Fiske
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/14/04
Posts: 2057
Loc: Missouri / United States
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Quote:
My Canon 10x42L IS have high performance L series lenses with 2 Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) elements on each side have 6.5° FOV so I think they would be a better comparison to ultra premium 10x42's. If I want a great non IS handheld view I use my 7x42 Zeiss FL's and my IS binoculars in the 8-15x range. I am spoiled by the rock steady view in my IS binoculars handheld and 60-110mm binoculars on one of my myriad of mounts so that is why I will never spend big bucks on a top of the line non IS premium roofs over 7x for handheld use.
Joe:
You have an impressive Bino lineup, no doubt about that! 
It seems like the Canon 10x42L IS binos haven't been that well received. I wonder why that is? I haven't seen a pair myself, so I really have no opinion about them.
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Fiske Miles
Nikon 8x42 LX / 12x50 SE Binos
Mini Borg 60ED, TV-101, AT80Ach, XT-8, C11/CI-700, 22-Inch Dob
Way too many Nagler eyepieces
http://www.fiskemiles.blogspot.com/
www.fiskemiles.com
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pcad
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/17/05
Posts: 1487
Loc: Connecticut
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Fiske,
I have the 10x42L also. The only reason I don't write much about it is that Joe's already said it all. 
Peter
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Peter
Telescopes 25 - 318 mm
Binoculars 15 - 88 mm
Microscope 50x - 1000x
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Fiske
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/14/04
Posts: 2057
Loc: Missouri / United States
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Yeah, well Joe's that way...
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Fiske Miles
Nikon 8x42 LX / 12x50 SE Binos
Mini Borg 60ED, TV-101, AT80Ach, XT-8, C11/CI-700, 22-Inch Dob
Way too many Nagler eyepieces
http://www.fiskemiles.blogspot.com/
www.fiskemiles.com
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BobinKy
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 04/27/07
Posts: 928
Loc: Country road
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I have been looking at some 15x binoculars for travel to bright night skies. The Brunton Eterna ELO 15x51 Roof Prism Binocular has some interesting specs. It looks like we have a couple of threads about them here and here on Cloudy Nights.
I do not expect a handheld 15x to perform anywhere close to my Fujinon FMT-SX 16x70. Remember I am looking for a 15x under $400 and under 40 oz to take on business trips to bright night skies. Something to throw in the brief case. However, I am going to think about it a few more days. Maybe I will give these a try? Maybe I will stick with what I have?
Anybody have any first-hand knowledge of the Brunton 15x51 binocular?
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Bob
38° Kentucky, USA
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10080
Loc: Lancashire UK
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< Anybody have any first-hand knowledge of the Brunton 15x51 binocular? >
Hi Bob ,
I think Erik D likes his , but he's away for a few weeks right now .
Regards
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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Tony Flanders
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/18/06
Posts: 2047
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA
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Quote:
I am looking for a 15x under $400 and under 40 oz to take on business trips to bright night skies. Something to throw in the brief case.
I'm a little baffled by this. 15X binoculars aren't much fun unless you have some way to hold them really steady. My favorite is a lounge chair, though a tripod works OK too. But you can't just expect to find a lounge chair everywhere you go, and whatever you use to steady the binoculars, it's going to weigh a lot more than 40 oz. So why worry about the weight of the binoculars?
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Tony Flanders
eyeglasses
6x15 and 8x32 monoculars
8x25, 7x35, 10x30 IS, 10x50, and 15x70 binoculars
70mm and 100mm achromatic refractors
4.5", 7", and 12.5" Dobs
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1626
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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Quote:
Anybody have any first-hand knowledge of the Brunton 15x51 binocular?
Brunton website: http://www.brunton.com/press/Tech_Data/Optic%20Charts/Eterna.pdf
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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
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BobinKy
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 04/27/07
Posts: 928
Loc: Country road
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Kenny--
Thank you for suggesting I contact Erik D.
I would like to hear your thoughts on how to improve viewing under bright night skies.
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Bob
38° Kentucky, USA
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10080
Loc: Lancashire UK
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< I would like to hear your thoughts on how to improve viewing under bright night skies. >
Bob , I agree with what several other contributors have said , most notably Tony Flanders .
I will summarise my thoughts , thus :
1. More magnification shows many more stars .
2. Mounting the binoculars trumps most other aspects .
3. Good quality binoculars perform better than poor quality binoculars with ANY levels of light pollution .
4. Try as far as possible to match the exit - pupils with your own pupil dilation .
Kind Regards
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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BobinKy
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 04/27/07
Posts: 928
Loc: Country road
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Tony--
Your reply has caused me to do some more reflection. Now a new question enters into the hunt for a better view under bright night skies.What is the maximum weight I want to consider in a bright sky binocular (or any handheld binocular)? I have to be careful or you IS guys are gonna talk me into one of those battery boxes. Weight-wise, I handhold binoculars from 10.2 oz (Pentax Papillo 6.5x21) to 50.1 oz (Fujinon FMT-SX 7x50). The most comfortable weight for me right now is 24.0 oz (Swift Audubon 8.5x44). Somehow, I enjoy handholding the 50 oz weight of the Fujinon 7x50--I do not know if it is the fit, the balance, the fantastic views, or what-have-you. I use a 30.0 oz (Pentax DCF 10x50) for both day and night sky. I have noticed that I get the shakes for night sky use with 30 oz, but do not get them with 24 oz. And my most comfortable handhold is a 18.2 oz (Leopold Katmai 6x32)--my two-finger bino.
But none of these enter into the hunt for a bright night binocular, where magnification seems to be critical. What is appealing about the Brunton 15x51 is the 32 oz weight. However, my above reflection already tells me that I will get the shakes with 32 oz.
What to do?
I am beginning to see why you IS guys love the battery boxes. You get handheld magnification without the shakes. Which is something manual bino users do not enjoy (without a tripod).
On trips, however, I have found that a monopod does give some flexibility--small, light weight, and good for supporting binoculars up to 5 lbs. A monopod with a swivel head from a stool or chair adds considerably to day and night sky viewing. But, while I do not get the shakes with a monopod, I have noticed I get the weaves.
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Bob
38° Kentucky, USA
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BobinKy
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 04/27/07
Posts: 928
Loc: Country road
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Kenny--
Thank you for your recommendations. As always, I will think much on your wise words.
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Bob
38° Kentucky, USA
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BobinKy
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 04/27/07
Posts: 928
Loc: Country road
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Hallelujah--
Joe O gives us those fantastic photos and you always give us those invaluable links. Thank you once again.
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Bob
38° Kentucky, USA
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edcannon
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/19/03
Posts: 675
Loc: Austin, Texas
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Bob,
I've been curious about the Audubon Intrepid 8x40 and 10x40 models offered by Eagle Optics. They are porro yet both weigh only 22 ounces. They are advertised at BaK-4 and fully multicoated. They are waterproof/fogproof, nitrogen-purged. Their field of view (6 and 5.1 degrees for the 8x and 10x) is comparable to your Pentax. Maybe they would be worth looking at/through?
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Ed Cannon - Austin, Texas, USA
As of 23 August 2008 - Celestron Skymaster 12x60
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1626
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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Quote:
Hallelujah--
Joe O gives us those fantastic photos and you always give us those invaluable links. Thank you once again.
My pleasure! 
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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
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Robert A.
sage
Reged: 01/21/05
Posts: 216
Loc: Milwaukee, WI Northern USA
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Mr KennyJ, you give a good summary with 4 points. On the 4th point, that one should try to match the exit pupil to ones own pupil dilation, there is a known exception. You could have written it, but you have left it to another participant in this forum.
For the best performance in a binoculars, one should pick smaller exit pupil to counter ones' own astigmatism. That would put the image to the eye though less aberration in your own cornea or eye lens.
Following a rabbit trail, on a new to me translation page, aberrare means to 'go astray' .
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Oberwerk 11x56, Nikon 12x50se, Fujinon 16x70, Stellarvue 20x85, Oberwerk 25/40 45degree 100mm
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BobinKy
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 04/27/07
Posts: 928
Loc: Country road
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Ed--
Those Audubon Intrepids have some nice specs at a nice price. I like the traditional porro design--reminds me of binos from another time and place. Optics4Birding has a lengthy description. I have already added them to my Consideration List.
Thank you for the suggestion.
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Bob
38° Kentucky, USA
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10080
Loc: Lancashire UK
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< For the best performance in a binoculars, one should pick smaller exit pupil to counter ones' own astigmatism. That would put the image to the eye though less aberration in your own cornea or eye lens.>
Valid point , Robert , but if my astigmatism becomes problematic , I stick my prescription glasses on , as that is precisely why I have them -- to counter my eyes' astigmatism !
Actually , for most types of viewing , I much prefer my pupil dilation to be smaller than the exit - pupil .
For one thing , the smaller my pupils are , the sharper I see things , and for another , larger exit - pupils are much more forgiving for keeping the views in the comfort zone .
Regards
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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