Binoculars are a wonderful tool to enhance the view of your surroundings. Whether you’re an avid birdwatcher, a star gazer, or you just want to enhance your view, binoculars are the way to go. One downside to using binoculars is they can be difficult and cumbersome to use if you wear eyeglasses. Glasses always seem to get in the way and they can diminish the view you see through the binoculars.
This guide will walk you through some of the features you’ll want to watch for while shopping for binoculars. It also lists five models of binoculars along with their specifications to help you make a great choice. While each of these models listed would work well for eyeglass wearers, the product that is recommended as the best binoculars for eyeglass wearers is the Nikon Monarch 5 binoculars which is listed first on the list.
Recommended: Nikon 7576 Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars
The Nikon 7576 Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars is an amazing product that will work very well for eyeglass wearers and will give you pretty much everything you are looking for in a great pair of binoculars. The Nikon company is well-known for creating quality products at an affordable price.
These binoculars feature Nikon’s extra-low dispersion lenses which help give the images you look at superior contrast and resolution. The lenses and prisms have a high-reflective prism coating which help keep images bright.
The lightweight design provides comfort and ease of use. Its features are also very user-friendly, including flip down lens caps, a central focus knob, and turn-and slide rubber eyecups.
The Nikon 7576 Monarch 5 8x42 is also waterproof and fog proof which would work very well for use around water such as boating, cruising, or water sports. It also features a non-slip grip which will give you peace of mind while using around water and other extreme conditions. They have fantastic low light features which makes using them at dawn or dusk extremely easy. They have a field of view of 330 feet, which is okay, though you can certainly find binos with a higher number here, such as the Midas 8x42 by Athlon Optics.
The Monarchs are highly recommended for eyeglass wearers as they have an eye relief of 19mm. Eyeglass wearers have found these binoculars to be comfortable and easy to use while wearing glasses. They provide a clear field of view for everyone.
What Features to Look For
Let’s look at some important features to look for when buying binoculars. There are binoculars for virtually every use. There are general use binoculars that will work well at sporting events, or other hiking activities. There are binoculars for hunting, bird watching, boating and other water sports, and theater or concert events.
Magnification and Objective: One of the most important numbers you’ll see when buying binoculars is the magnification and objective. The magnification will tell you much closer you will see the object with the binoculars as opposed to the untrained eye. For example: if the binoculars give a number of 8x42, the first number is the magnification, and this tells you that you will see objects with the binoculars 8 times closer than without. It is recommended that binoculars with a magnification greater than 10 should be used with the support of a tripod. This will help stabilize the image and cut down on the shakiness you’d encounter by holding the binoculars in your hand.
The second number is the objective. This tells you the diameter of the front lens. The larger the front lens is, the more light will come in and give you a brighter image. This is particularly important when using the binoculars in dim or low-light surroundings such as early morning or dusk. Keep in mind that the larger the lenses are, the heavier the binoculars will be.
Field of View: The field of view is the measurement of what you view through the binoculars. The wider the field of view, the wider your view of the scene will be. This is especially helpful when following action shots with the binoculars.
Eye Relief: Eye relief is important for eyeglass wears. It is the distance between the binocular’s eye piece and the user’s eye while maintaining a full field of view. Wearing glasses can drastically shorten the eye relief because the glasses get in the way. This impedes the user’s field of view and can be very frustrating. Eyeglass wearers should choose binoculars that have a larger eye relief number of 15mm or better.
Eyecups: The piece of the binoculars where you rest your eyes are called the eyecups. They not only provide comfort, but they can be important for eyeglass wearers. The more inexpensive models of binoculars will have eyecups that simply fold down. This is fine if you wear glasses, just fold the eyecups down and you should be good to go. However, if you’d like the option to adjust the distance, opt for binoculars that offer eyecups that twist up and/or down. This will provide optimal comfort.
Durability: Water can really be damaging to binoculars. Rain, snow and even dirt can get inside the binoculars if there is not a proper seal. You’ll want to opt for waterproof binoculars, especially if you plan on using them around water or outdoors.
Keeping these features in mind, let’s look at a few more brands of binoculars.
Steiner Marine 7x50 Binoculars
The Steiner Marine binoculars are also a great option. They offer a bit larger objective than the Nikon Monarchs. These binoculars have a lightweight design for the size, weighing just 37 ounces. At just over 8 inches wide, the Steiner binoculars are rather bulky, but still fairly easy to use for virtually any situation.
Its rugged design is waterproof, as well as shockproof and has a black rubber outer armor which provides a comfort grip even when it gets wet. The binoculars come with a neck strap. However, it is a little small and flimsy. It is recommended to purchase a more durable neck strap to replace it.
The great thing about these binoculars is they have a sports-autofocus system that puts everything into focus from 20 yards on. This is perfect for observing movement such as bird watching, sporting events, or concerts.
The 20mm of long eye relief make these binoculars a great option for glasses wearers.
Steiner backs all their products with their Steiner Heritage Warranty. They will repair or replace your product should it become damaged or defective.
Athlon Optics Midas Binoculars 8x42 ED Roof
Though this brand is not as widely known as Nikon, the superior quality and affordability of these binoculars are certainly getting noticed. These binoculars are designed to be comfortable to hold, while standing up to the elements.
These binoculars are equipped with extra-low dispersion glass, anti-reflective multi-coated optics, and BAK4 room prisms. They deliver bright and clear images in all light conditions. With an 8x objective, a 42mm lens diameter, and an eye relief of 17.2, these binoculars provide comfort and reliability for anyone.
Wingspan Optics Skyview Ultra HD 8x42 Binoculars
The Wingspan Skyview binoculars are an affordable option designed with bird watchers in mind. The extra-low dispersion glass delivers a crisp, sharp image. Weighing just over a pound, these binoculars are compact, a cinch to pack, and are very easy to use.
The Wingspan has a nice wide field of view of 393 feet. The long eye relief and twist eyecups provide comfort for eyeglass wearers. They are waterproof, fog proof, and durable enough to stand up to all types of weather.
Nikon 7245 Action Extreme All-Terrain Binoculars
A more affordable option in the Nikon brand is the 7245 Action Extreme All-Terrain binoculars. These binoculars are waterproof as well as fog proof and provide a durable, rubber coating making it easy to grip even when wet. As their name says, these binoculars are designed to provide a reliable optical performance in all conditions.
The lenses are multicoated and the BaK4 high index prisms deliver a clear and crisp picture. The central focus knob works great for a fast range of focus. The field of view is 341 feet. These binoculars have turn-and-slide rubber eyecups and an eye relief of 17.2mm.
As with all their products, Nikon stands behind the quality of all their products by offering their No-Fault Repair/Replacement Policy along with their Limited Lifetime Warranty. If your binoculars require repair that is not covered by their warranty, they will replace or repair the product under their replacement policy.
Bird watching, observing nature, star gazing, concerts. The possibilities are endless when you have a great pair of binoculars. The world is just full of beauty waiting to be observed. Imagine the possibilities; the flit of a butterfly wing, a closer view of your favorite sports hero, or just taking in nature. Wearing eyeglasses or sunglasses doesn’t have to get in the way of seeing through a great pair of binoculars.
These models of binoculars listed here are all just a piece of the many options and models that are available to you. Each of them has a long eye relief that would work very well for eyeglass wearers. Decide on your binocular budget and what you will be using the binoculars for. By keeping this in mind, you are bound to find the perfect pair of binoculars for you.