Anyone know about binoculars?

[Fionn]

Saw dp looking at binoculars in Dixons when we went shopping recently and said he was thinking of getting some for sailing. An obvious Xmas present - at last! but there were a lot of different types and prices and as Dixons staff probably won't know much about them I though I'd ask here. They all seemed to be 1/2 price too. Can anyone adise me on the different features etc - I haven't got a clue. Thanks.

Fionn, I know less than nothing about binocs but the camera shop gave us a brochure/price list/magazine when we were looking at SLRs and that also had binocs in, so it might be worth looking in What Camera or Practical Photography to see if they have any inf?

Have just dug it out - salient points:

1. if he wears glasses he has to decide if he wants to use the binocs with or without, they usually have dioptre adjustment.

2. The first number given is the degree of magnification (eg 10x, 8x)

3. The second number (eg 20, 30) is the diameter of the objective (???) lens in mm - the bigger the number the more light will enter, which is important in dim light, but being bigger makes the binocs heavier.

4. You can get zoom binocs (eg 8-15x35mm) which means you can "scan the horizon" and then zoom in on what you're interested in (good for sailing?)

(Or, go to a camera shop and pick their brians, and then go back to Dixons! Or else have a look on a cheap internet site eg www.unbeatable.co.uk)

HTH!

Oh - have just remembered that he had laser surgery, didn't he!!! So point 1) is now irrelevant!

janh - many thanks for doing the research for me, I really appreciate it! I'm going to buy them tomorrow.