While I have been striving to choose ne binoculars, I've realized that I enjoying learning about binoculars. It must be a "left brain" sort of thing that afflicts engineers.
I was wondering what books about binoculars and their terms you would recommend. Specifically, I would like to learn about how eyepiece design determines field of view, more about coatings, etc.
If anyone knows of any good books on binoculars, I would certainly appreciate it.
Thanks,
engineer
Not a whole book on the subject, but Pete Dunne's book On Birdwatching has a good section on optics including how he came to use what he does today.
I don't know of any book that covers the subject of binoculars very well. I have copies of Henry Paul's "Binoculars and All-Purpose Telescopes", Alan R. Hale's "How to Choose Binoculars" and J.W. Seyfried's "Choosing, Using and Repairing Binoculars". I think only the last is still in print and available from University Optics. It has some useful information, but IMO is very poorly written and largely superficial. There is a wealth of misinformation about binoculars in the hunting and birding press and very little reliable technical information.
The best place I know for detailed information is the binocular forum at Cloudy Nights here: http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthre...lars&PHPSESSID=
The "Best of" threads at the top and the links to other binocular and optics sites should keep you busy for a while.