Of both types there are good and not so good instruments.
Roof or porro prism.
Porro prisms are the more traditional ones and these are seen in older binoculars with a zig zag shape.
Roof prism binoculars have lately become more popular than porro prism binoculars.
These two 90 faces resemble the roof of a building giving this prism type its name.
Heavier design zig zag shape not so easy to grip.
Roof edge is a reflective optical prism containing a section where two faces meet at a 90 angle.
Porro prism vs roof prism binoculars which is better.
There is a legitimate price difference between the two as well.
Roof prisms are the newer option.
If porro prisms had the same amount of labor and engineering efforts as roof prism binos porro prisms would always be superior.
To borrow one of barsness analogies think of it like a rock in the middle of a stream.
Roof binoculars are in a higher general price category than porro prism binoculars and represent a class of more powerful viewing instruments.
Compact lightweight and comfortable to hold.
Roof prism binoculars construction is different and have two aligned barrels with eyepieces and objective lenses that are closer to each other than in porro prism binoculars.
Increase in popularity after the introduction by zeuss and leitz.
They made the offset zig zag shape of the porro prism design look as old fashioned as propeller driven aircraft.
A roof prism utilizes two glass prisms to bend light via a complex pattern in order to make it compact and split it into two halves where it eventually flows back together before reaching the eye.
However the prism design is only part of the optical equation.
Yes you are correct that porro prisms in their basic prism design is as perfect as can be compared to roof prism binos.
Porro prism binoculars have eyepieces that are closer to each other while objective lenses have larger distance.
If you are traveling with your binoculars roof binoculars will be a better choice than porro prism binoculars because they are designed to be a lot more durable and are usually waterproof.
Porro prism design has a jog in the light path through each barrel.
A roof prism also called a dach prism or dachkanten prism from the german.
Roof prism design looks as if the light goes straight through.
Standard design in use till 1960s.
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 difference between porro prism and roof prism binoculars is in the design and the respective features.
So if you re on a tight budget go ahead and look for a porro set sporting bak 4 prisms.
However porro prism binoculars are great watching birds or other small objects.
It is difficult to say whether porro prism or roof prism binoculars are better.
Roof prism binoculars were compact light and comfortable to hold.
