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Binoculars?

My dad is an avid fisherman and needs a new pair of binoculars. He typically uses them when he wades out into the water to check for gators, etc. What are some things that I should be looking for when I make the purchase? Also, what's the most that I should pay for a pair given their purpose? (There's always one in every crowd). Purpose in that he's not bird watching or doing military installations.

Public Comments

1. you nean given that the purpose is to save his life by seeing alligators before they can eat him? well, how much is dad's life worth? & you want polarized lenses
2. They probably should be water proof just in case he slips on a mossy stone, not too bulky because he is going to be lugging a lot of fishing gear also. Does he wear glasses? If so they need to be suitable for an eyeglass wearer. Here is a suitable pair but they are not really too good for eye glass wearers. But they are compact and waterproof. http://www.eagleoptics.com/index.asp?pid=4487 and another pair very similar but somewhat less expensive http://www.eagleoptics.com/index.asp?pid=4500 If he wears glasses, your options are somewhat limited in a compact pair of binoculars. The above 2 are marginal in that respect. Here is a pair that will do the trick. They are a tad more expensive however. http://www.eagleoptics.com/index.asp?pid=4829 You might also want to buy him a bird book. With those binoculars, the first bird he sees he will for sure focus in on it and then wonder what kind it is. You might actually turn him into an avid birder. If so, National Geographic Field Guide to Birds of North America is a great book.
3. A good quality brand would be Nikon......you would want to try them out in the store, before buying.......a good set would be a 8x40 or 8x 42 8 being the magnification and the 40/42 (in MM) being the size of the objective lens(the big lens) the bigger it is the more light it will let in.....however bigger will be more weight and more chances to lay them around and splash in the water... .for a convenient size 8x40 would do....next if he is going to use them over water a good harness or flotation device will be necessary unless you want to do this next year........ go with a Nikon looking at $100 go with a Bushnell looking at $60 go with a Simmons(at wally mart) looking at $40
4. You need the binocular to be waterproof (not weatherproof), and have a high twilight factor, so that it will function well in dim light. I would suggest something in the 7x42 or 8x40 or 42 range. Nikon makes the 8x42 Monarch ATB, which would do the job very well. It is $289.95 at www.opticsspot.com. You might find it on another site for even less. Try googling nikon binoculars. There are lower-priced ones, but they won't be nearly as good for spotting alligators and probably won't be waterproof.