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CESDewar
GorillAstronomer
Reged: 01/16/05
Posts: 2075
Loc: Morganton, GA, USA
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Quote:
....I had been considering a Stellarvue F50 as a travel scope...[]But now I'm leaning towards binoculars.
Well, it depends a bit on what you hope to see. If you want to catch some of the Southern "eye-candy" at better than binocular resolution, the "SparrowHawk" (F50) might be the way to go as at some 30-40x, you can get some remarkably decent views that would be superior to anything you can get in binoculars. For binoculars, if money was not a factor, I would probably suggest a Canon IS binocular (since no tripod would be needed). But money is usually a factor as these are expensive binoculars!
Personally, I would try for nothing less than 12x in binoculars - you will need enough magnification to make it interesting. But a good pair of 12x50's can still be handheld and can yield some nice views! If a tripod is feasible, don't rule out a spotting scope either - I got a Bushnell Spacemaster collapsible, 45° angled, spotting scope that fits in a bag no bigger than a typical pair of binoculars. It has 50mm aperture, a 15-45x zoom EP and a 25x WA EP - weight is 23oz. and it even comes with a tiny "tripodette"  . It was only $115 delivered and I have to say it provides pretty good views for the price - Trapezium easily split into 4 stars - might be just the thing to get a half-decent view of Omega Centauri and Eta Carinae!
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Gordon Rayner
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/24/07
Posts: 1089
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Why not go to Chile,( I have not been there) perhaps around the observatories, rent a car for the dark of the moon, do your astronomy thing with heavier/bulkier items than you will want further north or east , then sell them to staff or to Chilean clubmembers further south, or to fishermen at Antofogasta ( such as good 7 x 50 or 10 x 70 marine use type), or ship them home, and then proceed elsewhere to exotic terrestrial adventure on buses and trucks, river rafts, boats, trekking, with a smaller birdwatching or scenic view binoc, or learn the tango , visit colonial and pre-conquest sites, etc. It is quite easy to meet europeans on the buses,and in the "Gringo" hotels frequented by the backpack crowd on the"Gringo trail"(San Agustin(Colombia)- Quito-Lima- Cuzco- Titicaca area-La Paz-?-?-?) if you are so inclined. So brush up on French, German, Italian, to impress them, if you wish. The Dutch, Scandinavians, UK (!!!), and many Germans/Swiss know English.Assuming that you already know some Spanish or shall . I had worked on Spanish for years, so was able to assist those with less experience, as well as interact with the locals ( except in really out-of- the- way places with mostly indigenous people). I do not suppose that one would go to Brazil for astronomy, but I have not been there, nor Argentina.
The Smithsonian(?) satellite tracking station at Arequipa, which had or has a Baker-Nunn camera, was located near the city dump, complete with open refuse burning. Remember that Peru is a third world country, and while well-off amateur astronomers and clubs probably exist in Lima, a big city is not a good place for astronomy. The region around Ica has a near-ideal climate, much warmer than the highlands, but dry, and away from the coastal fog. Not sure about fellow amateurs (if any), car rentals, security, etc. there. I had a bout of intestinal problems there, as in several other places. Typical. Be prepared.
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Jim Rosenstock
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 4166
Loc: MD, south of the DC Nebula
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15X70 with a monopod, or 10X50 without. In either case, the Signature series will give you an optically superior, sturdier, but significantly heavier bino.
You will be amazed at southern hemispere dark night skies. Enjoy!
Jim
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Tony Flanders
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/06
Posts: 3919
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA
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Quote:
I'd say the natural choices would be binoculars with 5-mm exit pupils ranging anywhere from 10x50 through 12x60 to 15x70. The choice really comes down to a tradeoff between how much you value astronomy and how much you care about being weighed down. Also, remember that binoculars are also useful during the day, and for that purpose, 15x70s would be worst and 10x50s best...
Of course, image-stabilized binoculars would be ideal -- but pricey.
I thought some more about this. Frankly, it's a little hard for me to put myself in your shoes, because if I were going to the Southern Hemisphere, astronomy would definitely be near the top of my priority list. And just the idea of scanning the LMC or the Carina Milky Way with 15x70 binoculars sends delightful shivers down my spine.
However, 15x70's -- though not necessarily very heavy -- are really quite bulky. Moreover, I wouldn't trust them to stay collimated in a soft case, and a hard case would really up the ante in terms of weight and bulk.
If you really want total freedom, you need something that can go inside your day pack -- the one that you stick inside the big pack while you're walking, but keep in your lap on the bus when the big pack is strapped on top. And 15x70's really don't fit the bill.
Moreover, if portability is at a premium, there's a lot to be said for the roof-prism design, and as far as I know, you can't get roof-prism binoculars with much bigger than 50-mm objectives.
So if I really didn't care that much about astronomy, and really cared a lot about freedom, I'd either take 8x40 or 10x50 roof-prisms, or image-stabilized 10x30s or 12x36s. In fact, when I went to India a few months ago (traveling for a month, with clothes to keep me comfortable from 10F to 100F and a sleeping bag), I took my IS 10x30s. And had no regrets at all.
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Tony Flanders
First and foremost observing love: naked eye.
Second, binoculars.
Last but not least, telescopes.
And I sometimes dabble with cameras.
Edited by Tony Flanders (02/16/08 09:42 AM)
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 2345
Loc: Rocky Mt. High Colorado
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Quote:
Moreover, if portability is at a premium, there's a lot to be said for the roof-prism design, and as far as I know, you can't get roof-prism binoculars with much bigger than 50-mm objectives.
These look pretty nice: http://www.vortexoptics.com/binoculars/view/viper-15x50
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Celestron Traveler 8x25 & Bell & Howell 8x40 JAPAN &
Pentax 12x50 PCF WP II & Pentax 16x60 PCF WP &
Pentax 20x60 PCF WP II & Orion 12x63 Mini Giant JAPAN &
SPECTRUM I 20x65 JAPAN & Orion 15x70 Little Giant II JAPAN &
Orion 20x70 Little Giant II JAPAN & Orion 16x80 Giant JAPAN &
Orion 30x80 MEGAView JAPAN & Barska 30x80 X-Trail &
Burgess Optical Series II 20x90
Ps.33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made:
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mark22c
sage
Reged: 08/12/07
Posts: 343
Loc: cornwall UK
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i've been waching this thread and cant help but chime in with ...10x50 ROOFS! compact with enough mag and apiture to be usefull for astronomy and compact/handy enough for day use/travel, i've used a pair of 10x42 roofs for hand held astronomy and its suprising how good they are with the extra apiture of 50mm i cant see how they would fail to please, i'de hate to have to cart a pair of 15x70's around all day simply because of the bulk and fragility of them plus your going to need something to mount them on
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opticron "imagic" BGA SE 8x42 roof's
10x42 roof's
meade/bresser (lidl) 10x50 porro's
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Luigi
Postmaster
Reged: 07/03/07
Posts: 5272
Loc: MA
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I'm in Chile for a few months and got a pair of Nikon Action EX 10x50s for the trip. They're relatively inexpensive, light, waterproof, have a wide FOV and crisp image quality. There are reviews in this forum.
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17.5" f/5 Dob. IM-715 MCT. 120ED. Lunt 60mm Ha.
Zeiss, Leica, Fujinon, Nikon, Pentax, Bushnell bins
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chapulin
member
Reged: 12/11/06
Posts: 35
Loc: Madrid
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8x42 if backpacked or 8x30 roofs around my neck.
That's what I'd choose.
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20x80 triplet bins, LiDL 10x50
Nikon Monarch 8x42, SE 12x50
Zeiss 8x30, Jena 8x50, 8.5x42 Swar
70/700 LiDL scope & SW-120ST achro
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Gordon Rayner
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/24/07
Posts: 1089
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Is 15 x 70 on a monopod realistic? I remember B&L-U.S.N. 9 x 63 on a monopod on a clear, cold night at 11,000 feet at Sacsahuayman, above Cuzco,but not totally away from the lights of Cuzco, which was not illuminated much in 78, and regretted not having at least a bipod, if not a lawn chair. as well as wishing that I were in a warmer, darker place at a lower altitude. Having tried the half-round hardwood , tapped 1/4 -20 (easy), on a tripod with only two legs extended, seated on a rock,( take a tough inflatable seat cushion to double as a pillow?) recently, I say to try this before you go. There are some very light , but pricey ,carbon fiber pods now . You could use all three legs at low angles.
Tony Flanders: Were you able to get away from lights in India ? Were you near Hyderabad? I had a long chat with a charming perfect Indian lilted British voice outsourced credit card business phone answering lady there a few weeks ago . She said that her region was beautiful.
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Robert A.
sage
Reged: 01/21/05
Posts: 308
Loc: Milwaukee, WI Northern USA
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Gordon,
It is fun to hear you talk of those places that I had visited in '79 or so. I have lived in Ecuador up until '76 in Quito. After about 3 years in the States, I took the bus down to Ecuador to visit my family. I did not know the enjoyment that binoculars would give. When I had arrived my family decided to visit Peru, down the PanAmerican highway. I remember Ariquipo, the high altiplano, the towering Andean mountains, the wild guanaco (llamas) off in the distance. A few times I could even see a few vicuña (small related species of Camelids) I remember Sacsahuayman, and Cuzco, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, the Chan Chan ruins, and the Sun and Moon temples near Trujillo. It is a memorable time!
LookingUp,
During the bus trip, I remember occasionally using my suitcase as a chair. It would be bad to sit on the packed binoculars. I think if you are strongly dedicated to enjoying a binocular as part of the trip, you could bring a nice plain case that can hold a 16x binoculars and also a good light and sturdy tripod. Yes there is poverty, and you would have to watch over it. Maybe keep a 12x roof in the other bag. That way if one is stolen, you have one still. Be flexible, and think positive!
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Oberwerk 11x56, Nikon 12x50se, Fujinon 16x70, William Optics 22x70, Oberwerk 25/40 45degree 100mm
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Bryguy
member
Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 59
Loc: Frederick, MD
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Gordon and Robert,
I also want to thank you for the info. We are planning two weeks around the new moon in April for Ecuador and Galapagos (I would kill for two months down there - figuretively, not literally). You bet I'm a geek, no foreign travel to remote places during a full moon. My travel agent looked at me funny when I told her it has to be around new moon.
Onto the opinions of binocs. I have a pair of Fuji 15x70's and a pair of Celestron's 10x50 Ultimas and I have to say that this size (15x70) IS too big for this kind of travel. If I had the extra cash right now I'd buy a pair of Leica 8 or 10x42's or 50's. Waterproof and ALL inclusive fault or no fault warranties. I've played around with several of these at Company 7. Since I'm now strapped for cash I was thinking (for weight, portability and chance of being stolen or broken) the Celestron Noble series 8 or 10 by 42's since roof prisms or a little more portable and stashable. The nights in Guayaquil are bright now from what I hear and I've been told by too many people that Quito is now not really safe at night for tourists. Not to mention all the ash and dust in the air from the most recent volcanic eruptions.
Bryon
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Lunt 60DS/50, Baader Solar Film, 1000 Oak Type A+
Stellarvue 80 NHNG, AP 130 f/6, AP 160
AP 400 QMD, AP Mach1
Couple of Naglers, Couple of Pans, Pentax Zoom
Fuji 16x70, Celestron 10x50 Ultima, Celestron 8x42 Outland LX.
Wife and 2 Greyhounds
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Luigi
Postmaster
Reged: 07/03/07
Posts: 5272
Loc: MA
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Roofs are nice but often have a narrower FOV than poros unless you spend top dollar (I also own Leica Trinovids and Zeiss Victories). I like wide FOVs so got the Nikon poros. If cost were no object, I'd definitely get bigger Victories, or Ultravids, but then you're more likely to sweat them getting damaged or ripped off.
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17.5" f/5 Dob. IM-715 MCT. 120ED. Lunt 60mm Ha.
Zeiss, Leica, Fujinon, Nikon, Pentax, Bushnell bins
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mark22c
sage
Reged: 08/12/07
Posts: 343
Loc: cornwall UK
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ive seen a 10x50 roof with a FOV of 113m at 1000m and thats quite wide, the 8x42 roofs i have have a FOV of 122m at 1000m. these are stated fov's my 8x42 roof's seem ok and are sharp allmost to the edge
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opticron "imagic" BGA SE 8x42 roof's
10x42 roof's
meade/bresser (lidl) 10x50 porro's
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Patrick
Postmaster
Reged: 05/16/03
Posts: 8179
Loc: Franklin, Ohio
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Quote:
Just for fun, here are a couple of pictures showing the size difference between the 15x70's and the 8x42's.
FOR THE RECORD....THE BINOCULARS SHOWN ABOVE ARE NOT 15X70, BUT 9X60'S.
Patrick
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Celestron CPC 1100 XLT
10" f/6 Truss Tube Newtonian
Celestron C6S-GT SCT
AT66ED Refractor
Canon XSi; Meade DSI;SPC900-NC
Vixen GP2 Photo Guider Mount
My Astronomy Pages
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
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lookingup
member
Reged: 10/10/07
Posts: 29
Loc: BC, Canada
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what about Oberwerk's 12x50mm Waterproof Roof Prism Binoculars at $149.95?
fov 82m @ 1000m (4.7o)
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Mark9473
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/21/05
Posts: 3426
Loc: 51°N 4°E
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If you can extend your budget about 2x upwards you could get a similar roof prism binocular with added phase coatings on the prisms. This makes for a noticeable improvement in image quality.
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Mark
Leica 8x20; Nikon 7x35; Vixen 8x42; Swift 8.5x44, 10x50 and 20x80; TS 7x50; Orion 15x63; Docter 15x60
WO Megrez II 80 FD
APM 107mm f/6.5 on GR3-DX
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Mark9473
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/21/05
Posts: 3426
Loc: 51°N 4°E
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For example these Vortex Vulture 12x50 for 269.99. I can't recommend them from experience, but the specs look interesting.
Edited by Mark9473 (02/20/08 02:04 PM)
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Luigi
Postmaster
Reged: 07/03/07
Posts: 5272
Loc: MA
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IMO roofs need phase coatings to be competetive with BK4 poros of the same size as far as brightness and contrast go, though I think this is more significant in terrestrial use that in astronomical use. I was willing to pay up to ~$300 for 10x50 roofs but couldn't find any I thought compared to the Nikon AE in terms of image quality and FOV.
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17.5" f/5 Dob. IM-715 MCT. 120ED. Lunt 60mm Ha.
Zeiss, Leica, Fujinon, Nikon, Pentax, Bushnell bins
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mark22c
sage
Reged: 08/12/07
Posts: 343
Loc: cornwall UK
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the pair i bought cost £360 and there superb at night for the apiture, they get used mainly in the day but when used for the night sky they dont disapoint. fov is wide for a roof. on the other hand a pair of the same size roofs costing half as much i had wernt any ware near as good even though they were phase coated and fully multi coated.
i had some irrational dislike of roofs and avoided them because i "thought" they wernt as good as porro's ie narrow fov and dimmer images... boy was i wrong you just have to be prepared to spend a bit to get the better ones with decent coatings ect.
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opticron "imagic" BGA SE 8x42 roof's
10x42 roof's
meade/bresser (lidl) 10x50 porro's
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