Roof Prism Vs Porro Prism Binoculars

The myth are roof prism binoculars are superior to porro prism binos.

Roof prism vs porro prism binoculars.

The difference between porro prism and roof prism binoculars is in the design and the respective features. The prims are in the shape of a right angled triangle and they reflect the light rays through the binoculars so you see your image clearly. While the roof prism design is inferior to the porro prism in its basic form roof prisms often have higher quality glass and stricter engineering controls versus cheap porro prism binos. Porro prism design has a jog in the light path through each barrel.

If you are traveling with your binoculars roof binoculars will be a better choice than porro prism binoculars because they are designed to be a lot more durable and are usually waterproof. However porro prism binoculars are great watching birds or other small objects. It is difficult to say whether porro prism or roof prism binoculars are better. Contain 2 prisms called dach or dachkanten prism and derive their name from abbe koenig ak prism design.

You ve probably seen most of the hunting shows and read the magazines where most of the professional and sponsored hunters use top quality roof prism binocular from such optical firms as zeiss swarovski and nikon you ve probably also seen your known cheapskate buddy bob using an old gigantic porro prism bino those. These are easy to hold for you are more compact and more expensive than porro prism binoculars. Roof binoculars are in a higher general price category than porro prism binoculars and represent a class of more powerful viewing instruments. While light loss and transmission rates are huge factors in optical quality there are many other factors that allows a roof prism bino for possible superiority over a porro prism bino.

Roof prism binocular is more streamlined as the glasses are in line with one another. Roof prism design looks as if the light goes straight through. Roof prisms are the newer option. Of both types there are good and not so good instruments.

So if you re on a tight budget go ahead and look for a porro set sporting bak 4 prisms. Roof prism binoculars were compact light and comfortable to hold. Roof prism binoculars have lately become more popular than porro prism binoculars. Porro prisms are the more traditional ones and these are seen in older binoculars with a zig zag shape.

Prism in roof binoculars doesn t reflect 100 of the light that enters its lenses. Porro prism binoculars however do not need these coatings to reflect the same amount of light and so can match the better quality roof prisms at a lower cost. In roof binoculars prisms are arranged in a straight line which makes roof binoculars more compact and lightweight compared to porro binoculars. They ll provide just as vibrant an image as a corresponding roof set at a fraction of the cost.

That s why usually porro binoculars produce brighter image. And they re much better for overall general use.