Opera Glasses and How They Are Different From Regular Binoculars

I attended the theater for a play last week. It was my first time attending a professional production and I knew my seat was going to be towards the back, so I brought along my binoculars. My friend that went with me is an avid theater-goer and brought her opera glasses with her. While I must admit her opera glasses were far cuter than mine, matching her outfit and everything, I didn't think they would be any better than my trusty bird-watching pair of binoculars. I would quickly find out how wrong I was about her opera glasses.

The second we got to our seats, I realized that it truly was hard to see, and was glad I had brought my binoculars along with me. I looked at all the scenery and could see each leaf on the trees - it was great. As soon as the performers got on the stage however, I realized that although I could see the details of each outfit, I couldn't see the entire performer at once, let alone what they were doing on the stage. I tried to not use the binoculars and just watch with my own eyes. This was alright for a few minutes, but it was hard to see what exactly they were holding or doing with their hands. Frustrated, I turned to my friend and complained about how we should have paid more for the closer seats. She looked confused and said she could see everything perfectly with her opera glasses In disbelief, I asked her how and she allowed me to borrow her opera glasses for a moment. Sarcastically I put them up to my eyes - I already had binoculars and they didn't help, how could these things possibly be better than them. It took me only a second to realize I had judged her opera glasses too quickly. Not only could I see the details, but I could see the whole stage at once. I came to understand that while my bird-watching binoculars were great for far distances, the magnification was much too great for an indoor performance. Another difference was that the opera glasses were set wider apart and therefore allowed me to have a broad view of the entire stage at once.

It was literally like having a front row seat while I used her opera glasses. Regretfully, I had to give the opera glasses back to my friend so she could enjoy the performance and I was left stuck with my binoculars. I had to raise and lower them the whole night to see when they moved and see details when my own eyes couldn't make out. That night I got online and ordered my own pair. I couldn't believe all the different styles. It was great! They had opera glasses with chains to hold the opera glasses around your neck like binoculars so you don't drop them, but also had opera glasses with handles so you could rest your arm on the chair and not have to be Hercules to hold your arm up the whole performance. I decided to get the pair of opera glasses with the handle, and was surprised when they arrived that they had a light as well that you can view the program with and is still discreet enough to not disturb those around you. I will never go to another play, opera, or symphony without opera glasses!

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Why You Need Opera Glasses Or Theater Binoculars

How do you enjoy the Theater? How well do you appreciate the Opera? If you are going to the Opera or Theater House without a pair of Opera Glasses (often referred to as Theater Binoculars), you are not enjoying it as much as you should. You may ask, "What could I possibly be missing?" Well I was able to answer that question for myself a few years back.

I was attending a play put on by a local company with a close friend named Julie. Julie had been given a pair of Opera Glasses the week previous as a gift, and we had agreed to break them in together. Neither of us had ever used Opera Glasses or Theater Binoculars before nor did we think it would be of much impact on our lives. We took our seats about twenty rows or so back in the theater the play soon started. About fifteen minutes into the play I noticed that Julie would never take her Opera Glasses away from her face for more than a few seconds at a time. My curiosity began to grow, as the play went on, Julie remained glued to those Theater Binoculars. Just before the intermission my curiosity got the best of me and I asked if I could take a quick peek through her Opera Glasses, she reluctantly handed them to me.

I peered through the lens and it was like I had entered a new world! I knew instantly why Julie had been so reluctant to let me use them. I could see each and every expression in the faces of all the actors; I could see with great detail the intricate designs of the various costumes as well as stage props. But more importantly I did not lose the sight of the wide stage, because Opera Glasses and Theater Binoculars are designed to have a broad field of vision, enabling me to see the stage as a whole, but at the same time offering me fine details with crystal clarity. Julie allowed me to use her Opera Glasses till the intermission. Sadly though, she had become so attached to her Opera Glasses by then that she used her Opera Glasses for the rest of the performance. I was left suffering through the play without.

The following week we attended another play together. I was able to show of my new pair of Opera Glasses to Julie. Fortunately for her she had brought hers, so neither of us was left wanting. Since then I have not attended a single play or performance without a pair of Opera Glasses or Theater Binoculars and I don't intend to. Be wise to my advice; buy yourself a pair of high quality Opera Glasses or Theater Binoculars today! Click on the link below to start enjoying shows like you have never before!

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The History of Opera Glasses and Theater Binoculars

Like many inventions, Opera Glasses came into existence as a result of a long line of inventions, and further improvements upon those inventions. The process started in the year 1608 when a Dutch optician by the name of Hans Lipperhey developed the first pair of binoculars with a magnification capability of X3. Less than a year later, a well known inventor and philosopher by the name of Galileo developed what became known as the Galilean telescope which had a magnification capability of x30 which allowed him to search the heavens.

Advertisements were first found for opera glasses and theater binoculars in London as early as 1730 in the form of a long collapsible telescope. The "Opera Glass" as it was referred to; was often covered in enamel, gems, ivory, or other art and paintings.

For almost 100 years opera glasses existed merely as telescopes. In Vienna in 1823 the first binocular opera glasses and theater binoculars began to appear. They were two simple Galilean telescopes with a bridge in the center, each telescope focused independently from the other by extending or shortening the telescope until a desired focus was achieved, which was useful, yet very cumbersome.

Two years later in Paris, Pierre Lemiere improved on this design and created a center focus wheel. This allowed the focusing of both telescopes together. After this development, opera glasses and theater binoculars grew in popularity because of the superior view they facilitated in opera and theater houses. The beautiful design of the glasses themselves also added appeal to the opera-going crowd. By the 1850's opera glasses and theater glasses had become a must-have fashion accessory for all opera and theater-goers.

Today, in modern opera glasses, the design Galileo implemented in his first telescope 400 years ago is still in use today, although there have been many improvements to the design over the years. Opera glasses offer a front row view, regardless of where you seat is. Opera glasses and theater binoculars now come in many varieties. There are opera glasses with chains, with handles, and lights for reading your program discreetly during the performance. They also come in many materials, styles, and colors to fit each personality.

Make every seat the front seat! Improve your view at the theater too! Find your own pair of opera glasses today by clicking on the link below.

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