Binoculars / Monoculars

Binoculars and monoculars are primarily for magnifying distant objects. They can be compact and portable, but as they are hand-held a steady hand can be needed to use them.

Magnification ranges from 8x to 80x, with some providing variable zoom ability. Binoculars and monoculars are generally listed with their magnification level and main lens size - larger lenses collect more light, and generally give a brighter image.