If you are hiring a car today, they are all grouped by size: economy, mini, compact, or even small, medium, and large!
Do you see binoculars being "dumbed down" like that in future?
What I think on the matter is that if the producers were all really honest, yours would be a good idea. But on the contrary, the more general the terminology will be, the greater the tricks put in place to "sell smoke" or "fried air" (especially at those who cannot afford the best model, of the format they have chosen to use).
Already the "nominal" terminology is a generalization that alone supports "the world of binoculars", confusing the waters even at the most expert. But since in my house 2 + 2 is always 4, it is obvious that every producer is here to make money, and not to make a pleasure to me or to you.
Unfortunately, there is little to do on this: the market always earns on the incompetence of consumers. Thus, it is up to the consumer to make the best choices in a much more conscious way. And to do this we need a good basic culture about binoculars, but which the "ignorant" behavior avoids like the plague and in doing so you dig the pit yourself. In my opinion we must stop ignoring and start to understand with will how things really are. Then, the best will come automatically.
Anyone who already has some knowledge on the subject, already has an idea of the "tonnage" of the binoculars (weight and size), simply based on the "aperture" value (25, 32, 42, 50mm, etc.). For example, it is easy to understand that 25mm binoculars are generally "Pocket binoculars" and therefore the lightest among all the others; while those between 30 and 40mm are medium sized binoculars often considered "Handyman". And so, those with an aperture greater than 42mm are generally the largest and heaviest binoculars, but often also the most powerful.
Over time I understood that binoculars can be divided into at least 3 fundamental groups more useful: Pocket, Handyman and Twilight. And that everything else can be considered either "useless" or so specific, that those who use it do not need to classify it in a generalized way.
- Pocket: these are the lightest folding binoculars, which are insertable in the shirt pocket. They are ideal to always have binoculars with you on every occasion and are also "the best" from sunrise to sunset (daytime use). The most common formats among the best choices are 8x20-25 10x22-28.
- Handyman: they are binoculars of more general or even generalized use, but they are not pocket sized and not very small (some, too heavy). They serve the user in a wider way, because they respond to average pupil / iris needs (about 3.5-4mm). The most common formats among the best choices are 7x-8x30-42 10x35-42, but although the 42mm is the most studied, produced and sold lens format, many of those listed above could be "anomalous all-rounders" (eg, 7x42 ).
- Twilight: they are the most powerful binoculars of all, but also generally heavier and bulkier. Just to give some examples, among these we will find various more specific uses, with physical and technical characteristics more suitable for the purpose: maritime navigation (7x50), hunting (8x56) and astronomy (10x70), where only the 8x56 format will be used mainly and effectively during twilight (and built for the occurrence).
Therefore, when it is necessary to choose your own binoculars, as it is normal to do with the choice of the car or shoes (for example), it is necessary to try to understand first, what will be the purpose and its fundamental function.
Already from this first point it is possible to narrow the field: do you need binoculars to look at the stars or insects? Do you need a car to go off-road or in the city? Do you need shoes to climb Everest or to go to the beach? We can't have it all in one!
The research of the most useful tool for this purpose starts from one's own needs. And as has happened to everyone, in this process we will have useful experiences and assimilate information that will automatically help us better classify the various binoculars. The elementary (nominal) data of the binocular format (e.g., 6x30, 8x42, 10x25, etc.) are already an excellent start, to classify them in an orderly way. And there is no other alternative data that can describe them in a more useful way.
They could also add the transmittance value, the visual field and the weight in the format, thus creating something similar to
8x42T92%<8°Kg.85 (for example). And if the data were much more precise than they are today (that is, if they provided only the real data and not the nominal ones), there would be a huge saving of time for all users (experts and beginners).
But as almost everyone knows, this unfortunately does not happen.
What I can recommend to anyone is to pay close attention to personal needs! Personal needs are the key point. While the needs of others are mostly distractions and wasted time, only useful to confuse.
Here the statistics are of no use to anyone or little to each of us. Who would choose the length of own shoes based on the statistics?
So we avoid blindly believing the beliefs of others, but try to truly understand how things are, before making any decision. And above all, we avoid following commonplaces.
Maybe my answer is too complex, but also your question-request is no different.
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