"The Aruba 7x50 is big quality in a small binocular..."
This is a product review for the Aruba binoculars from West Marine. The Aruba 7x50 binocular is one of the latest additions to the West Marine selection of waterproof binoculars. The Aruba is at the higher and of their line designed specifically for serious boaters who rely upon their binoculars for navigation and safety. The Aruba 7x50 binoculars offers very high quality optics, easy to use center focus are fully waterproof and comes in a rugged and compact form factor. The Aruba features twist-up eye cups for easy use with or without eye glasses. The Aruba 7x50 binocular is similar to the West Marine Antigua 7x50 binocular but without the bearing compass and range finder.
The Antigua 7x50 offers a great value (they are listed at West Marine for ~$250) for the quality and feature set relative to other similar quality 7x50 marine binoculars. This value is what the West Marine line of binoculars is becoming known for.
This information will help you determine if the Aruba 7x50s are the best binoculars for you.
Waterproof & Rugged:
The Aruba 7x50 binocular from West Marine is Nitrogen gas filled to prevent fogging as a result of rain, spray or high humidity. The Antigua binocular is also very rugged, with a rubber-coated and shock-resistant body to stand up to the demands of use on a boat. The Aruba feels substantial (but not heavy) in your hand.
7x50 Magnification:
A 7x50 binocular is great for use on boats because it offers a balanced combination of magnification and brightness in low light. The 7x50 marine binocular also accommodates a boat use with movement caused by waves and weather. The 7 in the 7x50, refers to the magnification. With the Aruba binoculars, the image is magnified 7x which is the practical magnification limit for smaller boats and typical pitching and rocking. Greater magnification reduces brightness and makes it difficult to view the object from the moving surface of a boat.
Objective lens:
The larger the binocular objective lens size is the more light is gathered and the brighter images are. The 50 (in the 7x50) refers to the diameter of the objective lens (the larger lens). A 50mm objective lens is particularly useful on a boat in low light conditions such at night, dawn, dusk or in the fog.
Optics Quality:
The optical quality of the Aruba 7x50 binoculars are outstanding. Images are sharp and bright. The lenses are fully coated and the Aruba has BAK-4 Porro prisms. BAK-4 use a denser, finer barium crown glass, which more effectively prevents internal light from scattering and produces sharper images than BK-7 prisms. With fully coated lenses all air-to-glass surfaces are single-layer coated. This helps to ensure that internal reflection is reduced to create a clearer and brighter image.
Center focus:
The Aruba 7x50 marine binocular has a center focus which makes it easy to focus and adjust with one hand. All of the focusing happens internally which makes for a more compact binocular. The center focus is convenient in a marine binocular where you often need one for the boat or wheel. We definitely like the convenience of center focus binoculars as a significant benefit. The twist up eye pieces also move independently to adjust for use with or without eye glasses. As a new eye glass wearer, I appreciate this.
Weaknesses:
It was tough to find any weaknesses with the Aruba 7x50 binoculars given both their quality and price point. The only thing that we could find was the objective lens covers are attached and may flop around a bit while you are using them. Minor, but worth pointing out so you get the full story before buying.
Aruba 7x50 waterproof binocular review summary:
We feel that the Aruba provides the quality and features of marine binoculars that are a few hundred dollars more expensive. The most notable considerations of the Aruba 7x50 are:
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Quality optics: Fullt coated lenses with BAK-4 Porro prisms
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Waterproof/nitrogen filled
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Compact design & extremely rugged
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Twist in eye cups
from the West Marine website:
Compact and convenient, the Aruba’s waterproof, all-weather design make them an excellent choice for boating or other rugged outdoor activities. Nitrogen gas inside the binocular eliminates fogging and mold on internal lens surfaces even in severe conditions like rainstorms and high humidity. High-index BaK-4 prisms produce a bright, sharp image with vivid contrast for detailed viewing. Rubber-coated body provides great shock resistance and a secure, slip-free grip.
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Magn. x Objective Lens Dia.: 7 x 50
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Focus: Internal Center
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Waterproof: Yes
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Prism Type: BAK-4 Porro
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Field of View: 342' @ 1000yds
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Eye Relief: 27.4mm
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Compass: No
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Rangefinder Reticle: No
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Weight: 29oz.
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Warranty: Limited lifetime