Optics Optimized

Seeing Straight With Enhanced Eyesight

WHETHER TRYING TO CLIMB THE LEADER BOARD or simply out for a fun afternoon on the water, anglers will do whatever they can to increase their odds of success. When it comes to tackle, gear and electronics, many of the latest products are incredibly advantageous. However, amid the smorgasbord of so-called must haves the importance of marine binoculars is often overlooked.

Unfortunately, we can’t all equip our vessels with today’s incredibly advanced radar systems that provide valuable benefits day in and day out. Though boaters in any venue, whether equipped with radar or not, should have a pair of binoculars at the ready to enhance situational awareness. Even though you may not use them during every outing, binoculars provide enhanced vision and are beneficial in more ways than one.

No matter the manufacturer, there are several characteristics all binoculars intended for marine functionality have in common. With a few exceptions, marine binoculars provide 7x magnification and 50mm lenses, often denoted as 7x50. The 50mm glass optics are relatively large, but this size provides several advantages to mariners. Most notably, the larger objective is perfectly suited for gathering plenty of light so that the field of view is illuminated at all hours of the day, including those that provide periods of low light. Furthermore, the 50mm lenses provide a larger image at the eyepiece.