Tim2723
The Moon Guy
Reged: 02/19/04
Posts: 5121
Loc: Northern New Jersey
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Sorry to post the most asked question, but could someone please recommend a decent pair of binoculars for casual astronomy? I'm not a binocular observer, but I've always had a pair of cheap Tasco 10x50's at hand with my scope. They're 20+ years old and have come to disasterous harm I'm afraid.
Looking for something under $100, doesn't have to be great glass, should be hand-holdable, maybe a little larger objectives (maybe 60-70mm?) if they are lightweight. Not looking to tripod mount them, but that would be a nice option. The old Tasco's were really heavy.
I'm not interested at all in searching for deals on A-Mart, I just want to go ahead and order something this week.
Thanks much!
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The crwth will set you free!
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Tom L
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 29817
Loc: Sunny Oregon
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Look at the Oberworks 8x and 11x56 binocs
http://www.bigbinoculars.com/1156.htm
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Tom 
Tele Vue 102mm f/8.6 on an EzTouch
Vixen 80mm f/5 A80SSWT on a grab-n-go mount
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ArizonaScott
Postmaster
Reged: 04/29/04
Posts: 5030
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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Easy enough, but can you up your price limit a little bit?
Check out the Oberwerks at bigbinoculars.com. The 60 & 70mm's are in the $110-150 range. Good quality, and Kevin Busarow ia a pleasure to deal with. Unless I'm mistaken all are tripod mountable. My only other thought are Barska's, but I'm not sure if they'll fall into your price range.
Scott
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Scott
10" LX200 Classic, Konus 200, Orion ST80, ETX90 OTA, 60mm Celestron alt-az, Obie 20x80's, Meade 10x50's
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Tim2723
The Moon Guy
Reged: 02/19/04
Posts: 5121
Loc: Northern New Jersey
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Thanks Tom & Scott. What do I get if I go $150?
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The crwth will set you free!
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Tom L
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 29817
Loc: Sunny Oregon
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15x70s from Oberwerks. But I have to tell you, my Burgess 15x70s were only $100...but they need a mount to be really effective. I heard you state specifically that you wanted to hand-hold these. The rule of thumb thrown around a lot is 10x50s for hand holding...I was pushing the envelope with the 11x56s.
Go browse that site and see what is available.
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Tom
Tele Vue 102mm f/8.6 on an EzTouch
Vixen 80mm f/5 A80SSWT on a grab-n-go mount
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ArizonaScott
Postmaster
Reged: 04/29/04
Posts: 5030
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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Quote:
What do I get if I go $150?
11x70's or 15x70's. Rubber armored, multicoated, case, caps, strap, and threaded for tripod adapter. Yes, you'll have to pay for the shipping, and while you're ordering you might as well get the tripod L-bracket. Trust me, they're worth the price. Excellent quality, much better than my *bleep*-ola Bushnell 10x50's. I've had a pair of Oberwerk 20x80s for about three years and love them. They came in real handy for finishing up my Messier program with the Virgo galaxies. Great for wide-field deep-sky viewing. But at 9+ pounds they are not hand-holdable. Sounds like you're about to have fun shopping! 
Scott
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Scott
10" LX200 Classic, Konus 200, Orion ST80, ETX90 OTA, 60mm Celestron alt-az, Obie 20x80's, Meade 10x50's
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Tim2723
The Moon Guy
Reged: 02/19/04
Posts: 5121
Loc: Northern New Jersey
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OK, the Oberwerk 8x56's are ordered (how's that for determination?).
Just for kicks though, what do you guys think of the Celestron 15x70's advertised at the top of this page??
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The crwth will set you free!
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Tom L
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 29817
Loc: Sunny Oregon
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Good for you! Why the 8x instead of the 11x? I haven't heard a bad thing about the Celestron 15x70s...anyone else?
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Tom
Tele Vue 102mm f/8.6 on an EzTouch
Vixen 80mm f/5 A80SSWT on a grab-n-go mount
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Tim2723
The Moon Guy
Reged: 02/19/04
Posts: 5121
Loc: Northern New Jersey
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8x because I want to hand-hold for quick looks next to the scope and my nerves ain't what they used to be!
The 15x70 look interesting though. I used to have a pair of Swift 20x80's on a tripod and was remembering how much fun that used to be. For $75 I might try it again. What the heck, I've spent more than that on an eyepiece!
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The crwth will set you free!
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ArizonaScott
Postmaster
Reged: 04/29/04
Posts: 5030
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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Quote:
OK, the Oberwerk 8x56's are ordered (how's that for determination?).
Just for kicks though, what do you guys think of the Celestron 15x70's advertised at the top of this page??
Wow! That was fast. Good to know I'm not the only impulse shopper in this group. I'm curious to know why you went with the 8x too? What do you intend to use them for?
The Celestron 15x70's are great performers for the price as far as I've heard. You thinking about a future purchase? 
Have fun with your new binos!
Scott
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Scott
10" LX200 Classic, Konus 200, Orion ST80, ETX90 OTA, 60mm Celestron alt-az, Obie 20x80's, Meade 10x50's
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werewolf6977
Lord High Smasher
Reged: 12/15/03
Posts: 7444
Loc: Hanover, Ohio
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Tim2723, I've got a pair of 15X70 Skymasters, and to use my favorite phrase, for the money, they're a decent pair of binoculars. The Obies are probably better, but if you're like me, and are financially challenged, the Skymasters fill the bill. Pete
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Pete
6" Apogee/LXD55 - "The Beast"
Starhopper 6" Dob - "Shiva"
Spaceprobe 130 EQ - "Spacey"
Bushnell Fatboy
The Abomination
Sun Pak Pro 7500 Platinum Edition
10X25 Bushnell Camo Roofies
7X35 Tasco Classic Plastic (good views though)
7X42 Tasco Rare Bird
10X50 Nikon Actions (Type 7)
15X70 Skymasters - "DroolMeisters"
One ratty old IBM 600E LapTop
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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If you are not interested in using a tripod then I think 10x is the limit. It's too late now, but I would have suggested 10x50 binos. Your 8x56 obies will be fine for the price and for use w/o a tripod...although the exit pupil may not be ideal for you and your usual viewing conditions.
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Tim2723
The Moon Guy
Reged: 02/19/04
Posts: 5121
Loc: Northern New Jersey
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I went with the 8x because of the shakes. Even the 10x50's were becomming too much. I might get the 15x70's and a tripod also, since now you guys have me thinking about it!
I do NOT need another toy. I do NOT need another toy!
Thanks again everyone.
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The crwth will set you free!
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12581
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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As was stated above, the 8x56 may not be the best match for your eye pupils. If your eyes can only dialate to 6mm, then the light gathering of 8x56 will automatically be reduced to 8x48. If your eye pupils can only dialate to 5mm then those 8x56 become effectively 8x40.
If you have any second thoughts about the 8x56, you could probably call Kevin and talk to him about it.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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Tom L
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 29817
Loc: Sunny Oregon
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I'd bet the 11x would not be that much different than the 8x when holding them, but if you were having problems with the 10x50s then I would expect the same problems with these as well. You might want to call Kevin and discuss it with him...in the end, he might be able to match you and your next binocs more precisely than we can.
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Tom
Tele Vue 102mm f/8.6 on an EzTouch
Vixen 80mm f/5 A80SSWT on a grab-n-go mount
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Tim2723
The Moon Guy
Reged: 02/19/04
Posts: 5121
Loc: Northern New Jersey
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Thanks again. I've put the order on hold (a little too ambitious!) Maybe what I need is a tripod mounted set up to eliminate the shakes at any mag. If that's the case, I may as well go with the 15x70's. I don't suppose that a pair of biinocs on a photo tripod would be that much more inconvenient than picking up and setting down smaller binoculars. I don't wear them around my neck, which is why the Tasco's were ruined.
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The crwth will set you free!
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12581
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Well, there's no question the tripod will eliminate the shakes. And the 15x70s are a lot more binocular than any of the smaller sizes mentioned here. But now your getting into a range that you will not be able to hold at all even if you want too. Not to mention, you're looking at maybe another $100 to $150 for a good sturdy, tall tripod. So now you're talking $300. Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to steer you away from one of my favorite binoculars. Just trying to make you aware of total cost and usability.
If you want to get back to where you started out here, looking for someting around a hundred bucks, maybe the 12x60 is close to what you want. It's 2.6# and 12x and 109$, might be tough to hand hold. I'd consider that the upper limit of holding, and even that's pushing it.
That 11x56 is only 99$ and has longer eye relief and a 5mm exit pupil and weighs 2.25#. It would be easier to hold all the way around.
Oberwerk does have a 10x50 for 129$ and it's waterproof. I've not seen or heard much about it. It also has long eye relief.
Do you wear glasses when you use your binocs, or don't you need long eye relief.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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John Hoare
seantoir
Reged: 04/25/04
Posts: 8861
Loc: Area 14, Kildare, Ireland
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If it helps, 10x50s are very steady on a 'budget' video camera tripod that's a good height. I'm 5'9" and I have one with a cheap adaptor that allows me to stand comfortably 'hands off' while I look at the Moon etc...
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John
Watery Glebe
Puddlestown
Co. Kildare
Chaos is the rule of nature
Order is the dream of man
Henry Brooks Adams
IFAS
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jdickson
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/26/04
Posts: 685
Loc: Desert Hot Springs, Ca
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Using 15x70 Barska's on a homemade parallelogram mount and a Daisy 1x finder. Total cost about $110-120. Recline in a chaise lounge, the p-mount sits on the ground (paved patio) on a round particle board lazy susan type setup. I can slide the whole mount around as needed. It's really nice. I'm amazed at the view through them. Almost 3D looking at M44 Beehive.
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Joe
10" f5 ATM dob, 20x80 p-mount binos.
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Tim2723
The Moon Guy
Reged: 02/19/04
Posts: 5121
Loc: Northern New Jersey
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It sounds like the 11x56 is the better choice over the 8x 56. I'm not really looking for a deep sky instrument, but a compliment to my 100mm f/5 richfield scope. I destroyed my 10x50's and need to replace them is all. If I get the Oberwerks, they have a tripod adapter which I might use in the future and are light enough to fit on the lightest tripods.
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The crwth will set you free!
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