leo9
member
Reged: 06/17/08
Posts: 70
Loc: Western Oregon, USA
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I probably just opened a real can of worms, but I am curious which 15x70's (under $300,premiums or ?) you folks use regularly, and their strengths, weaknesses, etc. Any make, model or year, whether available, discontinued, classics, or collectable. This could be both fun, and informative.
(yeah, I'm bored - 18 straight days and nights of smoke and cloud! sheesh!) 
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Nikon 12x50 Action; Pentax 8x40 PCF WPII
Bogen 3220 w/3way+qw
Trico SkyWindow
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Rich V.
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/02/05
Posts: 967
Loc: Carson Valley, Nevada USA
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My favorite 15x70 is acutally a 16x70!
You can read a lot about this size range of binocular in the Best Of section.
Down here in Nevada we had the smoke problem from June through most of July as the Calif. wildfires were way out of control. It did get boring but watching a deep red Sun set behind the pines on a ridge of the nearby Sierras one evening at 33x was spectacular.
Hope things clear for you soon.
Rich V
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Binoculars:
33-150x100 Saturn III, 16x70FMT-SX, 10x50 PCF-V, 10x43 DCF-SP, 10x35 E2, 7x35 E, 8x30 E2, 7x26 Custom, 8x23AS Diplomat, 8x23 Travelite
Scopes:
C9.25, 6" f8 reflector, SV80S
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werewolf6977
Lord High Smasher
Reged: 12/15/03
Posts: 7408
Loc: Hanover, Ohio
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My favorites are my only 15X70's, the Celestron Skymaster.
Inexpensive (under $100.00) weight only about 3 lbs gives nice views. When you order these, however you may have to play return games until you get a pair that's collimated. Some of us (like me) got lucky on the first round. As stated above, some others weren't as lucky.
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Pete
6" Apogee/LXD55 - "The Beast"
Starhopper 6" Dob - "Shiva"
Spaceprobe 130 EQ - "Spacey"
Bushnell Fatboy
The Abomination
Sun Pak Pro 7500 Platinum Edition
10X25 Bushnell Camo Roofies
7X35 Tasco Classic Plastic (good views though)
7X42 Tasco Rare Bird
10X50 Nikon Actions (Type 7)
15X70 Skymasters - "DroolMeisters"
One ratty old IBM 600E LapTop
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GlenM
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/20/07
Posts: 1047
Loc: 53° 36'N 2° 06'W
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I would go the extra few dollar's and go for the Garrett Optical 15x70 Signature. I have them and I'm really satisfied with them. I have a friend who just bought the Celestron's...
It just might be he's got a bad pair though.
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Glen
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leo9
member
Reged: 06/17/08
Posts: 70
Loc: Western Oregon, USA
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Thanks gang;
RichV - any details on your 16's/? - who makes these?
I've looked at celestrons and the signature GO's to, and a couple dozen others... I think I have caught "Bino Fever", I want to get some Pentax Papillo's, and almost bit on a pair of 20x80's for sale on the swap/sell thread.. oh thank the Lord I am broke!
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Nikon 12x50 Action; Pentax 8x40 PCF WPII
Bogen 3220 w/3way+qw
Trico SkyWindow
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charen
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 05/28/05
Posts: 780
Loc: New Zealand
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Barska 15x70's - took me 5x to get a reasonable one. Celestron Skymasters 15x70's- had 2x - both miscollimated, one had severe 'cats eyes'. If Celestron sorted there Q. and A. they would be reasonable binos for the price.
Bushnell Australis 15x70 [unsure if you can get them in the Northern hemisphere ]- actually not bad binos - similar price and specs to the Skymasters but slightly better image.
These are all now sold.
Only now have the Kunming Orion Resolux 15x70 [same as GO Signature ]- heavy but very good optics and build qualities.
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35 binos.
80mm Cat.
WO66ED
SV NH 80mm / EQ3
Meade 8in.LX90
Skywatcher Equinox ED120 / Goto HEQ5.
Edited by charen (09/21/08 04:00 PM)
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KGE
member
Reged: 01/20/08
Posts: 19
Loc: Connecticut
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My favorite 15x70 is actually the 16x70 Fujinon. My favorite 15x60 is a Barr&Stroud CF-46. I suppose it is a classic but has coated optics, center focus, and is much lighter than the Fujinon.
Kevin
99 binos
4 telescopes
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Member
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Rich V.
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/02/05
Posts: 967
Loc: Carson Valley, Nevada USA
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Quote:
Thanks gang;
RichV - any details on your 16's/? - who makes these?
They're the Fujinon Polaris 16x70FMT. They have their shortcomings but still are right there in the "best of class" 70mm binoculars. When I got them they were the only game in town if quality was the main issue, along with the Nikon Astroluxe 18x70s and the now discontinued Zeiss 15x60.
Now that the Chinese Kunming Series 8 offerings are available from many dealers, you have better options in the $300. range. As already mentioned above, with the inexpensive "bargain" grade glass you have to take your chances and hope you get a good one initially. You still generally get what you pay for in the end!
Rich V
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Binoculars:
33-150x100 Saturn III, 16x70FMT-SX, 10x50 PCF-V, 10x43 DCF-SP, 10x35 E2, 7x35 E, 8x30 E2, 7x26 Custom, 8x23AS Diplomat, 8x23 Travelite
Scopes:
C9.25, 6" f8 reflector, SV80S
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4359
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my favorite is miyauchi 22x60s, but over your price range new (but no longer made) and may be available used (but I do not think many were made, so I must be in a small group)
edj
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1639
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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Orion 15x70mm Little Giant II, discontinued, 2 lbs. 14 ozs., FMC. Made in Japan.
Strengths: 15x70mm, Fully Multi-Coated, Japanese workmanship, lightweight, good balance, s l o w focusing.
Weaknesses: E.R. 8mm, right diopter moves easily upon contact with eye socket. No longer available. 
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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 (09/21/08 06:36 PM)
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Obx
member
Reged: 08/01/08
Posts: 67
Loc: Beautiful OBX
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My Orion 15x63 Mini Giant seems to work well in light-polluted skies.
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Swift Sea Hawk 6x30
Spencer Lens Mk 13 US Navy 7x50
Bausch & Lomb Mk 28 US Navy 7x50
National Instrument Mk 32 US Navy 7x50
Celestron Ultima 8x42
Orion Mini Giant 15x63
Meade 2045D S-C
Meteorites & Tektites
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leo9
member
Reged: 06/17/08
Posts: 70
Loc: Western Oregon, USA
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Interesting input -- you guys guessed i am looking to buy in 3 to 6 months (saving for "em).
Please post all ideas - regardless of price - I could win the lottery!lol
Actually liked the specs of the GO 15x70's, need that eye-relief at 15mm useable (usually =18mm published spec)
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Nikon 12x50 Action; Pentax 8x40 PCF WPII
Bogen 3220 w/3way+qw
Trico SkyWindow
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Rich N
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/22/04
Posts: 5303
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area, Calif...
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The other day I tried the Orion 15x70 Giant View. With the eyecups rolled down the eye relief was fine with my glasses on.
I've not tried a lot of other 15x70s so I'm not sure how they compare.
Rich
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Markus
Postmaster
Reged: 12/26/04
Posts: 5385
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I've been thru 5 or 6 pairs of 15x70 celestron skymasters and out of all 6 I would say that 2 pairs were good, one excellent and the excellent pair smashed on the ground. *sigh* 
I now have a pair of pentax 16x60 PCF V's.
strengths: lightweight, sharp optics to about 85% of the FOV, nice long ER, stray light doesn't hamper the views like my 12x50 Pentax PCF WP II's, and excellent color rendition day or night!
weaknesses: FOV is rather narrow.
These are awesome binocs!
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25X100 Skymasters
15X70 Skymasters
Home built Parallelogram Mount
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12515
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Quote:
liked the specs of the GO 15x70's
GO sells three different quality levels of 15x70s, the Signature being the highest.
My favorite 15x70s are my Oberwerk Ultra 15x70, a very close match to my Fujinon 16x70.
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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ZachK
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/21/05
Posts: 667
Loc: Israel
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I like my Celestron's. I don't have any illusions that they are the best thing out there, but they work well enough and they are what I got.  That being said under dark skies last summer they were amazing.
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Zach Kessin
Yesha Israel
Meade ETX 127 Mak-Cass
15x70 Celestron Skymaster Binoculars
Sinar F 4x5 view camera
Rolliflex Camera 80mm F2.8
Pentax K-1000 Camera 35,50 and 60--300mm zoom
3 kids, Large cat, small dog
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leo9
member
Reged: 06/17/08
Posts: 70
Loc: Western Oregon, USA
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Thanks again, all of you.
Like everyone on this board, when EdZ speaks, I listen...
Checked out the Oberwerk 15x70 ultras and the specs are dead on for my needs... though a bit out of my hoped for price. I have never regreted getting better quality. I have regreted buying to quickly, or too cheaply. Looks like I need to calm down, and save a bit longer regardless of what I get.
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Nikon 12x50 Action; Pentax 8x40 PCF WPII
Bogen 3220 w/3way+qw
Trico SkyWindow
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DNTash
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/02/07
Posts: 629
Loc: New Delhi, India
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I've had good luck collimating the Celestron 15x70's. Tricky at first, but not hard once you get the hang of it.
Certainly not the best binoc out there, but, at $65, which is what I paid several years ago, good value for the money and I'm not afraid to just throw them in the luggage for a trip to dark skies. Good luck choosing!
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WO 66 Doublet
Meade ETX-90PE
WO "Crayford-ed" Orion 120ST
SkyMaster 15x70's, Meade Safari Pro 8x42's, Nikon Monarch 10x42's
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alessandro71
super member
Reged: 09/04/07
Posts: 119
Loc: Rho (Milan - Italy)
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Based on the reviews that I saw on this forum, I would choose the Oberwerk 15x70 ultra (or the same of Garrett Signature).
In fact, I'm putting aside money in order to buy one of them.
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alessandro
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desertrefugee
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/06/07
Posts: 515
Loc: Arizona
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A couple of years ago, while I wasn't even looking for a pair of 15x70s, I happened on a pair at a nearby Garage Sale.
Barska X-Trail for $40. Build quality was decent, collimation on the button and they were new'ish. They smelled a bit of cigarette smoke, but the price was right.
They are now my most used pair under dark skies. I'm no purist but, optically, the only negative I've noted that's really obvious is a bit of color fringing - mainly with the moon.
I have heard of quality problems with these, but I lucked out.
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"Look now upon the River of Heaven, Sky-Road of the Immortals, White with the star-frost of a billion years".
-Darrell
Reflectors (114, 150, 254mm), Refractors (60, 76.2, 80, 120), MCT (125), too many Binoculars
Cave Creek/Carefree, AZ
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