Hi All,
I own a pair of Zeiss 10x50 bins and my son asked me what the 10x50 bit meant.
Is it 10x magnification and 50 degree field of vision or the other way around?
TIA
Tom

I believe you have it right.
I have a pair of 7X50 and there not as powerful as my 8x scope.

It's 10 power (10 times magnification) with a 50 mm objective lens. The larger the objective lens, the more light it lets in. Yours would be very good for nightime/dusk use while a compact 10X25 would provide the same magnification but would not let as much light in making them daytime use only.

Al is correct there.

If they are to be used in low light situations a pair of 7x50 will give you the best view though them. The exit cone of light from them is the best size to enter you pupil and giving you the maximum amount of light.

A higher power (ex. 10x) will only magnify the image but will actually degrade the amount of light entering the pupil.

Hi Tom:

In binoculars 10 x 50 means:

10 magnification
50 the diameter of the lens in mm. This appart of the field of view indicates you the qty of light that the lens can gather. The higher the diameter the higher the light, and that´s good.

The ones you bought are a very good pair of binoculars. They are specially good for stargazing because they have a very good combination of magnification and field of vision.

Try to search the sky in one dark and clear night. You will be surprised