Binoculars

[honeybee]

Any reccomendations ?

Seen these but not sure if they are far to exensive for pleasure boating ?

http://www.duncanyacht.co.uk/showpartnumber.asp?PartNumberID=236151

All comments or recomendations appreciated.

Chris

 

[EastCoastChris]

I got some Opticron marine binoculars (they are a well regarded brand in the bird watching world) and I am really pleased with them. My crew, who's used quite a few different pairs, swore the first time he looked through them he was so impressed!

Edited to add: I bought the £140 ones with compass.

Chris

 

[[2574]]

Monk own brand

http://www.monkoptics.co.uk/Marine/ArgBIF_III.html

I've had these for several years now. Fabulous quality but not Steiner prices.

 

[pissativlypossed]

Canon Image Stabilised, they are seriously good.

http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Binoculars/Optical_Image_Stabilisation/index.asp

 

[poltergeist]

Bought a pair of Steiner 7x50 Navigators - awesome optics and built like the proverbial ....
Built in compass, which is more useful then you may at first think. Also has sports autofocus.

If you look around very carefully, I think you can find them around the £300 mark.

 

[pteron]

I bought Bynolyt SeaRanger III after a chat with a fellow candidate on my YM course. He had the II (used by the RNLI) and was very pleased with them.

They are excellent - cost just under £200 and everyone who's used them wants to take them away. They do have a built in compass and range finder, they don't have the extremely uncomfortable sticking out compass that the Steiners have.

I got them from AllGadgets - great price and service, no connection etc etc.

 

[poltergeist]

They do have a built in compass and range finder, they don't have the extremely uncomfortable sticking out compass that the Steiners have. .

I don't know how you hold your binocs, but I never notice the compass unit, so not sure how you find them "extremely uncomfortable"??

I bought Bynolyt SeaRanger III after a chat with a fellow candidate on my YM course. He had the II (used by the RNLI) and was very pleased with them.

Must admit, just googled them & as long as they are good optically, they look like a good propersition.

 

[yankee1]

binos

another vote for the canon image stabilizers...excellent piece of kit.

 

[pteron]

I don't know how you hold your binocs, but I never notice the compass unit, so not sure how you find them "extremely uncomfortable"??



Must admit, just googled them & as long as they are good optically, they look like a good propersition.

How can you not notice this?

 

[poltergeist]

How can you not notice this?

If you care to read what I said, I stated that contrary to what you experienced, it didn't cause me any problems in use, not that it was invisible!!!

I didn't buy them because they are pretty, because obviously they're not. I bought them because they are good at what they are designed to do!

Your idea of extremely uncomfortable is obviously different to mine. Each to their own.

 

[Trundlebug]

In response to the OP, I think you'll find you'll get nearly as many different recommendations as people responding. That seems to be being borne out by the responses so far.

Bino's are a peculiarly personal thing, and something I wouldn't recommend anyone buy without picking up, feeling, holding, adjusting, looking through and trying quite a few first.

I bought mine at the Southampton Boat show a couple of years ago from one of the stalls, where you could just pick them up and try them. Having looked through dozens on show, I eventually bought a pair with built-in compass and night light, fixed focus type so you just pick them up and they're right. They're not a mainstream brand as far as I know (can't remember the name offhand) but I've been really pleased with them, nicely balanced and a nice fit in the hands, very bright vision, all for £125. I do remember some were much more expensive and well known brands but you couldn't see the compass reading clearly, and that was standing still not on a rolling boat! You just can't assess these things from a catalogue or via the t'internet.

My suggestion is go to a show, and then you'll be confident in the choice you've made.

Next show I know of is at the NEC in Feb, if you can wait that long, unless there's something nearer you in the meantime.

 

[pteron]

If you care to read what I said, I stated that contrary to what you experienced, it didn't cause me any problems in use, not that it was invisible!!!

I didn't buy them because they are pretty, because obviously they're not. I bought them because they are good at what they are designed to do!

Your idea of extremely uncomfortable is obviously different to mine. Each to their own.

Indeed! Perhaps you are missing a few fingers on your right hand? Otherwise where do you put them?

 

[late-night-lochin]

Any reccomendations ?

Seen these but not sure if they are far to exensive for pleasure boating ?

http://www.duncanyacht.co.uk/showpartnumber.asp?PartNumberID=236151

All comments or recomendations appreciated.

Chris

Well, if you are asking if these "are far too expensive for boating" there's not much point in talking about Steiners.

I've got an old pair of 1915 Ross millitary binos on my boat, something like 6 x 30. New ones would be nice but they are so far down on my shopping list that they're not even on it yet

I cant see much point in super duper optics on a boat because unlike for example, bird watching, you'll only ever snatch quick glances through them.

If you dont want to spend £140, I've heard of binoculars in places like Liddl for something like £30. Don't get greater than x7 magnigication though, you'll never hold them still enough to see.

 

[poltergeist]

Indeed! Perhaps you are missing a few fingers on your right hand? Otherwise where do you put them?

Believe me, missing a few fingers is the least of my problems!