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Whale-Watching under $40

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celiothrkn View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote celiothrkn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Whale-Watching under $40
    Posted: June/07/2015 at 00:35
I plan on going whale-watching, and I’m shopping for binoculars. Given budget constraints, I am considering:

Bushnell Falcon 10x50mm

Bushnell Powerview 10x32mm

Barska Lucid View 10x42mm

My rudimentary research suggests that for whale-watching,  I should buy a 50mm or at least a 42mm for the distance. However with that said, I know that Bushnell outranks Barska. Even within Bushnell, Powerview outranks Falcon. Any suggestions?

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PhilR. View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote PhilR. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/07/2015 at 09:58

Originally posted by celiothrkn celiothrkn wrote:

  I should buy a 50mm or at least a 42mm for the distance. .


1. Objective size choice is more for light levels, not distance.  Magnification is for distance.  50mm is good if the light levels are low, but most whale watching is usually done during the daytime.  Also, since there isn't much in the way of a forest to block the light where the whales typically are (except for the very elusive spotted pygmy forest whale of Easter Island), a 50mm will essentially be overweight overkill, especially so in 7x or 8x.

2.  If you are viewing from land, then get a 10x.  If viewing from a boat, then go lower.  The movement of a boat on the waves will be greatly magnified (by really close to ten times) by the use of a 10x bino.  I would not go more than 8x, and personally I would choose 7x for it's wide FOWWV.

3.  Most things below $40 are toys.    I would not recommend any roof-prism bino in this price range, however the porros in this price range can be serviceable.  I would get an 8x40 such as a Celestron Up Close or Olympus DPS-1, both of which can be found in your price range if you shop around.  You might even be able to find a 7x35 DPS-1 in your price range, which would also be an excellent choice.  I believe you can also find these in 10x, if you are viewing from land.  You could also go to an auction site and buy an older pair of porro binos from a reputable brand.  You can get some very good stuff for cheap that way, *if* you know them well.....



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cheaptrick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/07/2015 at 14:02

Welcome to Optics Talk, Maties! 
If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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NW425 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote NW425 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/09/2015 at 00:28
I agree. If you've ever been sailing, magnification out at sea makes me queasy. I'd imagine if youre on a boat theyll be bringing you up close to the whales.

I'd get a $60 set of celestions off (website) maybe a 6x30 and you should be fine.

As another poster mentioned, an objective lens are for capturing light, which should not be too important while at sea in the middle of the day. 
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Edited by Skylar McMahon - June/09/2015 at 08:23
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