Fujinon’s electronic stabilization delivers at a fraction of the cost
SAN CLEMENTE– Back in August, Western Outdoor News reviewed Fujinon’s Techno-Stabi X binoculars after several rounds of on-the-water testing, and simply calling them “impressive” would be a huge understatement. WON staffers were blown away by everything from the power, stability and even the ergonomics of the TS-X 1440 (14 x 40) during field testing, and also how FUJINON’s technology is really making high-performance optics accessible for the “every angler.”
WON also learned that not all “gyros” are created equal, and in fact, technically these binos aren’t gyros at all when it comes down to it. Seeking clarification on the matter, WON re-connected with Fujinon’s Mike Northrup to be brought up to speed on the differences in image stabilizing tech, how this line of products in particular delivers gyro vision without breaking the bank.
“Gyro has become the colloquial term among sportfishermen and binoculars,” he said. “There are different types of stabilization, the oldest type is called ‘image shift’ and it’s not very good. It’s slow to respond, and on its best day it gives you only 1-degree –plus or minus – of correction.”
The next level is electronic stabilization which is how the magic happens in the Fujinon Techno-Stabi Series WON has been playing with. As a goldmine of intel on the subject, Northrup unleashed a torrent of technical know-how that WON is going to boil down for the “every anglers” this sorcery is geared toward.
With electronic stabilization, the prism that flips the image right-side-up for the user sits on a little gimbal that electronically detects movement and makes the adjustment resulting a stable, powerful image. This “moves as you move” that reacts to the movement of the user as well as the vessel is what Northrup refers to as “reactive stabilization.”
“It’s relatively new technology, but it’s a lot more responsive than image shift, and depending on the size of the binoculars, the amount of room it can correct for can be vastly better,” said Northrup. “It can offer 6 degrees of correction in any direction which is phenomenal on the water.”
After that you’re talkin’ true “gyros,” the glasses the fish-for-a-living captains are working with. Fujinon offers them as well (Stabiscope S1240 and S1640) and Northrup calls them “the crème de la crème.” These cost five times as much to produce, and the stabilizing process is completely mechanical which provides constant, steady stabilization. This “active stabilization” is the smoothest and most responsive available.
When asked what a Techno-Stabi user might be missing when opting for electronic stabilized binos over gyros, Northrup said “there’s a little lag when panning left to right with electronic that you really don’t notice with a gyro.”
WON testers didn’t notice it at all, which suggests a captain using top-dollar gyros on a daily basis might detect that lag in the other binos, but the difference would be negligible to most recreational boaters.
“Stabiscope has become the aspirational binoculars for every fisherman, so if you want the best and can afford it, that’s the way to go,” said Northrup. “But Techno-Stabi is almost the same at a much smaller price point.”
When WON met with Northrup at the 2024 ICAST Show, he said the TSX-1440 hit the “sweet spot” with anglers because “it’s the perfect combination of form and function. It allows you to spot bird activity, kelp, fins and foamers. So you catch more fish and spend less money on gas.”
For more information on Fujinon binoculars, visit fujifilm.com/us/en/consumer/binoculars, or stop by Baker Marine in San Diego (they are absolute pros). You can check out WON’s review of the Techni-Stabi binos HERE.
