Binoculars ?

[jasonpeacock]

When using binoculars on a boat, you need to either pay for image stabilization or settle for less magnification. 10x50 are too powerful and jump around a lot when on a boat. Most marine binoculars w/o image stabilization are 7x50, which is usually plenty good for most uses and have a large enough field-of-view you can easily track what you're watching.

In addition, you also want a good eye relief (less "squinting"), and a bright image (the "exit pupil"), these differ between manufacturers a lot and are sometimes hard numbers to find.

Nikon makes some of the best binoculars with those specs - super comfortable to look through for a long time, and very bright - they almost feel like they are magnifying the light:

Nikon 7440 OceanPro 7x50 Waterproof Binocular

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006C2M4

 

[baz]

...snip...
5) A pair of Fujinon Mariner 7x50 WPC-XL Porro Prism Binocular cost around $300; a pair of Fujinon 7x50 FMTR-SX Polaris Binocular cost around $700 or maybe both at a lower price at some places. So is the extra $300 to $700 worth it for the Fujinon 14x40 TS1440 Techno-Stabi Image-Stabilized Binocular ?

I've now had a chance to use the Fujinon 14x40 TS1440 Techno-Stabi Image-Stabilized Binocular on board and on the waters. I compared using my trusty West Marine 7x50 binocs and the Fujinon and made the decision to return the Fujinon binocs.

The Fujinon did an admirable job and I loved the extra magnification of the 14x. However, the stabilization wasn't as good as I was wanting for the extra $800 investment. In fairly calm waters the Fujinon were excellent in every respects, but once the boat got going and rocked & rolled the 14x + the stabilization was kind of difficult and arm-muscle-tiring to operate with keeping images in view and not wandering about in the view, and the extra weight of the Fujinon started tiring me after a minute or two. This tiring aspect could be dealt with supposedly by mounting the Fujinon on a telescopic pole but that obviously has its own issues on a boat when using the Fujinon for brief sudden moments (where's the pole and having to screw it into the Fujinon's base). The Fujinon requires 4x AA batteries and this would/will mean checking these for charge level before leaving the dock and being another thing to check. I'm not too worried about not having batteries as I always have onboard an adequate supply of AAA and AA batteries.

I think if the Fujinon was half the weight and half the price I might just have decided to keep them. :roll:

So, good bye to the Fujinon binocular.

 

[knotflying]

My observation is that unless you go for the big bucks ($2,000) the stabilization aspect is as you described.

 

[baz]

My observation is that unless you go for the big bucks ($2,000) the stabilization aspect is as you described.

You're probably correct.... I've seen some at around $6,000. 😱 :roll:

 

[Foundator]

To tell the truth I don't think you have to spend much money on binos to use them on the water. There are pretty a lot of options starting with 200$ (take a look on review https://opticzoo.com/best-whale-watching-and-ocean-viewing-binoculars/), but I would recommend some optimal choice - Fujinon Polaris 7x50. With a waterproof build quality, this binocular is precisely what you need when you are on water. Even in low light, this binocular is still capable of amazing image clarity. Hope to help you, man 😉

 

[Wee Venture]

I have been delighted with my Bushnell Marine 7x50 binocs. They are a bargain (got them on Amazon), got great reviews, and they are very bright in low light conditions.

 

[CaspersCruiser]

I have a pair of these:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... Image.html

They’re a nice blend of price and performance. In another lifetime, I was a newspaper photojournalist so I’m pretty picky about optics. Are these a $5,000 pair of binoculars? Not in any way shape or form, but they allow me to read distant markers and transom boat names through the windows of an R27 underway. Don’t buy more than you need.

 

[Seaquel]

We wanted to upgrade binoculars prior to our Alaska trip last summer. I was very close to splurging on image stabilized, but a good friend who is a lifetime boater who owns a North Pacific 39 highly recommended Steiner Marine 7x50 binoculars as providing most of the bang for a lot less buck. I purchased them at Amazon for $249 and they are by far the best binoculars I’ve ever owned, including others that cost far more. They won’t break your budget, but will likely do most everything you expect from good quality binoculars.

 

[MartinShulz]

Good answers. Thanx guys, very helpfully!