RonL
member
Reged: 12/17/07
Posts: 42
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Well, guys, I received the pair of Zhumell 20 X 80 this afternoon and guess what? The binoculars are severely misaligned. Double vision everywhere. The only way to get rid of the double vision (double image) is to use the IPD scale and move it to a setting that is totally off my correct IPD and extremely uncomfortable and imposes severe strain on my eyes. You'd have to be observing something very large and very close in order not to notice the evident and significant double image problem. I'm going to contact their customer service in the morning so I start the process of sending them back. I'm going to try a replacement first and if the replacement is defective as well then I will ask for a full refund. For $69, it's a risk. I know that now.
The good news is that both the Canon and Fuji will be arriving later this week. I plan on giving them a try before I give them to my brother. These were very expensive so no worries there. 
On the Zhumell ones... heck, you get what you pay for so I was mentally prepared for something like this. I kept telling myself I was not going to get my hopes up so I didn't. Anyway, as I said, I'm going to give it another shot and ask for a replacement pair. If the replacement pair has the same problem, then I'm going for the full refund.
If you ordered a pair of these, I wish you the best of luck. Hopefully, you will get a working pair and not have to go through the hassle of sending them back.
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MtnGoat
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 02/18/07
Posts: 825
Loc: Columbia Gorge, WA
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Sorry to hear about the lousy luck. A bunch of us at work ordered a total of four pairs and no problems. Telescopes.com has a good reputation concerning returns from what I hear, though.
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"Ignorant people think it's the noise which fighting cats make that is so aggravating, but it ain't so; it's the sickening grammar they use." Mark Twain
Edited by MtnGoat (06/02/08 11:22 PM)
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RonL
member
Reged: 12/17/07
Posts: 42
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It's alright. I think they'll have no problem sending a replacement pair. Have you done a star test with your pair? It was only after the star test that I noticed how severely out of alignment they were although with mine I could tell right away there was a problem. I'm going to send them an email in a couple of minutes to see if they'll ship out a replacement pair today while I get these ready to be sent back.
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12341
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Quote:
Have you done a star test with your pair? It was only after the star test that I noticed how severely out of alignment
A star test? to check alignment?
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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RonL
member
Reged: 12/17/07
Posts: 42
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Sorry.. I used the incorrect terminology. I meant a star test in the sense of testing for double vision problems, not a star test per se. Let me rephrase it to ask, have you focused on a star to make sure you don't see a double image? My pair of Zhumell is mostly OK for land viewing large objects. However, when you point them to celestial objects, the double vision problem becomes evident. I have to turn the IPD to a very uncomfortable setting to get a uniform image. Looks as if they're only aligned properly at one specific IPD setting.
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RonL
member
Reged: 12/17/07
Posts: 42
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I was wondering... Is it possible to get these binoculars in alignment?
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12341
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Quote:
Looks as if they're only aligned properly at one specific IPD setting.
Fairly typical of severe conditional alignment. Something in the optical axis path is critically out of whack. In order to merge the images, the binocular is adjusted by tilting prisms. If something is not aligned in the axis, it will only be merged at the IPD at which the tilt adjustment was performed.
To correct it for your use, it can be readjusted by tilting prisms to accomodate merging at your IPD. This will likely not be accomplished without making at least one exit pupil, if not both exit pupils, look like a cats eye.
Proper collimation of the binocular would probably cost more than you paid for 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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RonL
member
Reged: 12/17/07
Posts: 42
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Thank you. I'm just going to return it for a replacement. If the replacement is still bad, I will ask for a full refund.
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Richard Hendrix
sage
Reged: 08/02/06
Posts: 244
Loc: Jacksonville, Florida
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Quote:
Well, guys, I received the pair of Zhumell 20 X 80 this afternoon and guess what? The binoculars are severely misaligned. Double vision everywhere.
RonL,
Sorry to hear that you got a bum binocular. You sound as if you went into this with your eyes open and knew this was a possibility. Keep your chin up and I hope the next Z's you get will be great. 
Good luck and let us know what happens,
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Richard Hendrix
Antares 105mm f/9.5 Elite Series Refractor
AstroTelescopes 102mm f/7 Refractor
Orion SkyView Pro 8" Intelliscope
Orion Scenix 10x50 Binoculars
Zhumell SuperGiant 20x80 binoculars
NightSky Journal
"Every star may be a sun to someone."
Carl Sagan, Cosmos
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RonL
member
Reged: 12/17/07
Posts: 42
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UPDATE!!! From my other post:
Ok... So I got the replacement pair today (after having sent the defective one back). I'm sorry to say... SAME PROBLEM. Although the box arrived in good condition and the pair of binoculars was in good shape, the same "double vision" problem is again present in this pair. The pair is conditionally aligned at one specific IPD setting. Readjusting the IPD and you start seeing double. This is a very, very low-end product. I would not recommend anyone to take his/her chances with this product.
In my case, I'm keeping it. I'm letting my wife's teenage brother have it. He saw the binocs and he liked them and it turns out they're conditionally collimated for _his_ IPD setting.
I'll simply cut my losses with this one.
Now, on a positive note, I also received a pair of FUJI's and a pair Canon with the image stabilizer I'd been waiting on. These are flawless instruments with excellent optics and design. There is simply no comparison between these and the Zhumell ones. Thanks, guys, for recommending these. But these are for my brother. I'll save some more money and get a high-quality pair of binocs like these in a couple of weeks.
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10031
Loc: Lancashire UK
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Hi Ron ,
For one moment there , I thought you'd discovered a new model -- called the Zhumell 20 x 80 Defective ! :-)
I'm pleased you seem to like the two models that members here suggested you go for .
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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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12341
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Seems this is a double thread going on right now, so I'll just link to the reply I posted in the other.
Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't.
If They Look the Same, What Could be Different?
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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trever
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/18/03
Posts: 2678
Loc: North Alabama
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I also have ordered one of these in hopes of getting lucky. If not, I may consider the COSMOS brand from Barska. Not easy to find reviews on those it seems.
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Trever
Coronado PST Solar Telescope
Vixen A80MF 80mm Refractor with Porta Mount
Orange Celestron 8 inch SCT on AS-GT mount
Orion Starblast 6 inch Newtonian Reflector
Zhumell 20x80 Astronomical Binoculars
Orion Paragon HD-F2 Tripod
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astrokido
super member
Reged: 06/09/08
Posts: 199
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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Sounds like the typical experience with the 20x80's. The prism housing appears incorrectly cast and makes the two halves completely out of alignment. Trying to compensate by tilting the prisms only goes so far. If you're lucky, you can get a pair that is slightly off and you're able to compensate with the prism adjustments. Otherwise, you have to resort to loosening the objective tubes and moving the objectives for a greater degree of alignment, but good luck trying to use them like that.
Regardless, if you collimate (real collimation) each half independently, you can get good mono images from each half. They'll just be totally misaligned to eachother because of the poor prism housing body.
There's a lot of corner-cutting that goes into making these binocs. You always take a chance in such a price range, they're for gamblers only, and there's a small winning chance in there!
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- Gill C. - All opinions subject to a speed limit of 299,792,458 m/s.
Nikon D40 - Bushnell 10x25 - Zhumell 20x80 - Celestron Cometron CO-100
skyatlas.rgbstore.com - cool sky charts, photo overlays, and data tables
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1563
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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Quote:
I may consider the COSMOS brand from Barska.
This is a pretty good price compared to other sites:
http://www.overstock.com/Sports-Toys/BARSKA-Cosmos-20x80-Waterproof-Jumbo-Binoculars/2106716/product.html
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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
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trever
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/18/03
Posts: 2678
Loc: North Alabama
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So far, Mine seem to be in great shape. I took it out tonight and the star images appear to be in great shape. The alignment seems to be very nice. Now all I need is a mount.....
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Trever
Coronado PST Solar Telescope
Vixen A80MF 80mm Refractor with Porta Mount
Orange Celestron 8 inch SCT on AS-GT mount
Orion Starblast 6 inch Newtonian Reflector
Zhumell 20x80 Astronomical Binoculars
Orion Paragon HD-F2 Tripod
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echojr
newbie
Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 1
Loc: near Denver, CO
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I had to return two Zhumell 20x80's. The first pair had severe double-images. The second pair appeared to be a returned set; the case was damaged, the right tube assembly was very loose, on the verge of falling apart. Even stranger was that one side was noticeably tinted blue. Those were returned immediately, and the last pair were decent.
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Apollo 10x50
Zhumell 20x80
Orion SkyQuest XT8 Classic
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trever
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/18/03
Posts: 2678
Loc: North Alabama
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I am sure mine arent "perfect", but for my IPD, which is as wide as it can go, the alignment seems to be at least close enough to where I do not see double images. I will probably get the Peterson Engineering kit and make the mount for it. It seems like the most cost effective mount available.
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Trever
Coronado PST Solar Telescope
Vixen A80MF 80mm Refractor with Porta Mount
Orange Celestron 8 inch SCT on AS-GT mount
Orion Starblast 6 inch Newtonian Reflector
Zhumell 20x80 Astronomical Binoculars
Orion Paragon HD-F2 Tripod
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astrokido
super member
Reged: 06/09/08
Posts: 199
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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Much of the weight of these binoculars, I'd say over 1/3 of it, is from the central bar and tripod mount. Taking it off makes these binocs very light for their size, but requires alternate ways of steading/mounting them.
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- Gill C. - All opinions subject to a speed limit of 299,792,458 m/s.
Nikon D40 - Bushnell 10x25 - Zhumell 20x80 - Celestron Cometron CO-100
skyatlas.rgbstore.com - cool sky charts, photo overlays, and data tables
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1563
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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The difference between the GO Gemini 20x80 LW (5 lbs. 2.75ozs.)and the GO Gemini 20x80 UL (3 lbs. 15.75 ozs.) w/o central bar & tripod mount is l lb. 2.5 ozs.
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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
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