Shortest focusing distance - Binoculars
The shortest or minimum focusing distance of binoculars is the minimum distance that you have to stand from the object in order to focus properly on it. This may be unimportant to the sailor who scans the horizon of the sea but it is vitally important to the nature lover who scours the environment in search of insects.
To give you some idea, the minimum focusing distance of various binoculars ranges between 1 and 8 metres.