eyesonthesky
member
Reged: 12/26/06
Posts: 11
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First off I would like to say how helpful this site has been to me and to say hello.
Second I've been thinking about getting in to astronomy for awhile now and after reading some things on this site it seems that a binocular would be a good whetting of the mouth for me to see if I like it.
I've done a bit of research and these on the ones I've ended up on.
Oberwerk 12X60 FMC Mini-Giants
Celestron 15X70 Sky Master
Oberwerk 11x56
Now I know that my knowledge is little on these subjects so if you have any suggestions please tell me. I have a budget of $120.
Also I'll be ordering online so I would also like to know what is the best site to order from.
I first posted this at the beginner forum and was told it would be good to ask here . Any help would be appreciated.
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Joad
Wordsmith
Reged: 03/22/05
Posts: 11919
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Welcome to Cloudy Night Binoculars forum, "eyes." This is a common question, and we have a lot of material devoted to it. You might start here .
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eyesonthesky
member
Reged: 12/26/06
Posts: 11
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Sorry that didn't come up in any of my searches. Not that that is a excuse.
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Joad
Wordsmith
Reged: 03/22/05
Posts: 11919
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No excuses necessary. We're here to help.
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Erik D
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 2554
Loc: Central New Jersey, USA
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Eyes,
The choice between 11/12X or 15X or higher power for astronomy would depend on if you are going to use a tripod and mount, how dark your skies are, and how well you can find your way around.
I do hand hold 12X50/60mm size binos but most will want to use a tripod with anything bigger. I usually scan for short period with 12X or lower power binos but take out 20X80s when I want to OBSERVE. Many open clusters and nebulas don't reveal themselves in my smaller binos from my mag 4.5 backyard.
I suggest you consider 15X70 or even 20X80LW binos if you are going to use a tripod. I can find my way around using binos with 3.5 deg+ Field of View without a finder. You may want to stretch you budget a bit and buy from Oberwerk or Garrett Optical.
The Celestron 15X70 is a very popular because of it's low price. However, this model seem to have quite a mixed review. I would say about 50% or the purchasers report they are happy, others have had to return more than one to get a good pair. Personally I prefer better than 50-50 odds in my optics selection. I will likely order a pair from Oberwerk or GO.
Erik D
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DblVision
professor emeritus
Reged: 10/11/06
Posts: 549
Loc: 29.99N 92.15W
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Better strap yer' self in Eyes! If you start reading the info here, you're in for finding more things about binos than you think exist. BTW - You might add Garrett Optical to your short list... several products within budget.
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Neal
G.O. Sig 10.5x70
Swift 761 8X42
60mm Spotter
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eyesonthesky
member
Reged: 12/26/06
Posts: 11
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How is the quality deference between Garrett Optics and Oberwerk?
I'll be hand holding (at first any ways) so I don't think anything above 12X60 would be a good idea.
Also I live on the out skirts of a major urban city so I have a good amount of light pollution.
Edited by eyesonthesky (12/27/06 12:16 AM)
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Joad
Wordsmith
Reged: 03/22/05
Posts: 11919
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Garrett and Oberwerk have both earned high marks here on customer service and quality control. Both companies are run by people who know and love binoculars and whose owners are very accessible to customer communication. Buying directly from either business is highly recommended.
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12581
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Quote:
I'll be hand holding (at first any ways) so I don't think anything above 12X60 would be a good idea.
Also I live on the out skirts of a major urban city so I have a good amount of light pollution.
THEN, I would recommend you shift gears and start looking at 12x60 as the Largest and put more weight on 11x56 or 10x50.
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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eyesonthesky
member
Reged: 12/26/06
Posts: 11
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Thank you guys for all your help but after a lot of thinking I don't think optics would be a good choice for me at this time. Sorry for wasting your time.
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Mark9473
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/21/05
Posts: 2699
Loc: 51°N 4°E
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I'm very late to this thread, but I have to comment on how peculiar this conclusion was.
We've seen many people decide on a different type of binocular than originally anticipated, or even on another instrument altogether instead of a binocular, but a no optics solution to observational astronomy or stargazing, that's a new one!
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Mark
Leica 8x20; Vixen 8x42; Swift 8.5x44, 10x50 and 20x80; TS 7x50; Orion 15x63
WO Megrez II 80 FD + Baader 90° T2 Amici
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BillC
on a new path
Reged: 06/04/04
Posts: 2109
Loc: Washington, USA
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Warning, Warning Will Robinson; "No Optics" and "Stargazing" does not compute!
Cheers,
Bill
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William J. Cook, Chief Opticalman, USNR-Ret.
Founding Editor, Amateur Telescope Making Journal
20-year vet. of Captain's Nautical Supplies, Optics Dept. Mgr.
Optics Machanic, WG11-3306, Ft. Lewis, Tacoma,WA
Yata, Yata, Yata . . .
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Pinewood
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/07/04
Posts: 664
Loc: 40.77638º N 73.982652 W
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Stargazing without optics is certainly possible. Think of Tycho Brahe who worked before the invention of the telescope.
Clear skies,
Arthur
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Bread is not enough. We demand circuses!
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Mark9473
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/21/05
Posts: 2699
Loc: 51°N 4°E
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thank you Bill and Arthur for correcting me. I hope one day to be able to show you that I am aware one can actually see stars without optical aid.
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Mark
Leica 8x20; Vixen 8x42; Swift 8.5x44, 10x50 and 20x80; TS 7x50; Orion 15x63
WO Megrez II 80 FD + Baader 90° T2 Amici
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1660
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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Mark9473,
I have a quick question for you off the subject. I see that you own a Swift 8.5x44 binocular. Is there any connection between the Swift 8.5x44 and the Kowa 8.5x44 Genesis binocular which costs around $1,260? 
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Pentax 12x50mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 16x60mm PCF WP FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 20x60mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Orion 12x63mm Mini Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 15x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 16x80mm Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 20x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 30x80mm MEGAView FMC/JAPAN
Barska 30x80mm X-Trail LW FC
Burgess Optical Series II 20x90mm FMC/WP/FP
Handel's Messiah**Hallelujah! For the LORD God Omnipotent Reigneth
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BillC
on a new path
Reged: 06/04/04
Posts: 2109
Loc: Washington, USA
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Quote:
Stargazing without optics is certainly possible. Think of Tycho Brahe who worked before the invention of the telescope.
Clear skies,
Arthur
Arthur . . . Tycho was not blind. And, even if he had been, stargazing by Braille would burn your fingers RRRREEEEAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL Bad! 
Cheers,
Bill
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William J. Cook, Chief Opticalman, USNR-Ret.
Founding Editor, Amateur Telescope Making Journal
20-year vet. of Captain's Nautical Supplies, Optics Dept. Mgr.
Optics Machanic, WG11-3306, Ft. Lewis, Tacoma,WA
Yata, Yata, Yata . . .
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DblVision
professor emeritus
Reged: 10/11/06
Posts: 549
Loc: 29.99N 92.15W
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Mark:
I can gaze upwards without optical aid, too. I see a kaleidoscopic view of bright fire-fly thingies up on that blue-black thing. Now, with the aid of my trusty Hi-Index 1.67, -5+ diopter binocular spectacles, things are appreciably better. To use such cheaters pains this minimalist, but it is a bit practicable to be able to discern a rising moon from oncoming traffic.
 
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Neal
G.O. Sig 10.5x70
Swift 761 8X42
60mm Spotter
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Joad
Wordsmith
Reged: 03/22/05
Posts: 11919
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Tycho Brahe was indeed not blind, but he didn't have a nose (well, he was born with one but it got bitten off in a fight--and it wasn't with Mike Tyson! ). This is probably why there is so little discussion of telescope aromas in the older astronomy texts. 
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BillC
on a new path
Reged: 06/04/04
Posts: 2109
Loc: Washington, USA
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Okay, hotdog, 'ya wanna play geekademic? How did Tycho die?
Cheers,
Bill
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William J. Cook, Chief Opticalman, USNR-Ret.
Founding Editor, Amateur Telescope Making Journal
20-year vet. of Captain's Nautical Supplies, Optics Dept. Mgr.
Optics Machanic, WG11-3306, Ft. Lewis, Tacoma,WA
Yata, Yata, Yata . . .
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Joad
Wordsmith
Reged: 03/22/05
Posts: 11919
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I could cheat and google this, but I won't. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to learn that it was advanced syphilis. The "pox" was quite common in those days, and Tycho was a lusty fellow.
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SkyArcher
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 2028
Loc: 9545' in Colorado
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According to Wikipedia, rumour was that his bladder exploded when he drank too much.
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An 8" Deep Space Hunter
4.5 w/ GOTO
4.5 newt w/ home built Dob mount
Omphaloskepsis - I didn't realize that there is a word for what I do while waiting for web pages to download
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later
sage
Reged: 01/16/05
Posts: 446
Loc: Posen, Michigan
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Tycho was poisoned by mercury one day before his death.
(I cheated)
Gary
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Galileo 15 X 70
Oberwerk BT100-45
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BillC
on a new path
Reged: 06/04/04
Posts: 2109
Loc: Washington, USA
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The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. I did have a nice explanation with a bit of humor. However, being an idiot, I pressed the wrong button, and I am too tired to regenerate that which was Blarney to start with. (Preposition on the end and all)
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William J. Cook, Chief Opticalman, USNR-Ret.
Founding Editor, Amateur Telescope Making Journal
20-year vet. of Captain's Nautical Supplies, Optics Dept. Mgr.
Optics Machanic, WG11-3306, Ft. Lewis, Tacoma,WA
Yata, Yata, Yata . . .
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DblVision
professor emeritus
Reged: 10/11/06
Posts: 549
Loc: 29.99N 92.15W
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Mr. Bill:
We look forward to your next effort! I agree with Mark...the no-go path forward derailed this train. I'm still waiting to see what Kenny has to say about all of this...
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Neal
G.O. Sig 10.5x70
Swift 761 8X42
60mm Spotter
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4423
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BUT, is not the commom wisdom, to learn the sky first with eyes, then binocular, then telescope?
I usually end an observing session with naked eyes and a lounge chair. I just hope the poster has not given up on the sky.
edj
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10146
Loc: Lancashire UK
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< I'm still waiting to see what Kenny has to say about all of this... >
Neal ,
To put you out of your suspense , given all the wonderful astro photographs so readily available for FREE these days , I'm surprised so many people even bother braving the cold to see tiny , often murky , black and white versions of the images , through optics which we read of having so many imperfections and limitations on forums such as this .
Regards , Kenny
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If everyone is thinking the same thing , no-one is thinking - General George S.Patton
Zeiss 7 x 42 BGAT
Captain's Helmsman 7 x 50
Nikon 10 x 42 Superior E
Swift Audubon Kestrel 10 x 50
Helios 15 x 70 Observation
Strathspey 20 x 90
Televue 76 APO
Zeiss 85 Diascope
Helios 102 f5 refractor
Various eyepieces barlows tripods mounts etc.
Panasonic Lumix DMC - TZ5 digital camera
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Mark9473
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/21/05
Posts: 2699
Loc: 51°N 4°E
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Quote:
Is there any connection between the Swift 8.5x44 and the Kowa 8.5x44 Genesis binocular which costs around $1,260?
I honestly don't know, but would guess that at least the basic spec of magnification and aperture was inspired by the reputation of the Swifts. Other than the price, the Kowa sure are tempting!
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Mark
Leica 8x20; Vixen 8x42; Swift 8.5x44, 10x50 and 20x80; TS 7x50; Orion 15x63
WO Megrez II 80 FD + Baader 90° T2 Amici
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Stephonon
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/28/05
Posts: 1873
Loc: Melbourne, Australia
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After having fought with 10x50, 15x70 hand-held, low power like 7x50 for hand-held use is bliss!
First bino you get should be for easy/lazy hand-held use. That means 7x or 8x power and well under 2lb in weight. It's still got to gather plenty of light, so min 40mm aperture.
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Steve H --- Dobs: Saxon/SW 10" f/4.7, GSO 8" f/6, custom truss 8" f/4 | Intes MK-65 (6" Mak) + EQ | binos: Pentax PCF 8x40, AOE 10x50MX Ultra, AOE 12x60.
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