If you want to buy an optical device and have a hard time deciding whether you should go for a telescope or a monocular, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the two and then choose. Although these share many similarities, they also differ significantly.

Monoculars and telescopes often serve different purposes. That's why it's vital to determine which one you will need for your activities. Without further ado, let's explore the differences: telescope vs monocular.

What Is a Telescope?

A telescope is a tool for viewing distant objects. Most of them work by using curved mirrors to gather a focus light. The mirrors or lenses in telescopes are called optics. Powerful telescopes can see very remote objects, and to do that, they need large optics. The bigger the optics, the more light it can gather.

The shape of mirrors or lenses focuses the light. That’s what you see when you look through the telescope. However, the optics must be almost perfect and in the right shape to concentrate the light. Any scratches, spots, or other imperfections can cause image distortions and blur.

Telescope Types

There are three different telescope types. They vary by using either mirrors, lenses, or both.

  1. Reflector telescopes: They use only mirrors.
  2. Refractor telescopes: They use only lenses.
  3. Catadioptric telescopes: They use both mirrors and lenses.

What Is a Monocular?

A monocular is a small, low-powered optical device similar to a telescope or spotting scope. You hold it in your hand like a binocular but use only one eye. Monoculars magnify distant objects using lenses or mirrors, gathering and focusing light or infrared radiation in the case of night-vision instruments.

Their size is their most significant benefit. Some are no larger than a thumb and can easily fit into a purse or pocket.

Monocular Types

Monoculars come in all shapes and sizes. Some of the most popular are below.

  1. Galilean zoom monoculars
  2. Compass monoculars
  3. Night vision monoculars
  4. Range finder monoculars
  5. Thermal imaging monoculars

Telescope vs Monocular: The Size, Design, and Magnification

Vintage toned telescope used by wildlife watchers and hunters.

A monocular is, in a way, a mini telescope. They have been modified to use several prisms or lenses to magnify remote objects effectively. A larger monocular is still considerably smaller than a small telescope. Because of their size, they are much more portable and compact. You can even carry some models in your pocket.

Since monoculars are easy to hold and carry and provide a quality zoom, they are great traveling companions. Moreover, they are generally less expensive than telescopes.

Most monoculars have magnification power between 4x and 10x. Some offer higher zoom, but that reduces the image quality. Why you might ask. A higher magnification results in a smaller aperture, a narrower field of view, and, finally, a questionable image.

Typically, you don’t need a tripod when using a monocular telescope. However, you might need it for higher zoom levels to stabilize the image. For that reason, it’s better to use the normal range of magnification. Note that professionals rarely use monoculars with increased zoom levels. That said, the most popular monoculars feature 8x and 10x of magnification.

On the other hand, telescopes are typically used when someone wants a magnification level over 30x. That said, a telescope is much better than a monocular if you want to watch a celestial body. They can gather more light due to their wider aperture, resulting in a clearer and brighter image. However, they are pretty large and you can’t carry them around.

Telescope vs Monocular: The Setup Process

Monoculars don’t need any setup, so they’re excellent for on-the-go explorations. However, there’s much more setup with telescopes that can be time-consuming. Moreover, they typically need additional equipment and are large. So, if you want to use a telescope and enjoy it, you’ll need eyepieces and a reliable and stable tripod.

On the other hand, monoculars are self-contained. Typically, they feature a knob for magnifying and an adjuster for focusing. They are located on the monocular and are simple to set up.

Pros and Cons of a Monocular

Let’s start with the advantages of a monocular.

  1. They are very convenient, and you can easily carry them around in your bag or pocket because of their size and lack of setup.
  2. Although they are compact, they still offer a fair field of view.
  3. They offer precise target spotting.
  4. You can adjust them on the move.
  5. You need only one eye to use a monocular. That way, you can stay aware of your surroundings.
  6. Some offer excellent night vision and even thermal imaging.
  7. Monoculars are typically affordable.

Now that we covered the perks of using a monocular, it’s time to mention some disadvantages.

  1. Monoculars are very focused. That results in a deficiency of relaxed vision, which can lead to eye fatigue.
  2. Sidelights can be an issue for some monocular models.
  3. Magnification power is limited compared to a telescope.
  4. You will likely need a tripod if you use higher magnification levels.

Pros and Cons of a Telescope

Let’s move to the pros of telescopes.

  1. They feature incredible magnification power, much higher than monoculars.
  2. Telescopes produce more stable images.
  3. Sidelight, reflections, and aberrations don’t affect them.
  4. Objects seen through a telescope appear brighter and clearer.
  5. You can see very remote objects because of the longer focus and higher magnification power.

Telescopes have some cons too.

  1. They have to be in a fixed position, meaning you can't move them and carry them around.
  2. Setting a telescope up takes time.
  3. Telescopes can be tricky, and it takes a while to get used to them.
  4. Quality telescopes can be pretty expensive.
  5. They require maintenance.

Monocular vs Telescope: Which one Is for You?

Let’s figure out which optical instrument is better for you. It all depends on what you want to use it for.

For example, if you love watching birds or wildlife, scouting, or hunting, a monocular is a much better choice than a telescope because it’s lightweight and convenient to carry around. You can also use it to watch stars. The best monocular for stargazing will allow you to see them more clearly, but it still can’t compare to a telescope.

Telescopes are perfect for watching stars and other celestial bodies due to their high magnification power. If you don’t mind viewing from one spot, a telescope may be ideal for you. It has a wider aperture, producing brighter and clearer images and seeing further.

Generally, telescopes are better for viewing very remote objects and beyond Earth in detail, whereas monoculars are more suitable for exploring the land.