discount on Amazon.com, Binoculars.com and Eagle Optics in the USA >> Check Prices

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Kowa 10x33 Genesis XD Binoculars High-End mid sized roof prism binoculars featuring Prominar XD Lenses (extra low dispersion glass), fully multi-coated lenses and phase corrected Schmidt-Pechan prisms to ensure excellent optical performance. This Kowa Genisis binocular is also fully waterproof, fog-proof and lightweight, with a durable and tough rubber coated armour exterior. Price: (5/6) High Value Binoculars Best Binocular Reviews Ratings: Body Quality: 9/10 92% The VERY Best Body Stats: 8/10 Optical Quality: 10/10 Optical Stats: 9/10 Image Quality 9/10 Extras & Details: 10/10 Discount Binoculars: The Kowa Genesis 10x33 is available at a reduced price from Eagle Optics in the USA and Amazon.co.uk in the UK. >> Check Prices

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Nikon 10x42 EDG Binoculars Designed to compete with the best binoculars in the world, the 10x42 Nikon EDG binocular comes with Nikon's fantastic ED glass lenses and advanced multilayer coating and phase correction roof prisms that produce stunning clear images with a powerful 10x magnification, a tough, waterproof and fog-proof body and so much more. Price: (6/6) Expensive Binoculars Best Binocular Reviews Ratings: Body Quality: 9/10 92% The VERY Best Body Stats: 8/10 Optical Quality: 10/10 Optical Stats: 9/10 Image Quality 10/10 Extras & Details: 9/10 Discount Binoculars: The Nikon EDG 10x42 binoculars are available at a discount on Amazon.com and Binoculars.com in the USA >> Check Prices

Field of View Conversion Table

Not all binocular manufacturers list all of the specifications and so to make comparing binoculars easier, the table below can be used as a quick conversion aid:

Field of Fiew Convertion Formulas
You can convert field of view from meters to feet or degrees to meters of feet using the equations below:

1. "x" ft @ 1000 yds
2. "y" m @ 1000 m
3. "z" degrees

To convert 3) to 2):
y = tan(z)*1000 (result in meters)
example: for 6 degrees you get y = tan(6 deg)*1000 = 105 [m]
FOV = 105m @ 1000m

To convert 3) to 1) :
y = tan(z)*1000*3 (result in feets)
example: for 7 degrees you get y = tan(7 deg)*1000*3 = 368 [ft]
FOV = 368ft @ 1000yds

To convert 1) to 3):
z = arctan(x/3000)
example: for 262ft@1000yds you get z = arctan(262/3000) = 5 [deg]

To convert 2) to 3):
z = arctan( y/1000 )
example: for 140m@1000m you get z = arctan(140/1000) = 8 [deg]

To convert 2) to 1):
x = y*3