In this blog post we are going to assist you to choose the best Marine Binoculars.
The best magnification for boating binoculars depends on various factors, including the intended use, the size of the vessel, and personal preferences.
However, for most boating activities, including coastal cruising, navigation, and spotting other vessels or landmarks, a magnification range of 7x to 10x is generally recommended.
Here’s a breakdown of the considerations for each magnification range:
7x Magnification: Binoculars with 7x magnification provide a wide field of view, making them well-suited for scanning larger areas of water or coastline. They offer good stability and are less prone to image shake, making them ideal for use on moving boats. They are also forgiving of hand movements, which can be beneficial in choppy or windy conditions.
8x Magnification: Binoculars with 8x magnification strike a balance between magnification power and field of view. They offer slightly more magnification than 7x binoculars, providing better detail for spotting distant objects without sacrificing too much field of view. They are versatile and suitable for a wide range of boating activities.
10x Magnification: Binoculars with 10x magnification offer greater detail and magnification power, making them ideal for observing distant objects such as buoys, landmarks, or wildlife. However, they typically have a narrower field of view compared to lower magnification binoculars, which can make them more challenging to use for scanning larger areas or for spotting moving objects on the water.It’s essential to consider the trade-offs between magnification power and field of view when choosing boating binoculars.
Higher magnification binoculars may offer better detail but can be more challenging to keep steady on a moving boat and may have a narrower field of view, while lower magnification binoculars provide a wider field of view but may sacrifice some detail. Ultimately, the best magnification for boating binoculars is the one that best suits your specific needs, preferences, and intended use on the water.
Please Note: We use Amazon as platform for purchasing many of our own boating equipment. We find the prices very competitive to other sites so it just simply saves us a lot of time using Amazon. some of the links on our website will take you to our Amazon account. You will not pay any more for the products but we may receive a commission from your purchase. This helps us in maintaining our website and blog pages.
Steiner 7x50 Navigator Pro Binoculars
The Steiner 7×50 Navigator Pro Binoculars are designed for marine use, offering a combination of durability, optical performance, and navigational features. Here are some of the key features of the Steiner 7×50 Navigator Pro Binoculars:
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7x Magnification:
- The binoculars provide 7x magnification, allowing for clear and steady viewing of distant objects, ideal for marine navigation and observation.
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50mm Objective Lens Diameter:
- With a large 50mm objective lens diameter, the binoculars gather ample light, ensuring bright and detailed images, even in low-light conditions.
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Porro Prism Design:
- The binoculars feature a traditional Porro prism design, which offers excellent depth perception, enhanced image clarity, and a wider field of view compared to roof prism binoculars.
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Floating Prism System:
- Steiner’s Floating Prism System utilizes flexible silicone lens mounts to absorb shocks and impacts, ensuring stable and distortion-free viewing, even in rough marine environments.
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Sports-Auto Focus System:
- The binoculars feature Steiner’s Sports-Auto Focus system, which allows for sharp focus from 20 yards to infinity without the need for constant adjustment, making them easy to use and ideal for fast-moving subjects.
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High-Contrast Optics:
- The binoculars feature high-contrast optics and specially coated lenses that enhance light transmission, reduce glare, and provide crisp, clear images with excellent color fidelity.
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Waterproof and Buoyant Design:
- The Navigator Pro binoculars are waterproof and submersible to a depth of 5 meters, making them suitable for use in all weather conditions and marine environments. Additionally, they are designed to float in case they are accidentally dropped overboard.
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Rubber Armoring:
- The binoculars feature durable rubber armoring that provides a secure grip and protects against impacts, bumps, and abrasions, ensuring long-term reliability and performance.
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Integrated Compass:
- Some models of the Steiner Navigator Pro binoculars come with an integrated compass for convenient navigation and orientation while on the water. The compass provides bearing readings and helps users navigate accurately.
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Makrolon Housing:
- The binoculars feature a Makrolon housing that is lightweight yet rugged, providing durability and resistance to corrosion, temperature fluctuations, and harsh marine conditions.
Overall, the Steiner 7×50 Navigator Pro Binoculars offer a range of features specifically designed to meet the needs of marine enthusiasts, sailors, and navigators. With their robust construction, superior optical performance, and navigational aids, they are an excellent choice for marine observation, navigation, and safety.
Fujifilm FUJINON FMTR-SX Binoculars Fujinon 7X50
The Fujifilm FUJINON FMTR-SX Binoculars, specifically the Fujinon 7×50 model, are designed for outdoor and marine use, offering high-quality optics and rugged construction. Here are some of the key features of the Fujinon 7×50 binoculars:
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7x Magnification:
- The binoculars provide 7x magnification, allowing for stable and clear viewing of distant objects without excessive image shake, which is particularly beneficial for marine and outdoor use.
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50mm Objective Lens Diameter:
- With a large 50mm objective lens diameter, the binoculars gather ample light, resulting in bright and detailed images, even in low-light conditions such as dusk or dawn.
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Porro Prism Design:
- The binoculars utilize a traditional Porro prism design, which offers excellent depth perception, enhanced image clarity, and a wider field of view compared to roof prism binoculars.
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Fully Multi-Coated Optics:
- The binoculars feature fully multi-coated optics that reduce glare, minimize chromatic aberration, and ensure high light transmission, resulting in crisp, sharp, and color-accurate images.
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Individual Eyepiece Focus:
- The Fujinon 7×50 binoculars are equipped with individual eyepiece focus adjustment, allowing users to fine-tune the focus for each eyepiece independently, ensuring precise and customized viewing.
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Waterproof and Fogproof Construction:
- The binoculars are built to withstand harsh outdoor conditions and are waterproof and fogproof, making them suitable for use in marine environments, rainy weather, or humid climates.
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Rubber Armoring:
- The binoculars feature durable rubber armoring that provides a secure grip and protects against impacts, shocks, and scratches, ensuring long-term durability and reliability.
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Wide Field of View:
- The binoculars offer a wide field of view, allowing users to observe large areas of the landscape or seascape, making them ideal for spotting moving objects or tracking wildlife.
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Long Eye Relief:
- The Fujinon 7×50 binoculars feature long eye relief, making them comfortable to use for extended periods, especially for users who wear glasses.
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Tripod Mountable:
- The binoculars are tripod mountable, allowing users to attach them to a tripod for stable, hands-free viewing, particularly useful for prolonged observation or for reducing image shake.
Overall, the Fujifilm FUJINON FMTR-SX Binoculars, Fujinon 7×50 model, offer high-quality optics, rugged construction, and a range of features designed to meet the needs of outdoor enthusiasts, marine enthusiasts, and professionals alike. With their superior performance and durability, they are a reliable choice for various outdoor activities, including marine navigation, wildlife observation, and astronomy.
Nikon 7x50 CF WP Binoculars
The Nikon 7×50 CF WP Binoculars are designed for outdoor activities, including marine use, offering durability, waterproofing, and optical performance. Here are some of the key features of the Nikon 7×50 CF WP Binoculars:
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7x Magnification:
- The binoculars provide 7x magnification, allowing for steady and clear viewing of distant objects without excessive image shake, which is particularly beneficial for marine and outdoor use.
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50mm Objective Lens Diameter:
- With a large 50mm objective lens diameter, the binoculars gather ample light, resulting in bright and detailed images, even in low-light conditions such as dusk or dawn.
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Porro Prism Design:
- The binoculars utilize a Porro prism design, which offers excellent depth perception, enhanced image clarity, and a wider field of view compared to roof prism binoculars.
-
Multi-Coated Optics:
- The binoculars feature multi-coated optics that reduce glare, minimize chromatic aberration, and ensure high light transmission, resulting in crisp, sharp, and color-accurate images.
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Waterproof and Fogproof Construction:
- The binoculars are waterproof and fogproof, making them suitable for use in marine environments, rainy weather, or humid climates. The O-ring seals and nitrogen-filled housing prevent moisture, dust, and debris from entering the optics.
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Rubber Armoring:
- The binoculars feature rubber armoring that provides a secure grip and protects against impacts, shocks, and scratches, ensuring long-term durability and reliability.
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Long Eye Relief:
- The Nikon 7×50 CF WP Binoculars feature long eye relief, making them comfortable to use for extended periods, especially for users who wear glasses.
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Wide Field of View:
- The binoculars offer a wide field of view, allowing users to observe large areas of the landscape or seascape, making them ideal for spotting moving objects or tracking wildlife.
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Central Focus System:
- The binoculars feature a central focus system, allowing users to adjust both barrels simultaneously for quick and easy focusing on distant objects.
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Tripod Adaptable:
- The binoculars are tripod adaptable, allowing users to attach them to a tripod for stable, hands-free viewing, particularly useful for prolonged observation or reducing image shake.
Overall, the Nikon 7×50 CF WP Binoculars offer rugged construction, waterproofing, and optical performance suitable for various outdoor activities, including marine navigation, birdwatching, and wildlife observation. With their durable design and high-quality optics, they are a reliable choice for outdoor enthusiasts and professionals alike.
How to obtain a Marine Radio Licence
A marine radio licence is required if you are operating a marine radio. This is not a new requirement but is being brought to the forefront due to the requirement to program DSC VHF radios with a 9 digit MMSI number. Rest assured that it is not difficult to obtain a marine radio licence. At True North Marine we have been assisting candidates to obtain their marine radio licence for over 22 years. The process is very straight forward and includes the following:
- Enrol and complete some practice exams (We provide practice exams free of charge)
- Demonstrate how to do simple tasks such as turning the radio on, adjusting the squelch, going to a calling and a working channel etc (We provide all the resources to do the tasks)
- Sit a final exam online via Zoom. (Takes about 20 minutes)
