| A pair of marine binoculars is essential for | | | | you lose both clarity and field of view and with |
| general safety on board a boat and a great piece | | | | lower power, you see a brighter image and have |
| of equipment to have handy when you are | | | | a wider field of view. Many experts agree that a |
| looking for those little telltale signs that a lucrative | | | | magnification of about 7 or 8 times is a good |
| fishing spot is up ahead - like a flock of gulls diving | | | | power objective. |
| in for an easy dinner. There are some essential | | | | Eye Relief |
| characteristics to look out for when you are | | | | When you focus the binoculars you can adjust |
| shopping for a pair of binoculars for your marine | | | | each lens separately, so if you wear a simple |
| adventures. | | | | glasses prescription it can be easier to take your |
| Field of View | | | | glasses off. However, many people who wear |
| An essential characteristic of any set of binoculars | | | | glasses prefer to keep them on while looking |
| is the field of view. This is either indicated in | | | | through binoculars. A longer eye relief will be |
| degrees or more commonly in a number such as | | | | helpful for those you want to use their marine |
| 300 x 1000 ft. The field of view tells you the | | | | binoculars while wearing prescription lenses. |
| distance from left to right that you will be able to | | | | 15mm is a fairly standard eye relief distance. |
| see when the binoculars are up to your eyes. | | | | 22mm gives you a little extra play to hold the |
| For marine binoculars it is especially important to | | | | binoculars forward from your eyes and still |
| get as wide a field of view as you can afford | | | | experience a reasonable field of view. |
| because looking out to sea there are few | | | | Waterproofing |
| landmarks to help you zoom in on a given area. | | | | Marine enthusiasts agree that one of the primary |
| The larger the number per 1000 ft, or the bigger | | | | features all marine electronics must have is a |
| the angle, the less time you will spend panning the | | | | good waterproofing system. Marine binoculars are |
| binoculars from side to side trying to locate the | | | | no exception. Look for ruggedized casing that can |
| object you are looking for. It is also handy to | | | | withstand being dropped in the water and also |
| have a wide field of view if you are tracking | | | | look for lenses that have protective coatings that |
| moving objects such as a bird flying in the | | | | prevent water from clinging to the lenses. There |
| distance or a speedboat racing in front of you. | | | | are several types of lens coating provided by |
| A general rule of thumb is that a lower | | | | manufacturers of marine binoculars, some are |
| magnification will give you a wider field of view, so | | | | anti-glare or anti-reflection, so look specifically for |
| keep that in mind when shopping. | | | | coatings that repel water and moisture. |
| Power (Magnification) | | | | Once you understand the basic characteristics of |
| The power or magnification factor is the degree | | | | a good pair of marine binoculars you can find |
| to which the binoculars magnify what you are | | | | good deals online at marine electronics outlets. |
| looking at. There is tradeoff between power, | | | | Study the specifications to compare the |
| clarity and field of view. When comparing marine | | | | differences between models, manufacturers and |
| binoculars, keep in mind that with extra power | | | | price ranges. |