10 Best Binoculars For Whale Watching in 2024 | Top Picks & Reviews

To watch the majestic sea creatures in all of their beauty would be a memorable, once-in-a-lifetime experience that one wants to enjoy to the fullest. The best binoculars for whale watching are optical aids you need to get the most out of the view. 

We all know that whether you are onshore or on a moving boat or cruise, the naked eye can’t entirely do the justice to capture the real beauty of the sight. If you are on a beach, you are hundreds of feet away from these beautiful creatures enjoying their swim in the waters, and what you would see are blurry silhouettes.

On the other hand, a boat or a cruise that’s continuously moving needs you to have the perfect gear to overcome the problems like an unsteady platform and image disruption due to the vessel’s shakiness. Do you want these obstacles to ruin the fantastic experience that you can otherwise have? Of course not, Right? So let’s dig deep in the pool of binoculars to come up with the best binoculars for whale watching that won’t disappoint you on your next beach trip and will enable you to experience that action taking place at a distance closer to your eyes.

Without much ado, let’s dive in deep and figure out some of the best whale-watching binoculars but before that, let’s have a quick sneak peek at how to choose them.

Key Takeaways

• Best binoculars for whale watching offer powerful magnification, like 8×42 or 10×50, for optimal marine mammal observation.
• Top choices come equipped with waterproof and fog-proof features to withstand the marine environment during whale watching adventures.
• Optimal binoculars provide a generous field of view, crucial for tracking and enjoying the dynamic movements of whales.
• Consider models with image stabilization technology to ensure steady and clear views, enhancing the whale watching experience.

How To Choose The Best Binoculars For Whale Watching?

Let’s talk about some features you should look for while buying the best binoculars for long-distance viewing while out on the beach or cruise, enjoying the beauty of majestic ocean creatures.

Magnification

Magnification tells us the degree to which a particular image is enlarged compared to the normal one. According to specialists, opting for a model that can provide between 7X and 10X magnification is best. If you are on a boat, a magnification of 7X or 8X can serve you right, but you ought to have a higher magnification option for whale watching from the beach. One thing to remember is that in the case of magnification, the rule of “the more, the better” won’t be right. Because if you settle for binoculars with high magnification, it will decrease your field of view.

Objective Lens Diameter And Exit Pupil

The larger the objective lens is, the more light it will transmit. That results in a brighter and clearer picture with true-to-life colors. One thing to remember is that the objective lens’s size affects the binoculars’ weight and size.

The exit pupil number is something you should also consider because it tells how much brighter your image would seem to be in low-light conditions. Binoculars with 5 mm or higher exit pupils are recommended for dim light conditions. Thus the best binoculars for whale watching should have a  large exit pupil to ensure a brighter view at sunrise or sundown.

Field of View

The field of view accounts for the total area or the horizontal width of the view you can grasp with a pair of binoculars without moving your head. In the case of the field of view, the broader, the better rule sets in as with a wider field of view, you would be able to spot the thing you want to focus on instantly, and it would ensure that you won’t miss out on any crucial or once in a lifetime moment.

A field of view wider than 315 feet at 1000 yards (105m at 1,000 meters / 6.0°) would serve its purpose justly in whale watching binoculars.

Optical Coatings

Optical coatings are done on these lenses to ensure minimum light disruption. The binocular lens coatings mostly add to the light transmitted through the lens. Hence increases the brightness, saturation, and contrast of images with better color reproduction. The higher the contrast is, the sharper and more brilliant the imaging is perceived to be.

The lens coatings are mainly classified as:

1. Coated Optics: A single anti-reflective coating is present on the side of the lens.
2. Fully Coated Optics: Multiple anti-reflective coatings (5-7 coatings) are present on the side of the lens.
3. Multi-Coated Optics: A single anti-reflective coating is present on all the air-to-glass surfaces.
4. Fully Multi-Coated Optics: The fully multi-coated lens has several coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces with different refractive indices.

The fully multi-coated optics on the high end ensures the amount of reflected light to its lowest and, at the same time, considerably increases the optical performance along with ensuring impressive low-light performance, which is something whale-watching binoculars should have.

Weather-Resistance

Imagine a scenario where you are having a fantastic time watching the whales. Suddenly, a drizzle comes to ruin your incredible experience, or the sudden ocean wave may cause you to drop your gadget. Seems like something you have faced? Yeah, we all have been there. So the best binoculars for whale watching are the ones that are waterproof, fog-proof, shock-resistant, and dustproof so that the next time no harsh weather conditions can affect your viewing or hamper your splendid experience.

What are The Best Binoculars For Whale Watching?

There is a wide variety of binoculars available today. Thus, knowing where to start looking for that perfect pair that fulfills all your requirements may be baffling. To make this whole scenario simplified and easy for you, we have gathered the best binoculars for whale watching under one roof to facilitate you.

1. Nikon Action 10×50 EX Extreme All-Terrain Binoculars
2. Bushnell H2O 8×42 Roof Prism Binoculars
3. Athlon Optics Midas 8×42 UHD Binoculars
4. Steiner Marine 7×50 Binoculars
5. USCAMEL 10×50 Marine Binoculars
6. Hooway 7×50 Military Marine Binoculars
7. Aurosports 10×25 Folding Binoculars
8. Nikon ACULON A211 10-22×50 Binoculars
9. Barska Deep Sea 7×50 Marine Binoculars
10. Bushnell Marine 7×50 Waterproof Binoculars

Let’s explore each nook and corner of these binoculars to find the features that make them stand out.

1. Nikon Action 10×50 EX Extreme All-Terrain Binoculars

Best binoculars for whale watching are not a myth, and this fantastic model from Nikon promises to deliver an excellent viewing experience. The 50 mm hefty objective lens ensures the maximum light transmission to brighten up your view, and the clarity of a ten-fold magnified view of yours can strike envy in the hearts of your other whale-watching friends. It offers a wide field of view of 341 feet at 1000 yards to give you the bigger picture of the view. The unit comes equipped with multi-coated lenses and BaK-4 Porro prisms that deliver high-resolution images with excellent color fidelity without color fringing. 

While talking about the unit’s durability and sturdiness, it has rubber armoring that ensures a non-slip grip even in wet conditions. The polycarbonate sheet makes it shock-resistant and protects the interior assembly from water and scratches, which promises to be your comrade in the long run. Being resistant to all types of weather and providing quality assurance at this price, its specifications are hard to beat. All in all, Nikon Action 10×50 EX Extreme All-Terrain Binoculars are a high-end product worth each penny, and all of its features make it one of the best binoculars for long-distance viewing.

2. Bushnell H2O 8X42 Binoculars

Bushnell is one of the names you can’t possibly go wrong with, and they have introduced many models that provide splendid quality images. So while listing some of the best binoculars for whale watching, their product Bushnell H2O 8X42 Roof Prism Binoculars will be included. This robust and rugged model is known for its resilience and capacity to withstand harsh conditions.

It provides an enormous magnification of 8X and comes equipped with a large objective lens of 42 mm, making your view a lot brighter and more precise. It seems incredible, Right? It has BaK-4 Roof prisms and fully multi-coated lenses to ensure you enjoy an ultra-sharp and crisp image in both bright and dull light. The unit provides a field of view of 350 feet at 1000 yards to ensure that you never miss out on any crucial, once-in-a-lifetime moment during your outdoor pursuit. 

Apart from all these features, Bushnell H2O 8X42 binoculars provide an eye relief of 17 mm along with twist-up eyecups, thus guaranteeing that they haven’t forgotten about the eyeglass wearers and have ensured a comfortable view for them. Its rubber armoring adds to its durability by providing that this model can survive a few falls. So remember to take your Bushnell H2O 8X42 binoculars on your next expedition on the waters.

3. Athlon Optics Midas 8×42 UHD Binoculars

Pondering over the best binoculars for whale watching, see no further than Athlon Optics Midas 8×42 UHD Binoculars. It has a magnification of 8X and a large objective lens of 42 mm for eight times magnified and brighter, crisper view with excellent color reproduction.

Advanced fully multi-coated lenses, extra-low dispersion (ED) glass, and dielectric-coated prisms ensure a more radiant and precise view with accurate color reproduction and no color aberrations. A vast field of view of 426 feet at 1000 yards lets you see a bigger picture in a small frame without missing out on any critical moments in the area. 

The product has a long eye relief of 17.2 mm to aid eyeglass wearers. It weighs about 25 oz, which makes it a travel-friendly option. The XPL coating adds an extra layer of protection and saves the gadget from oil, dirt, and scratches, thus adding to its durability. It is argon purged, which adds to its waterproofing and thermal stability. Although this pair of binoculars’ price is on the upper side, its specs and quality make up for it, so what are you waiting for? Grab a pair of Athlon Optics Midas 8×42 UHD Binoculars for your next outdoor pursuit.

4. Steiner Marine 7×50 Binoculars

Steiner optics is best known for its specialization in making premium binoculars having ferocious toughness, and its product Steiner Marine Binoculars, is no different. Coming in a compact body (weighs 36.3 oz) but still providing powerful specs, it proves to be the best binoculars for whale watching.

It offers a magnification of 7X that provides a seven times magnified view of the sight and has a large objective lens of 50 mm that ensures a brighter and crystal clear view. It has a wide field of view of 356 feet at 1000 yards, which is quite enough in most scenarios. With its BaK-4 prisms and advanced fully multi-coated lenses, it ensures better contrast and saturation under a multitude of lighting conditions, making it one of the best low light binoculars. 

The sports autofocus system puts everything into focus (from 20 yards to infinity) once the unit gets calibrated to your eyes. Steiner Marine 7×50 Binoculars also keep in view the needs of eyeglass wearers as it comes with a massive eye relief of 20 mm. It has raised the bar of durability with its NBR rubber armoring that ensures a firm grip and polycarbonate chassis, ensuring that it withstands 11 G’s of impact.

No matter if you are the one enjoying your vacations on a yacht or the one who makes a living on the water, Steiner Marine Binoculars are a must-have item for you.

5. USCAMEL 10×50 Marine Binoculars

USCAMEL 10×50 Marine Binoculars are versatile and powerful. Whether you want to go whale watching or birdwatching, this unit will surely come in handy. Now let’s dive into more of its details to know about every nook and crack of this model.

Who can beat the specs like 10X massive magnification, 50 mm large objective lens for a brighter view, and built-in compass and rangefinder for navigation and correctly estimate the object’s distance, and that too in a body of 2.68 lb.? BaK-4 Porro prisms and fully multi-coated lenses ensure crisp imaging with minimal distortion from dusk to dawn. A wide field of view of 396 feet at 1000 yards provides a bigger picture. 

Moreover, folding eyepieces offer a comfortable view with or without glasses, and the autofocus system needs only one-time calibration. The ergonomic design and rubber armoring provide a non-slip grip and make the unit much more durable.

The rugged rubber armoring adds an extra layer of protection and ensures that your unit can handle a few tumbles without any permanent damage. It is waterproof with a floating body for its use in challenging weather conditions. Offering extraordinary image quality and brilliant value, USCAMEL 10×50 Marine Binoculars are undoubtedly one of the best binoculars for whale watching.

6. Hooway 7×50 Military Marine Binoculars

Hooway 7×50 Military Binoculars are undoubtedly one of the best for whale watching from land. It provides a seven times enlarged view of the distant image. Moreover, its 50 mm objective lens ensures better light transmission to brighten your images. An exit pupil of 7.1 mm provides brighter views from dusk to dawn. Fully multi-coated lenses and BaK-4 prisms ensure the absence of any color aberration and guarantee a clear view irrespective of the external light conditions. A vast field of view of 396 feet at 1000 yards ensured that you could get the maximum out of the view without much movement of your head. 

This 2.2 lbs. unit comes with a built-in illuminated compass and rangefinder to accurately calculate the object’s distance. Hooway 7×50 Military Binoculars haven’t forgotten about the eyeglass wearers and provide a massive eye relief of 22 mm. It is highly durable and comes with rubber armoring that ensures a non-slip grip and makes the product shock-resistant. You don’t have to worry about clouding and fogging with this unit as it is O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged, which makes it waterproof.

Therefore it can withstand various environmental conditions, from heavy rainfall to high humidity. All in all, Hooway 7×50 Military Marine Binoculars are quite a catch and are one of the best binoculars for navy seals.

7. Aurosports 10×25 Folding Binoculars

Aurosports 10×25 Folding Binoculars are the perfect blend of quality and compactness, making it one of the rightful owners of the tag of best binoculars for whale watching. It comes with a 10X magnification and an objective lens of 25 mm, providing you with a ten times enlarged and brighter view. Equipped with a Porro prism, it weighs about 0.5 lb, making it a relatively lightweight, easy-to-carry option. It is space-friendly because of its folding feature. 

Moreover, it comes equipped with a fully multi-coated lens and BaK-4 prisms to ensure a more precise, brighter, and ultra-sharp image, irrespective of the external lighting conditions. It offers a vast field of view of 362 feet at 1000 yards so that you never miss out on any important detail of the sight. It provides adjustable eyepieces to offer excellent eye relief and a comfortable view.

The unit has rubber armoring that adds to its durability, makes it skid-resistant and shock-resistant, ensures a firm grip, and guarantees the unit’s ability to survive a few falls easily. It is also waterproof, but one thing to keep in mind is that it can withstand the drizzle but can’t be used in heavy rain. All in all, it is quite a good pair of binoculars that can aid you well on your cruise trip.

8. Nikon ACULON A211 10-22×50 Binoculars

Nikon is a recognized and dynamic brand in the world of optics. Their product Nikon 8252 ACULON A211 10-22×50 binoculars, is moving quickly towards the peak to safeguard its position among the best binoculars for whale watching. It is a high-end binocular with a 10-22x adjustable zoom magnification and 50mm objective lens that not only ensures the clarity of the distant view to you but also gives you the charge to either opt for a bigger picture or to zoom in to some specific detail.

It is waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof. The Aculon A211 10-22×50 Binocular is a well-designed and durable binocular owing to the rubber armoring that provides an extra layer of protection and a non-slip grip. These high-quality binoculars are perfect for long-distance viewing of whales when on shore.

It comes with multi-coated eco-glass lenses and BaK-4 Porro prisms that make a clear image in broad daylight and provides good quality, brighter images even in the dim light of the evening without color fringing. You don’t have to worry about the product slipping off your hands because of the rubber armoring, ensuring a non-slip grip. The product weighs a bit more than its counterparts; its weight is about 33.9 oz.

On the downside, its field of view is only 199 feet at 1000 yards, which could result in missing some crucial moments of the match, but its functional features conceal that little flaw of this unit. All in all, it is quite a good pair of binoculars that will serve you well.

9. Barska Deep Sea 7×50 Marine Binoculars

The next product is an optical wonder that will surely leave you in awe owing to its high-quality features and solid build. The massive objective lens of 50 mm and an exit pupil of 7.2 mm of Barska Deep Sea 7×50 Marine Binoculars ensure better light transmission resulting in brighter, crisper, and ultra-sharp imaging.

A wide field of view of 350 feet at 1000 yards ensures that you never miss out on any critical moment of your sporting event or whale watching. This 38.8 oz product provides a long eye relief of 23 mm to guarantee a comfortable view for eyeglass wearers. Fully multi-coated lens and BaK-4 Porro prisms ensure the best contrast and saturation with no color fringing. 

Rubber armoring adds to its durability and ensures that the product is shock-resistant, anti-skid, and anti-slip. It is waterproof and fog-proof, so you don’t need to be afraid of going near the water. This unit’s quality is on the higher end of the scale as it is constructed to last a lifetime. If you take good care of it, this pair of binoculars will last a long time. Thus Barska Deep Sea 7×50 Waterproof Marine Binoculars set the gold standard for all other binoculars claiming themselves as the best binoculars for whale watching.

10. Bushnell Marine 7×50 Binoculars

How can the list of best binoculars for whale watching end without listing Bushnell Marine 7×50 Waterproof Binoculars? This product comes with a 50 mm large objective lens, an exit pupil of 7.1 mm for a brighter and clearer view, a 7X magnification, and a wide field of view of 380 feet at 1000 yards to ensure that you get the very essence of the scene. It comes with BaK-4 Porro prisms and fully multi-coated lenses to provide excellent color perception, edge-to-edge clarity, and UV protection to protect your eyes from harmful solar radiation. 

Furthermore, 18 mm long eye relief and fold-down eyecups ensure a comfortable view for eyeglass wearers. It weighs about 36 oz and is tripod adaptable. This durable and sturdy product can work perfectly even after being immersed in water and resisting corrosion from saltwater.

Held in a rugged, water-resistant, fog-free, and skid-free rubber body along with hermetic sealing owing to which Bushnell Marine 7×50 Waterproof Binoculars can be used in rain or shine, whether on high seas or in beautiful valleys. Thus, this product has versatile features to make your whale-watching experience much more enjoyable.

Conclusion

After strenuous research and considering the user’s reviews, we have come up with some solid choices for your next visit to the beach. All of the binoculars mentioned above have unique services that they provide to you. Our top two picks for the best binoculars for whale watching are Nikon Action 10×50 EX Extreme All-Terrain Binoculars because of their hefty objective lens and exquisite imaging quality and Bushnell H2O 8X42 Roof Prism Binoculars because of their excellent price-to-value ratio, sturdiness, and durability. The binoculars that make it to the third rank are none other than Athlon Optics Midas 8×42 UHD Binoculars owing to their unique features and excellent optical performance.

Whale watching can be incredibly exhilarating and even more thrilling when you have the best binoculars for whale watching with you. So, the next time you go to acknowledge the beauty of these gigantic and marvelous creatures, remember to grab a pair of the best binoculars for whale watching.

Happy whale watching!

FAQs

Q. Isn’t High Power Better in a Pair of Binoculars?

Ans: The higher the better, does not hold true in the case of the binoculars as with the increase in the power of the binoculars it becomes difficult for the binoculars’ holder to hold the binoculars steady. Thus, the images can become shaky or jumpy even with the slightest movement of the hand. Moreover, high-power binoculars offer a narrow field of view due to which you can miss the bigger picture of the view. 

Q. What is The Best Magnification For Whale Watching?

Ans: When choosing binoculars for whale watching, it’s recommended to opt for a magnification of 7X or 8X, providing a wide field of view for locating and observing moving whales. The objective lens diameter selection depends on the lighting conditions; compact options like 7 X 35 or 8 X 32 strike a balance between size and performance, suitable for most whale-watching scenarios.

Q. What are The Best Binoculars For Whale Watching?

Ans: The best binoculars for whale watching typically include models with high magnification, a wide field of view, and waterproof features. Popular choices among enthusiasts often include brands such as Nikon, Zeiss, and Swarovski, known for producing high-quality binoculars suitable for marine activities.

Q. What Size Binoculars Do I Need For Whale Watching?

Ans: For whale watching, it’s recommended to use binoculars with a moderate magnification, typically between 7x and 10x, and an objective lens diameter of around 42mm. This size provides a good balance of magnification and field of view, allowing for clear and steady viewing of distant marine life.

Q. What is The Best Aperture For Whale Watching?

Ans: The best aperture for whale watching depends on various factors, including lighting conditions and the desired photographic outcome. Generally, using a mid-range aperture such as f/8 to f/11 can provide a balance between depth of field and sufficient light intake for capturing detailed shots of whales in varying distances. Adjustments may be needed based on specific conditions and the photographer’s creative preferences.