Old Swift binocular purpose chart (1 Viewer)

I found this chart quite interesting, but would have to disagree with some of the recommendations, for example they have 20x50 as excellent for horse racing and 8x30 as only good, there is no way I would advise lugging an 20x50 to the races or hiking for that matter. I think they needed an extra category of D - for not recommended ?

. Strangely enough, higher power binoculars are used for horseracing to look at the far side of the circuit.
Some friends use 15×50s.

I understand that image stabilised 20×60s luxury binoculars were also used for just this purpose.

I suppose it might help those who need to know what is happening on the far side of the circuit.
Maybe they use something solid to stabilise regular binoculars.

Additionally, 20×50 binoculars are actually very good for some astronomy.
They show much fainter stars than a 10 x 50 and when younger I had no problem holding the 20×50 steady.
The only proviso is that they should be of good optical quality and the Japanese ones usually were.

The Track Announcer at Belmont Park in NY uses 15 x or 18 x 50 Canon IS binoculars. The New York Post had an article on him a couple of years ago and the picture that accompanied it, overlooking the track from his work location, showed 2 Canon IS binoculars--either 15x or 18x; one he was wearing, the other was on a shelf within reaching distance.

Bob

ceasar said:

The Track Announcer at Belmont Park in NY uses 15 x or 18 x 50 Canon IS binoculars.
Bob

Click to expand...

Yep, take the point that a commentator would want high magnification, they do use high x in the UK, on a mount to hold steady, but also have a companion watching the TV monitor too. IS makes sense. As a spectator I find my victory 8x32 perfect,any higher and I would just get too much shake, but often I just take a small Nikon 8x25 in my pocket, much easier than lugging a 20x50 around all day on and off trains etc.