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Equipment Discussions >> Binoculars

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alfredbird
journeyman


Reged: 02/14/06
Posts: 5
Loc: Sydney, Australia
Pentax PCF WPII 10x50 or 12x50 new
      #1066200 - 07/29/06 07:41 AM

as I freshman in this field, I decide to start my star gazing with binoculars.

Now I plan to order Pentax PCF WPII, but not decide go with 10x50 or 12x50.

1. 10x50 should be a better start point, but I found on some review say than 12x can see much more than 10x.
2. I don't know 5.0 degree vs 4.2 degree will affect me a lot of recognize night sky.
3. I'm 27, so I believe my eye pupil is more than 5mm, so 12x50 has 4.2mm exit pupil probably too small for me?
4. WPII's usable ER is enough for wearing eyeglasses?
4. last, I read some reviews say WPII's QC is worse than previos versions. I want to know for a new guy, this series is still a good choice or not now?

many thanks.


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edwincjones
Post Laureate
*****

Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4104
Re: Pentax PCF WPII 10x50 or 12x50 new [Re: alfredbird]
      #1066211 - 07/29/06 07:57 AM

For me, the issue would be hand steadyness. 12x for many require a tripod.

edj

--------------------

n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy



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alfredbird
journeyman


Reged: 02/14/06
Posts: 5
Loc: Sydney, Australia
Re: Pentax PCF WPII 10x50 or 12x50 new [Re: edwincjones]
      #1066220 - 07/29/06 08:05 AM

I prefer hand hold for new bino. Pextax website states they are almost same weight, so hand hold 12x50 will be a problem?

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EdZModerator
Professor EdZ
*****

Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12102
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
Re: Pentax PCF WPII 10x50 or 12x50 new [Re: alfredbird]
      #1066427 - 07/29/06 11:57 AM

Quote:

hand hold 12x50 will be a problem?




More because of the magnification rather than the weight. Not so bad for scanning around, but difficult to hold 12x still for detailed observing.

edz

--------------------
Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21


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CactusButt
sage


Reged: 01/25/06
Posts: 349
Loc: Deep in the Heart of Texas
Re: Pentax PCF WPII 10x50 or 12x50 new [Re: alfredbird]
      #1069541 - 07/31/06 12:09 PM

The Pentax 12x50's are my first binoculars. As other have stated, they are difficult for me to hold steady. I find them hard to get focused, probaly because I can't hold them still. I wish I would have gone with the 10x50s.

I will probably be looking at selling them or getting a mount.

--------------------
Barry
--------------------
Meade LX200GPS 10" : Scopey
Orion 80ED : Smokey
Willam Optics ZenithStar 66SD - Patriot Edition : Sammy
Coronado PST - Double Stacked : Sunny
Vixen PortaMount
Denkmeier Standard Binoviewers
Pentax PCF WP II 12x50


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Penarin
Pooh-Bah
*****

Reged: 11/22/04
Posts: 1063
Loc: Orion, IL
Re: Pentax PCF WPII 10x50 or 12x50 new [Re: CactusButt]
      #1071781 - 08/01/06 03:39 PM

Once you click down the eye guards, the 10x50s work great with glasses. Can't help you with the ER on the 12x50s...

--------------------
Meade 6" f/8 refractor
Orion Atlas (EQ6) mount
Oberwerk 25 x 100IF
Pentax 10x50 PCF WP II
Orion Outsider 8 x 40 WA



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Rich V.
scholastic sledgehammer
*****

Reged: 01/02/05
Posts: 884
Loc: Carson Valley, Nevada USA
Re: Pentax PCF WPII 10x50 or 12x50 new [Re: CactusButt]
      #1072184 - 08/01/06 07:25 PM

CB,

You don't have to give up on the 12x bin, it can be better for astronomy in a number of ways, it's just that you need some help keeping it steady.

Have you considered a tall monopod? For one, Kevin at BigBinoculars sells a Giottos monopod with a Bogen tilt head that is 6' tall and works quite well with 12-16x binoculars. It weighs under 2#. http://www.bigbinoculars.com/monopod.htm

It just might do the trick for you.

Rich V

--------------------
Binoculars: 33-150x100 Saturn III, 16x70FMT-SX, 10x50 PCF-V, 10x43 DCF-SP, 10x35 E2, 7x35 E, 8x30 E2, 7x26 Custom, 8x23AS Diplomat, 8x23 Travelite
Scopes: C9.25, 6" f8 reflector, SV80S


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CactusButt
sage


Reged: 01/25/06
Posts: 349
Loc: Deep in the Heart of Texas
Re: Pentax PCF WPII 10x50 or 12x50 new [Re: Rich V.]
      #1073135 - 08/02/06 11:22 AM

Rich, I probably will not give up them and thanks for the link. I had not really wanted to tripod mount them, so maybe a monopod like in the link would be the ticket...so many accessories in this great hobby...

--------------------
Barry
--------------------
Meade LX200GPS 10" : Scopey
Orion 80ED : Smokey
Willam Optics ZenithStar 66SD - Patriot Edition : Sammy
Coronado PST - Double Stacked : Sunny
Vixen PortaMount
Denkmeier Standard Binoviewers
Pentax PCF WP II 12x50


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kentak
sage


Reged: 07/09/03
Posts: 441
Loc: Colorado, USA
Re: Pentax PCF WPII 10x50 or 12x50 [Re: CactusButt]
      #1089262 - 08/11/06 01:16 PM

I have a pair of 12x50's and if you sit in a lounge chair and prop your elbows on the rests they quite well. I really like them, and the price was right.

--------------------
Ken
N8i
80ED
C8-NGT
Celestron 25x100


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