Posts Tagged ‘Marine’

Marine Binoculars: A Guide For Buyers

Marine Binoculars: A Guide For Buyers

If you are contemplating on buying beautiful water -proof marine binoculars, it is imperative that you carefully choose from a small range of brands. Given the fact that you can use this for a very long time, procuring the best binoculars is necessary.

A binoculars' purpose differs on every type of user. If you are a marine then you are entitled to use one for your line of duty. However, this can also be beneficial to hunters, soldiers and the like. It is more used by those who work or thrive on the great outdoors. Hikers also use this on their trips. It is especially helpful when you would like to spot a bird or other animals that are at a certain distance in the wild or wherever. There are also those who go to football or baseball games and bring a pair of binoculars in order to get a closer view of the game. Of course, not everyone can afford the ticket prices to be near the fields, but these people can definitely afford marine binoculars.

Hence, magnification is the first thing you will possess if you have 7x50 binoculars. This magnification factor determines the power of your lenses and it is always followed by an "x". This means that if you use a binocular with 7x magnification you may see a view seven times more than without the binoculars.

Some experts even claim that more magnification doe not necessarily mean that it's better because as it increases, the clarity and the brightness of the image often diminish. Aside from this, the depth of the field tends to become shallower and the field of vision becomes narrower as well. Plus, the thing with this high -powered device is that they are heavier than the usual binoculars. This would mean that having this on your neck and making handshakes with other people will be very uncomfortable on your part.

Moreover, the aperture is the second thing to consider subsequent to magnification. This refers to the lens diameter that is measured in millimetres which is similar to camera lenses. Hence, the 20-25 mm ranges are typically pocket sized binoculars. This type is perfect for those nature trips. Plus, it can fit right into your camera luggage.

Nevertheless, with regards to marine binoculars, it is imperative to have at least a 50 mm aperture. This is in order to promote better light gathering which is crucial in dark, heavily shaded areas. For astronomical uses, over 50mm or around 70 to 80 mm is used for obvious reasons.

For light gathering purposes, prisms are used. This is due to the fact that they can employ high quality glass prisms, which can provide clearer and more circular exit pupils. In addition to this, glass quality can directly affect the clarity of the image. This means that the best glass can give you a clearer flat field as compared to the whole field of view, making it a higher priced product.

The exit pupil, as mentioned above, is those indicators that depict how well an image can be seen in particular conditions like sunny/bright, night/twilight/dusky views. This exit pupil can also be characterized in millimetres by having the aperture divided with the magnification factor. This is like if you have 7x50 binoculars, then your exit pupil will be 50/7 or 7.14mm, making it way better than the 10x50 ones having only a 5mm exit pupil. With this, your view will become very difficult to hold at a steady motion, especially in the water.

This means that it is way better to have a larger exit pupil due to the fact that you can have an excellent viewing convenience under the said conditions. Thus, if you are in a sunny condition, then the pupil size of a normal individual would range from 2 up to 3 mm, meaning, even the smallest exit pupil like a 7x 20mm or a 2.86mm exit pupil pair of binoculars can take in more light as compared to what your eyes needed to see.

Furthermore, this can be a match to those 7 x 50mm binoculars. However, when twilight or dusky shaded area becomes the background, you will not be able to see a clear field of view on a 7x20mm. On this type, a 7x50mm binocular is better because of its larger exit pupil.

Furthermore, Porro Prism versus the Roof prism designs is mostly discussed by people who are confused by their uses. To settle this account: Porro Prisms are the bigger, classic binoculars that have two offset barrels and are connected by a centre axis rod. They tend to give a wider field of view and crisp sharp images. In contrast to this, the roof prism is sleeker in design and is more compact. This is even without the gaps between the barrels and centre axis. Plus, this is more durable and less prone to contamination by some elements; although, of course, it is more expensive. With this fact, it will just come down to the better judgement of the user, especially with regards to how it can be beneficial to him or her.

Lastly, being a waterproof type of device is a very essential feature of this binocular. This is for the reason that there will be times wherein you will be exposed to rain showers. When you go on hiking, when you're on a ship or a yacht, you still have a tendency to get wet. Having this water proof binoculars will definitely provide you with quality images amidst several water exposures. Furthermore, many of these types of binoculars are even fog proof and nitrogen purged.

However, it is important that you do not get deceived by the water resistant models that pose themselves similar to the waterproofed ones. Water resistant models would mean that it is okay even if it gets splashed by some water. Thus, submerging it in the water is a whole lot different because it can surely break and damage this type, particularly during the rainy seasons.

These are the reasons why it is best to choose the right kind of marine binoculars. It is as critical as getting your money's worth.

Famous Brands of Marine Binoculars are as follows:

• Avian
• Bushnell
• Canon
• Fujinon
• Nikon
• Steiner

The price of these binoculars, depending on the model and features, would range from 189 Euros up to 939 Euros.

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What to Look For When Purchasing Marine Binoculars

What to Look For When Purchasing Marine Binoculars

A pair of marine binoculars is essential  for general safety on board a boat and a great piece of equipment to have handy when you are looking for those little telltale signs that a lucrative fishing spot is up ahead - like a flock of gulls diving in for an easy dinner.  There are some essential characteristics to look out for when you are shopping for a pair of binoculars for your marine adventures.

Field of View

An essential characteristic of any set of binoculars is the field of view. This is either indicated in degrees or more commonly in a number such as 300 x 1000 ft. The field of view tells you the distance from left to right that you will be able to see when the binoculars are up to your eyes.  For marine binoculars it is especially important to get as wide a field of view as you can afford because looking out to sea there are few landmarks to help you zoom in on a given area. The larger the number per 1000 ft, or the bigger the angle, the less time you will spend panning the binoculars from side to side trying to locate the object you are looking for. It is also handy to have a wide field of view if you are tracking moving objects such as a bird flying in the distance or a speedboat racing in front of you.  A general rule of thumb is that a lower magnification will give you a wider field of view, so keep that in mind when shopping.

Power (Magnification)

The power or magnification factor is the degree to which the binoculars magnify what you are looking at. There is tradeoff between power, clarity and field of view. When comparing marine binoculars, keep in mind that with extra power you lose both clarity and field of view and with lower power, you see a brighter image and have a wider field of view. Many experts agree that a magnification of about 7 or 8 times is a good power objective.

Eye Relief

When you focus the binoculars you can adjust each lens separately, so if you wear a simple glasses prescription it can be easier to take your glasses off. However, many people who wear glasses prefer to keep them on while looking through binoculars. A longer eye relief will be helpful for those you want to use their marine binoculars while wearing prescription lenses.  15mm is a fairly standard eye relief distance. 22mm gives you a little extra play to hold the binoculars forward from your eyes and still experience a reasonable field of view.

Waterproofing

Marine enthusiasts agree that one of the primary features all marine electronics must have is a good waterproofing system. Marine binoculars are no exception. Look for ruggedized casing that can withstand being dropped in the water and also look for lenses that have protective coatings that prevent water from clinging to the lenses. There are several types of lens coating provided by manufacturers of marine binoculars, some are anti-glare or anti-reflection, so look specifically for coatings that repel water and moisture.

Once you understand the basic characteristics of a good pair of marine binoculars you can find good deals online at marine electronics outlets. Study the specifications to compare the differences between models, manufacturers and price ranges.

Discount Marine Electronics Makes Even High End Marine Binoculars Affordable

Discount Marine Electronics Makes Even High End Marine Binoculars Affordable

A sturdy, waterproof marine binocular with water repellant lens coating is a great piece of equipment for marine and boating enthusiasts.  Steiner has long stood out as a premier manufacturer of Marine Binoculars. The new Steiner 395 Marine Binoculars  7x50 Commander XP C is a high end binocular that offers high definition viewing due to its XP Optics technology. This high tech optical coating enables you to see crisp, clear images even in bright sunlight. This marine binocular also has what Steiner calls "NANO" protection which means that lenses repel water and moisture so you never have to wipe them dry.  How do they do it? A permanent molecular bond on the surface of the lens makes it super smooth so moisture doesn't stand a chance.  

The 7x50 395 Steiner has a 368 x1000 ft field of view, slightly more that its pricier counterpart, and it also has 22 mm eye relief so you get a comfortable viewing angle even if you wear prescription eyeglasses. The binocular also comes with a built-in compass. This top of the line marine binocular retails in the ,200 range. You can find it for several hundred dollars less if you shop online for discount marine electronics.

Another great Steiner marine binocular is the  7x50 685 model . This model is a little cheaper than the 395 because the lenses don't have NANO optics, although you lose nothing in magnification power, and it has the same milspec waterproofing and 22 mm field of view for easy adjustment with your eyeglasses. Rubber armoring ensures that the equipment won't slip even on wet surfaces.

The built-in compass in the Steiner 685 marine binocular includes a range finding reticle which makes it easy to determine distance and it illuminates to help you read bearings in the dark. You can find this binocular in online discount marine electronics stores for a little over 0, although it retails for substantially more than that.

Both the 395 and the 685 use alkaline (watch) batteries and come with a variety of useful accessories including rainguard, straps and objective covers.  

Steiner makes a whole range of marine binoculars to suit a variety of sporting and boating needs. The Steiner 8x30 marine binoculars 185 is a compact, basic binocular that weighs only 8 ounces and fits in your pocket yet it offers 8 times magnification with auto-focus. Shopping online for marine electronics you can find the Steiner 185 for a little over 0.

No matter what your budget or requirements, from very high end, to a simple pocket binocular, you will find better deals online once you know what you are looking for. So do a little research, determine what features you need in your marine binoculars and then shop with knowledge.

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