johnchristie
New member
hi all
i'm interested in buying a pair of binoculars and i've budgeted around £100
any recommendations?
i'm interested in buying a pair of binoculars and i've budgeted around £100
any recommendations?
Binoculars
- Thread starter johnchristie
- Start date
Searush
New member
Go to Aldi when they have their offer on & you will 2 pairs of 7x50's that float & have a built in compass.
jfm
Well-known member
Get image stabilised. I have sony and they're fab. though other makes might be at least as good
Whatever you do don't buy old fashioned simple ones. The image stabilised ones are infinitely better and once you have used them you'll never want to use the old type ever again
Whatever you do don't buy old fashioned simple ones. The image stabilised ones are infinitely better and once you have used them you'll never want to use the old type ever again
scottie
Well-known member
Aldi lidl Seem to buy from same supplier
Excellent units and seem to stand up to fair abuse
Excellent units and seem to stand up to fair abuse
VicS
Well-known member
I have a cheap Lidl binocular ( Bresser) in fact I have two bought at different times.
Optics seem pretty good but the mechanics are poor.
The first one used to unscrew the screw in the centre that holds the two halves together as the distance apart of the eyepieces was altered . It should have beenlocked but didn't. I made some modification ( I forget what)
That's different and OK on the second but the focussing mechanism does not run smoothly.
Still good value for what they cost ( £13 ??) I suppose but disappointing nevertheless.
Optics seem pretty good but the mechanics are poor.
The first one used to unscrew the screw in the centre that holds the two halves together as the distance apart of the eyepieces was altered . It should have beenlocked but didn't. I made some modification ( I forget what)
That's different and OK on the second but the focussing mechanism does not run smoothly.
Still good value for what they cost ( £13 ??) I suppose but disappointing nevertheless.
MapisM
Well-known member
Is it a new product? I was aware of Canon, Nikon and Fuji, but not Sony.
I don't think they'll fit the OP budget though, or do they?
Fwiw, I fully agree that image stabilisation is a really nice feature for a boat usage.
gjgm
Active member
Yep.. cant complain too much at £13(though they are almost nastily cheap) but I find them totally useless on the boat, even at anchor. *50 is just too powerful.You are either looking at the sky or the ocean floor
actionoptics
Member
times 50 binocular
]Yep.. cant complain too much at £13(though they are almost nastily cheap) but I find them totally useless on the boat, even at anchor. *50 is just too powerful.You are either looking at the sky or the ocean floor .
The first number is the magnification, the second number is the size of the front lens
so 7x 50 means only 7 magnification which is the best for use on a boat
and 50 means the front lens has a 50mm diameter which is really good for light gathering.
I recommend a boat binocular should be water proof. Stops them misting up and/or growing fungus inside.
Is a binocular with a built in compass actually any use on a motor boat?
I'm a raggie so I am interested in the answer.
]Yep.. cant complain too much at £13(though they are almost nastily cheap) but I find them totally useless on the boat, even at anchor. *50 is just too powerful.You are either looking at the sky or the ocean floor .
The first number is the magnification, the second number is the size of the front lens
so 7x 50 means only 7 magnification which is the best for use on a boat
and 50 means the front lens has a 50mm diameter which is really good for light gathering.
I recommend a boat binocular should be water proof. Stops them misting up and/or growing fungus inside.
Is a binocular with a built in compass actually any use on a motor boat?
I'm a raggie so I am interested in the answer.
Csail
N/A
rafiki_
Well-known member
I have a pair of Nikon bino's. Couldn't recommend them enough for clarity of image, and ease of use. Originally purchased for game viewing in Africa, but they also work well on Rafiki. Not image stabilised, but great nonetheless, and should come it around your budget.
gjgm
Active member
OOps wrong way round... OK, maybe the Lidl ones I have are 10* then... Either way, you cant use them !!
DAKA
Well-known member
The cheapest way to get imaged stabilised which you need on a mobo is to invest in a camcorder, 50 x zoom for well under £100.
If you are bothered about getting it wet buy two second hand VHS camcorders for under £30, at that age you will still get quality 20x optical zoom imaged stabilised .
If you are bothered about getting it wet buy two second hand VHS camcorders for under £30, at that age you will still get quality 20x optical zoom imaged stabilised .
actionoptics
Member
the right bino for on board
10x would be too wobbly and not as bright as 7x50.
I have a workshop for repairing bino's and 'scopes but also sell new ones.
My web site has a page explaining how to make the right choice
http://www.actionoptics.co.uk/Choosing the right model.htm
and a page of waterproof binos
http://www.actionoptics.co.uk/Waterproof Binoculars.htm
Always happy to talk about bino's even if you end up buying from Lidl etc
Phone number on the web site
http://www.actionoptics.co.uk/index.html#navbar
10x would be too wobbly and not as bright as 7x50.
I have a workshop for repairing bino's and 'scopes but also sell new ones.
My web site has a page explaining how to make the right choice
http://www.actionoptics.co.uk/Choosing the right model.htm
and a page of waterproof binos
http://www.actionoptics.co.uk/Waterproof Binoculars.htm
Always happy to talk about bino's even if you end up buying from Lidl etc
Phone number on the web site
http://www.actionoptics.co.uk/index.html#navbar
Searush
New member
The Aldi ones I got are 7x50, waterproof, floating & bright yellow so hard to mislay in the saloon or on deck. Cost around 50 squid & just like the Compass Marine ones at twice the price. They are currently my "best" boat pair as I am still using a Russian pair I got for 35 squid about 15 years ago from the chandlers/ gift shop on Conway quay (it's been closed for over 10 years).
As explained elswhere boat binoculars lead a very dangerous & unhealthy life so 2 pairs makes sense. I use the old ones in high risk (to the binos) situations & only pull out the good ones if the extra quality is actually needed.
The only disadvantage with 7x50 is the size & weight, so for walking we carry pocket sized 8x25 Nikons or a similar Opticron pair I picked up in a charity shop for 15squid (now THAT was a bargain!)
As explained elswhere boat binoculars lead a very dangerous & unhealthy life so 2 pairs makes sense. I use the old ones in high risk (to the binos) situations & only pull out the good ones if the extra quality is actually needed.
The only disadvantage with 7x50 is the size & weight, so for walking we carry pocket sized 8x25 Nikons or a similar Opticron pair I picked up in a charity shop for 15squid (now THAT was a bargain!)
jfm
Well-known member
Sorry, my mistake. They're Canon. I really urge OP to get image stabilised. You'll never use non stabilised binocs ever again once you've used stabilised ones. I don't know the price but they're worth every penny
Ripster
Active member
Ripster
Active member
Ops sorry - just read page 2. I will have a look.
jfm
Well-known member
Fair comment, and maybe you can't. i have no idea of the price. But if they're >£100 I'd urge OP to reconsider his budget. He might prefer to have binos that are useful on a moving boat at £200 or whatever, than birdwatching binos at £100.
benjenbav
Well-known member
I've always resisted the urge to get IS binos because my eyes are quite different from each other. Leaving aside a complex astigmatism and other delights my SPH numbers are R -1.00 and L -3.25.
What this means in bino-land is that if I adjust the binos to work when my vision has already been adjusted by contact lenses and then happen to be on a specs wearing day when I want to use the binos, I need to spend so long messing about adjusting my binos that the object needs to stay in one place for quite a while in order to be viewed at all.
Anyone got a good solution to this, other than wear lenses all the time which I can't because lenses with sufficient oxygen flow don't as yet exist for my prescription?
What this means in bino-land is that if I adjust the binos to work when my vision has already been adjusted by contact lenses and then happen to be on a specs wearing day when I want to use the binos, I need to spend so long messing about adjusting my binos that the object needs to stay in one place for quite a while in order to be viewed at all.
Anyone got a good solution to this, other than wear lenses all the time which I can't because lenses with sufficient oxygen flow don't as yet exist for my prescription?
Montemar
Active member
I bought my wife some 7x50 Optisan binos from Adec Marine at the Southampton Boat Show. £108, waterproof, compass and rangefinder. They have a lovely clear image and will hopefully stop her from warning me about every approaching boat regardless of distance!