The 7 Best Binoculars for Whale Watching [Reviews & Buying Guide]

Everyone loves whale watching considering the fun and experience we get from the activity. However, everyone should remember that whales are careful and rarely approach boats or humans for their safety. With that in mind, it means you need to use the best binoculars for whale watching.

To see them with bare eyes, you need to stand far enough to see the whales without getting closer to them, but you won’t see their details. Provided you get the best binoculars for ocean viewing; you can easily enjoy the view. The following is a list of some of the ideal whale watching binoculars for everyone.

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1. Hooway 7×50 Waterproof Fogproof Military Marine Binoculars for Whale Watching

If looking for the best beach binoculars, this Hooway model is the ideal one. The unit is waterproof making it easier and comfortable to use in all weather conditions. The good thing with the binocular is the ability to float on water. Due to the device’s water resilience nature, it’s safe even when you dip it in water. The device is also fog proof with a good outer layer that promotes better grip and durability.

The binoculars are made with military standards and are also great for dolphin and whale watching. They work well even under rainstorms and high humidity. The devices are good for watching whales and for off ocean activities like hunting and bird watching.

Performance

These military binoculars incorporate a build-in range-finder and a compass. It offers a field view of 1000 yards and a 23mm eye relief. With such features, you can view the fast-moving whales and other fishes in the ocean or lake.

Is there any complaint?

According to Hooway 7×50 review, the compass light is not the best for night-time reading.

2. Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15×70 Binoculars

The device is among the best binoculars that everyone can enjoy using. With a 195 ft field view, big aperture, multi-coat optics, and BAK 4 prisms, you will surely get crisp images and better viewing experience.

The binocular is a better choice since they are spectacular with less than 6 pounds of weight. Their wonderful quality is comparable to some pricier brands making them ideal for those looking for a better view without harming their pockets.

Performance

With a long eye-relief, the model is great for glass wearer’s. The protective rubber covering boosts grip and makes the device waterproof. The multi-coat optics offers sharp and clear images making them also ideal for terrestrial and astronomical viewing.

Is there any complaint?

According to the Celestron Skymaster 15×70 review, the device is huge and heavy

3. Steiner Marine 7×50 Binoculars Quality Performance Water Going Optics

This gadget is among the ideal binoculars for whale watching and other marine activities like sailing and boating. Being a marine binocular from this famous brand, we can trust in its performance. If looking forward to investing in binoculars that are powerful and compact, these Steiner binoculars are the right choice.

Performance

These binoculars always offer efficient light with 50mm objective lenses. Whether using them during the day or night, you still get enough light into the lenses. With the model, you also get a wider field view of 7x magnification and such a field view; you can view larger areas for more whale viewing.

 With the high contrast lenses, it’s possible to get precise color production for better images.

Is there any complaint?

According to Steiner 7×50 military, marine binoculars review, the strap that comes with the model may not work well due to the device’s heavyweight.

4. Aurosports 10×25 Folding High Powered Compact Binoculars

These binoculars are among the portable ones today. Whether going for bird watching, whale watching, hiking, or even boating, they are great devices to carry with you. You can use them during the day and still work well in low light conditions. You can view whales from the shore and still get closer to over 10x from the land. 

Performance

The device incorporates a wider view making it easier to view all details on a whale several miles away while on the land. They are also lightweight with a better image balance for clear and precise images.

Is there any complaint?

According to autosports 10×25 review, instructions on the manual are challenging to follow. 

5. Bushnell H2O Waterproof/Fogproof Roof Prism Binocular

These binoculars are specially made for those who love having fun around water. They are fog, water, and corrosion resilience, making them ideal for any marine activity. Even if you dip them in the ocean, they will work perfectly.

Performance

The device comes with larger objectives that are ideal for boosting the field view’s brightness during dark or cloudy days. Even if using them in the usual weather, the outcome is still superb. Their eye cups incorporate a center focusing knob that enables you to view whales even when wearing glasses. The focus knob is also easier to operate even after it gets wet. The lenses also incorporate an awesome eye-relief of about 20mm. 

Is there any complaint?

Based on Bushnell h2o 8×42 roof binoculars review, the binocular is a heavy one

6. Nikon 8252 ACULON A211 10-22×50 Zoom Binocular (Black)

If looking for a lightweight binocular, this Nikon model is ideal for those who don’t need extra weight. The ACULON incorporates multi-coat lenses and 35mm objectives made of eco-glass. The objectives are arsenic and lead-free which makes it an excellent device for all.

Performance

The binoculars incorporate a wide view of about 9.3 degrees, making it easier to spot the whales in various spots on the ocean. They also feature sharp Nikon lenses and a rubber armor that is both water and shock resilient. 

Is there any complaint?

According to Nikon 8252 Aculon a211 review is not fully water and fog resilient

7. Wingspan Optics Field View 8X32 Compact Binoculars

Being able to view whales 8x closer is what most people love about this binocular. The device offers a wider view of 80×42 accompanied by a stable and better magnification. Since it’s lightweight and affordable, it remains among the best ocean watching binoculars.

Performance

The binoculars optics is multi-coated and incorporates a coated prism for quality HD images. The blend of extra low light diffusion glass and the magnification technology makes it easier to zoom up to 8x without affecting the image color or quality.

Is there any complaint?

Based on wingspan optics spectator 8×32 review, the binocular lenses are not resilient to scratch.

Buying Guide – Choosing the Best Binoculars for Whale Watching

Magnification

When going for whale watching on a moving marine platform, it’s good to use a binocular with magnification that does not exceed 8x magnification. With a boat or ship, every shake as it moves is magnified and may lead to low or unstable images. Binoculars with higher magnification also decrease field view, meaning you will see less area. However, if planning to view whales from the seashore, binoculars with higher magnification will work better. 

Objective lens size

Larger lenses will gather more light and lead to brighter and clearer images than those with smaller lenses. However, it’s good to remember that bigger lenses come with bigger devices thus more weight. Heavier ones are tiring when you have to use them longer.

Field of viewing

Whales are not stagnant animals as they love moving around and playing. With that in mind, you need to get the device with a bigger view to make it easier to locate the moving targets with ease. When it comes to whale watching, you need a binocular with about 380 to 500ft field view.

Waterproofing

Having a water resilient binocular is advantageous as it usually comes with fog proofing. With such a feature, you never need to worry about fogs when viewing on cold temperatures. Even if the device falls into the water, no harm will come to it. Choose a water resilient one to boost its durability even when it’s raining.

Size and Weight

It’s good to consider the binocular’s size or weight to avoid buying one that will feel uncomfortable when busy on the sea. The lighter and smaller ones are better when it comes to comfort. You would not want to work with a heavier one that feels heavy on the hands. You may get unstable images due to poor balancing.

What is a good all-around binocular?

A good binocular is the one that incorporates a magnification of about 7x to 10x. With such devices, you can easily see distant whales and see all the details.

What is better 7×50 or 10×50 binoculars?

7X50 binoculars will offer an exit pupil of around 7mm, which is quite awesome. On the other hand, 10×50 offers a 5mm exit pupil, and it’s still better. For over 40 years old individuals, their exit pupil size dilated at the maximum is closer to 5mm.

How far can 7×50 binoculars see?

The 7×50 binoculars are military, marine class devices due to their performance. The model incorporates a 6.8mm exit pupil and a 396 feet field view. With the binoculars, you can see up to 1000 yards. 

Can you see planets with binoculars?

It’s possible to see some but not all the planets using a binocular. Uranus and Neptune are easier to spot planets using a binocular. Uranus looks somehow green due to the methane in its atmosphere. At times, Neptune is bright enough to be seen even with a naked eye.

Concluding Remarks

When going out for whale watching, you need to get the ideal pair of binoculars to avoid missing out on the best views. As we said earlier, whales never come closer, making it hard to see them clearly with bare eyes. With a pair of binocular, you can take them on every trip and enjoy what the sea has to offer. Besides, you don’t want to miss any detail regarding these wonderful sea creatures. Choose any of the above binoculars, and you will get a memorable and fulfilling experience.

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