|
KennyJ
The British Flash
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 20139
Loc: Lancashire UK
|
|
Seldom mentioned by it's owner , who , let's face it , seldom mentions ANYTHING about his binoculars and scopes anyway , but it is no secret that the Wereside Witch , Steve Napier has a 20 x 60 binocular which he apparantly once received as a free gift with a large , catering sized jar of coffee .
I seem to recall the brand was Kenko .
I KNOW that this man still uses this binocular on Friday nights , when the moon is up , and when most people his age are out enjoying a pint , attending a concert or watching very interesting musical documentaries on terrestrial television .
I would like to know a bit more about this binocular , and the impressions of it by the owner .
Also , has anyone else here ever tried any of these cheap 20 x 60 binoculars , which can often be picked up for the price of a ticket to watch a concert ? -- and if so , what are YOUR impressions ?
The only ones I've tried have produced dark , unclear , brown tinted images by day , with inadequate eye relief to see the already pitiful , painfully narrow field of view , and really put me off the 20 x 60 format many years ago .
I'm wondering if I was just unlucky to have tried a couple of poor examples .
I can't even remember the names of the ones I tried , but I was told they were made in Russia , and seem to recall them having names like Birds Mellow and Maxwell House .
Regards , Kenny
--------------------
Milton Wilcox R.I.P
|
Erik D
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 4066
Loc: Central New Jersey, USA
|
|
Here is one possibility:
http://www.rugift.com/photocameras/field-binoculars-bpc-20x60.htm
Here is a Tento:
http://www.weatherman.com/binocs.htm#4
Erik D
|
brocknroller
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/16/03
Posts: 1983
Loc: Bedford Falls, Pa.
|
|
Looks like Napier's getting payback for all those Helmsman threads. I expect this is but the first of many threads to follow on these bins...
Here are reviews of Kenny's favorite brand 20x60 binoculars, Helios:
http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/entry.php?sectionid=21&entryid=52&PHPSESSID=3dea759d582708312911e5690085ad04
Note there's also a review in the description at top of the Webpage.
Contrast those reviews with the Pentax 20x60 PCF V:
http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/entry.php?sectionid=21&entryid=66&PHPSESSID=3dea759d582708312911e5690085ad04
I've posted reviews of this bin on CN. Exceptionally sharp, very narrow FOV (2.2*), "sharp to the edge" (or darn near close). A good sample can separate the rings of Saturn from the planet, something I've never seen in a 20x80.
I noticed variations among the three samples I tried (and these were made in Japan). Liked this older non-WP version better than the newer, heavier WP model. There is also a WP II version now.
The ergonomics on the PCF V beg to be handheld, but you need to be well braced to control the jitters at 20x w/out bionic image stabilized arms.
I would not recommend the Pentax for terrestrial use. The FOV is probably no more narrow than most spotting scopes at 20x, but due to its relatively short FL, I found CA to be excessive for day use. Spotted my first rainbow colored crow with this bin. :-)
--------------------
Press: Are you a mod or a rocker?
Ringo: I'm a mocker
|
Steve Napier
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/10/04
Posts: 1559
|
|
Do you know what it is, I try REALLY hard to post intelligent and articulate posts on this forum AS WELL as providing hours of magical mystery on the Off Topic area, Completely free of charge and just look at the way Im repaid!
In response to Kenny"s {windup} question I will spill the beans {coffee beans}
In about 1989 I paid around £70 for some Tento 20x60 Binoculars {Russian}.
Despite owning only a few optical instruments
TMB 80/480
TeleVue Oracle 3 {first European Oracle owner}
Zeiss 7x42FL
Nikon 12x50SE
I continue to use the Tento {NOT, Kenko} as I find them a good lunar binocular.
I say, Lunar, because they are NOT the sharpest instruments out there,I Can"t see the bands of Jupiter and Saturn is merely an oval.
They DO give very pleasing views of the Pleiedes etc but they Dont have optics to match my other binoculars.
Daytime performance is quite poor due to the fairly heavy yellowish cast and eye-relief is very short,NOT for spectacle wearers.
The centre focus wheel is VERY slack indeed and they have practicaly NO coatings as such but, despite all this AND bearing in mind the quality of my other optics I STILL enjoy using them.especialy on the moon.
Now!!!!!!!!!!!
This ridiculous thing about me being out with a pint,etc.
About ten days ago,I sent a text to that very famous member of the Lancashire Illuminati, Kenneth Jones, to tell my friend that there was a very interesting documentary on BBC4 television about the famous John Mayall and his various Blues breaker groups.
I know Kenny loves his music and I thought it would be a favour to tell him.
Anyway, Kenny, contacts ME on the night of the show to tell ME thats its on!
I mentioned to Kenny {via text message} on the same evening that I was undertaking serious astronomical observation of the lunar surface with my Tento 20x60 binoculars.
I recieved a reply back {Kenny still refuses to buy his OWN phone and he relies on his WORKS phone that can only use about 20 charachters as opposed to the usual 160 charachthers for people who aren"t TIGHT!} from Kenny saying that he has never heard of Kenko binoculars.
Kenko, being a popular brand of Coffee.
I think judging by the very nature and wording of his meager replies,Kenny was on some sort of substance {probably coffee}.
Im very surprised Kenny had time to text me as I would have thought both he and the lovely, Kath {Kenny"s better half} would have been deeply engrossed listening to
the excellent URIAH HEEP CD that Kenny asked ME to BUY for HIM for HIS birthday.
Kenny loves the old rock bands of the early seventies as do I and URIAH HEEP is one of Kenny"s favourite along with HAWKWIND who,as luck would have it are the subject of this Friday"s BBC4 documentary.
I actualy had a drink on the Friday afternoon,Kenny.
A nice cup of Kenko!
Steve.
P.S. And please note, I come from Newcastle, NOT, Wearside.
Edited by Steve Napier (03/27/07 01:16 PM)
|
dgs©
Postmaster
Reged: 03/29/04
Posts: 15091
Loc: West Monroe, Louisiana
|
|
Wouldn't I like to sit on a stool down at the pub whilst these two were in, having a pint. 
--------------------
- david
8"Ø Newtonian on SVP, Moonlite CR2, Telrad
PST Oberwerk Ultra 15x70 Orion Ultraview 10×50
Hand-me-down Sears Refractor (Discoverer) 60mm×900mm
"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world, remains and is immortal." --Albert Pike
|
KennyJ
The British Flash
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 20139
Loc: Lancashire UK
|
|
Dear friends and readers ,
One needs only to study the above report by the man from Tyneside to realise how confused his ramblings really are .
Did the right honourable gentleman not HIMSELF admit that it was WHILE the John Mayall documentary was being shown that the latter exchanges of text messaging took place ?
Then he goes on to say " I thought they would have been deeply engrossed in the Urinal Heap CD " etc.
Although it was a genuine pleasure to see Steve N. typing more than two or three lines for a change ( spelling mistakes not withstanding ) , this was typical of why I always feel one must take what the man says with more than a generous sprinkling of salt .
Upon close scrutiny , attention to detail is simply lacking , which is no better illustrated than by WHY it was , at no little expense I haste to add , I sent the man a text at 10pm prompt to notify him that the Mayall documentary had in fact STARTED .
His previous text to me , notifying me of the forthcoming programme ( for which I WAS truly grateful ) had indicated that the programme was only about to commence at 11.30pm. so I sent the text ( at great personal inconvenience , given that the programme had just started that minute and I HATE missing a single moment of those kind of documentaries ) with every good intention , thinking I was doing a great service in preventing him from missing the opening 90 minutes of a 120 minute film .
And WHAT kind of response did I get ?
A VERY nasty reply , asking me not to interrupt an observing session of the moon through cheap 20 x 60 binoculars apparantly devoid of coatings , eye relief and a central focus mechanism !
Concerned that his sheer passion for lunar observation ( just about the ONLY kind of celestial observation possible from a city renowned for it's fog , and something he COULD indulge himself in almost every night the moon is visible ) had caused him to miss what turned out to be an EXCELLENT documentary , I even went out of my way on the Saturday morning by interrupting a very tasty breakfast just to text him to say how much I'd enjoyed it , and thanking him for having brought it to my attention in the first place , albeit with the duff info regarding screening TIMES .
All I received in response to this act of kindness was yet another of those " don't bother me right now " type of retorts , this time the excuse given being that he was too busy listening to a Leslie West and Felix Pappalardi rendition of Nantucket Sleighride to be bothered discussing the more dubious traits of the aforementioned Mayall .
In spite of these snubs , only last night , the same man had the bare faced cheek to ask me to text him hourly updates from the Cloudy Nights and Cloudy Days forums , as he couldn't be bothered going to his beloved library to log on to a PC .
That service I duly provided , yet with not a hint of thanks .
Earlier today , an attempt by myself to open a serious emergency discussion about Nikon SE binoculars was met with vague ramblings about a long forgotten British TV sit - com ( so old it was last screened in black and white , before Napier was even born ), inadequately proportioned city council road cleansing vehicles and working class headwear.
I suppose we all ought to be thankful for those three brief paragraphs about the Kenko 20 x 60 binoculars .
Finally , I would like to thank Erik for his effort in directing me to a couple of links , and Brock for reminding me of the existence of those Pentax 20 x 60s.
Regards , Kenny
--------------------
Milton Wilcox R.I.P
|
brocknroller
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/16/03
Posts: 1983
Loc: Bedford Falls, Pa.
|
|
From Steve's mini-review, the Tonto, me sorry Kimosabe, I meant Tento, sounds similar to the reviews of the Helios, I wonder if they are made by the same Russian manufacturer?
I can understand Steve's fascination with observing the moon at 20x. One of the BEST views of the ENTIRE moon I've seen was with a Swift 20x80 Satellite through through a thin veil of clouds, which acted like a moon filter.
I drove almost 90 miles round trip (didn't know how FAR Miller's Gun Shop was, and I got a little lost - pre-Mapquest, pre-Onstar days) to check out the bins. I had asked the store keep on the phone if the Satellites had BK-7 or BAK-4 prisms, but he couldn't tell because that info is not printed on the bin (in fact, Swift imported two versions, each with different prisms, but both labeled identically).
I explained how to tell the difference by the shape of the exit pupils, but he said he was too busy to check them out, so I drove all the way up there to find that it was the BK-7 version.
But he let me take them outside to try on the night sky. It was a warm, sticky, summer night, with most of the sky covered in clouds. All I could see was the moon hanging over the mountain ridge, and it looked HUGE due to the horizon illusion.
The view of the moon was stunning and amazingly detailed. Very good seeing that night, with a thin veil of clouds slowly moving past the moon. The effect through the EPs was as if I were in a spacecraft orbiting the moon. I experienced this once before with a misaligned 8" SCT pointed at the moon, also through cloud cover on a very steady sky night. The north star was behind clouds, so I guesstimated north, and the tracking was a bit off so the illusion was that I was moving rather than the moon. Very kewl, so kewl that I had to spell "cool" kewl. :-)
You may have experienced a similar optical illusion while sitting in your car, wating at a stop light on a hill. When the car next to you started to slowly creep forward, you thought to yourself (or perhaps uttered aloud to your startled passenger): Oh, sh-t, we're rolling backwards down the hill! You hit the break, only to find that you weren't moving after all. Whew!
I wish I saw that documentary too. I'm a John Mayall and the Blues Breakers fan. I have two or three of his albums, one with a very young Eric Clapton on lead guitar. What I liked about one of the albums is that he listed which key the song was in on the back of the album cover so I could play along. Of course now, I can play by ear (which can be painful, don't let your kids try this at home w/out adult supervision), and I no longer need to check the album or song sheets, but this was when I was first learning to play guitar, and I learned the blues from playing along with Mayall's albums.
Is he still kickin'? Still playing the blues? Still have long hair? Still HAVE hair? :-)
--------------------
Press: Are you a mod or a rocker?
Ringo: I'm a mocker
|
Erix
Toad Lily
Reged: 12/25/04
Posts: 24022
Loc: Texas, USA
|
|
There are three things that drew me to this thread:
Free binos
Steve Napier
Kenny Jones
Somehow I just knew that by the end of the thread I'd be laughing. Thanks for not letting me down, guys!
--------------------
Erika
Automatic doors make me feel like a Jedi. 
Zhumell 16", 10" LX200 Classic,Celestron 102 XLT, ETX70-AT, DS Maxscope 60mm, AT6RC
PCW Memorial Observatory
|
KennyJ
The British Flash
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 20139
Loc: Lancashire UK
|
|
Brock asked , with regard to John Mayall , four questions :
1. Is he still kickin'?
2. Still playing the blues?
3. Still have long hair?
4. Still HAVE hair? :-) >
Hi Brock ,
I'm sure a true scholar like yourself will be aware that John Mayall was born in November 1933 , which made him 73 last November .
From what I could make out from the documentary , the filming took place up to and around the time of his 70th birthday in late 2003 , for which a special celebratory concert was performed , including guest appearances from , amongst many others , former Bluesbreaker members Eric Clapton , Mick Taylor and Mick Fleetwood .
At 70 , Mayall still had a rather sparce " pony tail " of grey / white hair , but was almost clean shaven , and appeared stooped and considerably shorter than I remembered him to be in the 1960s .
The programme gave the impression that not only was he STILL playing the blues , but had continued to do so on an almost daily basis throughout his life .
As under stated as ever , he strolled on to the stage for his 70th birhday , joining a line - up who had already warmed the audience with a few numbers , wearing a scruffy vest tucked into a pair of very unKEWL , high waisted trousers , which one might normally expect to see a clinically obese , retired businessman wearing .
Unassuming as ever , he waited for the band to play a few bars of a standard 12 bar blues , before quietly and modestly edging closer to an off - centrally located microphone and slipping into a vocal only mode , stooped in a rather ungamely , distinctly UN ROCK - STAR pose .
His delivery was nothing short of EXCELLENT .
Earlier today , I asked Steve Napier to confirm the year of his purchase of the Tasco 20 x 60 , which he indeed confirmed as being " around 1989 " .
I then put it to him , why didn't he look at the moon through the 20 x 60 in 1989 ? -- adding the perfectly simple point that if he HAD done , he would have not have needed to have missed the start of the Mayall documentary .
I was given no answer to this basic question , but instead was forewarned that THIS coming Friday night , a similarly timed TV documentary is to be screened featuring the 1970s one - hit wonders Hawkwind , albeit without Brock's namesake , who led the band .
One can only conclude from such a schedule that the TV company must be really scraping the barrel of it's archive basement , if nothing more interesting than this can be dished up .
I wonder who will be featured the following week ?
A Good Friday SPECIAL perhaps , documenting the entire life works of Chicory Tip ?
Regards , Kenny
--------------------
Milton Wilcox R.I.P
|
Steve Napier
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/10/04
Posts: 1559
|
|
Yes Brock,the 20x magnification brings out a wealth of detail on the moon.I could spend hours just looking at it.
Take no notice of Kenny"s reply,its all false but,you must admire the man"s degree of fantastical licence.
Steve.
|
ChrisR
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/11/05
Posts: 518
Loc: Washington
|
|
If nothing else this is entertaining.
Peace,
Chris
--------------------
Journeyman Optical Technician
Amateur Astronomer.
All around good guy
Orion, StarMax 127
Canon, 12x36 IS
Minolta, 8x25 WR
Halco, 7x50
Nippon Kogaku, Micron 7x35
|
ngc6475
Fearless Spectator
Reged: 03/02/02
Posts: 5024
Loc: 38°21'N 120°55'W
|
|
Steve's binocular appears to be a fine instrument. John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers would be an ideal choice for musical background to a night (or day) of observing with this fine binocular. Imagine listening to Pretty Woman while hunting for globular clusters (or sheep)!
--------------------
Walter
"There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls."
-George Carlin
|
KennyJ
The British Flash
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 20139
Loc: Lancashire UK
|
|
< If nothing else this is entertaining.
>
Well it certainly ain't " nothing else " , Chris ! :-)
Latest report on BBC TV ceefax news service is that Newcastle Police are searching for a man wearing a Newcastle United bob hat , who was spotted in the city centre , studying traffic lights while looking through a pair of shoddy looking brown binoculars , mounted on a tripod cocked so as to be balanced on one leg .
Regards , Kenny
--------------------
Milton Wilcox R.I.P
|
Steve Napier
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/10/04
Posts: 1559
|
|
For the benefit of people who havent a clue as to what Kenny is on about in the above post {Everybody except Kenny}
I sent a text to Kenny explaining that I was undertaking critical and thorough experimentation of the local traffic lights using the TENTO 20x60 mounted on a tripod with only one leg extended to give the impression of a finn stick {mono-pod}
After 15mins I decided that the cycle of Red Amber Green is NOT uniform in time!
I think I will be using the TENTO 20x60 more as of now as,I feel I havent given them enough daytime use.
I might even take them along to Newcatle Keep {a 900 year old fortress} to take in the local vista.
Actualy if you use them for any length of time,the comparitivley dull image does NOT become an issue.
I remember that famous FANTASY FICTION writer, Kenny Jones, once saying that after having looked through a Swarovski 8.5x42 EL he thought the 15x56 SLC was very dull in comparison.
Steve.
|
Steve Napier
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/10/04
Posts: 1559
|
|
The Weatherman"s report is pretty much what Ive concluded.
A shame that just a little bit more care wasn"t taken as these would be really great binoculars.
REMEMBER....NOT for spectacle wearer"s
Steve.
|
ChrisR
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/11/05
Posts: 518
Loc: Washington
|
|
Sorry Kenny I didn't mean to belittle this most entertaining, and informative work that both Steve and you have produced.
Some may not understand everything you fine gentlemen have said, hence the disclaimer that, "if nothing else this is entertaining." I learned from a friend to always qualify a statement or risk having it come back to bite you.
Peace,
Chris
--------------------
Journeyman Optical Technician
Amateur Astronomer.
All around good guy
Orion, StarMax 127
Canon, 12x36 IS
Minolta, 8x25 WR
Halco, 7x50
Nippon Kogaku, Micron 7x35
Edited by ChrisR (04/01/07 02:48 PM)
|
KennyJ
The British Flash
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 20139
Loc: Lancashire UK
|
|
Certainly no need to APOLOGISE , Chris !
If ANYONE ought to be apologising , it's that man Napier for his Hatroshush spelinj :-)
Give the trickster his due though , he has a REMARKABLE memory for details of things I've been know to say !
I remember not just SAYING that which he relates about the Swarovski 15 x 56 SLC , but clearly remember the experience .
Even so , I STILL lusted for that 15 x 56 , which was actually a USED , but not HEAVILY used instrument , on sale for either £500 or £600 at the time .
Of the few binoculars I actually use , I still feel that my 15 x 70 is the " weakest link " , and at times , I yearn for a higher magnification binocular with at least a 4 degree TFOV .
I would also prefer centre - focus and eye relief of at least 16mm .
The models which keep coming into my head when this urge comes upon me are Zeiss 15 x 60 BGAT , Swarovski 15 x 56 SLC , Canon 15 x 50 IS and Minox 15 x 58 , although I sometimes wonder if one of those Orion 15 x 63s would serve the purpose .
Just thinking out loud , so sorry about that , folks !
Regards , Kenny
--------------------
Milton Wilcox R.I.P
|
medinabrit
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/27/04
Posts: 854
Loc: medina ohio USA.
|
|
Kenny i luv my 15x16 swaros but i hear lots of good things about the Garrett binoculars .Everyone says good things about the people there too .
Maybe they ship to the UK.
You should have purchased those swaros when you had the chance . I THINK THEY COST ABOUT $1800 HERE NOW .[ falling dollar]
Happy sheeping Brian.
|
KennyJ
The British Flash
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 20139
Loc: Lancashire UK
|
|
Hello Brian ,
Garrett have about five different 15x models available altogether , but no 15x models smaller than 70mm .
I've got a hunch that in two or three years time , something more to my liking may appear somewhere or other , which is more easily AFFORDABLE .
I'm quite sold on the CONCEPT of image stabilised binoculars , but wish the 15x versions could somehow be made less bulky and non - dependent on batteries , or perhaps run on SOLAR power .
Regards , Kenny
--------------------
Milton Wilcox R.I.P
|
medinabrit
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/27/04
Posts: 854
Loc: medina ohio USA.
|
|
Kenny i can walk around most of the day with the canon 15 IS around my neck . No way could i do that with the swaro 15 or the fuji 16 that i sold .
The canons really are probably no bulkier than those Zeiss of yours if i remember rightly . Pity the eye cups leave something to be desired tho.
On another subject as it is such a nice day i decided to take several spotting scopes & my takahashi fs 60 out for a comparison check .
Looking at some very interesting utility pole insulators pine cones & maybe a dozen kind of birds i was astounded at the views thru the little Tak.
Pity it isnt waterproof Its the equal or better than any of the top spotters .
I usually only use it for planet gazing on our camping trips .
Gotta go out & shoo the hord of blackbird from the bird feeders . The buggers are going thu nearly 10 lbs a day
Cheers Brian.
|
|
0 registered and 23 anonymous users are browsing this forum.
Moderator: MMICKELS, okiestarman56
Print Thread
|
Forum Permissions
You cannot start new topics
You cannot reply to topics
HTML is disabled
UBBCode is enabled
|
Thread views: 1181
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
[Re: 