Roof Prism Binoculars or Porro Prism Binoculars?

There is an ongoing debate between porro prism binoculars and roof prism binoculars: which one is better?  Which binocular is more rugged?  Are porro prism Bushnell binoculars better than roof prism Leica binoculars?  What are the main functional differences?  Everybody has their own preferences, and we can fill you in on how to decide which type of binocular is best for you.

First of all, it is necessary to know what a prism is.  A prism is the glass component of a binocular that corrects the orientation of the image produced.  If there were no prisms, then the image would be upside down.  Most binos such as Steiner binoculars and Zeiss binoculars offer both porro and roof prisms.

Porro prism binoculars have the classic binocular shape: the eyepieces and front lenses are never in a straight line. They do not require phase correction for sharpness, and they are less expensive.  Also, the light transmission of a porro prism binocular is better than that of roof prisms.

Roof prism binoculars, on the other hand, tend to have smaller, more slender bodies, similar to compact binoculars.  It is more expensive to manufacture the straight tube design, but they are much more comfortable to hold.  Compact binoculars with a hinge focus knob allow for one-handed operation.  Due to the sturdy prism casing necessary in a roof prism binocular, they can be more rugged than your average porro prism.

With this information you should be able to comfortably choose which type of binocular is best for your goals and your budget.  To find out more about how binoculars work, read our special how to buy binoculars guide!  Always your information resource, stay connected with OpticsPlanet.