We don't have photos we have taken through a pair of binoculars, but for some examples of close up photos you can view the Extended Zoom examples on our tips page for Tripods giving you an idea of how having a pair of zoomed binoculars may enhance your view.

On a trip to Vienna Austria, we entered the Kirlskirche where the frescos were undergoing restoration.  Surprisingly for only a Euro, they allowed you to ride the construction elevator and then climb the remaining way up the scaffolding steps to the top of the church where we were only feet from the frescos.  The photos below show the view from the bottom and then some of the frescos up close.  Having a pair of binoculars will help to give you an enhanced close up view similar to what we had at the top.

Kirlskirche - Vienna, Austria

We have used binoculars to scan the countryside viewing distance castles or a town when we have climbed to the top of a viewing tower such as the Bell Tower in Florence, the Dome of St. Peter's in Rome or the Town Hall Bell Tower located in the Piazza Del Campo in Sienna; all located in Italy.

Views from the top
Bell Tower	Dome of St. Peters	Town Hall Bell Tower
Florence, Italy	Rome, Italy	Sienna, Italy

If you like the idea of bringing along a pair of binoculars, we recommend a compact lite weight pair having at least an 8x Power as shown in the samples below.  There are more expensive versions having different features and options such as being waterproof and anti-fog, etc.  It's up to you to decide on the power, size, weight and cost for how you will use them.

Not all compact binoculars come with a case and strap, so when researching a pair, be sure to consider what is included with them.

Mini, Compact and Lightweight Binocular Examples A little about binocular power.  The first number refers the magnification of binocular, so a Power of 10×25 for example, magnifies the view by 10 times. Objects appear 10 times larger than they do without the binoculars. The second number refers to the objective size (diameter in millimeters) - this is the front lens, not the one you look through.  The wider the objective lens, the more light the binoculars will take in making the image brighter. We are providing two different examples of compact travel binoculars to give you some idea of what to consider.  Our recommendation is to shop around and find something that works for you depending on how you intend to use them. This is an example of compact travel binoculars. Power: 8x21 2.35 in. x 4.14 in. x 3.62 in. Object Lens: 21mm Magnification: 8 X Objective diameter: 21mm Eyepiece diameter: 13mm Angle of field: 6 degree Our travel binoculars are older and no longer available, but are very similar to the pair shown here. Power: 10x25 Objective Lens: 23mm Field of View: 374 ft / 1000 Yards Waterproof: Yes Tripod Mount: No Dimensions: 4 in. L x 3.8 in. W x 1.4 in. H Weight: 7.9 oz Rubber finish with nonslip grip Carrying Case Neck Strap Cleaning Cloth Manual