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Steve Chamberlin
sage
Reged: 08/04/05
Posts: 218
Loc: New York City, NY
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On our recent summer vacation where the skies are pretty dark , I decided to give binocular viewing a try while waiting for UPS to deliver my telescope. I've been lurking in this forum a while, so I knew I wanted nothing more than a pair of 10x50's as I'd be hand holding them. I picked up a pair of Orion Ultraview 10x50's.
Wow. Wow. Wow! I can't believe how much fun I had over the two weeks we were there with the binoculars!! At minimum, each day I'd have them out before or after using my scope. I just can't get over how much I enjoyed it.
When I first got back into this hobby about a year ago, I was obsessed with the highest magnification I could get away with, but I'm coming around to the joy of widefield views. Looking at M31 or M13, for example, takes on a whole new dimension with the wide, stereo view. To me, the context of seeing something so big amongst the larger sky is wonderfully captivating!
At one point, my girlfriend, who is terrifically supportive of my hobby and will indulge the occassional look at things in the eyepiece said to me, 'all this telescope equipment and you're looking through binoculars?'. 
It's great to know that when I travel, my binoculars will bring such enjoyment! For anyone that hasn't tried it yet, you really should.
-steve
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C8-XLT, NP-101, TV-76, Starblast 4.5, XT6
Sphinx, EQ5, Microstar/3046, EQ1
TVue 8, 11, 20, 32; Nag 13T6, 16T5, 20T5, 31T5, 3-6Z; Pan35; UWAN 4; TMB/P's
Orion Ultraview 10x50
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 9956
Loc: Lancashire UK
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< For anyone that hasn't tried it yet, you really should. >
Steve ,
It's unlikely that many people reading this forum will NOT have tried looking through binoculars at the night sky :-)
However , you enthusiasm shines like the sun , and is very encouraging to see here .
Welcome to the club !
Clear skies , Kenny
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Two eyes and a preference to use both
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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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12108
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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"your enthusiasm shines like the sun , and is very encouraging to see here "
that it is.
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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Bonco
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/17/06
Posts: 1918
Loc: Florida
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Steve,
While I've just gotten into larger Bino's I think 10X50's are "must have" for avid astro observers. Easy to take with you anywhere, can be hand held, yet enough horsepower to provide stunning views. Clear skies, Bonco
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RV6
Meade 2045
6 inch f/4 RFT R. Fagin Optics
TV Genesis
2.4 inch Lafayette Equitorial
3 inch Polarex/Unitron Equitorial
10 inch Zhumell
PST 40mm Solar scope
4 inch F/15 Antares
2.4 inch Unitron Equitorial
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 9956
Loc: Lancashire UK
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Bonco ,
I was just thinking along similar lines myself !
As is the case with the old Binoculars VERSUS Telescopes debates , the TRUTH , the WHOLE TRUTH , and NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH is that smaller , lower magnification , wider field BINOCULARS serve to COMPLEMENT their larger brethren , rather than COMPETE with them .
Kenny
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Two eyes and a preference to use both
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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Steve Chamberlin
sage
Reged: 08/04/05
Posts: 218
Loc: New York City, NY
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Quote:
...smaller , lower magnification , wider field BINOCULARS serve to COMPLEMENT their larger brethren , rather than COMPETE with them .
I'm certainly sold. It's also helping me learn more of the night sky and increasing the number of objects I can hop to in my scope.
As an example, I was able to find the Andromeda Galaxy with the binoculars and it looks wonderful with all the stars around it. Then, becuase the binoculars helped me find it in the sky, I was actually able to spot it naked eye. Throughout the week, I kept looking up and finding it. Really helps connect to the universe up there.
Now that I'm back home in Manhattan, I look up and can just barely see the stars in Cassopeia, but I know where M31 is hiding behind the light pollution.
-steve
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C8-XLT, NP-101, TV-76, Starblast 4.5, XT6
Sphinx, EQ5, Microstar/3046, EQ1
TVue 8, 11, 20, 32; Nag 13T6, 16T5, 20T5, 31T5, 3-6Z; Pan35; UWAN 4; TMB/P's
Orion Ultraview 10x50
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charen
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 05/28/05
Posts: 755
Loc: New Zealand
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I have been a telescope man for 30 odd years but recently I have renewed my interest in binocular astronomy. I aquired a excellent Japanese 15x80 bino about 2 months ago and every night it has been clear I have been using it - even my ED100 is starting to gather dust. Sagittarius, Scorpius and the Crux [Southern Cross]are high over head at the moment and on clear moon less nights the views are stunning.
I think also two eye viewing is just more relaxing and adds that '3D' effect.
Now I have my eye on a 25x100 - maybe a early Christamas present to my self.
I should add - I am a Souhern Hemisphere observer [New Zealand] and if my fellow observers in the Northern Hemisphere have not been down to this part of the world try to make it sometime and bring your biggest bino - you will not be disappointed.
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35 binos.
80mm Cat.
WO66ED
SV NH 80mm / EQ3
Meade 8in.LX90
Skywatcher Equinox ED120 / Goto HEQ5.
Edited by charen (08/10/06 11:58 PM)
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 9956
Loc: Lancashire UK
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Charen ,
Having visited New Zealand , albeit only the once , I envy your skies ( amongst many other features of that lovely country )
Kenny
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Two eyes and a preference to use both
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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JHollJr
sage
Reged: 06/10/06
Posts: 204
Loc: Quantico, Virginia
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A bit repetitive, but I always have my 10x50's with me when I use my telescope. The other night I had a guest over and we looked at Jupiter and several "showpiece" double stars with the 3.5", which I usually use when the moon is bright. When we were finished I just sat in a lawn chair with binoculars for over an hour scanning the Milky Way. I also wanted to see Chi Cygni, which was easy to find. It was hard to put the binoculars away for the night. My dog is always with me and, although he doesn't look through the binos, he loves to be out at night and "help" me with my viewing.
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Justin
Northern Virginia
Celestron Nexstar 8i SE
Questar 3.5 purchased 1980
Leica Ultravid 10x50's
Oberwerk 20x80 Ultra Lights
UA UniMount Light Deluxe
Horrible Eyes
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14047
Loc: Houma Louisiana
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Steve C -
Welcome to the all-consuming obsession that is binocular astronomy. Once you go "two eyed", you'll never go back!
Charen -
Quote:
I am a Souhern Hemisphere observer [New Zealand] and if my fellow observers in the Northern Hemisphere have not been down to this part of the world try to make it sometime and bring your biggest bino - you will not be disappointed.
After watching the Lord of Rings movies, which were filmed on location in NZ, I have pined for those beautiful landscapes and mountains - as many Americans probably have. And how lucky you are to get good views of Omega Centauri, LMC and SMC, Tarantula, and all the other southern sky goodies. I've seen Omega Centauri once through the big binoculars but it was very low on the horizon and not very impressive from this vantage point.
Justin -
I just noticed in your signature that you have "horrible eyes" on your equipment list.  Look on the bright side, you have the perfect fix for poor eyes, a QUESTAR. 
Clear dark skies...
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & Celestial Irons
Gear : Astro-Tech 66ED on custom GEM, assorted binoculars, RKE & UO Ortho eyepieces.
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rushintuit
sage
Reged: 04/01/06
Posts: 249
Loc: Farpoint Observatory
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Why look at a boulder when you can view the entire mountain!
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/// Stellarvue SV102ED /// Nikon 12x50SE /// Fujinon 16x70 /// SkyTools 2 /// The Desktop Universe All Sky CCD Mosaic In Monochrome Mode ///
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Steve Chamberlin
sage
Reged: 08/04/05
Posts: 218
Loc: New York City, NY
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One question I have: Even though I've been hand-holding them most of the time, there were a couple of occasions where I wanted to put them on my small camera tripod. I bought an L bracket for this purpose.
This works fine for objects in the lower part of the sky, but not so well for objects higher up. Is there a very small version of a paralellogram mount, or something else, that is still small, that I can use to make viewing higher up more comfortable? The tripod does have a head that moves around in all directions and elevations, but I can't seem to get the legs of the tripod out of the way when sitting in a chair.
Thanks,
-steve c.
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C8-XLT, NP-101, TV-76, Starblast 4.5, XT6
Sphinx, EQ5, Microstar/3046, EQ1
TVue 8, 11, 20, 32; Nag 13T6, 16T5, 20T5, 31T5, 3-6Z; Pan35; UWAN 4; TMB/P's
Orion Ultraview 10x50
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JHollJr
sage
Reged: 06/10/06
Posts: 204
Loc: Quantico, Virginia
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Steve,
I just thought it was important to list eyesight in my equipment list. I bought the Questar new in 1980 and don't think that I will ever get rid of it. I don't use it as much as I use my binoculars, though.
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Justin
Northern Virginia
Celestron Nexstar 8i SE
Questar 3.5 purchased 1980
Leica Ultravid 10x50's
Oberwerk 20x80 Ultra Lights
UA UniMount Light Deluxe
Horrible Eyes
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 9956
Loc: Lancashire UK
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< I just thought it was important to list eyesight in my equipment list. >
And you are quite correct to do so Justin !
In my opinion , our eyes are THE most important link in the optical chain , bar none .
That said , give me GOOD quality binoculars over trash any time ! :-)
Kenny
--------------------
Two eyes and a preference to use both
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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