Markus
Postmaster
Reged: 12/26/04
Posts: 5409
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Pawn shops have some rare finds indeed. I remember just last year finding a pair of Carl Zeiss Jena 8x30W for only $30.00 Canadian !!!
I sold them for $80.00 and the buyer knew they needed to be collimated and he turned around and sold them for even more !!! LOL
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25X100 Skymasters
15X70 Skymasters
Home built Parallelogram Mount
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brentwood
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/04/05
Posts: 702
Loc: BC Canada
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I bought some of those too, and I paid $30 as well! Mine were in perfect collimation, they work really well.
Other good German glass buys were;
Leitz 10x40 Trinovids (the wider angle model) for $15,
West German Zeiss 8x20 roof for $12.50,
WW2 Zeiss military 7x50 $19.95.
The Pawn shop market seems to be 'drying up' though as many are closing up around here. They tell me it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to operate with all the stolen property rules and all the competition from the cheque cashing places.
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Big telescope.Small telescopes.
Ridiculous binocular collection
I've cut it twice and it's still too short.
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fbf350
member
Reged: 12/31/06
Posts: 85
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Can anyone provide some information on an old pair of binos that my father gave me. They are a pair Sears model 6211 10x50mm. FOV 299ft @ 1000yds. On the front, the hinge cap says MOP Japan. Just to the left is stamped J-E1, to the right J-B34. I always remember these binos being around the house, so they are at least from the late 60's or early 70's.
The views are rather good, even with the BAK-7 prisms. Collimation is very good. The coatings appear fine with no scratches, though I did have to clean the outer lens surfaces.
Thanks,
Joe
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Celestron C6SE
Apogee RA-88-SA Binoculars
Oberwerk 22x100 Binoculars
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fbf350
member
Reged: 12/31/06
Posts: 85
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Front view of markings.
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Celestron C6SE
Apogee RA-88-SA Binoculars
Oberwerk 22x100 Binoculars
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Simon S
super member
Reged: 01/07/07
Posts: 153
Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK
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I can't add much on these really. Some are good , some bad. I would expect average optical performance, probably fully coated and definitely using BK7 prisms. Also fairly narrow field. But the sentimental value should make them special no doubt.
Edited by Simon S (11/23/08 05:56 AM)
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orbitaljump
sage
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 229
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Ditto.
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My God, it's full of stars!
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Simon S
super member
Reged: 01/07/07
Posts: 153
Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK
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Could not resist (as usual) these unheard of pair of 8x40 wide angle bins. They came from my usual source and arrived in there original box and case. They are stamped jb113 and je9 and the optics and general condition is as new.
The view is what really took me by surprise. Image is warm in tone, field of view is great, but the sharpness is possibly the best I have seen in a 8x40 binocular including the Swift Saratoga. This is what feeds my enthusiasm for collecting old binoculars, the thrill of looking through an instrument that most people have rejected as being to old, heavy and outdated.
Edited by Simon S (11/23/08 06:24 AM)
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orbitaljump
sage
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 229
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Nice score Simon, I just picked up some Mirakel 7x35 420ft, that beat the B&L Zephyr 7x35s that I have. Nice coatings, nice FOV, very sharp and contrasty.
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My God, it's full of stars!
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Mike Conley
sage
Reged: 09/23/07
Posts: 294
Loc: NW Ohio
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Thanks for starting this thread, very interesting. Love the vintage stuff.
Mike
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Simon S
super member
Reged: 01/07/07
Posts: 153
Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK
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And here is another famous British binocular. The Ross Stepnada. A nice chunky 7x30 binocular that is highly collectible and has good optical performance and wide field of view. There are two versions, coated and uncoated, but one is better! Yes the uncoated binoculars where reported as using better prism glass and I can confirm this as I have both models. Not an astronomy binocular but still a classic first rate porro!
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/binoculars/
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orbitaljump
sage
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 229
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Ross are alright with me, Simon.
Ive been promising pics of the Kowa. Im wondering if I should start there own thread and do a mini review of them. What say you?
I have a half dozen more pics and I need to do a daytime pic of the coatings. I also have numerous other binoculars to compare them too. Most listed below, which ones should I include in the comparison? Thanks for your help Simon(or anybody). Ive been reading Edz helpful sticky about writing reviews...so that has been a big help.
Edited by orbitaljump (12/06/08 01:30 AM)
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orbitaljump
sage
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 229
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I just got these today, they are pretty clean inside, just need some light cleaning on the outside.
Optics are pretty good, BK7 prisms. Single layer coatings thin...blue tint. These are lacking in contrast compared to the Kowa 7x35 above. Field is 531ft. These are a lot like the Jason MagnaVue's that Binofan has at his site.
http://fantao.home.att.net/jmagvue.htm
Edited by orbitaljump (12/06/08 01:49 AM)
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orbitaljump
sage
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 229
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Here are 4 binoculars. Swift 8.5x44 804R 430ft, Jason (MagnaVue) 7x35 531ft, Kowa 7x35 10 degrees, Bausch & Lomb Zephyr 9x35 (field unknown but not wide). The Kowas are the bulkiest and have the largest prism and eyepiece housings.
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My God, it's full of stars!
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Edited by orbitaljump (12/05/08 04:58 PM)
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10446
Loc: Lancashire UK
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O.J
Just to say thank you for enlivening this thread in recent times .
I follow every one of yours and all other posts here with great interest .
Kind 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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orbitaljump
sage
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 229
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Thanks KennyJ. Ive been trying to participate here. I enjoy your posts as well, and you give some serious good advice to newcomers and the less knowledgable. Kudos.
I really ejoy everybody's posts on this thread, especially Simons....or those with pics. Pics are good.
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My God, it's full of stars!
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Edited by orbitaljump (12/06/08 01:42 AM)
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orbitaljump
sage
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 229
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Here is the Mirakel Special that I picked up the other day. Excellent sharpness and contrast, plus a wide field of 420ft. BK7 prisms. These are so good, I would rank them as almost as good as Nikon 7x35Es WHEN the human pupil is smaller than the exit pupil for daytime use...however the build quality as you can see is much better on the Nikons.
The Kowas above are a tad bit better than these optically.....and their build quality is much better as well. The Kowas are built like a tank and they use oversize BaK4 prisms and the large eypiece barrel portends to good things inside....but they weigh more than any of the other binos in this group(including the 30oz Swifts....pay no attention to the Featherweight designation which I think indicates Magnesium Alloy(or Alumunimum Alloy) bodies/frames generally)....I would say the Kowas are the match of the swifts optically but cant touch them ergonomically(perhaps the older Type 2 Audubons though). I would say that the Kowa Wide is a better binocular all things considered than the Type 2 Audubons.
However this Mirakel is a similar size to the 9x35 Zephyrs above(including the smaller size eyepiece barrels) with perhaps slightly enlarged prism housings. Its a much more ergonomic carry and handholding than the Kowas. The Zephyrs are the lightest weight bino here and have excellent build as well, better than the Kowas perhaps....B&Ls best, Made in America in the 50s and 60s. Later versions of the B&L Zephyr were made in Japan...then they replace them with the Discovery series in the 70s(also made in Japan) and these were a bit heavier than the original Zephyrs. The Mirakels are a bit heavier than the Zephyrs as well. The Zephyrs have threaded barrels for baffles(as well do the Swifts and the mentioned Nikon 7x35E. Interestingly enough, the Nikon 8x30E doesnt have threaded barrels.
The Mirakels are JE4 and JB138. No markings on the Kowa(I guess it isnt necessary). No markings on the Jason.
Sorry for rambling. 
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My God, it's full of stars!
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Edited by orbitaljump (12/06/08 02:00 AM)
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orbitaljump
sage
Reged: 01/29/06
Posts: 229
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Added pics to the Kowa pic post above.
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My God, it's full of stars!
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10446
Loc: Lancashire UK
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Interesting overnight additions OJ !
I like the sticker indicating FULLY CHECKED .
I've never seen one that states ONLY PARTIALLY CHECKED , although I've seen a few binoculars that would have warranted one ! :-)
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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Simon S
super member
Reged: 01/07/07
Posts: 153
Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK
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Great people are adding intresting binoculars here. Keep them coming please, thay are all very interesting.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/binoculars/
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Simon S
super member
Reged: 01/07/07
Posts: 153
Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK
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OK, this is a pair I have had for a while now. They are labeled FKS with Mignon coated lenses! WOW!
They are fairly narrow field even for a 7x50 and have light blue/purple lens coatings. Prisms are low index, and they are not particualy bright. They are however sharp from centre to almost the edge of the field. Yet another good solid binocular that you can pick up for next to nothing.
Edited by Simon S (12/06/08 01:08 PM)
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