How to Pick Nautical Binoculars

Sailors and boaters use nautical binoculars, but nautical binoculars have other uses as well. It's a good idea to spend sometime testing out various models and magnification combinations with a qualified specialist before picking one. This specialty item can be expensive, and it's well worth knowing exactly what you're getting. Read on to learn how to pick nautical binoculars.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Understand the difference between nautical binoculars and those used for bird-watching or general use. Nautical binoculars are especially designed to reduce glare and other weather conditions on the water while magnifying the horizon.

2. Look at how binoculars are classified. There are two numbers. The first is the magnification. A number of five, for instance, means objects are five times larger than in real life. The second number is the objective. The higher the number, the brighter the object.

3. Determine the difference between the two numbers to pick the best nautical binocular for your use. You want the objective to be four times larger than magnification for daytime use. Go for at least seven times the difference for night.

4. Remember that you need to hold a nautical binocular steady. Make sure the size and weight fits.

5. Examine price ranges. Nautical binoculars cost roughly $300 and up, depending on the manufacturer and features.

6. Try out several styles, manufacturers and magnification combinations. The investment makes it worth the time to pick exactly the right instrument.

Tips & Warnings

• Take a look at some of the other technical specifications for nautical binoculars. Field of view is how wide the visual frame is, exit pupil basically describes the amount of light the binoculars let in.
• Chat with boaters or sailors at the local marina, or visit blogs to exchange information about nautical binoculars. Get opinions from those whose activities match yours.
• Be careful when choosing nautical binoculars for a non-marine activity. They can be useful for other hobbies, but do the research to make sure they'll work.

Resources

• Information About All Types of Binoculars

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