Sorry another binocular thread

mrangry

mrangry

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I have trawled numerous posts on the subject of binoculars for boat use and think the Bynolyt searangers fit the bill. The searanger 11 can be bought for £199 but just wonder is it worth paying the extra £30 for the searanger 111`s. Has anyone tried both as there doesn't seem to be any stockists local for me to compare.
 
I managed to use a set of Searangers a few weeks back to compare them with a set of Bushnell I had tried out a few months back. I found the Bushnell a far better choice for me. About the same price, but the build quality was far better. They might be worth a look,

I've sent a wee letter to Santa dropping a hint.
 
Personally, I see no reason to include a compass, but the obvious difference between the Searanger II and III is the eye relief. This will definitely affect the handling characteristics. Some people will notice and be concerned about it while others won't, so the only way of telling would be to pick them up to try. I always leave rubber cups in place with my binoculars, which bring my eyes to the right positions, but I don't know if these are included.
 
Sandy said:
I managed to use a set of Searangers a few weeks back to compare them with a set of Bushnell I had tried out a few months back. I found the Bushnell a far better choice for me. About the same price, but the build quality was far better. They might be worth a look,

I've sent a wee letter to Santa dropping a hint.
Click to expand...
Aww, I now need to look at the Bushnell, what model did you try? It is a pity there are no stockists nearby to allow hands on trials but I suppose shopping is now an online thing nowadays.
 
johnalison said:
Personally, I see no reason to include a compass, but the obvious difference between the Searanger II and III is the eye relief. This will definitely affect the handling characteristics. Some people will notice and be concerned about it while others won't, so the only way of telling would be to pick them up to try. I always leave rubber cups in place with my binoculars, which bring my eyes to the right positions, but I don't know if these are included.
Click to expand...
I am not overly fussed by having the compass as I have a hand held one, just looking for decent quality binos that wont fog up like my current ones.
 
Steiner Champ ... 10x26 ..... small ... compact ..... nice belt bag holder ... not cheap but definitely not expensive and worth every penny. No idea what current version would be called though....

Champ 10x26

All those years on bridge of ships with standard Bino's ... own Bino's ... I decided about 15yrs ago to buy a compact set .... Best thing I ever did.

Only now after all these years - would like to renew the rubber eye cups as they've been folded over all those years because of my glasses.
 
Binoculars seem to be a very personal thing, what suits one person another describes as rubbish
I would stick to the traditional 7x50 for boat use for a whole list of reasons, I have a pair of 7x50 Gael Force Marine which cost about £99, the image quality is one of the best I have found, ...but the construction is a bit weak, (The left eyepiece unit has just broken off (repaired it with epoxy, but think I have to look for a replacement, and the SeaRanger III are very high on my list.
The one thing I am not convinced about is going for the 'Gold Standard' makes which can cost over £1000, is not worth the additional money.
As long as they are waterproof, preferably float, not necessarily have a compass, give a good quality image that is in collimation I'll be happy.
 
Auto focus, if not every time I pick them up SWMBO has adjusted them, and also when she wants to use them takes 10mins for her to set up and then she hands them to me anyway.
 
One thing about magnification ...... if you go for stronger than 7x50 - the motion of the boat can destroy clarity of the image .. your movement will blur / jump the image around. This I believe is one of the biggest factors that cause people to question a brand over another.

I have a cheap standard Binos I bought in Singapore many years ago as 3rd Mate ... I was fed up with the ships binos and of course each OOW would adjust to suit them. Bought my own cheapo set ... 10x50 ... which on board ship were very good ... reasonably steady platform. While home on leave - I used them on the boat ... UGH ! That 10x50 was now too much and I soon dragged out my fathers old 7x50's.
Later I was presented with a pair of Soviet Tank Commanders binos ... and these are half the size of a typical 7x50 but still standard form. .. 8x30 .... excellent and compact. They stay in house ...

The point being that for clarity and ease of use .... 7x50 in standard form is good ... when looking at roof prism as in the Steiner Champs I have ...... you balance convenience with image clarity ....
The 8x30 Tank Commanders - I can fully understand why they limit to that ....
 
I've recently switched from 7x50s to 7x35s.
  • 60% of the weight and length means they are easier to hold with one hand. IMO, the sharpness tests with the binoculars on a tripod are less relevant than trying to hold them steady in a seaway. You will never get full sharpness anyway, unless ashore bird watching.
  • 60% of the size = smaller storage.
  • 60% of the price in all brands for equal quality.
And here is the surprise.
  • Same field of view.
  • Same brightness in the day.
  • Same brightness at night IF you are over 60 years old. Your pupils no longer dilate enough for the larger exit pupil of 7x50s to make any difference. At least that is what the math and my side-by-side comparisons tell me. If you have younger eyes the 7x50s are a little brighter at night. But remember that none are brighter than ambient conditions, no matter what some will brag. The second rule of thermodynamics flatly states that is impossible unless they are night vision (which adds power).
I'm sailing a smaller boat these days and seldom at night. Not for everyone, but even Stiener makes them for a reason.
 
thinwater said:
Same brightness at night IF you are over 60 years old. Your pupils no longer dilate enough for the larger exit pupil of 7x50s to make any difference. At least that is what the math and my side-by-side comparisons tell me. If you have younger eyes the 7x50s are a little brighter at night. But remember that none are brighter than ambient conditions, no matter what some will brag. The second rule of thermodynamics flatly states that is impossible unless they are night vision (which adds power).
Click to expand...
I measured my pupil size a year or two ago and it was about 6.5, so not everyone is subject to this failure. I will check again some time. Nevertheless, I think that a compact pair can be very useful for daytime use and for wildlife watching ashore (human or otherwise). I only once made full use of the 7x50s' light-gathering power, but that was a real necessity at the time, as we entered the only partly-lit Dovetief channel after dusk.
 
johnalison said:
I measured my pupil size a year or two ago and it was about 6.5, so not everyone is subject to this failure.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. I based my statement on a large NIH study of all ages. 60-69 average 5.5 mm, 70-79 was 5.15 mm. The exit pupil on a 7x50 is 7.1 mm and the exit pupil on a 7x35 is 5 (the brand does not matter --this is a simple optics calculation). Daytime pupil size is about 2-3 mm for all ages.

On the other hand, the range of day/night adaptation is several thousand times, so this will only matter under very specific twilight conditions, and not much then. Most of the adaptation is in the retna.
 
penfold said:
That's physically impossible.
Click to expand...

No it is not. Google the specs (see below) then explain how I am wrong and the specs are wrong (possible). The change is in the exit pupil, as discussed above.

Steiner Navigator Pro. Both are 370 feet at 1000 yards. Read it.

7x30 Steiner. Navigator Pro 7x30
7x50 Steiner. Navigator Pro 7x50

Nikon Aculon. The 35s are wider, 488 vs. 335 feet at 1000 yards.

7x35. Nikon ACULON A211 7x35 | Nikon Binoculars
7x50. Nikon ACULON A211 7x50 | Nikon Binoculars
 
I have a pair of Bauer ED 8x50. Clearest binoculars I have ever used and very comfortable and light. Not being 7x50 doesn't seem to matter much.

Magnification: 8 X
Front lens diameter: 50 mm
Exit pupil: 6.4 mm
Field of view at 1000 M (1000 Yards): 115 (342 ft)
Angle of view: 6.5
Eye-relief: 18.2 mm
Twilight factor: 20
Close focus: 3 Metre (9 ft)
Prism system: Roof prism, phase correction coating, dielectric coating
Waterproof: up to 1,5 M
Weight approx.: 822 Grams
Dimensions (H x W x D): 169 mm / 133 mm / 58 mm
Scope on delivery: Neoprene carrying strap, padded case, front lens cover, eyepiece cover

No longer produced. I would be very sad to lose them.

Ink
 
thinwater said:
... IF you are over 60 years old. Your pupils no longer dilate enough for the larger exit pupil of 7x50s to make any difference...
Click to expand...
From the brightness POV, AIUI that is correct but it is sometimes overlooked that the larger exit pupil size makes positioning the bins less critical in terms of vignetting and that was an issue with the Steiner 7x35's I used to own.

Boo2
 
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