HendyPhoto
Sith Lord
Reged: 08/09/06
Posts: 1485
Loc: Bountiful, Utah
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Hey guys, I didnt kow what exactly to name this post, but I will explain as good as I can here!
ANYWAY, my AMAZING wife just surprised me on Father's Day with a pair of Orion 20X80 Explorer Binocs because she had heard me say a while back that I really wanted some Orion 20x80's! ANYWAY, she went to the local planetarium and bought what she thought were the GiantViews.
SO I opened them up and first off I was SO excited and floored that she had made the effort to go out and find these for me! WHAT A WIFE!! ANYWAYS, when I opened them up and I noticed right away they said Orion Explorer on them and the box looked kinda old, and I could tell they had been sitting at the planetarium for a while, and even opened up a time or two and played with and a few little scratches on the bino's, the metal case is kinda dinged a little and shows a little wear and tear, but she also got them for 210.00, 70 dollars less than GiantViews if I order them from the site. OBVIOUSLY, the planetarium doesnt have the newer giantview ones or they would have sold them to my wife.
I tested these binocs out and they star tested excellent, the images merge great and they show nice round pinpoint stars and the glass surfaces look flawless.
SO the big question is, should I return these and spend the extra to get the new updated GiantView version, or is the Explorer just as good, and take the 70 dollar discount and smile? Are the GiantViews any different than the Explorers, or just a different name? AND how long ago did the Explorers become GiantViews?
Thanks SO much in advance!
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~jon
SparkCast Ustream
CGE1400XLT w/HyperStar
90FD 66SD C6-R SN-8
CPC1100XLT Hutech 20D
Manny-Mod Vixen Porta
Mallincam MCHP
SPC900NC
CG-5 GT
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity;
and I'm not sure about the universe." --Albert Einstein
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Wes James
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 2354
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Wow.... sounds like you're really fortunate to have a wife that pays attention like that! You're a very lucky man...
Just like me!
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Wes
Atlantic Beach, FL
Some bino’s from Miyauchi 5x32 Binon's up through Garrett 20x110 Signature's,
Some telescopes from a Stellarvue 80mm NHNG up through a couple of 8” reflectors…
And a wonderful 4.25" Delmarva Shiefspiegler!
Some good friends, made here on C/N.
Oh- several cats and a wonderful wife!
Anyone want a cat???? :-O
"When your work speaks for itself- Don't Interrupt" -Gamble Rogers
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HendyPhoto
Sith Lord
Reged: 08/09/06
Posts: 1485
Loc: Bountiful, Utah
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LOL Thanks Wes!
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~jon
SparkCast Ustream
CGE1400XLT w/HyperStar
90FD 66SD C6-R SN-8
CPC1100XLT Hutech 20D
Manny-Mod Vixen Porta
Mallincam MCHP
SPC900NC
CG-5 GT
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity;
and I'm not sure about the universe." --Albert Einstein
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viperbob
sage
Reged: 08/20/07
Posts: 353
Loc: New Jersey
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Since there so nice and that your wife went to so much trouble, i'd keep them. For the short first, then if they bother you before 30 days, try and replace them.
Me if that was my wife, i'd keep them since they seem to ok so far. Nice to have a better half that nice sir.
VB
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VB
40 25'N 74 11'W
LX-90 8"SCT
8x40 Nikon Action
Nikon 12x50 AE's
Nagler 12mm Type 2
Panoptic 15mm
Nagler 20mm Type 2
Orion Epic ED-2 22mm
Televue Plossl's 25mm,32mm
Panoptic 27mm
GSO SuperView 30mm & 42mm
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HendyPhoto
Sith Lord
Reged: 08/09/06
Posts: 1485
Loc: Bountiful, Utah
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Thanks VB! That's what I am thinking also. I am definitely not complaining, just making sure. I had a great night with them already and I dont know enough about binoculars to tell a difference if there was a difference! LOL
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~jon
SparkCast Ustream
CGE1400XLT w/HyperStar
90FD 66SD C6-R SN-8
CPC1100XLT Hutech 20D
Manny-Mod Vixen Porta
Mallincam MCHP
SPC900NC
CG-5 GT
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity;
and I'm not sure about the universe." --Albert Einstein
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1559
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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So, take a look at the prims covers for starter, if you can find JAPAN on your binocular anywhere I would DEFINITELY keep it.
I have three Japanese Orion binoculars and I prefer  the overall quality of the them to the Chinese giant astronomy binoculars that I have purchased in the past.
With the exception of the Orion MEGAView 30x80mm I am pretty sure that the newer Orion giants are all coming out of China today.
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Pentax 12x50mm PCF WP II asph FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 16x60mm PCF WP asph FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 20x60mm PCF WP II asph FMC/WP/FP
Orion 12x63mm Mini Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 15x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 16x80mm Giant 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 (06/26/08 06:38 PM)
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HendyPhoto
Sith Lord
Reged: 08/09/06
Posts: 1485
Loc: Bountiful, Utah
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AHHH, you had me excited there for about 15 seconds, but then I saw, CHINA written on them! lol Thanks for the reply!
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~jon
SparkCast Ustream
CGE1400XLT w/HyperStar
90FD 66SD C6-R SN-8
CPC1100XLT Hutech 20D
Manny-Mod Vixen Porta
Mallincam MCHP
SPC900NC
CG-5 GT
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity;
and I'm not sure about the universe." --Albert Einstein
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Mike Rapchak
sage
Reged: 11/17/06
Posts: 434
Loc: Indiana, USA
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Jon,
I would definitely hang onto them if they perform as well as you say they do. Trying for another (new) pair in as good an optical condition is taking a risk.
Mike Rapchak Jr.
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Robert A.
sage
Reged: 01/21/05
Posts: 206
Loc: Milwaukee, WI Northern USA
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Looks to me that Orion renamed their Explorer models and now call them GiantView
They look to be of the same construction as the Oberwerk 20x80mm Deluxe II
So your binoculars could have the triplet objectives. How long is your binoculars? Do they seem to be 7 pounds?
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Oberwerk 11x56, Nikon 12x50se, Fujinon 16x70, Stellarvue 20x85, Oberwerk 25/40 45degree 100mm
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HendyPhoto
Sith Lord
Reged: 08/09/06
Posts: 1485
Loc: Bountiful, Utah
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Thanks Mike & Robert! I will have to go check to see if they are triplets! I would guess they weigh less than 7 pounds though.
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~jon
SparkCast Ustream
CGE1400XLT w/HyperStar
90FD 66SD C6-R SN-8
CPC1100XLT Hutech 20D
Manny-Mod Vixen Porta
Mallincam MCHP
SPC900NC
CG-5 GT
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity;
and I'm not sure about the universe." --Albert Einstein
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Robert A.
sage
Reged: 01/21/05
Posts: 206
Loc: Milwaukee, WI Northern USA
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The length should be about 12 inches for that model. If they are longer, like 14 inches, they are probably doublets like most binoculars...
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