Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ======Omnioculars====== =====Object Information===== * **Type:** [[Magical Device]], [[Viewing Device]] * **Owners:** [[Harry Potter]], [[Ron Weasley]], [[Hermione Granger]] * **Maker:** Unknown =====Description and Appearance===== Omnioculars are a type of magical [[binoculars]] made of brass and covered with numerous knobs and dials. They are specifically designed for spectating sporting events, particularly [[Quidditch]]. At the 1994 [[Quidditch World Cup]], they were sold for ten [[Galleons]] apiece. =====Magical Properties and Usage===== Omnioculars possess several advanced magical features that enhance the viewing experience far beyond that of standard Muggle [[binoculars]]. Their functions are controlled by the various dials on the casing. * **Replay and Slow Motion:** Users can replay any action they have just seen through the lenses, including in slow motion, to analyze a specific move or play. * **Play-by-Play Commentary:** The [[Omnioculars]] can superimpose purple, glowing text over the image, providing a running commentary on the action. This can include identifying players by name and describing specific manoeuvres as they happen. * **Playback Control:** The device allows the user to fast-forward or rewind through the action they are watching. This feature, however, can be distracting; [[Ron Weasley]] found himself watching replays of exciting moments while missing the live action of the match. * **Zoom:** Like regular [[binoculars]], they possess a powerful zoom function, allowing the user to see distant players with perfect clarity. Their primary use is to follow fast-paced sporting events, offering spectators a level of detail and analysis unavailable to the naked eye. =====History===== The most prominent appearance of [[Omnioculars]] is during the 422nd [[Quidditch World Cup]] in //[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]//. Upon arriving at the [[Top Box]] with the [[Weasley family]] and [[Hermione Granger]], [[Harry Potter]] saw [[Ludo Bagman]] using a pair. Intrigued, Harry purchased three sets from a [[Ministry of Magic]] wizard in the box—one for himself, one for Ron, and one for Hermione—paying thirty [[Galleons]] in total. All three used their [[Omnioculars]] to watch the final between [[Ireland]] and [[Bulgaria]]. Harry used his to follow the Chasers and later focused on [[Viktor Krum]]'s feint that won [[Bulgaria]] the [[Snitch]]. Hermione used hers capably, while Ron became comically engrossed in the replay function, repeatedly missing key live moments of the game. Later in the school year, a furious [[Ron Weasley]] smashed his pair of [[Omnioculars]] after [[Ludo Bagman]] refused to pay him the winnings from their bet on the [[Quidditch World Cup]]. Harry told Ron not to worry about paying him back for the broken device. =====Role in the Story===== The [[Omnioculars]] serve mainly to enrich the [[Quidditch World Cup]] sequence in //[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]//. They function as an expositional tool, allowing the reader to experience the high-speed, professional-level [[Quidditch]] match with the same magical assistance as the characters. This provides a clear and detailed account of complex plays, such as the Wronski Feint. The object also serves as a minor character device. Harry's purchase of the [[Omnioculars]] for his friends underscores his generosity. Ron's subsequent destruction of his pair highlights his frustration and the financial pressures on his family, as well as foreshadowing [[Ludo Bagman]]'s untrustworthy nature. =====Behind the Scenes===== * **Etymology:** The name "Omnioculars" is a portmanteau. "Omni-" is a Latin prefix meaning "all" or "every." "-oculars" is derived from the Latin //oculus//, meaning "eye." The name therefore translates to "all-seeing eyes," aptly describing their function. * **Film Adaptation:** [[Omnioculars]] appear in the film adaptation of //[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)]]//. Their design is more complex than described in the book, featuring multiple lenses that fold out from the main body in a more ornate, steampunk-like fashion (film). * **Video Game:** The [[Omnioculars]] also feature as an item in the //[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)]]// (video game).
