Summary
THE marine binoculars buying guide
An essential safety item at sea, binoculars are indispensable for navigation. Marine binoculars will help you see far, detect in advance dangers, rocks, islands, but also spot gatherings of birds indicating ideal fishing conditions, detect a man overboard, a boat in danger, the arrival of a storm or a storm or navigate in the right direction with the compass bearing integrated into some models.
The binoculars for boats are multi-purpose, they will be used for navigation as well as for leisure, fishing, etc. It is therefore important to have all the cards in hand when it comes toinvesting in your future pair. Detail your needs and your activity at sea so that you can choose the pair of binoculars that suits you.
In this guide you will find the selection criteria to consider when choosing your marine binoculars, the advantages and disadvantages of the models and the differences between the types of boat binoculars.
THE marine binoculars buying guide
An essential safety item at sea, binoculars are indispensable for navigation. Marine binoculars will help you see far, detect in advance dangers, rocks, islands, but also spot gatherings of birds indicating ideal fishing conditions, detect a man overboard, a boat in danger, the arrival of a storm or a storm or navigate in the right direction with the compass bearing integrated into some models.
The binoculars for boats are multi-purpose, they will be used for navigation as well as for leisure, fishing, etc. It is therefore important to have all the cards in hand when it comes toinvesting in your future pair. Detail your needs and your activity at sea so that you can choose the pair of binoculars that suits you.
In this guide you will find the selection criteria to consider when choosing your marine binoculars, the advantages and disadvantages of the models and the differences between the types of boat binoculars.
What is a Pair of Marine Binoculars?
Why buy marine binoculars?
Marine binoculars , like conventional binoculars, allow you to see far away in order to detect danger, inspect places, etc. But unlike conventional binoculars, these will generally be waterproof, reinforced and shockproof in order to withstand the difficult conditions at sea, rain, spray. Marine binoculars also have specific characteristics for navigation, such as a diameter of optics and a zoom adapted, accessories, integrated bearing compass, autofocus depending on the model etc. Buying a specific pair of binoculars for a ship will allow you to have a material adapted to the maritime environment, robust and powerful.
OPTICS DIAMETER AND MAGNIFICATION OF MARINE BINOCULARS
You will notice the presence of numbers in the names of each pair of binoculars. This is to designate the magnification coefficient, as well as the diameter of the optics, in millimeters.
A pair of binoculars 7 x 50 has a magnification x7 for a lens of 50 mm in diameter. Thus, an object located at 100 m will appear to be at 14m at the exit of the eyepiece.
Marine binoculars: 7x50 optics
The ideal magnification/diameter ratio for marine binoculars is 7×50. A magnification x7 and an optical diameter of 50mm. This is a perfect compromise between zoom, stability, sharpness, light and field of view.
Beyond a magnification coefficient of 7, the lens must be stabilized, otherwise it will only return blur. Below that, the magnification may not be sufficient to aim at distant objects.
The larger the diameter of the lens, the more light it lets in. The 50mm diameter offers a compromise between brightness and size.
The 7×50 Binoculars are ideal for low light conditions, such as stargazing or night navigation, but also for daytime bright conditions.
Marine binoculars: 7x30 optics
What are the differences between the 7×50 and 7×30?
7×50 binoculars have a larger lens than 7×30 binoculars, which means they let in more light and therefore provide a brighter, clearer image, especially in low light conditions such as dawn, dusk or night.
Smaller lenses, such as the 7×30, will be less bright, but will have the advantage of being more compact. If you only sail occasionally or in clear weather, they can be a good value for money.
QUALITY OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE MARINE BINOCULARS
The quality of manufacture, the choice of materials and the treatment of the lenses are all criteria to be distinguished in the choice of your future pair of marine binoculars.
Here are some things to consider:
BAK-4 or BAK-7 prisms
What does BAK-4 or BAK-7 mean?
- BAK-7 prisms are standard quality borosilicate lens sets. They are used on entry-level models such as the Alpha RC 7×50.
- The BAK-4 prisms are of a higher quality, made of Barium, give a sharper image and a 30% increase in brightness. You will find them on the most powerful binoculars such as the Rescue 7×50 or the Steiner Navigator 7×50.
Lens treatment
The lenses receive treatments that range from simple brightness enhancement to reverberation suppression.
The multi-layer treatment, for example, benefits from an anti-UV filter that is essential at sea.
Focusing / Autofocus
There are marine binoculars on the market with manual focus by central wheel (the most common), manual focus adjustable for each eyepiece, but also, autofocus binoculars.
The latter are the most efficient and offer a significant gain in time and visual comfort during navigation.
With autofocus binoculars, the focus is made instantaneously on the targeted object, without intervention from the user.
The box
Marine binoculars must be particularly robust if they are to be put to the test on a boat. This is why it is important to take into account the manufacture of the case which protects the optics.
Most are pressurized with nitrogen, an inert gas, which will allow the binoculars to be completely sealed, preventing water or dust from entering and fogging up the lenses.
As with all technical products, all waterproof binoculars have different properties. While some offer water resistance, others are completely waterproof up to 10m. Polycarbonate housings, like the Steiner Commander, are among the most resistant.
Note that the rubber coverings allow a good grip, even when wet, and limit the risks in case of shocks.
Marine binoculars with autofocus at the Best Price
Admiral FX 7x50 Autofocus Marine Binoculars
Plastimo's Admiral FX 7 x 50 waterproof binoculars have all the qualities expected of marine binoculars: autofocus, multi-coated lenses, BAK-4 prisms and ergonomics. One of the best quality/price ratio on the market for boat binoculars.
The auto focus provides a very clear view without adjustments.
Commander 7x50 Autofocus Marine Binoculars
Steiner Commander marine binoculars with autofocus guarantee exceptional quality and unparalleled performance in terms of optical processing.
A clear, bright and high contrast image. They are the reference marine binoculars, robust, sea-proof and sailor-proof.
Navigator 7x30 Autofocus Marine Binoculars
Smaller sister of the Navigator 7x50C (compass), this pair of Steiner Navigator 7×30 marine binoculars offers a smaller footprint, for daytime use but still as accurate, robust and powerful .
The little extra: theautofocus, adjusts to your view regardless of the distance aimed
WHAT ACCESSORIES FOR BINOCULARS?
From the classic pair of binoculars to the most elaborate model, some of them are distinguished by judicious and efficient accessories.
Eyelets
Comfort is also an important aspect of using binoculars. That's why most binoculars are equipped with rubber coatings on the eyecups. These offer, in addition to a more pleasant touch, an eye relief improving the quality of image perception.
The wearers of glasses will be able to fold them in order to be completely at ease.
As with the Commander range from Steiner, there are ergonomic eyelets to block stray light.
The integrated compass
Some marine binoculars are, in fact, equipped with integrated bearing compasses. This is a great asset for navigation, as it allows you to take readings directly with the binoculars.
The most sophisticated ones offer high definition and are stabilized to gain even more precision.
Lighting can also be available for overcast or low-light sailing.
Additional accessories
The best marine binoculars with bearing compass
Rescue 7x50 Marine Binoculars Integrated compass
With 50mm optics and 7x magnification, the Rescue 7 x 50 Compass binoculars offer excellent lens quality and light sensitivity at a very reasonable price. They are also equipped witha battery-operatedbearing compass that allows you to take accurate readings even on cloudy days.
Compact and ergonomic, they are completely waterproof, buoyant and shockproof.
Navigator 7x30c marine binoculars Integrated compass
Smaller sister of the Navigator 7x50C, this pair of Steiner Navigator 7x30C marine binoculars offers a smaller footprint, for daytime use but still as accurate, robust and powerful.
This model features a high-definition, stabilized, illuminated compass for accurate navigation in all weather conditions.
Commander 7x50 Marine Binoculars Integrated compass
The Steiner Commander range of marine binoculars guarantees exceptional quality and unrivalled performance in terms of optical processing. A clear, bright and high contrast image. They are the reference marine binoculars, robust, sea-proof and sailor-proof.
This model of marine binoculars features a stabilized HD analog compass with built-in illumination for accurate navigation in all weather conditions.
JUMELLES marine at comptoir nautique
THE specialist in marine electronics
Comptoir Nautique offers a wide range of marine binoculars. You will find the ones that best suit your needs, from sailing to regattas.
Note that there are other contexts where you may want to use your binoculars. So, don't forget them on your boat the next time you go hiking, bivouacking, or other land-based activities.