Gaz O'C
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/02/05
Posts: 1260
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I'm looking for a pair of large binos, I was going to go for a pair of 15x70 (I already have 10x50s for general use) but some 11x80 came up S/H? Can these be handheld for any length of time? I know they will be heavier than the 70s but the lesser magnification may make them easier to use?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
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14" f4.5 Dob
10" Meade SCT
180mm f15 Mak/Cass
127mm f12 Mak/Cass
150mm f5 refractor
ED100
EQ6 Skyscan
HEQ5
EQ2
http://stargazerslounge.co.uk/
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Rich N
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 5303
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif...
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Hi Gaz O'C,
15x is so difficult for me to hand hold (viewing the night sky) I miss more than I see. Holding the 11x80 should be ok for brief views of the night sky.
Rich
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SaberScorpX
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/12/05
Posts: 4120
Loc: illinois, usa
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Hi Gaz-
The steadiness at 11x will be offset by the 80's extra weight.
I see a 15x70 as the next significant step-up, while still being
handholdable for casual cruising.
The 15x50IS is a sweet but pricey ride.
Your turn, Kenny.
Saber Does The Stars at:
http://www.astronomyblogs.com/member/saberscorpx/
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10083
Loc: Lancashire UK
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Gaz ,
Given that you already have 10 x 50s ( and a considerable array of scopes , I notice ! ) then unless your location has EXCEPTIONALLY dark skies , I cannot imagine the jump to 11 x 80s is going to blow you away .
In any event , to consider 80mm binoculars SPECIFICALLY for HAND - HOLDING seems almost as crazy as me spending Christmas Eve night trying to answer queries such as yours ! :-)
15 x 70s CAN be hand - held , but in my humble opinion , any binoculars over 10x magnification ( apart from image stabilised binoculars ) OR above 60mm size , are MUCH better mounted .
If you are thinking about the simplicity and freedom of HAND - HELD binoculars , I honestly think that a more promising addition to YOUR observing armoury would be something like a Canon 15 x 50 image stabilised binocular .
Regards , 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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Rich N
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 5303
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif...
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Dittos on the Canon 15x50 IS. Even with the smaller aperture you would see far more when hand holding the Canon 15x50 IS than the 15x70 hand hald.
I have a Canon 15x50 IS and an Orion 15x63 Mini Giant. Yes, the Canon has better optics but the IS really makes the big difference in the views through the two binoculars.
Rich
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1639
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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Perhaps you would be so good as to give us an idea what your budget is. The Canon 15x50 IS is a $1000 wallet buster. 
Kenny is right, binoculars over 10x are going to give their best images mounted.
However, you have guys like Stephen (Saber) and myself who love to take "joy-rides" through the heavens handholding 20x80 and 30x80 giant light weight binoculars. 
If you don't have the money to spend on the Canon IS I would say to go ahead with your original idea and look into the 15x70's, or, Fujinon 16x70 FMT-SX binoculars if you can afford them. 
Merry Christmas to you and all the folks at cloudynights. 
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Pentax 12x50mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 16x60mm PCF WP FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 20x60mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Orion 12x63mm Mini Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 15x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 16x80mm Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 20x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 30x80mm MEGAView FMC/JAPAN
Barska 30x80mm X-Trail LW FC
Burgess Optical Series II 20x90mm FMC/WP/FP
Handel's Messiah**Hallelujah! For the LORD God Omnipotent Reigneth
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Rich N
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 5303
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif...
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Some sites have the Canon 15x50 IS for $769 USD, after a rebate.
Rich
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Bob W6PU
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/23/04
Posts: 2187
Loc: Springer-N.E.NM
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Gaz O'C, I own a Vixen 11x80 and the Oberwerk 15x70, and did write a review on these and my other binoculars, which can be viewed on this forum.
I use both of these mainly to spot objects of interest for my 10" Treckerscope Newt.
Even though my Oberwerk objectives are 10mm smaller than the Vixens, the extra magnification of the 15x70 allows me to spot fainter DSOs!
The Japanese Vixens are quite heavy at five pounds, and difficult to hold for any length of time. My Oberwerk is much lighter, and for the purpose that I use it for, I have no difficulty controling it with the higher power.
Hope that this helps!
Cheers!
Bob
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SaberScorpX
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/12/05
Posts: 4120
Loc: illinois, usa
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Joyrides. I like that.
The bino equilvalent of taking the Hog off the blocks
and out for a roadtrip.
Saber Does The Stars at:
http://www.astronomyblogs.com/member/saberscorpx/
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Gaz O'C
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/02/05
Posts: 1260
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Thanks for the advice guys, I think I'll stick with the 10x50 and look to get a pair of 15x70 at a later date.
Many thanks.
--------------------
14" f4.5 Dob
10" Meade SCT
180mm f15 Mak/Cass
127mm f12 Mak/Cass
150mm f5 refractor
ED100
EQ6 Skyscan
HEQ5
EQ2
http://stargazerslounge.co.uk/
|
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