When choosing a thermal or night vision device, it is very easy to become fixated on the maximum detection range. However, there is one factor that will affect your day-to-day comfort in the field much more: the Field of View or FOV (Field of View).
What Is Field of View (FOV)?
Field of View (FOV) is the area of visible terrain you can see through your device’s screen at a given distance (usually calculated at 100 meters) or measured in angular degrees.
In simple terms: FOV determines the "width" of your visual window. A wide FOV lets you see a lot of terrain at a glance, while a narrow FOV works like a tunnel focused on a distant point.
How is it measured? The two key units
- In Degrees (e.g. 12.5°): Measures the lens opening angle.
- In Meters at 100m (e.g. 22m): This is the most practical measurement. It indicates that if you look at a wall 100 meters away, you will see 22 meters of that wall from left to right.
The golden rule: Magnification vs. FOV
There is an unchanging physical relationship in optics: The higher the native magnification, the smaller your field of view will be.
If you buy a monocular with a lot of optical magnification to see very far away, you must accept that when you look at short distances you will see very little space, which will make it harder to locate or "get in the sight" a fast-moving animal.
What FOV do you need for your activity?
- Wide FOV (>18 meters at 100m): Ideal for short-range hunting waits, tracking, following wounded animals, or perimeter surveillance in enclosed areas. It allows you to maintain excellent situational awareness.
- Narrow FOV (<12 meters at 100m): Ideal for stalking in high mountains or vast plains. You give up panoramic vision in exchange for identifying targets at extreme distances.
Find your visual balance
In our catalog, we specify the exact FOV of each device. If you are looking for equipment for wooded environments or medium distances, check out our range of Panoramic Thermal Monoculars.
Learn more: Discover how the size of the Objective Lens and Pixel Pitch affect the width of your field of view.