Binoculars of 2018

[Canonshooternb]

Looking for reviews and recommendation of binoculars for sailing and cruising. I have reviewed the forum and found results from 2005 but know there have been allot of changes in that time in hardware and suppliers. Any recommendations on brand or features that are a must to be considered. favourite shop or source to purchase

Thanks

 

[yachttapper]

We have Bushnell Perma focus marine with a built in compass.. Never out of adjustment from person to person!! Worth trying them out, they float for about 200-250$

 

[Allowishish]

I treated myself a couple years ago with a pair of Swarovski's for hunting. I am now so spoiled that I cant imagine using anything that is not as sharp.

That said where we sail we do not have much need for them for anything other than looking at birds or an occasional deer. I've heard rumors of a bear sighting but have yet to see one on our lake.

That said... they are a hard pill ($$$$) to swallow.

 

[SG]

Steiner Marine (w/out Compass, but good piece of glass). The look like the Commanders below, but aren't nearly as Mil Spec. They'd do fine for about the quarter of the price of the Commanders -- unless you plan on needing the compass (which I really appreciate; and, you're going to treat them as "normal" binocs.

If you're looking for something that belongs on the bridge of a boat or on the turret of a tank...

Steiner Commanders w/ compass, lifetime units with lifetime warranty. I've had Commanders for over Thirty years. Hard use, everyday on the water. Compass lite stopped working right and the unit rotated a little (which the factory picked-up when they were servicing, on warranty because the light connection corroded to the battery). Steiner sent a brand new, upgraded model without us asking. NO ONE IS BETTER. The binocs are clear, sharp, and bright.

 

[Kings Gambit]

I chiefly use my Fujinon 7 x 50 Polaris (w/ compass). I bought it more than 20 yr ago at a boat show in St. Petersburg, FL. They're quite a bit more expensive now. But you can get a high quality analog (Baker 7 x 50 BIF-IIC) from Baker Marine in San Diego for half the price. If I were looking for a good pair w/compass at a good price today, I'd definitely consider their product.

http://www.bakermarineusa.com/index.php?id=17&prod=148

 

[Canonshooternb]

I am currently looking at the Steiners but hoping for a sale

 

[jssailem]

I have been using a pair of Nikon-Monarch-5-8-x-42-Binoculars for 8 years. Hunting sailing you name it they have served me well.

 

[shemandr]

I have a pair of Leitz 7X14 binox which were a house warming present. They are really for birdwatching. They have high quality optics which have spoiled me as well. Twenty years ago they were over $1,000.
If I were going to spend that kind of money I would look at image stabilization. It seems to me that IS would be perfect for a moving boat. But I don't hear that much about the IS binox lately. What is the status of this technology?
I'm not sure why someone wouldn't want a compass. That makes it so easy to get a course to a buoy, other landmark, or racing mark. Is there a drawback to the compass?

 

[Kings Gambit]

Is there a drawback to the compass?

Not in my opinion.

 

[Canonshooternb]

Also being from Canada we have to pay more. I looked at the exact same model steiner on Amazon.ca and Amazon.com where the .com is less than half price with a disclaimer that they dont ship to Canada even with the exchange rates

 

[SG]

We have the 7x50 Steiner Commanders and a very fine set of Fijicon 14x Image Stabilized sets of binoculars. Every passage, when I have visiting crew, I pull out both sets. Other than playing with the Image Stabilized Fuji unit, which works great (for what it is), no one uses them.

The 7x50s are just more useful. They have the right balance of power and light gathering balance which makes them the usual recommendation of a lot of sources.

If you're trying to sight a bell's number, or tell whether it's a male or female seagull (I made that up ;^)) ) the are great. Also, scanning the horizon with image stabilized units causes vertigo for many on a rolling boat.

The Fujicons have lasted, the don't get much use, we tend to put them away unless we have some limited need for them. The 7x50s live in the cockpit much of the time we are on any passage.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Also being from Canada we have to pay more. I looked at the exact same model steiner on Amazon.ca and Amazon.com where the .com is less than half price with a disclaimer that they don't ship to Canada even with the exchange rates

Check out Baker Marine as I said above (#5). These guys are the real deal in binocular service; esp. Fijinon, as the ONLY authorized US service facility for that manufacturer. They can make a good "knock off" of a 7x50 Polaris.

 

[dziedzicmj]

Nikon binoculars are quite well priced in Canada. Look at them. I have the Monarch 5 and love them. BestBuy has them for $350 CAD. No Canadian surcharge.