The Binocular Site
Zoom Binoculars
Zoom binoculars use fairly complex technology that allows you to zoom quickly from as low as 7x magnification to 20x or higher, in a matter of nanoseconds. Cheaper zoom binoculars will tend to have a high breakdown rate, so if you are going to invest in a pair of zoom binoculars, we recommend that you prepare to fork over top dollar.
Buying zoom binoculars
Because there are a number of small moving parts that go into zoom binoculars, they have (as already noted) a high potential for breakdown and damage. Since zoom binoculars are used exclusively for zooming, these fragile parts tend to get used a lot. And if they are poorly engineered or made of weak materials they will deteriorate quickly. You will get a double or out-of-focus image that will only give you a headache (even a double headache if you spent 100 hard earned dollars on binoculars that turn out to be junk).
Zoom binoculars are also highly sensitive to movement. If you do not have a steady hand (and you do not want to pay top dollar for image stabilization), the lower-powered binoculars may be more suited to you. The simplest remedy for image movement is to stabilize your view with a stand or mount.
Don’t fool yourself into thinking you somehow need binoculars that will zoom in on an image. Borrow someone else’s zoom binoculars to see whether you really want the narrowed image field associated with this style.
Some zoom binoculars
You may be able to combine zoom technology with image stabilized binoculars, but you are likely to run into trouble if you combine zoom technology with any other feature (such as compact design, etc.) The technology may be improving, but we still recommend that you don’t take chances with the already volatile zoom feature.
Carson Binoculars makes an electronic zoom binocular that looks promising in tests. The New Look is a 30x 25 that retails for about $250. The electronic zoom technology may be a gamble, but sometimes gambles pay off.
Zhumell makes a 27x50 that looks even more promising. They also have larger zooms, including an ambitious 48x80. This may be a good gamble, given the fact that Zhumell is a leader in zoom binoculars.
