Anyone use 10 X 32 binoculars for sailing?

[La catboat]

Need binoculars looking into Zeiss victory sf 10 X 32 with a 390 ft FOV @ 1000 yds and only weight 20.8 oz. Rubber coated and waterproof depth up to 13 ft. Also getting into birding / nature creatures and these have great reviews for that. - - - -> BUT for sailing ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? <- - - -
Want to add I'm a trailer sailor (15 ft catboat) mostly inland lakes and some coastal sailing.

 

[dlochner]

I've found using binoculars on a small boat is a fruitless endeavor. There is too much movement to get a good consistent view of anything. I do have a 12x28 image stabilized binoculars that are better, but still a challenge to use in a moving boat.

 

[kloudie1]

If you do much night sailing or low light sailing, a lager lens size would be helpful; the classic 7X50 works well on a boat.. At the Zeiss pricepoint, the Cannon stabilized binoculars might be a better choice to use on a boat.. ? I use some like these; rugged and won't give ya too much heartburn if someone loses them overboard:
Cabela's 7x50 Fathom Marine Binoculars | Cabela's

 

[jssailem]

I bought a this unit last year because it has a compass internal in the unit. They are nice.
2lbs. Water proof. As an alternate to the pair of Bushnell's from the 80's that came with the boat.

Mentch 7x50 HD Waterproof Military Marine Binoculars w/Internal Rangefinder & Compass for Water Sports,Hunting,Bird Watching,Boating and More

 

[Richard19068]

Need new binoculars looking into Zeiss victory sf 10 X 32 with a FOW of 390 ft @ 1000 yds and only weight 20.8 oz. Rubber coated and waterproof depth up to 13 ft. Also getting into birding and nature creatures and these have great reviews for that BUT for sailing ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Just want to add I'm a trailer sailor (15 ft catboat) mostly inland lakes and some coastal sailing.

I'm sure those are good but if you are going to drop that kind of money for binoculars and really want to use them on the boat you should definately have image stabilization high on the list.

 

[BarryL]

Hi,

Generally, for boating you want a bigger lens for more light gathering but less magnification because of the motion of the boat. I would say that most popular binoc for a boat would be 7 X 50. I would not recommend 10 X 32 - too much magnification and not enough light gathering. 7 X 35 is also popular - smaller, lighter, and cheaper.

Barry

 

[Kings Gambit]

I’ve had a Fujinon 8x30 on the boat since about 1990; later bought the Fujinon 7x50 Polaris. Gave the wife her own 7x30 Steiner Commander about 4 yr ago. IMO, the weight of the set affects how well you can use it on the boat. Your Zeiss is only about two ounces heavier than my wife’s Steiner, so that part should be OK. However, the field of view might be less. If looking at a specific object and can hold the set focused on it, and there is enough light, 10x might work out fine. Searching for, or holding sight on, an object while it, or you, is moving, I doubt it will work out all that well. What might you need to see in high mag while boating? Basically, buoy numbers, dock letters & slip numbers, boat names, etc. Stuff you must read. But can you stay focused @ 10x on those things while moving? One or two seconds is usually enough if the mag is there. However, I think 8x would be good enough for both of your mentioned needs.

 

[thinwater]

Hi,

Generally, for boating you want a bigger lens for more light gathering but less magnification because of the motion of the boat. I would say that most popular binoc for a boat would be 7 X 50. I would not recommend 10 X 32 - too much magnification and not enough light gathering. 7 X 35 is also popular - smaller, lighter, and cheaper.

Barry

This. I had several pairs of 7x50s over 40 years, but this last time I got a pair of 7x35 Nikon Aculons and I am very happy with them.

• Getting fancy on a small boat that moves a lot is pointless. There's no need to spend more than $100-$150.
• 7x35s gather the same amount of light as 7x50s during the day, it's only at night when you pupils get big enough to take advantage of the larger exit pupil size. Also, if you are older your pupils don't dilate enough to get an advantage either, although the larger exit pupil diameter does make positioning less critical.
• 7x35s are just over half the weight of 7x50s; I find them easier to hold.
• 10x32s are for bird watching or similar, where you can prop your elbows on something stationary. I have a pair I take hiking sometimes, but I wouldn't like them on the boat.

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

This. I had several pairs of 7x50s over 40 years, but this last time I got a pair of 7x35 Nikon Aculons and I am very happy with them.

• Getting fancy on a small boat that moves a lot is pointless. There's no need to spend more than $100-$150.
• 7x35s gather the same amount of light as 7x50s during the day, it's only at night when you pupils get big enough to take advantage of the larger exit pupil size. Also, if you are older your pupils don't dilate enough to get an advantage either, although the larger exit pupil diameter does make positioning less critical.
• 7x35s are just over half the weight of 7x50s; I find them easier to hold.
• 10x32s are for bird watching or similar, where you can prop your elbows on something stationary. I have a pair I take hiking sometimes, but I wouldn't like them on the boat.

good advice there

 

[La catboat]

EVERYONE ---- thanks for info and advice.
Looks like standard (best) for sailing is the 7 X 50.
Gonna look at the 7 X 35's also (weight difference).

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

Also, if you are older your pupils don't dilate enough to get an advantage either,

Does this really matter? The 50mm objective lens gathers enough additional light to make the image much brighter. I can see in the dark much better with 7x50’s than with the naked eye.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Does this really matter? The 50mm objective lens gathers enough additional light to make the image much brighter. I can see in the dark much better with 7x50’s than with the naked eye.

Very much the same here. As a matter of utility, I use the 7x50’s much more than the other two on the boat. It’s the one actually in the cockpit when we’re underway. Widest field of view, plus it has the compass that I use to get bearings. The other two (7x30 and 8x30) we use mostly when at anchor, ashore, in the dink, or when we wish both of us looking at, or for, something. Those are also the ones we take on charter.

 

[Kings Gambit]

I've found using binoculars on a small boat is a fruitless endeavor. There is too much movement to get a good consistent view of anything. I do have a 12x28 image stabilized binoculars that are better, but still a challenge to use in a moving boat.

I agree it can be frustrating. But it really depends on what you are trying to view—how big it is and how far away. If you wish to size up a harbor or anchorage b/f entering they’re indispensable tools, IMO. It’s more fun for me to visually bear on markers ashore when close than to study the chart plotter. Of course, sailing at night where we live, LA County for example, I need the 7x50’s to identify much of anything except the moon or constellation Orion. In particular, to the resolve the light pattern of any approaching vessels. W/o the 7x50’s the lights are usually a blur. Off Avalon Harbor one dark night we could see a vessel at some distance that appeared to be on a course to cross us from starboard. As we were motoring at the time, we were the give-way vessel at crossing. The 7x50’s revealed that it was a tug (lighting pattern—although I had to look it up). We then saw it change course, now bearing almost directly toward us. I radioed the skipper to inquire. He had us on radar and had changed course to pass astern of us. Nice, because he had a long tow (barge) behind. Radar alone would not have told us the type of vessel, etc.; at least with our level of facility interpreting target returns.

 

[thinwater]

Does this really matter? The 50mm objective lens gathers enough additional light to make the image much brighter. I can see in the dark much better with 7x50’s than with the naked eye.

If that were really true, would they not be too bright to stand in daylight?

Basic optics you learned in school. The difference is not in the intensity of the light coming to the eye, but that the 7x50 have a larger diameter column of light coming to the eye. If you think about it, the size of the column is is 50/7=7 or 35/7=5. When you are young your pupils will dilate at night to about 6.8mm, but when you are older only 5.5mm, so the light is there but you can't use it.

(Army study)
Results: Two-hundred sixty-three individuals participated. For participants aged 18 to 19 years (n=6), the mean dark-adapted pupil diameter was 6.85 mm (range: 5.6 to 7.5 mm); 20 to 29 years (n=66), 7.33 mm (range: 5.7 to 8.8 mm); 30 to 39 years (n=50), 6.64 mm (range: 5.3 to 8.7 mm); 40 to 49 years (n=51), 6.15 mm (range: 4.5 to 8.2 mm); 50 to 59 years (n=50), 5.77 mm (range: 4.4 to 7.2 mm); 60 to 69 years (n=30), 5.58 mm (range: 3.5 to 7.5 mm); 70 to 79 years (n=6), 5.17 mm (range: 4.6 to 6.0 mm); and 80 years (n=4), 4.85 mm (range: 4.1 to 5.3 mm). These values were consistent with studies using infrared photography. The standard deviation was >0.1 mm in 10 (3.8%) participants, all of whom were younger than 55 years.

Also this. Optics Myth

 

[capta]

Yes, exactly, but they are Canon STABILIZED binoculars and they are one of the best purchases I've made over the last 10 years. Revolutionary! My Steiners are sitting around for anybody to use and drop, and I won't shed a tear.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Yes, exactly, but they are Canon STABILIZED binoculars and they are one of the best purchases I've made over the last 10 years. Revolutionary! My Steiners are sitting around for anybody to use and drop, and I won't shed a tear.

What size are they?