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Ray1
newbie
Reged: 10/13/07
Posts: 3
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Are there some binocs out there that are good for looking at the moon/planets and also serve for looking at everyday items (birds, across fields, deer @ dusk, etc. I don't speak the lingo and don't need technical info, just your recommendations on a pair. Budget: $150 or less. I was considering skymasters, but there are a lot of posters here that don't think they're all that great. Heard a lot a good posts re: Pentax PCF WP, but don't know if those would serve the multipurposes. I don't want to have to use a tripod. What do you all think? I see a lot of stuff on ebay, not sure if some of that is good.
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GlenM
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/20/07
Posts: 1059
Loc: 53° 36'N 2° 06'W
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Hi Ray,
I'm afraid you would need some serious binoculars for the planets. I do use my 20x60 WPII on the moon but I do mount them. I'm no expert but I suspect you will read similar posts from much better qualified than me. Sorry I could not be of more help.
Glen.
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Glen
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Mark9473
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/21/05
Posts: 2699
Loc: 51°N 4°E
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Ray1, welcome to the forum!
Could you clarify just what you mean by "looking at the planets"? If you mean just spotting them, that's a thing binoculars are very suited for. If you mean seeing an interesting level of detail on them, that's another matter.
Here's what you can expect from a 10x binocular:
- fases of Venus;
- Mars is a fat orange dot;
- Jupiter is a small bright (featureless) disk; the 4 Moons are visible when placed well;
- Saturn is an oval fat dot, Titan is visible.
You'll need about 20x to resolve Saturn's rings from the planet itself. You'll need about 30x to see Jupiter's equatorial cloud bands.
The Moon is really nice at 10x already, but in comparison it's stunning at 20-30x, and in a telescope at 60x and up it's like another world.
So in summary, I do believe there's a wealth of great views to be had even in relatively modest binoculars, but planetary detail is out of range of all but a very few high-level instruments.
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Mark
Leica 8x20; Vixen 8x42; Swift 8.5x44, 10x50 and 20x80; TS 7x50; Orion 15x63
WO Megrez II 80 FD + Baader 90° T2 Amici
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Ray1
newbie
Reged: 10/13/07
Posts: 3
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I talking more about spotting. Thanks for the excellent descriptions. Anyone want to go out on a limb and make their recommendation?
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1660
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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If you DON'T want to use a tripod and you WANT to view the planets through binoculars you are placing a somewhat unrealistic limitation on yourself.
A good binocular for planet viewing would be the Pentax 20x60mm PCF WP II porro prism binocular. I use it both for binocular astronomy/stargazing and for daytime birdwatching. If you don't want a tripod you might consider the Manfrotto 682B self-standing monopod. It is not great for astronomy, but, it is certainly better than handholding the type of magnification you will need to view the planets. Sitting in a comfortable chair will help to reduce the "shakes" somewhat.
The Pentax 20x60mm is also great for lunar observation.
Nothing wrong with going out on a limb, as long as you know which limb to pick. 
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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
Edited by hallelujah (10/14/07 04:38 PM)
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Markus
Postmaster
Reged: 12/26/04
Posts: 5395
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First of all, binoculars aren't really meant for looking at the planets, but you can do so, but you WILL need a good, sturdy tripod and lots of magnification to see any kind of DISK of a planet. $150.00 or less won't get you any pairs of Pentax PCF WP binocs, unless maybe used. I just returned a pair of Pentax PCF WP binocs , and only so, because the field of view is quite narrow. They are a nice quality binoc tho.
I also returned a pair of Skymasters as well and sold a second pair, because I don't find them all that good really. I did have ONE pair of Skymasters that were excellent, (the quality control on these bins aren't the greatest , so you might get a great pair after trying out 3-4 first), and those came crashing to the ground after my tripod piece came loose. I can see Jupiter as a disk in my 25x100's but you'll need a good mount for a big pair such as mine.
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25X100 Skymasters
15X70 Skymasters
Home built Parallelogram Mount
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ronharper
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/14/06
Posts: 1006
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Ray,
We do get a bit astro-happy here, hence the leaning towards high power in the previous recommendations. But planet "spotting", deer at dusk (assuming you don't have to see every single nose hair in detail), without tripod, in everything you say, you have defined the work of the all-round bino. You know how all-round compromises go, pretty good for everything, not the absolute greatest at any one thing. The Pentax series you mention is good for $150, get the 8x40.
In humble defense of the small bino as a planet viewer, we are often told that the word planet means wanderer. The odd motions of the planets among the stars was their sole distinguishing feature for centuries, before the telescope. Modern observers are keen to see surface detail, which requires a telescope for a half-decent view, but seem to have lost interest in the motions, which defied the greatest philosophers of Greece and Rome. It is a cool thing to watch a planet drift along from night to night, and staggering indeed to see one come to a halt, reverse its motion, come to a halt again, reverse again, and then go on its merry way. Are you smarter than Aristotle? Seriously, this is food for thought, and the small bino is excellent for watching these events. It will also give views of brighter star clusters and the moon which, if you are new to the miracle of optical aid, you will find amazing.
The 8x40 certainly needs no defense as a nature-study bino, as it is the most popular birding size today. It is moderately small and light, easily hand-steadied, bright, easy to find and follow things in, and easy to look through with it's nice long eye relief.
Ron
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RA-DEC
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/15/06
Posts: 587
Loc: Pasadena, Maryland
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The Meade Montanas here look like a great deal!
http://www.meade4m.com/4mshop/outlet.html
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Trace
BO/TMB Planet Hunter 80 mm f/11.25
Orion 2" Enhanced Diagonal
Burgess 38mm SWA
Meade 24mm 5000 SWA
Tele Vue 20 - 8mm Plossls
BO/TMB 5mm, 6mm, 7mm Planetarys
***You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose...but you can't wipe your friends under the couch!!!!!!!
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mark22c
sage
Reged: 08/12/07
Posts: 343
Loc: cornwall UK
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you could do what i did. on your budget i bought a second hand 4.5in optisan reflector £30, 10x50 bins £2,50 and 7x50 bins £16 all items were bought from that well known web shop, if you know what to look for you can get some great deals. the scope was a long focal length 900mm 4.5in and i use that for planets and moon, the 7x50's are 60's vintage japenese made fully coated and are of far better quality than you'de find in a modern bin in you price range. i also have a pair of 10x50's fully coated bought from a local super market chain for £15, they are more like 10x40's but are very good for the price there meade bressers, prisms are a little undersized but they're still quite sharp and bright for star gazeing.
why buy one tool when you an get the whole box well within your budget, you just need a little luck and know what to look out for
i'm no expert by any means mark
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opticron "imagic" BGA SE 8x42 roof's
10x42 roof's
meade/bresser (lidl) 10x50 porro's
Edited by mark22c (10/14/07 05:48 AM)
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10146
Loc: Lancashire UK
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Ray ,
Welcome to the forum !
Apart from from what Ron mentioned above ( which is not to be dismissed too lightly ) recommending an instrument through which to view PLANETS , AND for various daytime objects , hand - held , is a bit like recommending a Nissan Micra to compete in a Formula One race against Mclarens and Ferraris !
I'm no expert on lunar craters , lichen in twilight or deer at dusk , but what RA - DEC suggested -- a 7 x 42 phase - corrected roof prism for less than $150 -- seems like quite a good idea .
No matter what else you may or may not end up buying in the future , you will not regret always having something like a 7 x 42 binocular .
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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edcannon
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/19/03
Posts: 679
Loc: Austin, Texas
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Ray,
Not being an expert but having lots of practice with various sizes of handheld binoculars, I'll jump in.
If you feel you have fairly steady hands, 10x50 would be very good. If you don't feel so steady or would like a wider field of view, then 8x40 to 8x45 would be very good.
For general use I would suggest getting at least six degrees (315 feet at 1000 yards) true field of view.
Check out Garrett Optical Classic 8x45 ($100) or 10x50 ($120), or the Oberwerk (bigbinoculars.com) Mariner 8x40 ($140) or their 10x50 ($130). Those are all fully multicoated, which is important. You can buy any of those directly from their sellers, who have good reputations for quality control and customer service.
If you could try out different models even a little before buying something, that would be really great.
--------------------
Ed Cannon - Austin, Texas, USA
As of 23 August 2008 - Celestron Skymaster 12x60
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Ray1
newbie
Reged: 10/13/07
Posts: 3
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Great advice guys - I'm going to look into many of the options and try some out. Thanks a ton. You all really know your stuff.
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Jon Isaacs
Postmaster
Reged: 06/16/04
Posts: 12070
Loc: San Diego, California
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Quote:
The Meade Montanas here look like a great deal!
http://www.meade4m.com/4mshop/outlet.html
I have had a pair of Meade Montanas for maybe 3 years, I bought them John Cota. As all around binos, I like em. They are Japanese Phase Coated, water proof, Nitrogen Purged, twist up eye cups and a nice diopter adjustment scheme. 7x is a bit weak for planets, if they were 8x or 10x they would be better, I also have Nikon Monarch 10x42s and Eagle Optics Ranger Platinums which are probably better all around but they are about 2X the price.
I use the Meades a lot when I am star hopping and they have an 8 degree Field of View which is nice as is the 9 foot close focus for birding and such.
I think John Cota is buying another pair...
Jon
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mttafire
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/02/06
Posts: 1114
Loc: midwest
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Quote:
Ray ,
Welcome to the forum !
Apart from from what Ron mentioned above ( which is not to be dismissed too lightly ) recommending an instrument through which to view PLANETS , AND for various daytime objects , hand - held , is a bit like recommending a Nissan Micra to compete in a Formula One race against Mclarens and Ferraris !
I'm no expert on lunar craters , lichen in twilight or deer at dusk , but what RA - DEC suggested -- a 7 x 42 phase - corrected roof prism for less than $150 -- seems like quite a good idea .
No matter what else you may or may not end up buying in the future , you will not regret always having something like a 7 x 42 binocular .
Regards , Kenny
Agreed. I recently bought an 8x45. They are fantasitc for both day and nighttime viewing. I use these alot for astronomy and am amazed at what you can see with a low power hand held bino....Thanks Kenny..,Shawn
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God Bless America
Binocular astronomy
for me ONLY.
8x45 Garretts
15x70 Skymasters
2 eyes!
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