I am just curious as to everyones views as to their choice of one Binocular they own to have if they were stranded on an Island . Bearing in mind they would need them for spotting ships for help , hunting for food etc, needing to be rugged , opticaly capable and not to problematic to be hand held. My own choice , out of the many I own would be my 20 year old Leica 8x32BN. I also have a Nikon Monarch HG 8X30 , Leitz 6x24, Fugi Rangemaster 7x35, Swift vulcan 7x35 10 degree, Hawke marine 7x35, etc etc. Although some of the others could beat it in certain respects overall I would pick the Leica. What would you guys pick out of your Glasses ?
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Desert Island Binocular. (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter g j bee
- Start date
The Thales Sophie military binoculars. It has built-in GPS and satellite connections, so you can call for a rescue 
Ignatius
Texpat
Same as for any other 'occasion' - 7x42 FL T*. I can hand-hold it with one hand so I can give would-be rescuers a two-fingered salute with the other. Who in their right mind wants to be taken away from a desert island devoid of hordes of idiot tourists and their effing selfie-sticks?
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forent
Well-known member
[I know what you mean, but anyway:]
"Stranding on a desert island" doesn't sound like a well-planned activity. In this respect, I would be grateful for any binoculars I happened to have with me. (Food, medicine, tools, textiles, etc. would be even better.) Don't forget: Tom Hanks had to make do with a figure skating shoe and a volleyball. 😉
I've got both of these, but my choice would be the same as yours and from the moment I saw the title of the thread my only thought was of the 8x32 BN.
Of the binos I currently own, Zeiss Victory TFL 8x32. Competent, light, small enough to fit in the disintegrating ragged pocket of the jacket I swam to.shore in. (Am I allowed a jacket?) Or maybe my Swarovski B 8x20. For the same reasons. Although if a rescue ship appeared on the horizon in the minutes before nightfall, the Zeiss might be better. Mind you, me seeing the ship would be secondary to the ship seeing me, so can I have a lighter too?
There was a time, before the responsibilities of life really hit home, I could spend a couple weeks each year doing something not too different. I didn't bring binoculars then, but now I surely would, for searching out flocks of seabirds is vital to hunting for tuna in that part of the world. If I were to go back I think I would take an old, but serviced, 7x50 as a gift to the skipper I fished with most, and for myself probably a Swaro 8.5x42, as my own experience is that I can use it reasonably well from a boat, and I find the extra reach of 8/8.5x to be quite useful.
Yes, I regretted it very much when my strandings ended.
PS. with negligible light pollution, the views of stars at night were just incredible.
Yes, I regretted it very much when my strandings ended.
PS. with negligible light pollution, the views of stars at night were just incredible.
Thotmosis
Well-known member
Zeiss 8x30 B/GA or Habicht 8x30 GA
Thread 'Production year Zeiss 8x30 B GA IF / Safari'
Production year Zeiss 8x30 B GA IF / Safari
Thread 'Production year Zeiss 8x30 B GA IF / Safari'
Production year Zeiss 8x30 B GA IF / Safari
Yes , a great all rounder, indestructable as Keith Richards and not put to shame by Todays top Glasses.
I've got mine right alongside its successor Ultravid HD+ and still keeping them both.
It did cross my mind for a second to go with the substantially lighter/smaller 8x20 Ultravid or the Curio, but had to go with the indestructability and beautiful holding characteristics of the ageless 8x32 BN instead.
Ignatius
Texpat
Decidedly NOT the Isle of Man.
(And, taking this thread seriously for one hot minute, if it is sheer ruggedness that is required, I think my 8x30 W O GA Habicht is the only bino in my current collection to fit the bill.)
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jafritten
Well-known member
Good choice. These will also resist high humidity and may prove useful in case of a cannibal attack. They won't go out of collimation, if you knock these over their heads.
Thotmosis
Well-known member
Not in West-Europe, that’s for sure 🤪
I had the ultavid 10x32 in Green for a time, a fine binocular , sold when the youngest daughter need a deposit on a car for a new job. Miss it. I had a leather covered ultavid 8x20 which was replaced by Leica when the leather started to lift on the corners. Was always expecting it to happen again so it was sold. I had the curio , a fine glass but the double hinge finally got the better of me and sadly departed. The 8x32bn remains and always will. I suspect if we had a nucke strike it would be lying in the rubble and still useable.
John A Roberts
Well-known member
Hi Ignatius (post #14),
In terms of ruggedness/ durability it’s likely that a CZJ EDF 7x40 as nominated by Canip in post #12,
would be superior to a Habicht O GA.
For some details see: CZJ EDF 7x40 Roof Prism Binoculars
In terms of performance, the most desirable should be the last version the Noblex, with the most advanced anti-reflective coatings
(However, note Holger's slight reservation mentioned in post #11 in the above link):
(With 20 mm eye relief, but a modest FOV of 131 m at 1000 m, and a chunky 980 g/ 34.5 oz!)
A fellow Habicht admirer
John
In terms of ruggedness/ durability it’s likely that a CZJ EDF 7x40 as nominated by Canip in post #12,
would be superior to a Habicht O GA.
For some details see: CZJ EDF 7x40 Roof Prism Binoculars
In terms of performance, the most desirable should be the last version the Noblex, with the most advanced anti-reflective coatings
(However, note Holger's slight reservation mentioned in post #11 in the above link):
(With 20 mm eye relief, but a modest FOV of 131 m at 1000 m, and a chunky 980 g/ 34.5 oz!)
A fellow Habicht admirer
John
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I've still got all four of those among my best binoculars and nuclear-level indestructability is why the 8x32BN remains my desert island choice.
