pcad
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/17/05
Posts: 1364
Loc: Connecticut
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Tammy,
Looking forward to the comparison of the two Binons.
Peter
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12.5" f/6.3 Astrosky/Woden dob
Orion Argonaut Mak-Cass
SV66, SV102ED2, PST/SM40
AP15x70, Oberwerk 12x60
RA88SA, IS 10x42L, 5x32W
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Tamiji Homma
sage
Reged: 02/24/07
Posts: 245
Loc: California, USA
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Quote:
Tammy,
Looking forward to the comparison of the two Binons.
Peter
I went out for quick check. In a nutshell, 7x50w is
clear winner looking at the moon/M31. 5x32w shows more
internal reflection than 7x50w if I place the moon
on center. If I move a little off center, the reflection
decreases noticeably. I think center sharpness is very
good.
It shares the same weakness as 7x50w, picking up stray lights. It needs better hood.
Since the moon is very high on south, I can't see
Milky Way very well. So I can not comment on sweeping MW yet.
I would think it will do good job as big brother.
If I get up early enough tomorrow morning, I'll try
Orion.
I might be sounded a little bit negative but overall,
I like the new addition so far. All I need is to go to
dark site on moonless night...
Tammy
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Wes James
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 2079
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Quote:
How effective would these be at looking at Dark Nebula compared to the standard 7x50s?
the FOV will be a positive, the light gathering of 32mm a negative
edj
Took a look at M-42 this morning (Orion nebula) with both the Zeiss 7x50's and the 5x32's... the 7x50 wins out, no contest. If you're looking for detail, you need the aperture... it's becoming more & more evident that the 5x32's are specialized sky sweepers... and that's it, as far as astro use. They're strictly for the sake of a wide FOV. The focus issues at the edge- I agree there is an issue with that, but it's not so bothersome as to make me not want to use them. I still like 'em. I'm really anxious to try them under a dark sky.
Forgot to check with my glasses on- sorry- will try to remember/report the results.
Wes
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pcad
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/17/05
Posts: 1364
Loc: Connecticut
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Here's a detail I've just noticed on the 5x32W. There are two clear O-rings on the machined focuser knob. They're set in two channels that encircle the knob. Whether they're there for a little extra friction or comfort or both, it's a nice touch. Since they're clear I felt them before I saw them.
Peter
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12.5" f/6.3 Astrosky/Woden dob
Orion Argonaut Mak-Cass
SV66, SV102ED2, PST/SM40
AP15x70, Oberwerk 12x60
RA88SA, IS 10x42L, 5x32W
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 3919
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Reality Check:
Kevin has sold 8 of these in 1+ week, mostly do to us at CNs and the multiple posts. This is a weird response to a weird little pair of binoculars. Do we 8 know something that the others do not, or are we just victims of our own hysteria 
Mine should arrive Thursday.
edj
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
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Wes James
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 2079
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Edj- I don't think it's that we know something the others don't- I think it's just that we represent the fanatical, maniacial hardcore epicenter of the astronomy binocular nuts!
(Note that I did seperate us from the birdwatchers~ who have their own hardcore group of fanatics, I'm certain)
And then, some people have already built their binocular collection- and others (I fall into this group) are in the process of building our collection.
Wes
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Rich V.
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/02/05
Posts: 818
Loc: Carson Valley, Nevada USA
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I've actually thought you guys must be a bit crazy going DOWN in magnification for astro binoculars regardless of the 5mm exit pupil. The idea of wide field is fine but 5x on the sky??  I don't even care for how little an 8x40 shows me! Maybe my relatively dark skies have spoiled me.  Cool little bins though.........THAT I can see!
Rich V
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C9.25, 6" f8 reflector, SV80S, 16x70FMT-SX / 3036 / 3063 / Unimount dlx., 10x50 PCF-V, 10x43 DCF-SP, 10x35 E2, 7x35 E, 8x30 E2, 7x26 Custom, 8x23AS Diplomat, 8x23 Travelite
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Wes James
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 2079
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Quote:
One problem I've always had with the Miyauchi line is that the (effectively) non-foldable eyecups make them impractical for eyeglass wearers. The Big Binoculars site shows 22mm eye relief for these. Do you have any sense of how they would work for those of us that need eyewear for astigmatism?
Bill-
Finally checked them this morning with my glasses on- and with the eyecups up, I could not pick up the full FOV. Maybe only 60-70% at most. Sure glad I don't view with glasses! I did not try to roll the eyecups down, which had been previously noted as possible.
Quote:
I've actually thought you guys must be a bit crazy going DOWN in magnification for astro binoculars regardless of the 5mm exit pupil. The idea of wide field is fine but 5x on the sky?? I don't even care for how little an 8x40 shows me! Maybe my relatively dark skies have spoiled me. Cool little bins though.........THAT I can see!
Rich V
Maybe dark skies will change my mind, too! Had to have at least one pair of widefield binoculars, though- 
Wes
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 3919
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Quote:
Edj- I don't think it's that we know something the others don't- I think it's just that we represent the fanatical, maniacial hardcore epicenter of the astronomy binocular nuts!
(Note that I did seperate us from the birdwatchers~ who have their own hardcore group of fanatics, I'm certain)
Wes
That sounds just like me, and I am starting to watch birds also (if you have the binoculars, why not).
edj
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 3919
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Wes,
hope that you do not mind me stealing your phase
edj
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
Edited by edwincjones (09/26/07 01:49 PM)
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Wes James
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 2079
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Quote:
Wes,
hope that you do not mind me stealing your phase
edj
*grin* ... nope!
Wes
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 3919
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i am willing to share with other fmhabn s
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
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pcad
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/17/05
Posts: 1364
Loc: Connecticut
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edj,
I can think of a handful of members that really do enjoy the various ultra wide angle binoculars. This 5x32W is a high quality instrument that reminds me of the Orion Expanse in several ways. This includes size, weight, objective size, tfov, etc. The Expanse has a much wider afov which allows higher magnification but in turn makes it difficult to use with glasses.
It occurred to me that they are both porro II designs in a way. The difference is that the first and last prisms are replaced with mirrors in the Expanse. This explains the chunky shape of the Expanse and the characteristic shape of the Binon series.
I think that this baby Binon might appeal to those that have tried or would like try an UWA that was well made and eyeglass friendly. As has been mentioned before, good quality UWA binos are generally older, used models. Some of which can be quite expensive and cost more than this 5x32W new.
At 32mm with a 6mm exit pupil these are probably best at scanning the heavens from a dark sky site. I see them working best with large open clusters and really seeing the primary stars of the constellations and asterisms. I always have trouble seeing more than the brightest stars from my home. With these and other UWA binos the sky actually looks like mag5 and mag6 star charts and planospheres.
I find them quite enjoyable and very easy to keep steady. They ain't bad for daylight use either.
Peter
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12.5" f/6.3 Astrosky/Woden dob
Orion Argonaut Mak-Cass
SV66, SV102ED2, PST/SM40
AP15x70, Oberwerk 12x60
RA88SA, IS 10x42L, 5x32W
Edited by pcad (09/26/07 06:15 PM)
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Wes James
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 2079
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Was in back of the Radar Facility I work at- out on the airfield- watching a T-34 doing touch & go's this afternoon, and it dawned on me- these 5x32's would be a wonderful asset at an airshow! The wide fov and clarity would be very enjoyable.
Wes
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CESDewar
GorillAstronomer
Reged: 01/16/05
Posts: 1552
Loc: Morganton, GA, USA
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Arrived today, so I took them out tonight for a quick view, but with humidity approaching 80% and a full moon, this was not exactly the ideal viewing!
Nevertheless, I could quickly tell these will be keepers, and I'm definitely looking forward to taking these out under 6.5 mag skies.
In spite of the moon, there were still some good views - seeing the entire constellation of Sagittarius and the Coathanger all at once, Lyra easily (as has been mentioned - and the false double just split), top or bottom 4 stars of Cassiopeia, and the beautiful ring of Corona Borealis - I've never seen that so clearly before (needs at least 10° to see all of that at once nicely).
I don't think the perceived sharpness at the bottom of the FOV vs. the sides is based on optics, but rather on the fact that one can tilt the binoculars up and down and still maintain both eyes at the same distance from the lenses, but you can't do that from side to side. I tried rotating the binoculars 90° and didn't see the "sharper axis" rotating as well. The positioning of the pupil is pretty critical and affects the sharpness at the edge and it's easier to get the positioning correct up/down.
I agree with others that this is a rather specialized pair of binoculars, but I'm just betting these become a regular companion on dark sky viewing nights.
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pcad
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/17/05
Posts: 1364
Loc: Connecticut
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I count 5 members that bought these in this thread alone. Anyone else in CN order one of the other three that Kevin had?
Peter
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12.5" f/6.3 Astrosky/Woden dob
Orion Argonaut Mak-Cass
SV66, SV102ED2, PST/SM40
AP15x70, Oberwerk 12x60
RA88SA, IS 10x42L, 5x32W
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 3919
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mine should arrive today
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
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pcad
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/17/05
Posts: 1364
Loc: Connecticut
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Edwin,
Good luck, I hope you like them as much as I do.
I can think of 3 members that I wouldn't be surprised if they bought the 5x32W Binon's. There are three that might and two that I'm almost 100% sure wouldn't buy them.
Peter
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12.5" f/6.3 Astrosky/Woden dob
Orion Argonaut Mak-Cass
SV66, SV102ED2, PST/SM40
AP15x70, Oberwerk 12x60
RA88SA, IS 10x42L, 5x32W
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DJB
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/23/05
Posts: 1118
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Hi edj,
Interesting point you make about the Porro-II design in both the Expanse and the Binon, in a way.
I have an Expanse also. I'll submit that PROBABLY the coatings on the mirrors won't hold up as well as the prisms naturally will.
BTW, I see that the Orion Expanse is no longer available. However, some Carsons seem to be of the same general nature.
Best regards,
Dave.
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 3919
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Quote:
I count 5 members that bought these in this thread alone. Anyone else in CN order one of the other three that Kevin had?
Peter
Maybe Kevin can give CN members a discount now
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
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