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NHRob
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/27/04
Posts: 2548
Loc: New Hampshire
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No tripods, sorry, If we talk mounts I wouldn't be stopping at 70mm !!
Rob
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Canon 12x36 IS binos
AP130EDT f/8 (for sale)
new 12.5" f/6 Royce conical mirror (for sale)
no free time ... lots of clouds !
" Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans" !!
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BobinKy
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 04/27/07
Posts: 928
Loc: Country road
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Rob:
As you complete your final comparison, you may want to ask yourself some other types of questions.
• What do I want to observe?
• Where will I do my observing?
• How do the models fit my face?
• How important is a wide field of view?
• Does color vibrancy matter?
• How do the product warranties compare?
• Do I want "quick" focusing (moving objects) or "fine" focusing (detail)?
• Looking down the road, as I complete my binocular arsonal, which pair will better complement my other binoculars (fill in the gaps)? Why?
• How accessible are the technical and service reps of both companies?
• Which model do they recommend? Why?
• What are the three most frequent repair issues with each model? Why?
• Since hand holding is important to me, which model feels the best in my hands? Why?
• Can I purchase all three, try them out in my observing situations, and return two of the models without paying restocking fees?
Nobody but you can answer these questions. And once you begin to answer these questions, your decision will be crystal clear (no pun intended).
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Bob
38° Kentucky, USA
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NHRob
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/27/04
Posts: 2548
Loc: New Hampshire
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Unfortunately I can't seem to find any nearby camera or optics shop which carries the models I'm interested in. I'd love to go and look through a few different models.
I'll just have to gather best opinions from this fine forum and order online.
I still have scopes and have decided that, for binos, I'd like to settle on two different pairs:
1. a nice hand-held unit with great optics, for multi-use ... astro, birding, and travel. easily portable and < 50mm aperture.
2. a larger pair of astro-binos ... probably > 70mm and used on tripod mount.
For now, I'll get the smaller binos first since I can use them on my upcoming trip up North in the White Mtns. My Nikon 10x50s are ok but, I'd like sharper, more contrasty optics and somewhat smaller package.
Rob
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Canon 12x36 IS binos
AP130EDT f/8 (for sale)
new 12.5" f/6 Royce conical mirror (for sale)
no free time ... lots of clouds !
" Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans" !!
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10082
Loc: Lancashire UK
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Bob ( in Kentucky )
That check - list you provided was very well thought out .
It deserves pride of place alongside ( or included within ) EdZ's excellent existing READ THIS FIRST sticky .
Rob ,
If you apply Bob's check - list to your already well - conceived plan , you shouldn't be far from satisfied when you finally make your choices .
For tripod - mounted > 70mm astro - bins , you wouldn't go far wrong with any of the more expensive options from Garrett or Oberwerk ( with individual focus ) .
The " multi - purpose birding / astro " choice is much more difficult to specifically advice upon , as everyone has different shaped faces , different sized hands , different preferences for things like " feel " and " colour bias " , different tolerances of chromatic aberration , etc etc .
You'll DEFINITELY want CENTRE - FOCUS !
Some prefer roofs while others prefer Porros , some insist upon " waterproof " when some of the models labelled as waterproof are really no more than showerproof .
Some people can't bear AFOVs below 52 degrees , others hate edge distortions -- unfortunately , we can't have it ALL in ONE binocular !
Not being TOO fussed about waterproof myself , for a good all rounder that didn't break MY bank account , I think I chose very well with a Nikon 10 x 42 Superior E .
Good luck , 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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WadeVC
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/02/05
Posts: 2776
Loc: Lodi, California,
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In regards to hand-held binoculars, I have been very pleased with my Orion UltraView 10x50 Wide-Angle.
Sharp images and my arms don't tire with extended viewing.
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Orion XTi10 f/4.7
Orion XTi8 f/5.9
Meade NGC 70mm f/10
Orion UltraView 10x50 Wide-Angle Binoculars
My Sketch Gallery
My Astronomy Blog
A wise man can see more from the bottom of a well than a fool can from a mountain top.
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Rich N
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 5303
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif...
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Quote:
Bob ( in Kentucky )
That check - list you provided was very well thought out .
It deserves pride of place alongside ( or included within ) EdZ's excellent existing READ THIS FIRST sticky .
Rob ,
If you apply Bob's check - list to your already well - conceived plan , you shouldn't be far from satisfied when you finally make your choices .
For tripod - mounted > 70mm astro - bins , you wouldn't go far wrong with any of the more expensive options from Garrett or Oberwerk ( with individual focus ) .
The " multi - purpose birding / astro " choice is much more difficult to specifically advice upon , as everyone has different shaped faces , different sized hands , different preferences for things like " feel " and " colour bias " , different tolerances of chromatic aberration , etc etc .
You'll DEFINITELY want CENTRE - FOCUS !
Some prefer roofs while others prefer Porros , some insist upon " waterproof " when some of the models labelled as waterproof are really no more than showerproof .
Some people can't bear AFOVs below 52 degrees , others hate edge distortions -- unfortunately , we can't have it ALL in ONE binocular !
Not being TOO fussed about waterproof myself , for a good all rounder that didn't break MY bank account , I think I chose very well with a Nikon 10 x 42 Superior E .
Good luck , Kenny
Kenny, you hit it out of the park. 
Rich
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mattyfatz
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/27/06
Posts: 1126
Loc: R E N O
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For me the best is Vixens 9x63's. I don't even know if they still make them, but mine were awesome!
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*****MATTY******
All sorts of stuff
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12510
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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I think for image quality, the most satisfying hand held binocular I own and use is the Nikon 12x50 SE. You won't get much sharper or more contrasty optics than that. However, it is not the handheld I use most often. In that case I use a bit lower power with possibly a little wider fov. Which leads me to think, Kenny's 10x42 SE is probably the best of both worlds.
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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Rich N
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 5303
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif...
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I enjoy using the Swarovski 8.5x42EL, Nikon 12x50SE, and Canon 15x50IS hand held.
Rich
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grbrown
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/09/05
Posts: 643
Loc: Ampthill, UK, 52:02N 0:30W
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Quote:
Quote:
I reckon those Nikon 10x50s on a decent tripod will give better views. Far cheaper and also self stabilised!
I bet my $50 15x70 Galileo's on a tripod would beat the Nikon 10x50's but why are we discussing mounted binoculars when the topic is most satisfying handheld astro-binos ?
Joe,
Rob introduced mounts! He is also looking at buying a large heavy binocular, which may provide comfortable viewing for only a short time hand-held. I was just being mischievous! 
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Graham
"one eye good, two eyes better...the more I look, the more I see"
BT100-45 degrees, plus 35,24,17,13,9mm Sieberts
15x80, 7x50 Steiners
12x50, 10x42, 8x20 Leica Trinovids
7x35 Minolta
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NHRob
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/27/04
Posts: 2548
Loc: New Hampshire
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Aaargh! Well, I got the Canon 12x36IS binos for my handheld solution. Having used 10x50s, I've decided a handheld bino will not satisfy me for astro use. I'll just have to plan on a bigger bino on tripod!!!!
Rob
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Canon 12x36 IS binos
AP130EDT f/8 (for sale)
new 12.5" f/6 Royce conical mirror (for sale)
no free time ... lots of clouds !
" Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans" !!
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cirrus
super member
Reged: 05/10/03
Posts: 174
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My Pentax PCF Vs 12x50s. Best views of the Andromeda galaxy i've ever seen was with these binocs at a very dark site. Great eye releif for eyeglass wearers and the view is flat and sharp to the edge.
cirrus
cirrus
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