Along with your shoes, socks, and other essentials, binoculars should have a guaranteed spot in your travel bag. We’ve listed out the most important things you need to know to elevate your safari with binoculars—
1.) Have Your Own
Imagine having to pass your binoculars back and forth between your friends or family members right when the action starts – the cheetah sets off at full speed on the horizon after a gazelle, a vulture swoops down from on high onto a kill, a rare eagle soars overhead, a lion saunters by, or a family of zebra’s stop to get a drink. You’ll be so glad you don’t have to share – as will be your travel partners!
2.) Use Them Often
Even when you are close up to your subject! You will be amazed at the extra details you can get from zooming in on an elephant’s eyelashes, a leopard’s spots, or the skin of a giraffe.
3.) Use Them Backwards
Many do not know that if you reverse your binoculars and hold the eyepiece very close to your subject, such as an insect or a feather, it acts as a macro lens with wonderful results.
You can even use one eyepiece as a telephoto lens for your smart phone. It takes a bit of practice, but it gives great results!
4.) Binoculars Do Not Have To Be Expensive
But you will get more enjoyment from a better pair, and you will be amazed at how many times you will use them for other things, – theatre, Concerts, basketball games etc. – not to mention on you next safari to Galapagos or Inia ! Personally, Tim uses a pair of Swarovski’s and swears by them.
If you do not own them and cannot borrow them, you may rent them. Our friends over at Optics4Rent offer our clients a 10% discount on their order. Simply use the code SE2015 when you go to www.optics4rent.com. Click on Products on the left-hand side and choose which binoculars you’d like to rent.
The binoculars will be shipped to you in a hard plastic pelican case and a box, with a return label inside. After you have finished your travel, simply put the binoculars back in the case and box, put the return label on top and drop off at any FedEx. Please feel free to contact the owner, Todd Dobler, at (866) 999-4166 orcontact@optics4rent.com with any questions.
4.) Which Type to Purchase
You’ll want a “light gathering” and a “wide field” type. We recommend something close to 10×30. Tim uses 12×30. Technology, size, and weight is improving every day, as prices come down.
Please contact us with any questions and we’d be happy to help with finding you and your travel mates the right binoculars for your trip.