ISO 14133:2025

Optics and photonics - Specifications for binoculars, monoculars and spotting scopes - General purpose and high performance instruments

This document gives requirements for general and high purpose binoculars, monoculars and spotting scopes.

Optique et photonique — Spécifications pour jumelles, monoculaires et lunettes — Instruments d'usage général et haute performance

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 03-Jun-2025
• ICS: 37.020 - Optical equipment
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 172/SC 4 - Telescopic systems
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 172/SC 4 - Telescopic systems
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 04-Jun-2025
• Due Date: 29-Jan-2026
• Completion Date: 04-Jun-2025

Relations

• Revises: ISO 14133-2:2016 - Optics and photonics - Specifications for binoculars, monoculars and spotting scopes - Part 2: High performance instruments
• Effective Date: 03-Feb-2024
• Revises: ISO 14133-1:2016 - Optics and photonics - Specifications for binoculars, monoculars and spotting scopes - Part 1: General purpose instruments
• Effective Date: 06-Jun-2022

Overview

ISO 14133:2025 is a comprehensive international standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that specifies requirements for general purpose and high performance binoculars, monoculars, and spotting scopes. This standard ensures consistent quality, performance, and reliability in optics and photonics instruments used for various observation activities. It consolidates previous versions into a single, updated document that covers specifications, test methods, environmental requirements, and consumer information essential for manufacturers, testers, and end-users.

Key Topics

• Scope and Application
  ISO 14133:2025 applies to the design and manufacturing of binoculars, monoculars, and spotting scopes, covering general and high performance categories with clear definitions and requirements.

• Optical and Mechanical Specifications
  The standard defines:

  • Magnification tolerances (±5% for general, ±4% for high performance)
  • Field of view accuracy
  • Entrance and exit pupil diameters
  • Eye relief measurements
  • Dioptre adjustment ranges for accommodation of vision differences
  • Limits on image rotation and other optical distortions
  • Interpupillary distance adjustments

• Performance Requirements
  To qualify as general purpose or high performance instruments, products must meet minimum resolution limits, light transmission, mechanical tolerances, and environmental resistance following ISO 20711.

• Testing Methods
  Conformity is verified through standardized testing methods detailed in related ISO standards like ISO 14490 series for measurement of basic characteristics, magnification, image resolution, and tolerance assessments.

• Marking and Consumer Information
  The standard sets clear guidelines for product designation, marking, and information disclosure, ensuring users receive complete technical and operational data such as:

  • Manufacturer identification
  • Product name and specifications (magnification, pupil diameters, field of view)
  • Operational and storage temperature ranges
  • Waterproof rating
  • Mass and mechanical dimension details

Applications

ISO 14133:2025 is essential for the production and quality assurance of optical instruments used in diverse fields including:

• Outdoor recreation and nature observation (bird watching, hiking)
• Hunting and sports shooting optics
• Marine and astronomical observation
• Military and law enforcement surveillance equipment
• Scientific research and fieldwork requiring precise optical tools

Adherence to this standard ensures that instruments deliver accurate, reliable performance under varying environmental conditions, enhancing user experience and safety.

Related Standards

ISO 14133:2025 works in conjunction with several other important ISO standards in optics and photonics:

• ISO 14132-1 & ISO 14132-2: Vocabulary and definitions for telescopic systems and related optical instruments to ensure consistent terminology.
• ISO 14490 series: Detailed test methods covering measurement of basic characteristics, binocular systems, and resolution limits.
• ISO 20711: Environmental testing requirements to assess optical instruments’ durability under operational stresses.

These complementary standards provide a robust framework for manufacturers and users to maintain quality and performance across the full lifecycle of binoculars, monoculars, and spotting scopes.

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By conforming to ISO 14133:2025, manufacturers can improve product reliability and customer satisfaction, while users gain access to well-defined, thoroughly tested optical equipment tailored to their specific observing needs. This standard is a key reference for anyone involved in the design, testing, procurement, or use of high quality optical observation instruments.

Standards Content (Sample)

International
Standard
ISO 14133
First edition
Optics and photonics —
2025-06
Specifications for binoculars,
monoculars and spotting scopes
— General purpose and high
performance instruments
Optique et photonique — Spécifications pour jumelles,
monoculaires et lunettes — Instruments d'usage général et haute
performance
Reference number
© ISO 2025
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
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or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
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Phone: [phone]
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Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Specifications . 1
5 Consumer information . 3
5.1 Designation and marking .3
5.2 Product information .3
5.3 Conformity .4

iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
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For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 172, Optics and photonics, Subcommittee SC 4,
Telescopic systems.
This first edition of ISO 14133 cancels and replaces ISO 14133-1:2016 and ISO 14133-2:2016, which have
been technically revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— the technical matter from the two standards has been combined into one document.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

iv
International Standard ISO 14133:2025(en)
Optics and photonics — Specifications for binoculars,
monoculars and spotting scopes — General purpose and high
performance instruments
1 Scope
This document gives requirements for general and high purpose binoculars, monoculars and spotting scopes.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 14132-1, Optics and photonics — Vocabulary for telescopic systems — Part 1: General terms and alphabetical
indexes of terms in ISO 14132
ISO 14132-2, Optics and photonics — Vocabulary for telescopic systems — Part 2: Terms for binoculars,
monoculars and spotting scopes
ISO 14490-1, Optics and optical
...