Binoculars

[Guest]

I want to buy some binoculars as a gift, for use on a yacht. My own are 7x50with compass incorporated and are excellent but old and I cannot get them anymore. I would like to get some idea of the relative merits of different makes. Price limit £200. I've seen Tasco, Opticron and Compass all recommended - by the makers! Anyone any views?

 

[charles_reed]

Zeiss are definitely best - but the price!!

Very close to them, in comparative tests, came the Monk Commander, at about half the price.

The Yanks also make some good ones (Steiner?) but the dollar is still a bit hard against the £.

 

[claymore]

Specification

Am I correct in thinking that binocular technology has improved and that 7X50 is no longer the optimum spec for sailing offshore?

 

[JamesS]

I've been using a pair of 7x50 from Tasco with built in compass for the past 5 years - no problems - still as good as ever. Only problem is trying to get the compass into view when the boats bobbing about. I got mine from Monks who seem to advertise all over the place.

Cheers

 

[chas]

I have a pair by Bynolt (?) - about £130 with compass - I have had no problems with them.

 

[jamesjermain]

Modern improvements

There have been some advances in binoculars in recent years, probably the most significant being image stabilisation, but by and large this is not available in the price bracket we are talking about. With image stabilisation you can increase the magnification significantly and still hold the image steady in the eye piece; 10x50 is not unreasonable, I believe.

Improvements in prisms and mirrors has not been that great, but coatings and light transmition has improved. Even so, with standard binoculars, I think 7x50, 8x50 is about the right spec.

A word of caution with the cheaper compass binoculars. In recent tests carried out by YM we found significant inaccuracies (up to 10 degrees or more) in the compasses of some makes. Before buying a pair, do check the compass carefully against a known handbearing compass - on several different headings too. The other disadvantage of the cheaper models is that the damping tends to be less good which can make them very difficult to use in a seaway. I have a good pair of compass bins and even with these, which are fine for rough checks, I revert to a hand bearing compass for accurate pilotage.

Incidentally, my HBC of choice is the Autohelm electronic one which I swear by until the batteries go flat. However, the luminescence on the sighting marks has just about died. Does anyone know how to restore it?

JJ

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Modern improvements

I do believe the paint for doing your sights is available, try a gunsmith. they have it for the bead on guns. For twilight work.

 

[jamesjermain]

FAST or what?

Thanks for the speedy reply, Colin. My post can hardly have have registered

And to think this board was once critisised for being slow!

JJ

 

[Guest]

Thanks for all your replies. I still don't know what to get but at least I've got a few ideas. The tip about the compass was particularly appreciated. I hadn't thought about that. How daft can you get!
Mejay