Image stabilized binoculars?

M

mobocracy

Active Member
Jun 29, 2014
541
United States
Boat Info
310 Sundancer
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350 Mag & Bravo III
These have long been a big desire on my part. Not that I need them for any serious navigation use, just to offset the boat's motion somewhat to get a better image than my cheap Bushnells.

Anybody take the plunge and find they're worth it?
 
most folks buy to high power of binoculars for a moving platform, which in turn produces the bad image from movement. I have a set of steiner's. can't remember the power they are but I like them. Pricing is all over the board , just look around online, same pair will be priced alot cheaper some places vs others.
 
mobocracy said:
These have long been a big desire on my part. Not that I need them for any serious navigation use, just to offset the boat's motion somewhat to get a better image than my cheap Bushnells.

Anybody take the plunge and find they're worth it?
Click to expand...
I bought the Canon 10X30 stabilized, not strongest viewing power but motion on the water is difficult to cancel out. This optical power has been a great compromise between viewing objects at distance and being able to read words and numbers while on the water. Stronger stabilized optics can get very expensive, these are less than $600 and not very heavy. I use AA lithium batteries.
 
RBB said:
most folks buy to high power of binoculars for a moving platform, which in turn produces the bad image from movement. I have a set of steiner's. can't remember the power they are but I like them. Pricing is all over the board , just look around online, same pair will be priced alot cheaper some places vs others.
Click to expand...

My Bushnells are only 8x, and it's not that their unusable, it's just that there's too much motion to really get a good look at a lot of small details. The Bushnells are fine for the most part, and while I've sure been wowed by the image quality of high end binoculars like Leica, better glass isn't going to fix my main complaint, which is lack of image stability.
 
SeasNT said:
I bought the Canon 10X30 stabilized, not strongest viewing power but motion on the water is difficult to cancel out. This optical power has been a great compromise between viewing objects at distance and being able to read words and numbers while on the water. Stronger stabilized optics can get very expensive, these are less than $600 and not very heavy. I use AA lithium batteries.
Click to expand...

What's durability been like? Their all weather ones are beyond my ability to rationalize. I've heard that some Canon's have had issues with the outer coating getting stick or otherwise depolymerizing, too.

I'm curious if you can expand on "motion on the water is difficult to cancel out". I've read that elsewhere, and while this makes sense in ocean-type conditions, I'm mostly looking to cancel out much more minor motion at anchor.
 
To cancel out movement in standard optics hand held marine binoculars should never be more than 7x and never less than 50mm. As you go down in lens size or up in power the field of view is reduced and makes any motion exaggerated.

Mounted ship boards would go up to 20x120 but pedestal mounted and even then only good in calm weather an a good sized ship.
 
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mobocracy said:
What's durability been like? Their all weather ones are beyond my ability to rationalize. I've heard that some Canon's have had issues with the outer coating getting stick or otherwise depolymerizing, too.

I'm curious if you can expand on "motion on the water is difficult to cancel out". I've read that elsewhere, and while this makes sense in ocean-type conditions, I'm mostly looking to cancel out much more minor motion at anchor.
Click to expand...
I've had them for 12 years, kept them in a case when not on the bridge, still look like new, no coating issues. At anchor any of the stabilized models are amazing and able to pick out detail. The 10X30 can generally allow you to read signs underway.
 
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I got the Canon 10x30 stabilized and absolutely love them. When you push that button and stuff stops moving and you can read signs, buoy numbers or see that bird it’s all worth it. Amazing technology
 
superwa said:
I got the Canon 10x30 stabilized and absolutely love them. When you push that button and stuff stops moving and you can read signs, buoy numbers or see that bird it’s all worth it. Amazing technology
Click to expand...

I have a pair that are 15-20 years old and still work as new. Highly recommend.
 
My wife got me a pair for a gift a few years ago. Forget the brand, but was really a nice pair. Challenge was I think they were more suited to being a spotting scope, not boat use. They were difficult to use underway. Finally switched back to lower power regular binoculars.
 
I think the real key is light gathering which equates to large quality optics. Short of expensive FLIR IR systems seeing things down range at dusk to night is important to me. Image stabilization? Mine have it but I don't think it's worth the added investment for what they are used for.
 
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