Telescope Reviews: Vixen Geoma 9x63mm ZCF binoculars

Sorry, Stan, I missed reading this thread, did not mean to ignore you.

I bought the 9x63's in 2005. They were my first good pair of binoculars. I had been using an old pair of 7x35 Bushnells and an early version of the 90mm ETX telescope and simply outgrew them all. I have a friend that used to be a Celestron dealer. He actually was the person who gave me my first planesphere and encouraged me in astronomy. He recommended I buy a 7x56 configuration. I knew nothing about coatings, exit pupil or what made one binocular better from the other, so I called Celestron tech support one Saturday morning. It must have been a fluke but I ended up talking to one of the tech engineers for at least 20 minutes. He encouraged me to buy the 9x63 instead. At that time new Japanese Ultimas (#71128) were very difficult to find. The newer generation of Chinese Ultimas were being stocked at 1/3 - 1/4 the price. I found the older model and was fortunate to find them at a closeout price.

I usually go outside with more than one instrument to compare color and magnification ~ a little one and a big one. The 9x63's weigh 2.3 lbs and have a published FOV of 5.4 degrees. Based on star distances from each other, I think it's pretty close, but the real useable field is probably around 5 degrees. The focused field of view drops off about 80-85% from the center. The center pivot is smooth and steady.

The Ultimas see lower magnitude objects as compared to my Regal 10x42's, but the views are not as bright. I guess brightness is expained a difference in exit pupil of 7 vs 4.2 mm's. I mount them both for steady astronomy viewing, especially to look at double stars. I really don't see how anyone can look at something like 100 Her and make any kind of evaluation unless the instrument is totally still. However, I'll often spread out a blanket and just use them to scan the sky.

I chose my 9x63's to take to Canada this past summer when I went visit my family. They have farms on the prairies and in the Rocky Mountain foothills of southern Alberta. The skies were so dark, even with Calgary's lights 40-70 miles north. It brought back memories of a time when I was young(er)

. I used to lie on the back of the snowmobile and look up in a dark field by myself. Sometimes it was -20F. I finally was able to "see" NGC7000 with my own eyes and then defined in the binoculars under a bright Milky Way canopy. It was wonderful.

If the Vixens are the same as these Ultima's I would say you'd be fortunate to have a pair. Even though I've used mine a lot and take them on trips they still look new.

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Shirley

Celestron CPC 800XLT
G0 BT80~45degree; Fujinon 16x70 FMT-SX
Celestron Ultima 9x63 & Regal LX 10x42