Joe Ogiba
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/14/02
Posts: 3362
Loc: NJ USA
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I was out with my Garrett Optical 28x110 HD-WP Signature Series binoculars comparing them to my Apogee 25x100's. They have the best fit and finish of all the big porro binoculars I have seen and have the best looking coatings IMHO. I mounted them on my 475/501 combo and 12" Helix Hercules fork mount on a Bogen 3040 tripod with the fork mount being more stable since the 16 lb weight is above the 13.3 lb 501 head rating.
So far I have seen my best binocular views ever of everything I looked at like M42, Saturn the moon etc. It's not a huge jump in performance over 25x100's but it's noticeable in all departments like image size, contrast, false color etc. They were shipped in a large box with extra foam padding on both ends and bubble wrap wrapped around the case and also inside the case. All that carefull packing was worth it since they arrived with accurate collimation.
Anyone looking for the most light gathering power from a porro binocular this is the one to get and it has the best all around quality.
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Pentax PF-80ED
Meade 102ED APO
Orion EON 72
120ST
Apex 127
C6 XLT
CR150
C9.25
XT10
Zeiss 7x42 FL
Canon 10x42L IS WP
15x50 IS
12x36 IS II
Garrett Optical 28x110 HD-WP Signature Series
Oberwerk BT-80 45
Apogee RA-88-SA
Denk II Power x Switch binoviewer w/13mm Ethos, 20mm Pentax XW's, 20mm Widescan III's.
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4428
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sounds like a winner
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
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camvan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/02/05
Posts: 2086
Loc: British Columbia
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them's is beautiful binoculars! and I think I figured out why I was confused with asking how the 85's looked bigger than your 100's. Chopin bought the 85's, so I musta got the two of you confuzzled 
does the 501 break a sweat handling them or is it good enough?
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Cameron
"Aperture can only be replaced by even more aperture. Dark transparent skies cannot be replaced by anything else." - Stathis Kafalis
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STEEL
member
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 77
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The stars are punctiform to the edge of the field?
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Joe Ogiba
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/14/02
Posts: 3362
Loc: NJ USA
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Quote:
them's is beautiful binoculars! and I think I figured out why I was confused with asking how the 85's looked bigger than your 100's. Chopin bought the 85's, so I musta got the two of you confuzzled
does the 501 break a sweat handling them or is it good enough?
The 501 head holds them steady without a problem as long as they are balanced but the 12" fork mount has a much higher weight rating.
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Pentax PF-80ED
Meade 102ED APO
Orion EON 72
120ST
Apex 127
C6 XLT
CR150
C9.25
XT10
Zeiss 7x42 FL
Canon 10x42L IS WP
15x50 IS
12x36 IS II
Garrett Optical 28x110 HD-WP Signature Series
Oberwerk BT-80 45
Apogee RA-88-SA
Denk II Power x Switch binoviewer w/13mm Ethos, 20mm Pentax XW's, 20mm Widescan III's.
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Joe Ogiba
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/14/02
Posts: 3362
Loc: NJ USA
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Quote:
The stars are punctiform to the edge of the field?
The stars are sharp in the center 50% of the FOV but slowly drop off as you get to edge and since they have 64° AFOV the view looks sharp because I can't see the edge because the useable eye relief is only 11mm.
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Pentax PF-80ED
Meade 102ED APO
Orion EON 72
120ST
Apex 127
C6 XLT
CR150
C9.25
XT10
Zeiss 7x42 FL
Canon 10x42L IS WP
15x50 IS
12x36 IS II
Garrett Optical 28x110 HD-WP Signature Series
Oberwerk BT-80 45
Apogee RA-88-SA
Denk II Power x Switch binoviewer w/13mm Ethos, 20mm Pentax XW's, 20mm Widescan III's.
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johnno
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 05/03/04
Posts: 807
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Thanks for,The
Nice Report and Pictures Joe.
They look Stunning.
Regards.John
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14693
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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Mighty nice glass you have there Joe.
Makes me pine for my old 22x85 SS...!
The build, glass and coatings on these new Series-8 binos is top-notch. Probably the best binoculars coming out of China right now.
Regards and clear 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, & 35 different falls and types!
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LunaC
super member
Reged: 10/06/06
Posts: 198
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Joe, maybe a bent forward mast for counterbalance would help out with the 501? If it is that close to working it shouldn't take much weight or length to help out.
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Joe Ogiba
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/14/02
Posts: 3362
Loc: NJ USA
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I just slide them on the mounting bar to get them balanced and it works ok with the 501 head.
--------------------
Pentax PF-80ED
Meade 102ED APO
Orion EON 72
120ST
Apex 127
C6 XLT
CR150
C9.25
XT10
Zeiss 7x42 FL
Canon 10x42L IS WP
15x50 IS
12x36 IS II
Garrett Optical 28x110 HD-WP Signature Series
Oberwerk BT-80 45
Apogee RA-88-SA
Denk II Power x Switch binoviewer w/13mm Ethos, 20mm Pentax XW's, 20mm Widescan III's.
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STEEL
member
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 77
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The stars in the 20x110 are cutting to 75% of the field, because are more punctiform?
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Joe Ogiba
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/14/02
Posts: 3362
Loc: NJ USA
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All the stars look like points of light in my 28x110's because with 11mm useable eye relief I don't see the edge of the 64° AFOV. The 20x110's have 54° AFOV with 15mm useable eye relief so the edge should be visable.To see the full 64° AFOV in my 28x110's I have to look into one of the eyepieces on an angle.
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Pentax PF-80ED
Meade 102ED APO
Orion EON 72
120ST
Apex 127
C6 XLT
CR150
C9.25
XT10
Zeiss 7x42 FL
Canon 10x42L IS WP
15x50 IS
12x36 IS II
Garrett Optical 28x110 HD-WP Signature Series
Oberwerk BT-80 45
Apogee RA-88-SA
Denk II Power x Switch binoviewer w/13mm Ethos, 20mm Pentax XW's, 20mm Widescan III's.
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Chopin
Canis Insanus
Reged: 02/03/05
Posts: 3382
Loc: In the doghouse.
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Joe,
Excellent images! I'd love to have that baby in the stable beside my 15x85. 
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JasonŽ
Phlog
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10155
Loc: Lancashire UK
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Joe ,
Is there the same facility for attaching a neck strap to the 110mm as there is on Chopin's 85mm little brother ?
I would actually LOVE to see one of these beasts dangling from one's neck ( as opposed to seeing someone's neck dangling from the beast ) ! :-)
It would make a great OPERA glass for a true eccentric :-)
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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Joe Ogiba
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/14/02
Posts: 3362
Loc: NJ USA
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Kenny, yes they share the same prism body as the 85mm version but at 16 lbs I would not want to try hanging them from my neck.
Joe
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Pentax PF-80ED
Meade 102ED APO
Orion EON 72
120ST
Apex 127
C6 XLT
CR150
C9.25
XT10
Zeiss 7x42 FL
Canon 10x42L IS WP
15x50 IS
12x36 IS II
Garrett Optical 28x110 HD-WP Signature Series
Oberwerk BT-80 45
Apogee RA-88-SA
Denk II Power x Switch binoviewer w/13mm Ethos, 20mm Pentax XW's, 20mm Widescan III's.
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Joe Ogiba
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/14/02
Posts: 3362
Loc: NJ USA
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Quote:
Joe,
Excellent images! I'd love to have that baby in the stable beside my 15x85.
Jason, I like your review on the 15x85's and I see you could see the fieldstop with the eyeguards folded and that is what I expected with the longer eye relief and smaller AFOV. I removed the rubber eyeguards on my 28x110's and I could see part of the fieldstop but not the full 360° at one time. I stripped the eyepieces on my Apogee 25x100's down to the barrel and I could see the full FOV and it's like looking into a 25x wide angle binocular. I use then more for daytime use and I could focus as close as about 50 ft or so and birds look great at that close range.
Joe
--------------------
Pentax PF-80ED
Meade 102ED APO
Orion EON 72
120ST
Apex 127
C6 XLT
CR150
C9.25
XT10
Zeiss 7x42 FL
Canon 10x42L IS WP
15x50 IS
12x36 IS II
Garrett Optical 28x110 HD-WP Signature Series
Oberwerk BT-80 45
Apogee RA-88-SA
Denk II Power x Switch binoviewer w/13mm Ethos, 20mm Pentax XW's, 20mm Widescan III's.
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Joe Ogiba
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/14/02
Posts: 3362
Loc: NJ USA
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Mike, I agree the new BA8 Series binos are top notch and I see they have a 70mm APO coming out. 
Joe
--------------------
Pentax PF-80ED
Meade 102ED APO
Orion EON 72
120ST
Apex 127
C6 XLT
CR150
C9.25
XT10
Zeiss 7x42 FL
Canon 10x42L IS WP
15x50 IS
12x36 IS II
Garrett Optical 28x110 HD-WP Signature Series
Oberwerk BT-80 45
Apogee RA-88-SA
Denk II Power x Switch binoviewer w/13mm Ethos, 20mm Pentax XW's, 20mm Widescan III's.
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12591
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Quote:
It would make a great OPERA glass for a true eccentric
For many I suspect it would truly allow us to get far enough away from the opera to enjoy it.
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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Joe Ogiba
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/14/02
Posts: 3362
Loc: NJ USA
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John, I see in Sydney last night they turned off the lights for one hour from 7:30 to 8:30 PM and the Sydney Observatory opened its doors to let stargazers see the night sky over Sydney as they had never seen it before. I hope more cities worldwide do that. 
Joe
--------------------
Pentax PF-80ED
Meade 102ED APO
Orion EON 72
120ST
Apex 127
C6 XLT
CR150
C9.25
XT10
Zeiss 7x42 FL
Canon 10x42L IS WP
15x50 IS
12x36 IS II
Garrett Optical 28x110 HD-WP Signature Series
Oberwerk BT-80 45
Apogee RA-88-SA
Denk II Power x Switch binoviewer w/13mm Ethos, 20mm Pentax XW's, 20mm Widescan III's.
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10155
Loc: Lancashire UK
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< I hope more cities worldwide do that. >
Wouldn't it be nice if EVERY town and city in a given country could do that every once in a while ? !
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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pcad
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/17/05
Posts: 1501
Loc: Connecticut
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Hi Joe,
Hadn't noticed the mention of a 70mm apo series 8 before. Thanks for the heads up. I wonder who's going to market it.
Gee, maybe the new Orion BT70 is the 70mm apo mentioned? Naahhh....
Peter
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Peter
Telescopes 25 - 318 mm
Binoculars 15 - 88 mm
Microscope 50x - 1000x
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ngc6475
Fearless Spectator
Reged: 03/02/02
Posts: 4790
Loc: Northern Sierra Foothills
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"...I can't see the edge because the useable eye relief is only 11mm."
The usable ER on many of the better Chinese binoculars is too short for most eyeglass wearers. This is too bad, particularly considering the overall quality of the binoculars is otherwise very good.
Still, I hope you enjoy your new binoculars, Joe! Keep us posted as to their performance! 
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Walter
"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest."
-Mark Twain
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Chopin
Canis Insanus
Reged: 02/03/05
Posts: 3382
Loc: In the doghouse.
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Quote:
Quote:
Joe,
Excellent images! I'd love to have that baby in the stable beside my 15x85.
Jason, I like your review on the 15x85's and I see you could see the fieldstop with the eyeguards folded and that is what I expected with the longer eye relief and smaller AFOV. I removed the rubber eyeguards on my 28x110's and I could see part of the fieldstop but not the full 360° at one time. I stripped the eyepieces on my Apogee 25x100's down to the barrel and I could see the full FOV and it's like looking into a 25x wide angle binocular. I use then more for daytime use and I could focus as close as about 50 ft or so and birds look great at that close range.
Joe
Thanks for the compliment on my review. As for the eye relief, I must say that I do like to take it all in with glasses on, so in that regard the 20x110 looks like a good alternative. It's those 110mm objectives that call my name. 
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JasonŽ
Phlog
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Joe Ogiba
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/14/02
Posts: 3362
Loc: NJ USA
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Peter, I would like to see APO 28x110's but with 110mm APO's going for $2,800 I think the 70mm APO binoculars will be the largest for now. 
Joe
--------------------
Pentax PF-80ED
Meade 102ED APO
Orion EON 72
120ST
Apex 127
C6 XLT
CR150
C9.25
XT10
Zeiss 7x42 FL
Canon 10x42L IS WP
15x50 IS
12x36 IS II
Garrett Optical 28x110 HD-WP Signature Series
Oberwerk BT-80 45
Apogee RA-88-SA
Denk II Power x Switch binoviewer w/13mm Ethos, 20mm Pentax XW's, 20mm Widescan III's.
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pcad
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/17/05
Posts: 1501
Loc: Connecticut
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Joe,
Looks like the UO site was updated in a bunch of places. I also noticed that in addition to a 70mm apo series 8, they are working on center focus series 8 binos also.
Just to be on topic, considering that most things optical become hideously expensive as they get bigger, the 110's look like a steal.
Peter
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Peter
Telescopes 25 - 318 mm
Binoculars 15 - 88 mm
Microscope 50x - 1000x
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Joe Ogiba
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/14/02
Posts: 3362
Loc: NJ USA
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Peter, I agree they are a steal at only $100 more than the 85mm versions.
Joe
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Pentax PF-80ED
Meade 102ED APO
Orion EON 72
120ST
Apex 127
C6 XLT
CR150
C9.25
XT10
Zeiss 7x42 FL
Canon 10x42L IS WP
15x50 IS
12x36 IS II
Garrett Optical 28x110 HD-WP Signature Series
Oberwerk BT-80 45
Apogee RA-88-SA
Denk II Power x Switch binoviewer w/13mm Ethos, 20mm Pentax XW's, 20mm Widescan III's.
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johnno
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 05/03/04
Posts: 807
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Quote:
John, I see in Sydney last night they turned off the lights for one hour from 7:30 to 8:30 PM and the Sydney Observatory opened its doors to let stargazers see the night sky over Sydney as they had never seen it before. I hope more cities worldwide do that.
Joe
I totally Agree Joe,
Luckily for me, I live in a very small country town,which is around 100 odd miles,North from Sydney,
And it is Normally so dark after about 10.30 pm,here.
If I go outside,for a look at something,
I often just feel for the edge of my front porch,with my foot,
Either that,OR, take a red torch.
Seriously,it is that dark here,Unless some fool Neighbour,has left their back light on,OR there is some Moon.
Admittedly,if I waited,before moving around, until my eyes adjusted to the dark,I would be able to see the end of the porch,etc.
Regards.John
Edited by johnno (04/01/07 01:07 PM)
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Patrick
Postmaster
Reged: 05/16/03
Posts: 6788
Loc: Franklin, Ohio
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Quote:
For many I suspect it would truly allow us to get far enough away from the opera to enjoy it.
Ed,
I see you and I share the same sentiment regarding the opera!
Patrick
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Discovery 10" f/6 Split Tube Dob
Celestron C6 SCT
Denk Binoviewers
AT66ED Refractor
Oberwerk Ultra 15x70 Binocular
475B Geared Tripod & 501HDV Head
Oberwerk 9x60 Binocular
Celestron Regal 8x42 Binocular
Canon 30D DSLR
Mini EQ1
My Astronomy Pages
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Joe Ogiba
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/14/02
Posts: 3362
Loc: NJ USA
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John, with the dark skies you have up north of Sydney in Hunter Valley I would think the 20x110 version would give fantastic views.
Joe
--------------------
Pentax PF-80ED
Meade 102ED APO
Orion EON 72
120ST
Apex 127
C6 XLT
CR150
C9.25
XT10
Zeiss 7x42 FL
Canon 10x42L IS WP
15x50 IS
12x36 IS II
Garrett Optical 28x110 HD-WP Signature Series
Oberwerk BT-80 45
Apogee RA-88-SA
Denk II Power x Switch binoviewer w/13mm Ethos, 20mm Pentax XW's, 20mm Widescan III's.
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johnno
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 05/03/04
Posts: 807
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For many I suspect it would truly allow us to get far enough away from the opera to enjoy it.
edz
Several miles away,would just about do it for me EdZ.
Regards.John
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johnno
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 05/03/04
Posts: 807
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Quote:
John, with the dark skies you have up north of Sydney in Hunter Valley I would think the 20x110 version would give fantastic views.
Joe
Hi Joe,
Yes,I think either one,would be exceptional,I have taken more of a liking to your 28x110's though.
I can only drool at the moment,and wait for finances to improve.
Regards.John
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