Marine binoculars with compass - which to buy??

mickywillis

mickywillis

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I have a budget of about £200.

I've found the following and wonder if anyone has experience of either set?

http://www.allgadgets.co.uk/marine/pc/Bynolyt-SeaRanger-II-7x50-Compass-Binocular-p46.htm

or

http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-...duct=1522540&gclid=cna5z5rko9acfziagwod3focaa

I like the idea of the Pentax ones with the centre focus, but not really 100% sure if they are truly "marine" enough? (also available in blue/black) The price shown can also have another 10% discount with the Pentax code. Spec shows they have a 30 year guarantee???

The Bynolyt ones really do look good and have the backing of the RNLI and they float. But some reviews indicate possible build quality issues in the latest versions (Chinese copies perhaps being sold as genuine?)

My budget would stretch to these, but are there any real advantages to the Mk3 versions as opposed to the Mk2's?

http://www.allgadgets.co.uk/marine/pc/Bynolyt-SeaRanger-III-7x50-Compass-Binocular-13p87.htm

Any other preferred options you can recommend within my budget??
 
I bought some excellent ones from West Marine USA own branded but Fujinon made I'm pretty sure as they look identical to the ones they were replacing. However I tried several others including Steiners first before returning them all and settling on the west ones. Testing in and outside the store in daylight was inconclusive and I found them entirely different when tried in poor light tested at home overlooking the ICW. I actually preferred centre focus over individual eyepiece focussing and a wide depth of preset focus. With centre focus too they focussed closer, like on the masthead for inspection from deck 2 of the ones I rejected because the compass bearing was out of focus to my eyes

So I would not buy off an online advert, I would want to be able to try them out under practical conditions, including in the dark..

BTW the Steiners, more expensive, only had a 10 year 'return to maker' warranty, the West own brand ones I finally bought have 30 years, 'return to store'.
 
Eyepiece or centre focusing preference depends on how you want to use them. With eyepiece focusing you'll get a much greater depth of field so covers the 'know what I'm looking for but not sure where it is'. Centre focusing, as Robin says, is better if you know where it is and want a sharp view.

If you were unfortunate, you should be able to get Steiners repaired through place of purchase or UK distributor, even if they ultimately got sent to Germany.

Not experienced any issues with Bynolyt recently (or very much ever really).

Agree it's best to try them out to see what suits. No reason you can't do that even with online purchase as long as you can bear a bit of carriage cost if you don't like them.
 
It was once explained to me that when buying binoculars you need those made for the european market not the eastern one. Europeans eyes are farther apart than Japanese & when you open the binoculars to look through them you have to open some makes the full width. I have no idea if this is true or not but i know that my Japanese set is pretty much useless as a compass

When opened right out the inbuilt compass ends up at 30 degrees to the horizontal so is extremely difficult or impossible to use. As a result I have to use the compass side of my binoculars like a telescope or lean my head to one side (now for jokes about changing tacks)

If you are not looking for the compass accessory this is not so bad, but opening width can still be uncomfortable if not enough
 
Fixed focus binoculars are good if you have good eyesight and don't mind objects which aren't actually on the focal plane, being acceptably sharp.
Individual eyepiece focus is easier to make water proof and stronger if dropped or bumped. That is why military binos tend to have individual eye focus.
Centre focus are quicker to use one handed but the 'arms' to each eyepiece can and do break if the bino is dropped.
Some models will suit you whilst others will not but buying through the internet is safe as you can return them within 2 weeks and only have to pay the return postage. Try looking through your friends binos or even be cheeky and ask to look at anyone's bins that you meet. Most people are happy to show off their pride and joy.
 
I would avoid the XM £100 jobs; I bought them, and the lens rings & focussing cups knocked off fairly quickly - they're still completely useable, but it's annoying.

Then again when I temped at a chandlery selling Tasco binoculars, a wally who fancied himself ( leather biker jacket, SOO obviously not a sailor ) asked " aint ya got any quality, Leica ? "

" I see, Sir would use Leica glasses offshore on a small boat, would Sir ?! " :)
 
My Fujinon WPC-XL are now about 30 years and three boats old. They were bought because I wear specs and, at the time, they had the longest eye relief I could find. They are superb but not sure you could get them below the £200 mark anymore.
 
KREW2 said:
Got a pair of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/Visionary-IF-WPC-7x50-Compass-Binoculars/dp/B00C68368C
Seem okay for the money, special boat show price £150, not sure what to spend the £2 on.
Click to expand...

Those look identical to the ones I bought from Aldi or Lidl, can't remember which. Around £40 IIRC but it was a while ago. Excellent optics. After several years use in all weathers, they started fogging up internally. A week in a plastic bag with some silica gel crystals cured that.
 
Thanks to all for replies so far.

Interesting to see that the GaelForce binos and the Amazon ones look identical but different colour schemes?
To me, scanning the internet, there seems to be a lot of "badge engineered" sets in that they have identical shapes and specs but different colours and manufacturers badges.
That's why I was keen on the Pentax units and the Bynolyt ones - they are quite individual and not replicas of other brands.
Much as I would like, the Steiner ones, budget just wont stretch!!
My gut instinct is the Bynolyt Searanger 3 units, anyone got a pair?? Are you happy with them??

I'm down in Emsworth Yacht Harbour tomorrow - anyone there that I can have a look at your bino's??
Thanks
 
ghostlymoron said:
I find fixed focus binos much more suitable for boaty use so would avoid anything with a focussing knob.
Click to expand...

+1. I would go so far as to say this is a positive safety advantage. Having used all sorts over the years, I have come to love the fact that any crew member on our boat can pick up the fixed focus binos and use them immediately. Likewise I can grab them back and use them without faffing around adjusting them for optimal focus.

Bouncing around in a small boat where people don't have their own personal binos, that's a big plus.
 
Babylon said:
Stop talking rubbish.
Click to expand...


Perhaps I should explain it as you seem slow to catch on; the berk was clearly not a sailor in any way shape or form.

I've seen yobs in biker jackets trying to sail boats over the years, and they never turn out to be sailors.

I was a biker myself, KH250, CX500, Z650C3 modified for racing, GSX750ESD; no way would I have gone sailing in my leather jacket - and the character involved was very much leather, clueless about sailing, just trying to pose.
 
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mickywillis said:
Interesting to see that the GaelForce binos and the Amazon ones look identical but different colour schemes?
Click to expand...

And look like the same ones I bought in china a couple of years ago, about 70 quid or so from memory. Work fine, decent optics.

iOOuYCL.jpg
 
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