Binoculars

justsomeguy · Nov 28, 2014

What's wrong with your current binoculars, besides being crap?

Don S/V ILLusion · Nov 28, 2014

This model has been around for a long time. I bought the same one years ago (for about the same price they claim is their sale price) as a backup to the Steiner binoculars we prefer.

They suck in bright light or dark but for that price, I would be less inclined to dive in after they fell overboard.

Terry in Naples · Nov 28, 2014

The Steiners with compass was on black friday dale $200 off. That was a deal on great binoculars.

Brian D · Nov 28, 2014

Did you check the SBO Store for binos? I would say for $89 they are probably throw aways but good for day sailing. Anything of serious cruising you would go much better.

Kermit · Nov 28, 2014

I've never used those but the specifications look good. Reviews aren't stellar but not awful, either. You won't get huge magnification but the light gathering should be very good. I have a pair of 7x35s and like them. 7x50 should gather more light than my pair. Just don't expect tremendous magnification. I have never had West Marine refuse to refund or replace anything. My vote is go for it.

Kermit · Nov 28, 2014

+1 on what I said after reading your bio.

rpwillia · Nov 29, 2014

My $0.02

The West Marine ones are good, but I got a set of Bushnell ones with the compass for under $130. What I really like about them is that you adjust each eyepiece separately and then there is no need to focus. That is a nice feature if you just want to see something real quick and only use one hand. Optics beyond 7x50 are much harder to hold and stabilize to see things on a moving boat.

justsomeguy · Nov 29, 2014

A cheap pair of binoculars I bought long ago had experienced one or five too many bumps, and the images from each side were skewed, unable to resolve into one.

So I cut them in half. Now I have a bird-watching monocle for both the front and back porches.

Do like my Steiners, though. Nice to have the compass for deduced reckoning.

Terry in Naples · Nov 29, 2014

West marine. Had the steiners at $200 off. Black friday Now they are $150 off. Much better than WM store brand. Much better. With compass

Benny17441 · Nov 29, 2014

Had a pair, were good for the price. I find that the 7X50 magnification is a little strong for general use. They enhance the shake and have a narrow field of view. I'll admit they come in handy sometimes when you need detail at a long distance. For that reason I carry two aboard and the one that gets the most use are 7X35.

Kermit · Nov 29, 2014

Benny17441 said:
Had a pair, were good for the price. I find that the 7X50 magnification is a little strong for general use. They enhance the shake and have a narrow field of view. I'll admit they come in handy sometimes when you need detail at a long distance. For that reason I carry two aboard and the one that gets the most use are 7X35.

Interesting that 7x50 magnifies the image more than the 7x35. I would have thought the magnification would be the same but a brighter image with the 7x50.

centerline · Nov 29, 2014

Kermit said:
Interesting that 7x50 magnifies the image more than the 7x35. I would have thought the magnification would be the same but a brighter image with the 7x50.

The 7x35 does not magnify more, but they have a smaller "field of view", which can make it seem like the object is bigger, only because the border around the object is smaller...

Stu Jackson · Nov 29, 2014

Mackaroni said:
So, I've been needing a set of binoculars for a while and don't know anything about them. I have a pair on the boat but they are crap, so bad that I need to pitch them.

I noticed that west marine has a set on black friday sale and wanted to know if this is worth it or not.

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-marine--raiatea-7-x-50-binoculars--14361240

I have them.

Bad news - over the years I've had to replace them a number of times. Some lasted over a years, others shorter. One lens fogs up inside even though they are supposed to filled with nitrogen.

Good news: WM replaces them, no questions asked. Ever. Just save your receipt.

A good first pair so you can learn more about binoculars and then decide if you want to go more expensive or not.

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani · Nov 30, 2014

I use a pair of Nikon 8 x 40's aboard. best binoculars I've ever owned so far

Kings Gambit · Nov 30, 2014

Mackaroni said:
So, I've been needing a set of binoculars for a while and don't know anything about them. I have a pair on the boat but they are crap, so bad that I need to pitch them.

I noticed that west marine has a set on black friday sale and wanted to know if this is worth it or not.

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-marine--raiatea-7-x-50-binoculars--14361240

I've not used the WM binoculars. Used the Steiner's 7 x 50 w/ compass; they're OK; belonged on another boat to someone else, however. I have two aboard the Bavaria, both Fujinon; one is 8 x 30 and the other 7 x 50 w/compass (Polaris). The 8 x 30 is smaller, therefore lighter, and quicker to use. The 7 x 50 being heavier is harder to hold up long. Honestly, they both are a bit lively at sea. I like the 7 x 50 better for seeing stuff at night. The 8 x 30 I bought at the St. Petersburg Boat Show in 1988; had it in the "shop" (Baker's Marine in San Diego) a couple of times since then. Still a great pair. So, quality endures.

redhead78 · Dec 4, 2014

nocs

I sail coastal day mostly, some nite, I m lookin now at west holiday cataloge, 7x50 seems rite? there are (4) on sale, from the Raiatea- $99.00--Aruba and taheti- $180ea, and antigua-$200. all 7x50, only difference is weight and dimension, the smaller and lighter mo money. I am thinkin aruba? anybody? Red

Ken Cross · Dec 6, 2014

I have them and no complaints. They are much better than the junk I had previously. I think I've had them about 5 years.
Ken

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