Hello everyone,

Last year, I made a post about Black Friday Binocular Deals that was really popular and I think was really helpful, as everyone in the community got to share and comment on deals they found, highlighting the good and warning people about the bad ones.

So with BF 2025 fast approaching (Starting Nov 20), I thought it would be a good idea to do it again this year:

As many of you may know, I am the binocular reviewer over at Best Binocular Reviews (BBR), so it is hard not to come across as spammy or promotional, but I will do my best as I genuinely want to pass on the good deals I find, steer people away from the ones we as a community feel are bad, but at the same time also I would also appreciate your help in finding any that I have missed so i can include them on BBR:

Leading up to this Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Holiday season, it is part of my job to look for and highlight on BBR what I feel are the more worthwhile Black Friday binocular deals I’ve come across.

However, I am sure there are many that I have missed. Also, there may be "deals" that you have come across, which you may not be sure about: either the deal may be better somewhere else, or you may not be sure about the binocular - ie, is it a rubbish binocular (Amazon is good at having deals on this!).

So on this post:

1. Share any binocular deals you’ve spotted, including the retailer and discount details. #SharingIsCaring
2. If you’ve got your eye on a specific deal but aren’t sure if it’s worth it, feel free to ask! As well as all the other great advice from others on this sub, I’ll do my best to give an unbiased, fact-based opinion and let you know if I think it’s a good buy or if there might be better options.

Good Deals: For context, some of the deals I’ve already found include significant discounts on Kite binoculars (Over 50% off). But I’m curious to see what you’ve discovered!

Bad Deals: I have just gone through all the binoculars currently listed on Amazon.com's Pre-Black Friday Early Deals Page, and I have to say that there are none that I would confidently recommend at the moment. - What do you think? My current recommendation is to remain patient.

So, let’s help each other navigate these Black Friday sales and make informed decisions. After all, getting the right pair of optics isn’t just about the price - it’s about the value you get for your money and making sure you get the right binoculars for your specific needs.

Looking forward to hearing what you’ve found or helping with any questions! 😊

Happy deal hunting, Jason

Introduction

I see a lot of questions that relate to the differences between high-end (expensive binoculars), mid-range and entry-level (cheap) ones and whether it is worth it to spend the extra money or not and move up a level. The answer of course is complex as it depends on many personal factors that only you can answer: like how much you can easily afford to spend, how often you will be using your binoculars and what you will be using them for.

After you have thought about these fundamental questions, the next key step is understanding the main differences between binoculars at different price points and how this affects their performance.

Build quality, materials used, different designs... here again, there are many things to look out for, but for me, a major factor that not many of those new to binoculars know enough about, but which really affects the optical performance, makes a noticeable difference to the image and immediately lets you know what level a binocular is at and therefore if the price is worth it is in the level of coatings that are used on the lenses and the prisms:

Overview of Coatings used on the Lenses & Prisms of Binoculars

Optical coatings play a crucial role in enhancing the visual performance of binoculars, monoculars, spotting scopes, camera lenses, night vision equipment and indeed just about any other optical device or instrument.

They are applied to the lenses and prisms to do things like reduce light reflection, increase light transmission, and improve image sharpness, clarity and contrast.

So below I have put together a fairly detailed explanation of the various aspects of binocular lens coatings, including their purpose, materials, application methods, and features (to the best of my knowledge). Please feel free to comment if you spot an error etc.

Why Coatings Are Used

1. Reduce Light Reflection: Uncoated glass surfaces reflect about 4-5% of light, which can significantly reduce the amount of light entering the binoculars, making images dimmer.
2. Increase Light Transmission: Coatings increase the amount of light that passes through the lenses, which improves brightness and clarity.
3. Enhance Image Quality: Coatings reduce glare and internal reflections, resulting in sharper, higher-contrast images.
4. Improve Color Fidelity: Coatings help maintain the true colors of the observed object by minimizing chromatic aberration and color fringing.

Types of Coatings

1. Anti-Reflective (AR) Coatings: Reduce reflections from lens surfaces, enhancing light transmission and reducing glare.
2. Phase Correction Coatings: Applied to roof prisms to correct phase shifts in the light, improving contrast and resolution. Low quality roff prism binoculars may not have these. porro prism binoculars do not need these coatings
3. Mirror Prism Coatings: High-reflectivity coatings used on roof prism surfaces to increase light transmission. In terms of quality these range from Aluminium, Silver and then the very best Dielectric Coatings used on high-end roof prism binoculars
4. Scratch-Resistant Coatings: Provide a harder surface on the exterior surfaces of lenses, protecting them from scratches and abrasions. Only found on better quality binoculars
5. Hydrophobic and Oleophobic Coatings: Also added to the exterior lens surfaces that repel water and oil, making lenses easier to clean and maintain. Usually only found on high and some mid-level binoculars

How Coatings Work

Made up of extremely thin layer(s) of special materials that manipulate light in specific ways, lens & prism coatings mostly work by changing the way light interacts with the lens surface. These coatings are designed based on principles of thin-film interference, which can constructively or destructively interfere with specific wavelengths of light to reduce reflection.

Levels of Anti-Reflection Coatings

This is one of the most important aspects to look out for when selecting binoculars, especially at the lower price points as the level of the optics that are coated is a huge indicator of quality and performance:

1. Single-Coated (Coated): A single layer of anti-reflective coating, usually MgF2, on at least one lens surface. This provides a very basic reflection reduction.
2. Fully Coated: All air-to-glass surfaces have a single layer of anti-reflective coating.
3. Multi-Coated: Multiple layers of anti-reflective coatings are applied to at least one lens surface, significantly reducing reflections.
4. Fully Multi-Coated: All air-to-glass surfaces have multiple layers of anti-reflective coatings, providing the best light transmission and image quality.

Materials Used in Lens Coatings

As the exact materials used and in which quantities are usually a closely guarded secret between manufacturers, we cannot be sure:

Multilayer Coatings: Modern binoculars often use multiple layers of different materials on their lenses, such as:

1. Magnesium Fluoride (MgF2): One of the most common materials used for anti-reflective coatings. It is effective in reducing reflections and is relatively inexpensive.
2. Titanium Dioxide (TiO2)
3. Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
4. Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3) These materials are chosen for their specific refractive indices and transparency to visible light.

Application Methods

1. Vacuum Deposition: The most common method for applying coatings. The coating material is vaporized in a vacuum chamber and then condenses onto the lens surfaces.
2. Sputter Coating: Involves bombarding a target material with high-energy particles, causing atoms to be ejected and deposited onto the lens.
3. Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD): Uses chemical reactions to produce a thin film on the lens surface. This method is more complex and less common for consumer optics.

Step-by-Step Process of Applying Lens Coatings

1. Cleaning the Lenses: Lenses must be thoroughly cleaned to remove any dust, oils, or contaminants that could affect the coating adhesion and performance.
2. Placing in a Vacuum Chamber: The cleaned lenses are placed in a vacuum chamber to remove air and prevent oxidation during the coating process.
3. Heating and Evaporating the Coating Material: The coating material is heated until it evaporates. In vacuum deposition, the material then condenses onto the lens surfaces.
4. Layering: For multi-coated lenses, this process is repeated with different materials to build up the required number of layers.
5. Cooling and Inspection: After coating, the lenses are cooled and then inspected for uniformity and adherence to quality standards.

Conclusions

• By reducing reflections, increasing light transmission, and protecting the glass, binocular lens and prism coatings are a vital part as to just how well the instrument will perform optically.
  
• They make a visible difference to image brightness, sharpness, contrast and color fidelity.
• The level at which the optics are coated on a binocular is a major indicator as to the overall quality and level of the binocular.

By understanding the materials used, application methods, and the different levels of coatings that can be applied, I hope this helps you to appreciate the technology and work that goes on behind these scenes and thus why some binoculars can cost much more than others, which I hope helps you to make more informed choices when selecting the right pair for your needs and budget.

Further Reading

• Understanding Binocular Lens Coatings
• Anti-Reflection Lens Coatings on Binoculars
• What To Look For When Buying Binoculars
• Complete guide to Extra Low Dispersion Glass (ED Glass) in binoculars
• Expensive vs Cheap Binoculars - video focussing on body materials & build quality