Binoculars - which ones are any good nowadays?

[john_morris_uk]

I have been offered a gift of something that costs in the hundreds of £.

The only thing I can think of in that price range is a new pair of binoculars for the boat. I've got some Plastimo ones that are 'OK' and I've got some gnarled and ancient ex Russian 7x50's that are still excellent although they got some water in them once and sometimes need drying out.

What suggestions can anyone make please? I suppose some with a compass in them would be nice (but no essential) and waterproof and good quality are very desirable qualities.

Suggestions please?

 

[sailorman]

Stiener`s
there were some for sale here a while ago

 

[EU_Cruiser]

Canon http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/373459-USA/Canon_0155B002_10x42_L_IS_WP.html But try before you buy - not suitable for all faces.

 

[sarabande]

I bought a Pentax Marine 7x50 in Dubai about 40 years ago. Water and dust proof. Proper graticules for ranging/height. They have been excellent in every respect. Except very heavy.


I guess the modern Pentax will be lighter and optically cleverer, such as

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pentax-7x50-DCF-Hydro-Binoculars/dp/B002G4XIE8

but with a few hundred squid to buy, they would be a memorable and highly functional purchase. They look pretty smart, yet dignified, too !

 

[johnalison]

Try Canon stabilised ones. Not everyone appreciates them, but those of us who do think they are brilliant. Although not waterproof, mine are fine after thirteen years use on the boat.

 

[EU_Cruiser]

The Canon IS (Image Stabilised) are waterproof to an extent. Cleaning instructions go something like this: Put in sink with warm soapy water and wash.

 

[prv]

For my use at least, the compass is more than just a nice-to-have. It allows you to easily correlate what you see with what the chart / AIS / radar is telling you. Binoculars without a compass would be far less use to me.

Pete

 

[Skylark]

Being "at the right place at the right time" I once dived under a visiting yacht to clear a mooring rope from around his prop. The grateful and generous owner sent me a £100 gift voucher so I bought something similar to these:-

http://www.piratescave.co.uk/seago-...&src=froogle&gclid=CIr3p5z7o74CFYXItAodDh0AzQ

(I suspect that these are made by one manufacturer and branded to suit)

I also have an old pair of Swarovski. Not often seen on a boat, more often seen being used by the delightful Kate Humble on nature watch programs. They have great optics.

Another thought for a gift, John........how about a sextant?

 

[john_morris_uk]

Being "at the right place at the right time" I once dived under a visiting yacht to clear a mooring rope from around his prop. The grateful and generous owner sent me a £100 gift voucher so I bought something similar to these:-

http://www.piratescave.co.uk/seago-...&src=froogle&gclid=CIr3p5z7o74CFYXItAodDh0AzQ

(I suspect that these are made by one manufacturer and branded to suit)

I also have an old pair of Swarovski. Not often seen on a boat, more often seen being used by the delightful Kate Humble on nature watch programs. They have great optics.

Another thought for a gift, John........how about a sextant?

A good idea; except I already have a rather nice brass sextant in a box that I keep on the boat. (And a barograph for the boat and one at home...)

 

[GrahamD]

Try Canon stabilised ones. Not everyone appreciates them, but those of us who do think they are brilliant. Although not waterproof, mine are fine after thirteen years use on the boat.

+1 10x magnification becomes a practical proposition on a boat.

 

[[2574]]

John,

Have a word with Monk Optics, very helpful people:

http://www.monkoptics.co.uk/

Robert

 

[Seven Spades]

I bought a pair of Nikon marine binnoculas but they kept going out of alignment even when they were just kept on the shelf in the cabin. Nikon subsequently refused to repair them under guarantee. I now have have a pair of Stiener's.

 

[westernman]

I have a pair of these:-

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bynolyt-Searanger-Binoculars-waterproof-built/dp/B000VEBDPG

The quality of vision at night through them takes my breath away every time. I agree the compass is essential. I wear glasses so was very cautious about all this stuff about "accommodation".

Very happy user - and they seem solid. They have fallen on the floor a few times on in boisterous weather with no ill effects.

 

[Robin]

I bought these recently http://www.westmarine.com/binoculars-with-compass/west-marine--antigua-7-x-50-waterproof-binoculars-with-compass--14361257, absolutely superb. I tried two others first, including Steiners but took them both back and exchanged for he Antigua ones in the link. Excellent optics, clear stable compass in sharp focus in daylight or darkness with light.. EAsy to use sta in place lens caps and a superb moulded rubber case that both protects and allows rapid access. separately focusing eyepieces for initial set up, then centre focus for ultrasharp final focusing, Quick and easy. THE Steiners that I tried were much more expensive, had a good case but fiddly lens caps, the compass scale was out of focus for me when viewing distnt objects and the reliance on depth of field as a 'sports autofocus ' just did not appeal to me,The ones I bought have a Limited Lifetime warranty of 30 years versus the Steiners who only gave 10 years,

 

[kyleview]

Go for the Opticron Marine3 7x50 BIF.GA - about £150 I think. Bought last year on a YM recommendation and find them excellent. I have gone for the one without a compass.

 

[alahol2]

We've had a pair of Fujinon for the last 20 years. Lightweight and superb. http://www.monkoptics.co.uk/Marine/Fuji_marinerwpc.html

 

[Stork_III]

we've had a pair of fujinon for the last 20 years. Lightweight and superb. http://www.monkoptics.co.uk/marine/fuji_marinerwpc.html

+1, 12 years

 

[nigelmercier]

Canon 12 x 36 IS II, superb: http://bit.ly/Canon12x36IS

 

[Robin]

We've had a pair of Fujinon for the last 20 years. Lightweight and superb. http://www.monkoptics.co.uk/Marine/Fuji_marinerwpc.html

I think that was what my original Monk branded ones were, bought years back at an Earls Court boatshow (remember the good ole days?) , excellent indeed and if I still lived in the UK I could probably have Monk OPtics replace the compass lighting unit that had failed, but shipping back to the Uk for a repair is a no brainer so I bought new ones from West Marine as I said in a previous reply, these too might be Fujinon as they are similar for sure and West do sell Fujinon ones so maybe went there for their own brand version as well.

 

[Sandy]

I have a pair of Nikon Sportstar EX 10x25DCF, used for all sorts of things and tuck nicely under the LJ harness.