Using binoculars is not only limited to hunting and birdwatching. With several years of exposure to binoculars, I have seen people use them for various activities. There are tons of activities that can be more fun and enjoyable with a little help from binoculars.
SPORTING EVENTS
Unless you have lots of cash to spend for premier seats, then you have no choice but to settle for the affordable ones. Be it watching your son’s soccer game or the Brazilian Grand Prix, you can always get a view worth more that what you paid for. Every spectator wants to see the best view of every action happening in the game arena and this can be achieved by the use of binoculars.
There are two ways a person could deal with on watching sporting events. First is to use a conveniently small binoculars so that it would not ruin his balance between holding the binoculars and his snack, a hotdog or soda. The concern here is the user needs to keep the device’s magnification to a fairly low level so to compensate for the tiny objective diameters common to small models.
The second option is to get one of those huge models, commonly measuring around 10x50mm to 12x50mm. This would allow the user to see all the happenings within the game, even when seated on a distant spot. The issue here is its weight. Imagine being weighed down and having a lousy balance because of heavy and bulky binoculars. But there is no problem with no solution. Fortunately, Pentax 9x28mm DCF LV binoculars were invented. With 9x magnification and 28mm objective lenses and without weighing too much, these binoculars provide sharp images with its excellent optical system.
HIKING AND CAMPING
Aside from exercise, the opportunity to wander in a beautiful scenery is one of the benefits of hiking. Many hikers and campers would never forget to bring camera along them but what they do not realize is how binoculars can be useful, too. Whether you fancy watching migratory birds or looking at wildflowers, binoculars would be helpful to give your more details and not just a glimpse of the view.
While weight is a big issue for every hiker, there are many good options for binoculars which weigh less, but nevertheless would still be a lot of help in adding enjoyment and excitement to the trip. A good pair of binoculars is the Nikon 9x25mm Travelite V which weighs just nine pounds. Another good choice is the palm-sized Minox Miniscope 8x25mm monocular. It is lighter than Nikon Travelite V and can be kept in a belt pack.
BOATING
Binoculars can also be useful for water vehicles. They are a necessity for every boater, whether for inspecting net lines, for determining navigational buoys, or for recognizing other boats in distance. Failure to bring binoculars on a boating trip is risky. But recreational boaters tend to forget to bring one with them, perhaps they do not realize the time they can maximize with the help of this device.
Most sailors prefer lower magnification binoculars that have big objective lenses. This type of structure has a very wide exit pupils that allow easy handling to keep it still in front of the eyes. It also provides viewing even through rainy and foggy conditions. The Bushnell 7x50mm Marine and the Steiner 7x50mm Marine are just some of the models which have lower magnification and wide objective lenses. Binoculars with higher magnification are not an advantage in poor viewing conditions, in fact they make it more difficult to see through these conditions.
FISHING
While using polarizers has been a long practice for photographers to minimize the reflection on the water surface in their photographs, it is just recently that fishing practitioners have put this method into use. Of course, optic companies would not miss this opportunity to make specialized glasses that would cater to the needs of fishing aficionados. Visit any fishing supply store and you will notice the large number of fishing sunglasses which are fitted with polarized lenses. These sunglasses are helpful in finding fish that are hidden within the shadows of streams. Although not really common, there are particular binocular models that have polarized lenses, such as the Celestron 10x50mm OptiView LPR. There are also polarized filters available in the market, particularly the Fujinon 10x50mm FMT-SX Polaris.
BOOK AND ANTIQUE SHOPPING
Ridiculous as it may seem, taking binoculars with you on your trip to a bookshop may come in handy. It can save lots of energy and time especially when searching through towering book cases on a dim light. Instead of finding a stepladder, you can just opt to use your binoculars to look for your desired book, saving you more time and giving you less hassle. You can confirm if the book you’ve spotted on the top case is really the one you are looking for.
The same method can be used for shopping antiques. It would help you to have a closer look of the possibly fragile and valuable item. This would allow you to see every tiny detail of the item and spot any scratch or damage it may have.
Small binoculars are the suited type for these particular activities. They can be conveniently carried in your pocket or purse. The Nikon 8x25mm Trailblazer ATB is a good model or if you have extra cash, the Swarovski 8x20mm B-P Pocket binoculars is the best option.
ZOOS AND WILDLIFE PARKS
It is a big no-no to forget bringing binoculars on a wildlife viewing adventure trip. Binoculars let a user to have an intimate view of the animals without risking the user’s safety. Since zoos and wildlife centers try to make the animals’ living conditions to be as exact as their natural habitats, they create complex living areas thus making it harder for visitors to see through the thick foliages and terrains. This is why it is becoming more convenient to bring binoculars on zoo visits.
Visiting zoos and wildlife parks is commonly a family affair, that is why it is important to bring binoculars that are not only suitable for adults but also for the kids. The magnification does not necessarily need to be of high level especially that some of the users would be children. Models with low magnification and wide interpupillary distance (IPD) is great for this purpose. A wide IPD allows both adults and kids to easily handle the binoculars. The Leupold Yosemite 6x30mm binoculars are one of the few options you can consider.
These activities are just some of the several instances where binoculars can be used. Whether it is to help you see or to enhance the view, using binoculars just takes one simple question, “Is there any part in this activity that will require magnification?”. If the answer is yes, then you definitely need to bring one.
