As a former part-time land surveyor, I think binoculars with built-in compasses are a great idea. The ability to pick out a distant mark (especially in low light) and take an immediate bearing is great. The ones with the built-in reticule for estimating distance off are even better. I thought this would be useful to have on the water, so I went to check out a pair. Here's what I found: 1) on most binocs, the compass wasn't easy to see so taking bearings wasn't easy 2) the reticule was vertical only near the middle of the "eye-spacing" range. If your head is smaller or larger than average (eyes closer or farther apart) the reticule isn't vertical, so the distance measurement becomes difficult. Is it just me (my eyes are pretty far apart...if you catch my drift) or are these binoculars really not what they should be? Thanks in advance. Peter H23 "Raven"
Binoculars with internal compass...Whassup??
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Compass good to have
Having the built in compass is a very good thing for navigation. Remember that you are taking bearings, not surveying the ocean. As a land surveyor you might be looking for minutes and seconds. You know you expect to find a buoy at 225 degrees, so when you scan the horizon from 220 to 230, the large range keeps you on task.
Having the built in compass is a very good thing for navigation. Remember that you are taking bearings, not surveying the ocean. As a land surveyor you might be looking for minutes and seconds. You know you expect to find a buoy at 225 degrees, so when you scan the horizon from 220 to 230, the large range keeps you on task.
Opted to Keep Things Separate
It's possible it could be you and it could be the binoculars. Some binoculars have more adjustment than others. Also, by the time they start adding on things which require even more optics, who knows, the range or variation they can accept could be limited. Maybe if you tried more brands you might find one with the dimensional requirement that would work better for you. For my situation I took a different approach. I opted to keep things more or less simple based on my experience with having lots of gagets in one unit. The more gagets the greater the probability something is going to break rendering the unit less valuable. Our first "good" binoculars were 7x50 Swarovskis which are really ruggedly built. For the second pair I chose image stabilization 14x40 but because of all the things that can go wrong one needs something reliable in addition. I considered a compass but decided to go with a separate compass instead. I've also done surveying and we liked the Suunto hocky-puck best: KB-14/360RD – Hand bearing compass with an adjustable declination correction scale at http://www.suuntousa.com/products_comp.htm. This is a great compass! It has a liquid-filled cavity for the card which dampens it (good for boat use) and the card is unbelieveably easy to read to high accuracy because of the optics. And, they are really rugged. Mailorder survey supply places have them at a good discount. Anyway that's my contribution.
It's possible it could be you and it could be the binoculars. Some binoculars have more adjustment than others. Also, by the time they start adding on things which require even more optics, who knows, the range or variation they can accept could be limited. Maybe if you tried more brands you might find one with the dimensional requirement that would work better for you. For my situation I took a different approach. I opted to keep things more or less simple based on my experience with having lots of gagets in one unit. The more gagets the greater the probability something is going to break rendering the unit less valuable. Our first "good" binoculars were 7x50 Swarovskis which are really ruggedly built. For the second pair I chose image stabilization 14x40 but because of all the things that can go wrong one needs something reliable in addition. I considered a compass but decided to go with a separate compass instead. I've also done surveying and we liked the Suunto hocky-puck best: KB-14/360RD – Hand bearing compass with an adjustable declination correction scale at http://www.suuntousa.com/products_comp.htm. This is a great compass! It has a liquid-filled cavity for the card which dampens it (good for boat use) and the card is unbelieveably easy to read to high accuracy because of the optics. And, they are really rugged. Mailorder survey supply places have them at a good discount. Anyway that's my contribution.
Not worth the trade offs
Well your mileage may vary, but I say don't get the internal compass. I recently purchased a top of the line pair of Steiners and chose not to get the compass for several reasons. First, the compass is not that easy to see and read. Second, the compass obscures a good part of the field of view all of the time, not just when you want to use it. The compass sticks out the side of the binoculars, and makes the system more liable to be damaged. If it is damaged, you have to send the whole unit back to be fixed. And make no mistake, the compass part will be more fragile than the rest of the unit. If you really do takes bearings often, especially at night, then by all means get the compass. But don't get it unless you need it, because there are some drawbacks. Steve Christensen
Well your mileage may vary, but I say don't get the internal compass. I recently purchased a top of the line pair of Steiners and chose not to get the compass for several reasons. First, the compass is not that easy to see and read. Second, the compass obscures a good part of the field of view all of the time, not just when you want to use it. The compass sticks out the side of the binoculars, and makes the system more liable to be damaged. If it is damaged, you have to send the whole unit back to be fixed. And make no mistake, the compass part will be more fragile than the rest of the unit. If you really do takes bearings often, especially at night, then by all means get the compass. But don't get it unless you need it, because there are some drawbacks. Steve Christensen
Binocs & compass
All great comments. Here's where money probably makes a difference. I replaced my regular binocs with one that has internal compass and night light. Only reason I bought them was they were marked down from $300 to $124. Binocs work great but I don't use the compass feature often as it's a little awkward to see the compass. In this binocs the compass seemed to be an afterthought. Prefere the hocky puck for taking bearings if I can aquire the bouy without binocs. Tried out a much more expensive set recently (around $600) and the compass was much easier easier to see because it was higher in your vision and clearer. Seemed to be an integrated feature rather than an add on. That said, there have been times when I just could not find the bouy with naked eye and hockypuck. I'd acquire it with my regular binocs, put them down and pick up the hockypuck. Then lose it again. Back and forth, back and forth betweeen the regular binocs and hockpuck, until I got it or gave up. The binocs with compass is a nice feature to have and does not add much to the price. Nice to have when all else fails. My advice: Stick with binocs w/o compass unless you can afford a real high quality setup. Try lots of them before you decide.
All great comments. Here's where money probably makes a difference. I replaced my regular binocs with one that has internal compass and night light. Only reason I bought them was they were marked down from $300 to $124. Binocs work great but I don't use the compass feature often as it's a little awkward to see the compass. In this binocs the compass seemed to be an afterthought. Prefere the hocky puck for taking bearings if I can aquire the bouy without binocs. Tried out a much more expensive set recently (around $600) and the compass was much easier easier to see because it was higher in your vision and clearer. Seemed to be an integrated feature rather than an add on. That said, there have been times when I just could not find the bouy with naked eye and hockypuck. I'd acquire it with my regular binocs, put them down and pick up the hockypuck. Then lose it again. Back and forth, back and forth betweeen the regular binocs and hockpuck, until I got it or gave up. The binocs with compass is a nice feature to have and does not add much to the price. Nice to have when all else fails. My advice: Stick with binocs w/o compass unless you can afford a real high quality setup. Try lots of them before you decide.
I have with both.
The binoculars that I bought have both the reticule and compass. I use both with ease and the one I got I also bought only because they too were marked down. Otherwise I admit I would not have bought them for the added cost. Now that I have it I like it and find it quite useful. I have a Tasco offshore model. I’ve found that with any binoculars, you really do have to try several manufacturers before you find one that works well for your eyes and needs. Fair winds Gerry
The binoculars that I bought have both the reticule and compass. I use both with ease and the one I got I also bought only because they too were marked down. Otherwise I admit I would not have bought them for the added cost. Now that I have it I like it and find it quite useful. I have a Tasco offshore model. I’ve found that with any binoculars, you really do have to try several manufacturers before you find one that works well for your eyes and needs. Fair winds Gerry
Look at West Marine Tahiti
They're on the pricey side as standard distributors go, but overall they perform well. I'm happy with them.
They're on the pricey side as standard distributors go, but overall they perform well. I'm happy with them.
Tascos with Compass
My wife bought me a pair of Tascos with the compass about 10 years ago. The compass in the binoculars is the most used compass on board our boat except maybe the one on the binicle. As for the reticle it is less useful especially when the water is rough. But just turn your head a little to make it verticle. I won't buy another pair of binoculars for boat use without a compass. Just this past weekend we were on the far side of the bay and needed to go north until the bridge was due west. Without binoculars the bridge is very hard to see at that range. Same thing with bouys. The wife gets the first bearing everytime using the binoculars. She has one problem. She keeps forgetting that the compass is illuminated through the little window on top of the binoculars. When she is wearing a hat this blocks the light!!! With the added light gathering ability of the 50X7 they really come in handy in low light situations. They literally allow you to see at night with a little moonlight or a clear sky full of stars.
My wife bought me a pair of Tascos with the compass about 10 years ago. The compass in the binoculars is the most used compass on board our boat except maybe the one on the binicle. As for the reticle it is less useful especially when the water is rough. But just turn your head a little to make it verticle. I won't buy another pair of binoculars for boat use without a compass. Just this past weekend we were on the far side of the bay and needed to go north until the bridge was due west. Without binoculars the bridge is very hard to see at that range. Same thing with bouys. The wife gets the first bearing everytime using the binoculars. She has one problem. She keeps forgetting that the compass is illuminated through the little window on top of the binoculars. When she is wearing a hat this blocks the light!!! With the added light gathering ability of the 50X7 they really come in handy in low light situations. They literally allow you to see at night with a little moonlight or a clear sky full of stars.
Nice comparison
Practical Sailor did a really nice comparison of 7x50's with compass a few months back. The article gave me the "toy needed" obsession until I finally cured my disease and bought a pair. I haven't had much chance to use them as I bought them late in the fall. FYI West Marine often has Binoculars listed on their Ebay auctions. Their starting bid price is generally right at the Buy It Now price....
Practical Sailor did a really nice comparison of 7x50's with compass a few months back. The article gave me the "toy needed" obsession until I finally cured my disease and bought a pair. I haven't had much chance to use them as I bought them late in the fall. FYI West Marine often has Binoculars listed on their Ebay auctions. Their starting bid price is generally right at the Buy It Now price....
I think Tom's exactly right with good examples
...and can't imagine having binocs without the compass capability. The minute you leave home waters and/or sail near active shipping lanes, they will prove their worth if you chose to use their utility. Jack
...and can't imagine having binocs without the compass capability. The minute you leave home waters and/or sail near active shipping lanes, they will prove their worth if you chose to use their utility. Jack
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