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| With image stabilization and increased magnification, you can spot birds from miles away. |
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Eye Candy: Fujinon Techno-Stabi Image-stabilized Binoculars
The biggest problem with marine binoculars? If they have a lot of magnification, it’s practically impossible to hold them still enough to focus on an object, as the deck pitches and rolls underfoot. Image stabilized binocs are a great solution to this problem, and one IS unit I’ve thoroughly tested is Fujinon’s Techno-Stabi binoculars. These have a magnification 14X (most regular marine binocs can’t go over 8X, or you’ll never be able to hold them steady enough,) and weigh in at 43-oz. An LED indicator flashes when the batteries are getting low, which is a lot better than suddenly shutting off, and rubber armor keeps the Techno-Stabis watertight and shock resistant. In fact, I’ve dropped my test pair on the fiberglass deck at least a dozen times now, with no ill effect. They’ve been rained on, soaked in salt spray, and abused in just about every conceivable manner, yet they continue to function perfectly. In case you haven’t guessed yet, they’ve impressed the heck out of me. The battery case is sturdy and is integrated into the body of the unit, and has a rubber seal that’s completely watertight.
Using these binoculars I can regularly spot working birds at about three miles, and in good conditions, out to five miles. That gives me a serious leg up on other anglers when we’re on the hunt for breaking fish. Added bonus: many people get seasick by looking through binoculars on a rough day. But since the image is stabilized, these binoculars don’t have that effect.
Price: Just under $1,000
The Highs: Spot birds at twice the distance, in any sea conditions. These things are tough—really tough.
The Lows: Holding 43-ounces at eye level gets heavy after a while.
Who Wants It: Anglers that like chasing working birds; anyone who gets seasick looking through binoculars at sea.
Contact: www.fujinon.com
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