Roof prisms are the newer option.
Porro prism binoculars vs roof.
Roof prism bino sets are often much more expensive than porro designs of the same magnification.
However porro prism binoculars are great watching birds or other small objects.
They ll provide just as vibrant an image as a corresponding roof set at a fraction of the cost.
Roof prism binoculars were compact light and comfortable to hold.
Porro prisms are the more traditional ones and these are seen in older binoculars with a zig zag shape.
And they re much better for overall general use.
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.
The light path refracts more light thereby allowing a brighter image and better optics to be visible.
They made the offset zig zag shape of the porro prism design look as old fashioned as propeller driven aircraft.
Roof prism binoculars have lately become more popular than porro prism binoculars.
The easiest way to find out a porro prism binocular for a first time user is that it has a narrower barrel that grows wider towards the outer objective lens.
So if you re on a tight budget go ahead and look for a porro set sporting bak 4 prisms.
The difference between porro prism and roof prism binoculars is in the design and the respective features.
Prism in roof binoculars doesn t reflect 100 of the light that enters its lenses.
Though it is more cumbersome than roof prism binocular its less complex.
That s why usually porro binoculars produce brighter image.