Twilight Factor of Binoculars
- Factors to consider when buying a binocular:
- Magnification
- Aperture
- Field of View
- Depth of Field
- Size & Weight
- Eye Relief
- Transmittance
- Exit Pupil
- Optical Design & Quality
- Twilight Factor
- Focusing
- Phase Correction
The factor that has the greatest impact on resolution or image detail, will be dependent upon the amount of light available during the time of observation. During daylight hours, when your eye pupil size will be only about 2 to 3mm, magnification will be the principal factor in image resolution. At night, with the eye pupil dilated to 6 to 8mm, aperture size is the controlling factor. In twilight conditions both of these factors control resolution effectiveness and the twilight factor is the term that compares binocular performance under these conditions.
The twilight factor is calculated by taking the square root of the product of the magnification and the aperture. The higher the twilight factor, the better the resolution of the binocular when observing under dim light conditions. For example, a 10 X 40 (twilight factor 20) would effectively resolve better under these conditions than a 7 X 35 (twilight factor 15.4) even though the 10 X 40 has a smaller exit pupil. Remember, however, that the twilight factor does not take into account the transmittance or quality of the optical system.
Thanks to our friends at Eagle Optics for providing this information!
See also:
Spotting Scopes—Tips for choosing the right spotting scope
Birding Tripods—Tips for choosing the right tripod for you binoculars and scopes
Back to Bird Watching Binoculars
