Seeing Is believing

[Thomas Friedlein]

Fujicon

We also have a pair of Fujicon 7X50 with a compass and I have found them to be just fine for our use, mostly on the river and a little time in Puget Sound. The compass is really helpful. They have a floating strap and the armor coating. Haven't had occasion to use the strap but they(Fujicon)say it works. Tom and Tralee

 

[steve sassa]

lets just all fess up to it.

Ok everyone, lets face up to it. What is the real reason we have a good pair of binoculars on board. I have been sailing a 1978 venture 25 for a long time and I have a pair of old 7x50's with me at all times. They work great. I have used them a few times to check land marks or to see if what band is playing dockside. But come on... how many of you have used them to check out the passangers on the other boats that are not wearing much as far as clothing goes. I'm sure you all at one time were checking things out and announce, " ah, there's the mark." we all know what you were looking at. Her marks! wecome to the club. But rember to keep it on the down low as there will be a time that we will need them for a legitimate reason. Have fun and sail on.

 

[Benny]

7X50

Use them infrequently mostly to look at the home port of passing boats. If I cannot read a marker I'm not close enough yet. I don't watch birds and like to see bikinis up close so I do not need fancy gimballed optics.

 

[Alan on Seagull]

Stabilization!

Regular old-fashioned binocs do me faily well when the waters are relatively calm but it drives me crazy trying to get a sharp view if I have to use them when conditions are rough.I have three pair, and the more powerful themore difficult they are to use on-board. When I buy my next pair I will make stabilization a must.

 

[Cruzin]

No Photo

I am replying to my own post. The digital camera binocs came in yesterday afternoon."The were returned this morning. Need I say more?Actually, the binocular weren't bad and they were waterproof. The camera may have been okay if you didn't already have one, but we do, and snapping the pic was very difficult. Hard to keep the binocs steady when you take the picture. So, back to binocs for viewing, the old Sony for pics.

 

[Ed]

binoc service

Binoc service; Redlichs, they're on the net. http://tinyurl.com/94y5mThe best at reasonable prices. Got my Zeiss 10x50 done there for collimating.Ed

 

[JC on Bainbridge]

Easy service for Fujinons

Just send them back to Fuji. Both my Fujinons have lifetime warranties. For free even.After about 10 years of use, my Fujinon Polaris 7x50's compass developed a bubble in the liquid, so I sent it back, and came back el pronto.Hard to beat.

 

[capn Bill]

My Tasco Off-Shores are good

When I started looking for binnoculars for my STARGAZER, I fell in love with the Steiner Commanders. But when I looked at the price - I said, "You're kidding!" It's not that I don't respect the fact that Quality costs money, but I could not afford that much quality! So - after looking at the Fujinon's (also pricey) and the West Marine brand, I settled on the Tasco Off-Shore's with built-in compass/range-finder. Great quality, and only $150. I'm happy! Bill on STARGAZER

 

[David W]

My wife bought us the WM Tahati's

and they are great. Very clear, light and work great for peopole with glasses

 

[ted dixon]

WM Tahiti's are the best bang for the buck

I've pretty much relied on Practical Sailor in sailing purchases. I looked for 6 months for "good" affordable basic binoculars "for sailing". The WM Tahiti's were by far the best for the money. You really have to decide how much you want to spend and how good the binoculars have to be. Remember, they're going to be on the boat, so moisture proof and fogging are important, and these are perfect.

 

[ex-admin]

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending November 6, 2005:The binoculars on my boat:65% Are the plain old 7x50's, 7x35's, or similar models24% Combine a compass and range finder06% Nada, no binoc's on my boat!05% Are the new image stabilized models