Telescope Reviews: Zoom Binacular

Davaid ,

I'm relieved you've actually SEEN FOR YOURSELF the kind of things many people here have been trying to tell you over the past couple of days !

Over the years , there have been a wider range of binocularspecifications with regard to combinations of magnification x objective lens diameter than most people may realise , but 14 x 50 is not one I've ever come across .

Even if I had , unless it were an expensive image stabilised model , I don't think I would be at all interested in one anyway .

If your intention is to HAND HOLD binoculars , my advice is do NOT get over excited about HIGHER MAGNIFICATION , which , after more than 40 years of using binoculars , I think is probably the most COMMONLY OVERATED feature of any feature binoculars have .

For out and out ASTRONOMY , using LARGE binoculars ALWAYS MOUNTED , then higher magnification IS a very important factor , but even then , only within reason and to a point , that point USUALLY being whereby the exit - pupil remains at least 3mm , in MOST cases , at least 4mm , and in SOME cases , up to 7mm .

There ARE exceptions to this rule , but for binoculars which are intended for ALL ROUND USE , chiefly HAND - HELD , I would stick to a MAXIMUM of 10x magnification and a MINIMUM exit - pupil of 4mm .

I'm trusting you fully understand what EXIT - PUPIL means .

So , for ALL - ROUND , HAND - HELD use , wihtout image stabilisation , a few basic guidelines :

7 x 35 = good
7 x 42 = good
7 x 50 = good
8 x 40 = good
8 x 42 = good
8 x 50 = good
8.5 x 42 = good
10 x 42 = good
10 x 50 = good
12 x 50 = marginal
12 x 40 = not so good
15 x 50 = considerable WORSE than 12 x 40

ANYTHING ABOVE 15x magnification is too HIGH for hand - held use .

If you want to view objects MILES away in the daytime , and STILL see some kind of DETAIL , whatever you use needs to be MOUNTED STEADILY .

In my humble opinion , you are more likely to find a SPOTTING SCOPE better suited for that kind of viewing than any kind of binoculars .

There is no " one fix all " tool , the likes of which , on paper at least , a ZOOM BINOCULAR may appear to be .

Something like 7x , 8x or 10x 40mm or 50mm binoculars COMBINED with a MOUNTED , larger spotting scope of around 80mm , for magnifications up to 60x , is what I've found to be a very satisfying combination for all kinds of terrestrial observations .

Good luck ,

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