Binoculars with built-in compasses

I do the same as Dr Bob and have my more expensive ones that I or my wife uses and a less expensive WM pair that guests may use, or my wife since they are much lighter in weight and since both of us wear glasses we keep each pair set to our own vision, so all I have to do is focus.
 
Bob, Don, and Brenda, I can appreciate your reluctance to share your best binoculars with guests. Some may be sophisticated users and some may be relatively inexperienced. You can count on avid birders and hunters to know how to use binoculars - many times they bring there own.
Having friends with children coming aboard can be a real challenge since the kids naturally want to look, too.

Since my collection includes many good solid binoculars, I usually have extra pairs aboard, rubber covered and reasonably compact. I do enjoy sharing alpha binoculars with guests. It important to have them look through something decent. At first I was reluctant to hand over my Zeiss 8x32 FL or Nikon 8x32 SE, two high quality binoculars. But not now. Most binoculars come with good guarantees. The Leupold 6x30 Yosemities are splendid for children since their interpupillary distance can be accommodated. I just make sure all the binoculars have neck straps and ask the guest to wear them around their necks when in use.

Several summers ago on Yellowstone Lake, some C-Dory folks spent time at a back country boat site. We were visited by some deer at dusk, and I was able to share some quality binoculars I had aboard. I believe one couple upon returning to their home back east purchased the model that they enjoyed using to spot game and water fowl while at the site.

Just this past summer I had a couple with me on Yellowstone Lake, and they were able to see for the first time the rare trumpeter swans because of the extra binoculars aboard. John
 
I feel that the Fujinon Mariners I've had for over a decade are about the best ~$200 pair of binoculars on the market.They've spoiled me for crappy binoculars, and I'm too much of a cheapskate to buy $500+ binoculars that I would never dare let my kids use. I love having a pair of "very good" binoculars I don't have to baby. Sure, "excellent" binoculars would be nice, but I don't think you can improve on the Mariners without spending at least twice as much.
 
Good points Yellowstone, and if I have experienced sailors or watch keepers aboard they may use the good binocs. Much of my experience has been at sea or in conditions far different than on stable land. Even with straps, a sharp rap will ruin the prism alignment--and you then can give two nice monoculars to a deserving person in a 3rd world country (which is what has happened to several pair of binoculars which have been damaged).
 
Tim - It is one of those dirty little secrets in binocular land that even today $200 will buy really excellent and durable binoculars. Your Fujinon Mariners are among those in this category. Individual focus binoculars are less costly to make, easy to make waterproof, and stay in collimation better. When the industry began to rubber cover binoculars, it really improved the survival from the "raps" Bob mentions.

Now the birders need center focus binoculars, but mariners do not. This places boaters in the purchasing drivers seat, since the best porro individual focusing binoculars for $400 to $600 (Fujinon makes such a pair) will equal the optics of the best roof prism binoculars costing three times more. But the differences between the alpha binoculars and what you use for boating are for all practical purposes irrelevant.

I mentioned in an previous post that Leupold makes a little 6x30 porro
(called the Yosemite) which sells for under $100. Now I'm not a shill for Leupold, but this is the best buy going. It has superior optics, a wide field, weighs about 18 ounces, center focus, rated waterproof, and perfect for adults with small hands or children. In fact it was developed to accommodate folks with narrow interpupillary distances.

If C-Dory readers question my enthusiasm for the Yosemite, go to a sporting goods store and check one out. It is the binocular of choice on the Far West II. John
 
Well, after all the illuminating discussion I talked myself out of buying a new set of binoculars with a built in compass. I decided to stick with my Minolta and Burris Binoculars and buy a Plastimo Iris 50 hand bearing compass.

Thanks everybody. I learned a lot.
 
Barry, I was counting on a good BBQ gabfest, but agree totally with Mr. Yellowstone and Bob ... sure like my Steiners and stabilized Fujinon jewels, but doubt that my ancient mariner eyes will ever make it up to 4mm. Totally different world on a moving boat -- and my C-Dory does indeed shake, rattle, and roll. 7x50's just don't hack it for me in a small boat. :thup :thup

I've not used the 6x30 CF Leupold glass, but I'm certainly gonna give it a try.

Dusty
 
Hello again!

I found a bargain on ebay for the 7X50 Tasco OffShore OS36 binoculars that I thought some of you might like to know about.

The OS36's are the same binoculars as the Tasco OS 54's that I mentioned earlier and that Jim said he had had such good service from, except that the 36's have regular full multi-coating such as used in terrestrial viewing and the 54's have an amber tint to cut through haze, glare, and fog somewhat. The 36's are better for land viewing, generally giving better colors for bird and nature watching, hunting, sports, astronomy, etc.

I've had both of the, and the Steiner 7x50 as well, and I've never noticed any real difference between the three. All of them have compasses and red LED lighting. The Tascos are first class copies of the Steiners, and have received excellent reviews.

The OS 36's usually retail for around $140-$160 at the discount outlets, and some ebay seller in Iowa has at least 7 pairs of them Brand New for $79.95 including shipping! This is by far the lowest I've ever seen them.

The item number is 120541337290 and a simple lon link is thus:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 500wt_1149


I have no financial link with this person, etc., just thought it was a good deal for any of you interested.

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Yellowstone":1ppfscx1 said:
Several summers ago on Yellowstone Lake, some C-Dory folks spent time at a back country boat site. We were visited by some deer at dusk, and I was able to share some quality binoculars I had aboard. I believe one couple upon returning to their home back east purchased the model that they enjoyed using to spot game and water fowl while at the site.


John
Click to expand...

That was Mary Jo and me and it was a pair of Leupold 10 x 42. I got them for her for Christmas that year. Since Mary Jo loves looking for the birds, they have been great for her. Not too heavy and not too light. She also uses them on the boat and also work well for that. John does like his binoculars. I think he pulled out about 6 different pair to try that day. :) To this day every time she uses them she says. " I sure do like these binoculars" Many thanks again, John....

Roger
 
That bugs me when a seller suddenly has the same quantity of a limited quantity item to sell. Kind of like when they made the 1980 Limited Edition MGB that was almost identical to the 1979 Limited Edition MGB I bought. Wonder what his story is? I hope the product I receive is as advertised.
 
Keep in mind that no where in this thread has it been mentioned that the os36 has individual eye focus adjustments as opposed to center focus which adjusts both sides together. The eBay detailed item info does mention this. For some that will be a deal killer.
 
Mike-

The seller just did a re-listing after the original 8 were depleted. It's not a limited edition model, but a good quality one nonetheless.

Socrateur-

The individual focus is fine for boat use, as once the two individual eyepieces are in focus, the great depth of field keeps everything in focus from about 30 yards out to infinity without any further adjusting. With a more powerful magnification binocular used for terrestrial viewing, like a pair of 10x42's used for bird watching from close up (say 25 ft) to infinity, the constant refocusing would require or certainly favor a center focus system type set up.

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
You are welcome, Mary Jo and Roger. Glad to hear you are enjoying your binoculars, Mary Jo. They by the way for other CD readers are the Leupold Cascade porro model. Leupold also markets a roof prism model called the Cascade. Its image does not match the porro model. The
Cascade porro model produces an image comparable to the world's best and expensive binoculars. It is rubber covered, rated water proof, and has center focus for convenience. Solidly built.

Leupold has discontinued this model which is also sold under the Opticron and Minox name. Why discontinued? It has nothing to do with quality, but rather the volume which were sold. One may find one new or in good used condition selling for around $200-$300. It is probably one of the best buys out there in binocular land. I would recommend the 8x42 over the 10x42 for a boating pair.

Mary Jo and Roger, we are parking the Far West II this summer again at Bridge Bay Marina. We certainly enjoyed meeting you folks and others - Bill's geology expertise has certainly given me a different perspective of Yellowstone Lake. The fishing by the way really has improved steadily. Last summer a fellow in the slip next to mine came in with 30 lake trout, including one 13 pounder. They are just as good to eat as the cutthroat trout.
John
 
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