Which binoculars

The use of high index glass and plastics in construction has changed the weight/size of binocular design and construction dramatically over the last 10-20 years. The old heavy 7x50’s can still be found but modern 7x50 binoculars are smaller, lightweight, waterproof and often floating as well.
It helps to have nitrogen filled as this reduces the problem of condensation.
 
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djr said:
Any specific 8x25s models?
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We bought two pairs of Fumoto, actually 8x24, about thirty years ago when they cost about £100 each. We wanted them for a holiday abroad with some wildlife involved. Although I have other larger pairs, I keep them by me all the time because they are so incredibly useful and handy. I often carry them in a small wallet on my trouser belt.

My ancient Yashica 7x50s are reserved for boat use, when the extra weight is an advantage. I last used them in anger when we arrived late at the Dovetief channel in almost complete darkness. I was able to pick up the unlit buoys which were invisible to my wife. The small binos or my Canon 10x40s would not have done the job.
 
I have a pair of vintage Zeiss 7x50. Bought them for £20 in the 1990’s. Not sure of age but would guess 50 years old or more.

They bring me pleasure every time I use them. No light, compass, autofocus, image stabilisation ect but crystal clear optics and they seem to suck in light.
 
I have a pair of Minox 7x50 bins that also have a fluxgate digital compass and a couple of other functions visible through one of the eyepiieces.

They are lighter than my old 10x50 cheapies as they use some good coated high index glass but they were a bit steeply priced, although nowhere near that of Steiners or Swarovski.

I did try a pair of Opticron bins which were nice but found the Leica and Zeiss bins wonderful, but they made the Steiners seem cheap...
 
richardabeattie said:
I was advised that as one gets older the eye does not get much advantage from a 50mm lens so I went for 8 x 40. Slightly better magnification and less cumbersome.
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The laws of physics etc. suggest the opposite might be true, as one gets older the more light that reaches the eye the better.
8x40 may be lighter, though not much with modern designs, but the exit pupil is only 5 mm which passes less light and reduces the area of available visibility.
 
Praxinoscope said:
The laws of physics etc. suggest the opposite might be true, as one gets older the more light that reaches the eye the better.
8x40 may be lighter, though not much with modern designs, but the exit pupil is only 5 mm which passes less light and reduces the area of available visibility.
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There is no reason why the same amount of light should not go through a smaller exit pupil. The advantage of a larger exit pupil is that in brighter light the eye can accomodate to brighter light exactly as it would in daylight. It then follows that older eyes may not be able to dilate sufficiently to take advantage of all the light in dim conditions. I measured my pupil a few years ago when we had one of these discussions and it came to something over 6mm, which isn't too bad.

Older eyes often have a degree of cataract, as mine do. This means that a small exit pupil concentrates the image into the centre of the eye's lens, where opacity is most likely to occur, and a larger exit pupil may be more satisfactory, whatever the optics.
Another point about binoculars is comfort. This is related to how the eyepieces are built, what rubber cups they have, and what the 'eye relief' is, ie the distance the eye needs to be from the eyepiece. This means that choosing binoculars is a personal matter and why I try to avoid making all-or-nothing recommendations.
 
Another way of looking at this is to compare features in terms of cost,durability, lightness,steadyiness ,easy of use etc.

For lightness a quality pair of Swarovski. as per post no31 would be my choice as these seem popular with rambling birds watchers and can fit in pocket etc however any stabilise pair would do the trick for bird spotting but heavier to carry. On board I have also found stabilisation great benefit but also have some small Olympus .

For joy of ownership might go for Steiners so Its what I thought my crew my buy me for a specal birthday one year even if I somehow doubt they are better than a pair of Canon
 
langstonelayabout said:
I have a pair of Minox 7x50 bins that also have a fluxgate digital compass and a couple of other functions visible through one of the eyepiieces.

They are lighter than my old 10x50 cheapies as they use some good coated high index glass but they were a bit steeply priced, although nowhere near that of Steiners or Swarovski.

I did try a pair of Opticron bins which were nice but found the Leica and Zeiss bins wonderful, but they made the Steiners seem cheap...
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My ex military green rubber coated Steiners with built in compass were cheap! £100 off Ebay. Excellent bins for boat use
 
ashtead said:
For lightness a quality pair of Swarovski. as per post no31 would be my choice as these seem popular with rambling birds watchers and can fit in pocket etc however any stabilise pair would do the trick for bird spotting but heavier to carry.
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I was given a pair of Swarovski, from memory they are 6x42. They were a bit tatty so I sent them back to the manufacture for a service. It cost about £300 but they came back looking brand new. They have incredible optics, light and clear. I believe that they cost in the order of £2,000 buying new.

I also have a pair of the ubiquitous 7x50 with compass, found in every chandler for £100. The rubberised surface went sticky long ago and had to be scrapped off. They look dreadful but still work. I used to think that their optics were reasonable until I used the Swarovski.
 
Dutch01527 said:
I have a pair of vintage Zeiss 7x50. Bought...in the 90s...Not sure of age but would guess 50 years old or more. They bring me pleasure every time I use them. No light, compass, autofocus, image stabilisation etc but crystal clear optics and they seem to suck in light.
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Sounds exactly the same as mine, ex-RN. But they're so precious to me, I'd never take them on a boat.
 
I looked at expensive binoculars, but in the end - bearing in mind these are for use on a 10m sailing boat that isn't always on even keel and in smooth water - I bought the Gael Force 7x50s with compass for about £100.
I'm happy to leave them in the cockpit throughout a passage, they're rubbery, and I can see the compass clearly - which wasn't the case with some more upmarket models I tried.
Recommended.
 
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