Rabbie
New member
I have been told that the best all-round size for 'average' marine use is 7 x 50. Would you agree?.
Binoculars.
- Thread starter Rabbie
- Start date
knewboater
New member
Yes 7 times nearer and 50mm lenses( don`t forget to peel the rubber eye shades back if you are wearing glasses) with the larger lenses you can hold the subject steadier.
Only experience I am no optician.
RGH
Only experience I am no optician.
RGH
RobBrown
Active member
Believe also the 7x50 give the best light transmission, so better in low light conditions( as rough guide divide lens diam x magnification- higher the net figure the better in low light , except I believe not so much benefit with older users!)
Norman_E
Well-known member
It partly depends on your age. The 7 times magnification is good anyway, because anything more is going to be hard to hold steady enough unless it has image stabilisation.
The 50mm objective lenses, coupled with 7 times magnification result in a 7.1mm exit pupil. If you are young enough your own eye pupils will open up enough in bad light to take advantage of the amount of light transmitted through this large pupil. If you are getting on a bit your own pupils will not open up far enough for this to be such an advantage. The odd thing is that smaller binoculars are often 8 or 10 times magnification, rather than 7 times. If you are, like me, over 60 then a pair of 7 X 40 binoculars (if you could find them) would be lighter in weight and give you as much low light transmission as you could use.
P.S. Now waiting for the experts to shoot me down, but this is what I was told by an optician.
The 50mm objective lenses, coupled with 7 times magnification result in a 7.1mm exit pupil. If you are young enough your own eye pupils will open up enough in bad light to take advantage of the amount of light transmitted through this large pupil. If you are getting on a bit your own pupils will not open up far enough for this to be such an advantage. The odd thing is that smaller binoculars are often 8 or 10 times magnification, rather than 7 times. If you are, like me, over 60 then a pair of 7 X 40 binoculars (if you could find them) would be lighter in weight and give you as much low light transmission as you could use.
P.S. Now waiting for the experts to shoot me down, but this is what I was told by an optician.
Vid
Active member
I've found the best binoculars for all-round purposes are a pair of 8x42's, preferably Leica Ultravids if you've a spare grand lying about the place, or the equivalent Nikons for around £200. They have the best combination of low-light gathering ability with sufficient magnification without causing image blur. Be careful about the Ultravids though - one look through them and you'll be spending the money: I didn't believe it myself until I handed over my credit card... but my word, they're worth it.
Rabbie
New member
Thanks to all for interesting information. I have ordered a pair of 7x50s and wondered of I had chosen correctly. Perhaps not as I am getting on a wee bit!. Spare grand?, I was looking a wee bit cheaper - like £925 cheaper.
Norman_E
Well-known member
Funny you should mention the Nikons. I have a pair of 8 X 40 Nikon Egret binoculars that I bought in the USA some years back for about $80. I keep them at home for wildlife watching and they are certainly better than any of the cheap 7 X 50s that I have used.
pvb
Well-known member
Exit pupil...
You're right that older users won't necessarily benefit at night from a bigger exit pupil, and a 7x40 or 8x40 would probably be easier to use. However, the big difference between cheapo binoculars and better quality ones is the lens coating - which can dramatically improve light transmission in poor conditions. Paying £200 rather than £100 could give years of much more pleasurable use.
You're right that older users won't necessarily benefit at night from a bigger exit pupil, and a 7x40 or 8x40 would probably be easier to use. However, the big difference between cheapo binoculars and better quality ones is the lens coating - which can dramatically improve light transmission in poor conditions. Paying £200 rather than £100 could give years of much more pleasurable use.
tgpt21
Member
Every ship I was on had 7x50 bins.
Richard10002
Well-known member
Had a look through a friends' Leicas a while back - incredible, but I dont think I'm going to spend £600+ on a pair.
Norman_E
Well-known member
Re: Exit pupil...
You are quite right about quality. I have an old pair of Steiners on the boat which are much clearer than the newer cheaper pair.
You are quite right about quality. I have an old pair of Steiners on the boat which are much clearer than the newer cheaper pair.
pvb
Well-known member
Steiners...
Mmm, Steiners! Mine are 20+ years old and are still superb. When I bought them, it seemed I could have got a small car for the same money, but I now think it was money well spent.
Mmm, Steiners! Mine are 20+ years old and are still superb. When I bought them, it seemed I could have got a small car for the same money, but I now think it was money well spent.
pelicanpete
Member
Re: Steiners...
Yashica 7 x 50's. Bought in 1967 for £10.10s.0d (ten guineas!) and still working perfectly. A good test for light gathering capability is to look at the moon and feast (or not!) on the detail you can see.
Yashica 7 x 50's. Bought in 1967 for £10.10s.0d (ten guineas!) and still working perfectly. A good test for light gathering capability is to look at the moon and feast (or not!) on the detail you can see.
Cruiser2B
Active member
I prefer 10x50's. I think generally the 7x magnification is considered to be a good balance between magnification, field of view and stability. The greater the magnification, the greater the apparent shakiness. You should use the maximum magnification that you are comfortable with. If you can afford a set of stabilised bino's, then you could increase that to 15 or 20x.
davies
New member
I also use 10 x 50s, mainly because they are my old bird-watching binoculars that have been superceded by a better pair. There is no stability problem if they are held correctly (wrists bent back to steady elbows and shoulders) and the extra magnification is often useful. However, if I had to have a smaller pair, I agree that the light-catching power of 50mm lenses is more important than a high magnification.
