Monocular
A compact refracting telescope using prisms for an erect image.
Last updated
Monoculars are less widely available than binoculars, with a limited choice in the top quality bracket.[1] Japan, China, Russia, and Germany are the primary manufacturing countries for most monoculars currently on the market.[1]
Quick Facts
- Magnification range
- 4× to 10× (most common); specialized units outside these limits available
- Objective lens diameter range
- 20 mm (0.787 in) to 42 mm / 1.65 in
- Most common magnification
- 8×
- Exit pupil definition
- objective lens diameter divided by magnification, expressed in mm
- Typical price range
- under £10 to over £300 (as at February 2016)
- Common manufacturing countries
- Japan
- China
- Russia
- Germany
Facts from the source article.
Key facts and history
Exit pupil is defined as the objective lens diameter divided by the magnification, expressed in mm.[2] A 7×50 marine monocular is suited to low light conditions with an exit pupil of 7.1mm.[2] Human eye pupil dilation range diminishes with age.[2] Some monoculars satisfy specialist requirements such as a built-in compass, night vision, or image stabiliser.[3]
Light transmission into the eye improves as the exit pupil size increases.[2] When an instrument's exit pupil is larger than the pupil of the human eye, the eye becomes the limiting factor, and the additional light-gathering ability provides no advantage.[2] Unlike binoculars, which typically use a central wheel for focusing, monoculars use a range of different focusing mechanisms.[4] Zoom magnification is offered on some monoculars, but it is rarely found on the highest-quality models.[5]
What the cited sources add
A review of the Vortex Solo monocular notes that it fits easily in the hand at under five inches long.[6] The reviewer prefers to carry a monocular on a lanyard around the neck, tucked into a pouch.[6] The Vortex Solo monocular is both waterproof and internally fog-proof.[6] Its focusing ring has raised bumps that help turning, and some users find two hands helpful until it breaks in.[6]
The 8×36 configuration provides a field of view of 393 feet at 1,000 yards.[6] A Specwell monocular product listing provides specifications for models such as the M1030 with 10x magnification and a 30mm objective lens.[7]
References
- Wikipedia, "Monocular" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "SWAROVSKI OPTIK", Swarovski Optik (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Monocular" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Ortiz, "A Linear Regression Analysis of the Effects of Age Related Pupil Dilation Change in Iris Biometrics"; "Binocular specifications" (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Monocular" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Monocular"; "Carl Zeiss Jena Turmon 8x21 Faltmonokular (folding monocular)", www.monocular.info; "Legend 10x42 Ultra HD Tactical Monocular MIL Hash FDE", www.bushnell.com; "Specwell Monokulare"; "Specwell Monokulare"; "Bresser | BRESSER 16x30 Monocular with Image Stabilizer | Expand Your Horizon", www.bresser.de, January 2016 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Monocular" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "BGA Monoculars | Opticron"; "102-630-2 - der richtige Partner für den breiten Blick. - Leichter Panoramablick. Das beträchtliche Sehfeld des Luger MD 6x30 von 183m/1000m ermöglicht zusammen mit der präzisen Optik ein sehr breites, absolut klares Bi; "Legend 10x42 Ultra HD Monocular", www.bushnell.com; "Opticron Monoculars | Opticron"; "Discover the world of outdoor optics"; "Discover the world of outdoor optics" (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Monocular" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Leica Eyepiece // Spotting Scopes // Birding // Sport Optics - Leica Camera AG", uk.leica-camera.com (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- "Vortex Solo Monocular Review". facts only, no text reused. opticsreviewer.com
- "Specwell Monokulare". facts only, no text reused. monocular.info
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Monocular (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Monocular (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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