What binoculars are these? (1 Viewer)

[Merik]

Hello,

I am quite new to this forum. I've read some posts about several binoculars
Now i managed to find some old binoculars myself. I am not sure which type they are.
Maybe anyone here could help me identify them?

They look decent quality, but there is no brand name or anything on it

Thanks in advance

Greetings

 

[richard866945]

It's a Bushnell marine 7x50 with built in compass. Aimed at Sailors.

 

[Binastro]

Does the compass need a battery?

Regards,
B.

 

[Merik]

Great, thanks, i don't think it needs a battery! How can i check that?

 

[Binastro]

There would be a battery compartment that would unscrew for maybe a lithium coin battery.

But it may not need a battery?

B.

 

[Merik]

Hm no it doesn't have that it looks like. Does it matter?
And my next question is.. is this binocular any good?

 

[Binastro]

The compass won't be visible at night.

If the two images are well aligned and the inside looks clean when viewing from the front with a torch, then yes, quite good but not, I think, an expensive binocular.

Expensive marine binoculars with compass may have different versions for three different areas on the Earth with different magnetic deviations.

Does it say Made in Japan or China?

If the image looks good and it doesn't give a headache from miscollimation, then it is a good binocular.

B.

 

[Binastro]

Some Bushnell 7x50 marine binoculars float, some may not unless they have a flotation strap.

Perhaps a bath or canal is better than the North Sea to try this.
But the binocular may not be properly waterproof any more, so maybe it is best to forget this test.

Some have a reticle to measure distances.

Regards,
B.

 

[Foss]

Hm no it doesn't have that it looks like. Does it matter?
And my next question is.. is this binocular any good?

Only needs a battery if the compass is of the illuminated variety. The shape of the indented prism plates in the photos remind me of the Baker Marine 7x50. I believe Kamakura had a hand in manufacturing the Baker Marine.

 

[Merik]

Great information, thanks.
It indeed has a reticle for distance

It doesn't say made in Japan or China anywhere. It has some info on the other side "GKA" and "0495"
Does this say anything to you?

 

[pat mitchel]

According to one enterprising contributor to cloudy nights bino forums, the GKA "might" be interpreted as Kamakura Koki- America. I asked a similar question less then 2 weeks ago. Apparently there's also a GKE- for Europe. Sometimes, ferreting out this sort of info is going down a rabbit hole or into the looking glass. Regards, Pat (Bill Cook might know, now that I think about it)

 

[WJC]

According to one enterprising contributor to cloudy nights bino forums, the GKA "might" be interpreted as Kamakura Koki- America. I asked a similar question less then 2 weeks ago. Apparently there's also a GKE- for Europe. Sometimes, ferreting out this sort of info is going down a rabbit hole or into the looking glass. Regards, Pat (Bill Cook might know, now that I think about it)

Hi Pat,

Yes, it is a Bushnell. It is also a Swift Seahawk, it is also a Fujinon AR, a Simmons 1170, and ETC ... and yes, it is in the Kamakura importer's catalog. If you contact Mark (Masaki) Kamakura, and will part with enough money, it can be whatever YOU want it to be! Also, Pat, I don't know how many Mk5s were made. I have 2 (a 10-inch and a 7-inch) and sold two others. One to Orion Telescopes & Binoculars and the other to Deutsch Optik. I think that one now has a home at Oberwerk. Kevin was a little hard to train, but we finally got through! That photo above is NOT a Bushnell, Swift, Fujinon, Simmons, etc. The Baker Bino is a Swift Storm King (the binocerus), the Celestron Water proof, the Tamiya BIFR, ETC.

 

[pat mitchel]

I appreciate you chiming in Bill . Regards, Pat

 

[WJC]

I appreciate you chiming in Bill . Regards, Pat

Roger, that!

Cheers and blessings,

Bill

 

[Merik]

Thank you all for the reactions!

 

[WJC]

The compass won't be visible at night.

If the two images are well aligned and the inside looks clean when viewing from the front with a torch, then yes, quite good but not, I think, an expensive binocular.

Expensive marine binoculars with compass may have different versions for three different areas on the Earth with different magnetic deviations.

Does it say Made in Japan or China?

If the image looks good and it doesn't give a headache from miscollimation, then it is a good binocular.

B.

There is a small plastic attachment that fits over the compass when it is being used at night. Press the little white button that relates to compass light. Normally it uses ambient light. However when that fails, use the attachment.