Telescope Reviews: Update: Very Short Test on Vixen 16x80 Binoculars

Hello,

Last month I reported on my new Vixen ARK 12x80 binoculars. I have since traded this wonderful instrument on a 16x80 pair (as good as the 12's are, with their 6.7mm exit pupil and my horrible NW Indiana skies I felt that a higher-power/smaller-exit-pupil model might better suffice).

I received the 16x80s yesterday (Fri. 12/29). Of course the "Cloudy Skies" curse immediately struck, waiting until sundown to get really nasty - an ugly cloud cover that hung overhead until tonight (not totally dissapating even to this moment).

However, sky conditions ended up at least marginally (desperately?) clear to where some stars were visible.

I debated posting this extremely cursory report since there really wasn't much to view. It was the performance of these binoculars that inspired me to do so anyway.

Compared to the 12x80s there wasn't a lot of difference - beautiful images of stars, well-defined and focused. The difference was, for one, in the image size. I know that a lot of folks prefer 20x, but from what I saw tonight I have no arguments against 16x. Afterall, binoculars aren't telescopes, and to me a wide FOV is desirable - that and minimum (but useful) magnificaton. IMO this pair of 16x80s more than satisfies both criteria.

With its smaller 5mm exit pupil (re the 12's 6.7mm) conrtast was improved - enough to where the difference was noticeable. Star images were delightful - sharp and bright enough yet no real hint of CA, spiking, or other aberrations (the #1 target star was Sirius!). I checked for edge-of-field distortion/light drop-off and, yes, they're there - but they're minimal. As I said in my previous test of the 12x80s, I'd estimate them to be no more than 5 percent of the overall FOV. It may be more than 5 percent, but the fact is that these aberrations are so slight that one does not notice them unless one is deliberately looking for them.

This initial test was done on the eastern sky: slight haze, pretty calm atomosphere. At this time I realized that choice objects like Orion, Taurus, etc., were not in my seeing window. So I went to one of my west-facing bedroom windows, cranked up the blinds, opened the window, and - high overhead there was the Moon - between half and 3/4 full (5/8?). There was a gauze of light clouds drifting over its surface - not enough to obscure details but sufficient to dim its glare a bit.

IMO the view of the Moon through these binoculars was, what word shall I use? Stunning? Yes, but "stunning" has a bit too much "punch", too much a sense of the spectacular. What I saw elicited that feeling that I'm sure we're all familiar with: a quiet sense of awe, a kind of gentle jaw-dropping where one sits there and can only breathe the word, "Wow". The colors/contrast were very pleasing. But the detail is what caused that sense of awe in me! 16 power may not be a lot, but the amount of detail at this magnification was wonderfully evident in these binoculars (particularly the craters!) - proof of the excellent optical quality of these binocualrs. And mind you, this was while hand-held and neck-straining for the view (the Moon was around 70 degrees up).

My first impression of these binoculars is that I've ended up with another winner. They're beautiful, magnificent (sorry). My test was done in a totaly objective mindset. It was the views I got - particularly those of the Moon - that caused me to finally (understandably) shift into the emotional, the final result of my experience. Thus my thrill with this instrument's views came after my most objective analysis.

I wil do a more thorough test (star clusters, DSOs, etc.) when sky conditions permit and will report my findings for anyone intersted. Suffice to say that these binoculars produced what one would expect from such an instrument at such a price (I actually consider them a bargain at $560). Views are crisp and bright with good contrast. Very good eye relief (comfortable for me with eyecups nearly fully extended [I do not wear glasses]). Though basically hand-holdable for very short periods a tripod is strongly advised.

Conclusion: I recommend these 16x80s without reservation.

Mike Rapchak Jr.

P.S. I do not work for nor am I in any way affiliated with Vixen Optics.