Binoculars...

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LennonNZ

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#237624 10-Jun-2018 15:47

I am going in a cruise to Alaska and I am looking for some binoculars but I am so confused on what is sold on trademe. They seem so cheap...

What would be the best for a novice who will probably not use them again for a long while.

PeterReader

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#2033111 10-Jun-2018 15:47

Hmmmm. Here we go.

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#2033128 10-Jun-2018 15:59

My advice is buy some that will last you forever if you can. Leica or Swarovski.

You'll use them more than you think and if you don't, they'll sell easily and for good money.

LennonNZ

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#2033130 10-Jun-2018 16:01

So what model Would be a good one? I presume they can go from $100-$1000+

LennonNZ

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#2033131 10-Jun-2018 16:03

Or more

https://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/binoculars-telescopes/binoculars/auction-1658624804.htm

Ouch....

Pumpedd

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#2033212 10-Jun-2018 18:49

The lighter weight the better..or they can become onerous to hold onto.

Stu

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#2033234 10-Jun-2018 19:26

We've not been on an Alaskan cruise yet, but it is on the to-do list. I bought a pair for cruising 18 months or so back. 8x32 Celestron. Wife uses them more than I do and says they're excellent. I've usually got a camera glued to my eye, so never get to use them. Wife is my spotter now. The suggestion I read was to get something without too much magnification if they're for marine use, as the movement makes it harder to focus in on things if you're moving. Something like that anyway. Purchased ours from bandh.com when I ordered a few other things.

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#2033400 10-Jun-2018 22:34

LennonNZ: Or more

https://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/binoculars-telescopes/binoculars/auction-1658624804.htm

Ouch....

Pah. Cheap! Try these...!

Seriously though, the best place for binocular advice would be a bird watching forum. For portability, I find 8x40 or 10x40 is a good compromise. If you plan on using them at dawn and dusk, then 8x50.

Make sure they are waterproof and that they are purged with Nitrogen. This (a) means you need not care if it rains when you are using them (Zeiss, Leica and Swaro all use coatings now on the lenses that cause water to bead up and roll off too) and (b) means the inside surfaces of the lenses will not fog up.

Fred99

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#2033524 11-Jun-2018 10:19

I have a pair of non-stabilised 8x50 binoculars on my boat. They are close to 100% useless for that, even at anchor in calm conditions, you can't hold them steady enough.

I'd get stabilised binoculars. Canon models seem to get good reviews. If going to Alaska, I'd probably buy from B&H and get them shipped to someone I could pick them up from on the way.

Paul1977

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#2033538 11-Jun-2018 10:58

I know nothing about binoculars, but maybe these? Not super-crazy expensive, but small and light with image stabilisation.

EDIT: Hmmm... not sure that these are waterproof.

t0ny

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#2033578 11-Jun-2018 11:47

LennonNZ: I am going in a cruise to Alaska and I am looking for some binoculars but I am so confused on what is sold on trademe. They seem so cheap...

What would be the best for a novice who will probably not use them again for a long while.

iam going on the Alaska cruise as well (july) :) I thought about binoculars but have been told ones made for the sea as better especially at high zoom levels. My preference is to take a telephoto lense for my camera

Image already added

LennonNZ

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#2033581 11-Jun-2018 11:52

Which Cruise? I am going on the Celebrity Infinity from the 8th July -> 15th July

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#2033608 11-Jun-2018 12:15

Fred99:

I have a pair of non-stabilised 8x50 binoculars on my boat. They are close to 100% useless for that, even at anchor in calm conditions, you can't hold them steady enough.

I'd get stabilised binoculars. Canon models seem to get good reviews. If going to Alaska, I'd probably buy from B&H and get them shipped to someone I could pick them up from on the way.

I'd agree - and Canon IS binoculars are my suggestion.

However, a cruise ship isn't going to rock like a smaller boat (I'm assuming your boat isn't a $4 million gin palace with a crew of 15!) so for use on that platform, the stabilisation is likely to be less necessary.

Alternatively, smaller magnification will assist in holding the target as the fov will be wider and the target smaller.

MikeAqua

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#2033611 11-Jun-2018 12:19

I would go with 8 x 50mm or 10 x 50 mm lenses for anything from a boat. Also be sure to get something anti-fog - e.g. nitrogen charged.

I use 10 x 50mm binos on my boat and they are OK unless it's really rough. My boat is only 6m. A cruise ship will be much more stable.

Mike