The bottom line on binos.
Roof prism vs.
If porro prisms had the same amount of labor and engineering efforts as roof prism binos porro prisms would always be superior.
They ll provide just as vibrant an image as a corresponding roof set at a fraction of the cost.
I have various sets of binoculars such as military binocular baigish pentax bresser.
However porro prism binoculars are great watching birds or other small objects.
So if you re on a tight budget go ahead and look for a porro set sporting bak 4 prisms.
Roof prism bino sets are often much more expensive than porro designs of the same magnification.
Roof prism binoculars are more compact lightweight but they are more expensive.
Binoculars with roof prisms are straighter and more compact.
With components and labor efforts being equal porro prisms are superior.
If a company put all its resources into a porro prism binocular it would be at least as good as a roof prism if not better.
The porro prism design was simpler and more light efficient and its images showed better contrast.
Roof prism binoculars appeared simpler than porro prism binoculars.
And they re much better for overall general use.
Yes you are correct that porro prisms in their basic prism design is as perfect as can be compared to roof prism binos.
Roof prism binoculars have lately become more popular than porro prism binoculars.
As a result they cost more to make.
The prisms are usually coated to increase reflectivity and to keep the light waves in the right direction.
In roof prism binoculars the internal prisms overlap closely allowing the objective lenses to line up directly with the eyepieces resulting in an overall h shape.
But not all porro prism binoculars produce such an image.
But inside they had a more complex light path and required much greater optical precision in manufacturing.
Increase in popularity after the introduction by zeuss and leitz.
As these prisms are easier to make they are cheaper to buy.
But it would be bulkier.
However the prism design is only part of the optical equation.
But like most things in life the reality is all things aren t equal.
Compact lightweight and comfortable to hold.
The difference between porro prism and roof prism binoculars is in the design and the respective features.
Standard design in use till 1960s.
Both types of prism have advantages and disadvantages.
Roof prism binnoculars physical difference.
