Best Binoculars for Whale Watching

Best Binoculars for Whale Watching

Standard Binoculars work poorly for whale watching tours or pelagic birding tours.

Views of whales and birds appear shaky due to

• Windy weather at sea
• Rocking motion of tour boat in high waves

Views of whales appear small due to low magnification of standard binoculars

Image-Stabilized Binoculars give Best Views

Kite Optics 16X42 Image Stabilized Binoculars offer Better Views while whale watching

Kite Optics Image Stabilization corrects for 2 degrees of motion caused by

• strong winds,
• rocking motion of boat in high waves
• shaky hands of observer
  Cool wet weather causes shivering of hands.
  Seniors develop increasing shake in hands as we age.
• Much high magnification powers are possible with image stabilzed binoculars

Get the best high quality image-stabilized binoculars for whale watching at moderate cost

See field marks you have been missing on distant whales or birds

Choose between 16X42 or 18X50 Binoculars

Save money from higher prices at major outlets!

Contact Us

Phone our landline 1 then 306 then 652 then 5975

Email: birdtours [at] sasktel.net

Why is Image Stabilization Important in Binoculars?

Unless mounted on a tripod, conventional binoculars are useless at very high magnification. They magnify any small tremor or vibration in the optics when holding binoculars by hand. The resulting unsteady motion of the image makes such standard high power binoculars uncomfortable to use when whale watching.

Image stabilized binoculars adjust the orientation of the prisms in the binoculars in real time to correct for any motion or vibration when hand held.  The early model of image stabilization used in Canon binoculars permitted only 1° of correction. The newer advanced model of image stabilzation used in Kite Optics binoculars permits 2° of correction.

Which is the best Image Stabilized Binoculars?

In my opinion, the Kite Optics APC 16×42 Image Stabilized binoculars has many advantages when whale watching over the competing Canon 18X50 IS binoculars including significantly lighter weight (783 g versus 1228 g), better close focus distance (4 m versus 6 m), much better stabilization (2° versus 1°), better winter operating temperature range plus longer battery life due to its automatic battery shutoff whenever binoculars hang down from your neck. I also suspect it to be superior and much cheaper than their next version of Kite Optics 18×50 binoculars coming out in January.

Because I wanted a lower price than available locally, I contacted the Canadian distributor for Kite Optics binoculars. They offered me a better deal. I can offer our customers a price of CAD $1795 tax included if paid in advance of ordering.

Furthermore, if requested, I will offer purchasers a special 10% discount off any future Saskatoon Custom Bird Tour lasting 1 day or less provided it is booked at the time of ordering your binoculars. This special offer cannot be combined with any other offer.

If you are interested,  email your contact phone number to birdtours@sasktel.net

I will phone you back to discuss details about this offer.
ALL SALES FINAL.

For the above reasons, I believe the Kite Optics 16X42 APC Image Stabilized model is the best value binoculars for the following purposes

• Whale Watching
• Birdwatching
• Tropical Birding Tours
• Nature Study
• Sight-seeing from cars, trains or ships
• Watching Sports
• Stargazing

You are also welcome to briefly test these binoculars during any of our upcoming birding tours.

Kite Optics 16X42 Image Stabilized Binoculars Features

• Very High Magnification: 16X
  * Twice the magnification of 8X power binoculars
  * Apparent Size of object increases by factor of 4 over 8X power binoculars
  (because both height and width are doubled)
  * Apparent Size of object increases by factor of 2.56 over 10X power binoculars
  (because both height and width are magnified)

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Image Stabilization: 2°
  * Corrects for up to 2° of vibration
  * Allows for use in rocking boats or moving vehicles
  * Steady Image even if hands are shaking under windy conditions
  CLICK HERE for a short video explanation
• Angular Power Control (APC)
  Automatic Power Shutoff when not actively observing: extends battery life
• Power: 2 AA alkaline batteries
  Not included
• Battery Storage
  Space for 2 extra AA batteries
• Battery Life: 120 hours
  Including 2 extra batteries
  Much better than competing brands
• Light weight:  783 g
  with 2 batteries
• Nitrogen Gas Filled
  Reduces internal fogging when temperature changes
• Field of View: 3.9°
• Close Focus Distance: 4.0 m
• Waterproof IPX7
  Permits use under very humid conditions
• Temperature Range: -20 C to +55 C
• List Price: CAD $2231.99 plus taxes
• Our Price CAD $1995 (taxes included)
  price equivalent to about $1797 before taxes
• Available Now
  Free Shipping anywhere in Canada or USA

Kite Optics 18X50 Binoculars Features

• Very High Magnification: 18X
  * Magnification increases by factor of 2.25 over 8 power binoculars
  * Apparent Size of object increases by factor of 5.06 over 8X power binoculars
  (because both height and width are magnified)
  * Apparent Size of object increases by factor of 3.24 over 10X power binoculars
  (because both height and width are magnified)
• Image Stabilization: 2°
  * Corrects for up to 2° of vibration
  * Allows for use in rocking boats or moving vehicles
  * Steady Image even if hands are shaking under windy conditions
  CLICK HERE for a short video explanation.
• Angular Power Control (APC)
  Automatic Power Shutoff when not actively observing: extends battery life
• Power Option A: 2 AA alkaline batteries (not included)
• Power Option B: Li-ion Rechargeable Battery (included)
• Battery Storage
  Space for 2 extra AA batteries In AA model
• Battery Life: 76 hours
  Including 2 extra AA batteries
  Much better than competing brands
• Weight:  1020 g
  without batteries
• Nitrogen Gas Filled
  Reduces internal fogging when temperature changes
• Field of View: 3.7°
• Close Focus Distance: 5.5 m
• Waterproof IPX7
  Permits use under very humid conditions
• ED Lenses
  * Reduces any chromatic aberration
• Good Temperature Range: -20 C to +55 C
• List Price: CAD $3035.99 plus taxes
• Our Price From CAD $2975 (taxes included)
  price equivalent to about $2680 before taxes
• AA battery version: CAD $2775
  Rechargeable Li-ion battery version: CAD $2850
• Available Now
  Free Shipping available to Canada and USA

Purchase Details

If you reside in USA, CLICK HERE for prices.

ALL SALES FINAL

• 12X42 APC AA Batteries Prepaid Price: CAD $1885 (tax included)
  note: most companies list prices before taxes
  price equivalent to about $1698 before taxes
• 16X42 APC AA Batteries Prepaid Price: CAD $1995 (tax included)
  price equivalent to about $1797 before taxes
• 14X50 APC AA Batteries Prepaid Price: CAD $2875 (tax included)
  price equivalent to about $2590 before taxes
• 14X50 APC Rechargeable Li-ion Prepaid Price: CAD $2975 (tax included)
  price equivalent to about $2680 before taxes
• 18X50 APC AA Batteries Prepaid Price: CAD $2975 (tax included)
  price equivalent to about $2680 before taxes
• 18X50 APC Rechargeable Li-ion Prepaid Price: CAD $2995 (tax included)
  price equivalent to about $2698 before taxes
• Optional 16X42 Silicon Jacket available for $75 extra (tax included)
  Shock absorbing property helps reduce collision damage if dropped
  Specify colour: Black, Marine Blue, Orange, Sage Green
• Optional 18X50 Silicon Jacket available for $80 extra (tax included)
  Shock absorbing property helps reduce collision damage if dropped
  Specify colour: Black or Sage Green
• Optional Kite Shoulder Strap Harness available for $60 extra (tax included)
• Optional Kite Smart Phone Adapter available for $165 extra (tax included)
• Pick up in Saskatoon or free shipping anywhere in Canada or USA
• Bonus: 10% Discount on future Saskatoon Custom 1 day bird tours
• Ordering information: Send your name, mailing address and contact phone number to birdtours@sasktel.net or complete the form below.
• Secure mailing address. If home delivery is not secure due to porch pirates, we recommend you register for flex delivery and send us that mailing address.
  CLICK HERE for Canada Post Flex Delivery information.
• Returns Policy: All Sales Final. No Refunds. No Returns. No Exchanges.
  Contact us in case of damage in shipping.

 

Our Opinion

For the past 3 decades,  our tour leader Stan Shadick has been using high quality Swarovski brand 10X42 binoculars. Although I paid much less, their current tax included price at a Saskatoon big box store is over $4000!

Earlier this summer, I learned about the Kite Optics 16X42 Image Stabilized binoculars, which appeared to be much superior. On an August tour, my two clients each had a pair of these image-stabilized binoculars. I was impressed to discover that their binoculars could pick out fine ID details on the bills of a distant flock of gulls on the far side of the river when my current 10X42 binoculars failed.

In 2025, my wife and I joined a tropical birding tour. The leader and all participants frequently requested to borrow our Kite Optics 16X42 binoculars to see key field marks that they could not see with their own binoculars.

If you are interested in upgrading your binoculars to a high quality image-stabilized pair, CLICK HERE for a link to an independent review. A Canadian mini-review is available HERE.

 

Kite Binocular Harness

The Kite binocular harness is a comfort carrying-system for binoculars.  It places the instrument’s weight on your back instead of your neck.

The binoculars remain close to the body; this avoids undesired swinging of the instrument and allows you to move freely.

The binoculars can be detached from the suspenders fast and easily with snap locks. After detachment, the small ends that remain fixed to the binoculars can be joined together with the same snap locks. This creates a carrying handle for your instrument.

This harness is suitable for almost every type of binoculars or camera,

Binoculars Order Form