jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22469
Loc: NE Ohio
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gee whiz:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=50538&item=3861957839&rd=1
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John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
152mm F/10 achromat
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
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werewolf6977
Lord High Smasher
Reged: 12/15/03
Posts: 7444
Loc: Hanover, Ohio
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Oh, buddy! Bet them are just great binos, Jethro...
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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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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22469
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
Oh, buddy! Bet them are just great binos, Jethro...
I'll let you know in a week or so... 
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John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
152mm F/10 achromat
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
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cota_scope
sage
Reged: 05/16/04
Posts: 356
Loc: sioux city ia
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Post deleted by cota_scope
Edited by cota_scope (12/21/04 11:32 PM)
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Those 12x50 Meade binos are one expensive paper weight! They might be ok for children to play with....but other than that...
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werewolf6977
Lord High Smasher
Reged: 12/15/03
Posts: 7444
Loc: Hanover, Ohio
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I really shouldn't talk. I'm thinking about getting those Simmons Redline 10X50 Porro's I saw at Wal-Mart for $24.95.
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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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lighttrap
Reged: 02/06/04
Posts: 3833
Loc: cloudy, foggy, humid NC, US
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Quote:
I really shouldn't talk. I'm thinking about getting those Simmons Redline 10X50 Porro's I saw at Wal-Mart for $24.95.
Pete, I hope you like the color purple, and don't mind near fun-house images in the outer 50-60% of the FOV.
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18" Starsplitter II f/4.5
8" Hardin Dob f/6
C5 workhorse mini SCT f/10 or f/6.3
70mm TV Ranger dual purpose birding/astro
77mm Leica Televid APO
16x70 Fujinons on UA Deluxe Mt.
12x50 Nikon SE
8x30 Nikon E2s
and many others
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12588
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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We need a new gremlin
one that's throws money out the window.
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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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Good one EdZ! That's true...we do...
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Tim13
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/07/04
Posts: 575
Loc: Midwest
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Quote:
We need a new gremlin
one that's throws money out the window.
edz
You mean for the people the are willing to spend big $$$$ on just binoculars?
  
j/k of course. I think that there is plenty of room for a cheap pair of binos on everyones equipment list. A lot of people want a pair of glasses that they don't care what happens with them. I'm one of those that bought a pair because I know that they will end up being used soley as a tool to orient myself during star hopping. I don't care how pretty the stars look for this, and when I'm done, I can toss the binos on the ground until I need them again. A pair of good binos would just be another piece of expensive equipment that I have to babysit, so these have fit the bill nicely.
Tim
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One blue telescope.
One white telescope.
One white(formerly gray!)telescope.
Imagine a world without hypothetical situations.
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cota_scope
sage
Reged: 05/16/04
Posts: 356
Loc: sioux city ia
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i agree with tim,i am what you call the sanford and son of binoculars.this forum is for all types of viewers, i'm alway looking for good buys for people who can't afford the higher prices, and sometimes but rarely you can find a good buy that comes along.if i see a good deal i will post it after i have tested it or check the specks out.
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werewolf6977
Lord High Smasher
Reged: 12/15/03
Posts: 7444
Loc: Hanover, Ohio
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Are the Simmons really that bad?? If they are, I'll spend my lunch-money on something else...
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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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Stargazer2
super member
Reged: 10/11/04
Posts: 172
Loc: Silverton, Oregon
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Quote:
Those 12x50 Meade binos are one expensive paper weight! They might be ok for children to play with....but other than that...
Gee night watch, I was hoping you were going to give a little more detail in your review of these binos. Like what you used for subject material for viewing and what the results were.
Let us know a little more of what you saw through the sample you had.
I just ordered a pair and am hoping they're not all that bad. If so at least I didn't have to spend $40.00 plus shipping at places like Binoculars.com or others that have them for sale.
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Dale
Hardin 10" DSH in Beautiful Black
Swift 7x50
Meade 12x50
Celestron 15x70
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Bandoblue
sage
Reged: 07/15/04
Posts: 203
Loc: Rockville, MD
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My wife has a pair of these and I picked them up when I first returned to amateur astronomy 7 months ago. I had a little fun with them looking at the Coathanger and finding M13 when I was just starting out. But as soon as my ST80 arrived they started staying indoors. Then the 15x70s came and that was pretty much it for the Meades--there is just no comparison at all with the 15x70s, even though my 70s are just the cheap Celestron Skymasters.
My biggest problem with the Meade 12x50s was focus drift--resting any of the weight of the binos against the orbitals around my eye socket immediately caused the focus to start to change--the weight of the binos was just racking in the eyepiece assembly. I've since learned form others on CN that a solution to this is focus for infinity and then tape down the focus wheel--voila.
I'd say they are knockabouts--fine for keeping in the car or using as a quick-look casual recon tool for scouting out new objects. You won't have to worry about dropping them in the field. But they are what they are--a casual tool of limited utility. For 11 bucks, though, hey, why not? Just don't expect to get 50% or 75% of the performance of even a basic pair of 15x70s, much less Oberwerks or heaven forbid anything better.
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Erik Ledbetter
TV-102 on Gibraltar
Orion 127 on CG4
Orion ShortTube 80
16x70 FMT-SX on P-mount
8x42 Nikon Monarchs
Edited by Bandoblue (12/23/04 01:27 PM)
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Yeah, 11 bucks, hard to say no to that quality name brand.
Might be ok on a golf course. You really need a knock-about bino you wouldn't mind the kids grabbing.
My el-cheapos once got kid-used in a pond for seeing bugs up close and wet.
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rboe
Numbfinger
Reged: 03/16/02
Posts: 39729
Loc: Phx, AZ
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OK, I bit. I have the 15X70 Obies for home use, 15X70's Barska's that got moved to work for checking on fires, police calls and such (my cube is on the 18th floor in City Hall downtown Phoenix - great views!). These may go downtown too. They are cheap enough I won't cry if they get lifted. But I don't have anything in the 50mm class and if anything they will give me an idea what 50's can do as far as light gathering goes.
They have to better than my wifes' Tascos!
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Ron
NS11GPS
Pronto
16" dob
15X70 Obies
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imua
sage
Reged: 03/02/04
Posts: 214
Loc: Tampa, FL
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$11 and free shipping..wow. You'll find a use for them at that price. Even if it is just letting your kids use them.
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Russ
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12588
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Tim and John are right in the respect that no matter the quality of these inexpensive binoculars, at this price they make good stocking stuffers and are certain to be better than toys. Don't lose sight of intended use. for knock around binocs the price can't be beat. Just don't expect too much. But at this price, you really don't need to expect anything.
Merry Christmas.
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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Jon Isaacs
Postmaster
Reged: 06/16/04
Posts: 12070
Loc: San Diego, California
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These are Meade Travelview Porros. I had a pair of TravelView 7x35's, not bad as simple binos go. I think John will be pleased with his 12x50's.
jon
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Well said EdZ. The price will nearly every time tell you what to expect from the binoculars. At that super low price I would expect pitiful optical performance...BUT...they're better than nothing and thus a good idea for kids.
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie again
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 22469
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
Well said EdZ. The price will nearly every time tell you what to expect from the binoculars. At that super low price I would expect pitiful optical performance...BUT...they're better than nothing and thus a good idea for kids.
I'll probably use them about as much as I did the Vixen BT-80's I once bought. For me, those were a waste of money because I just didn't use them. I suspect I lost much more than $11 when those left! 
There's something to be said for fine optics, but it needs to kept within context. I owned a 4" Tele Vue APO for several years because the refractor wienies had me convinced that nothing less was worth looking through. I've since switched to Chinese refractors because they do all I need in that area. These days I don't worry too much about optical excellence in instruments too small for me to use regularly.
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John C
Urban Observatory
Tele Vue Pronto
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 152ED F/9 "APO"
152mm F/10 achromat
Tak CN-212 8" F/12 classical Cass/ F/4 Newt
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
LXD750, EM-200, CI-700
ST-10XME
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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That's another good point--the gear you use the most is the best. I wish that a $11 pair of binoculars would be used the most among my slowly growing collection, but I have a feeling it wouldn't be. Point taken though...
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alhanson
member
Reged: 01/01/04
Posts: 36
Loc: Key Largo FL & London UK
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Binocular snobs, the lot of you .......
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Al
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btschumy
Think Astronomy
Reged: 04/13/04
Posts: 1110
Loc: Austin, TX, USA
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Quote:
Binocular snobs, the lot of you .......
Well, surely you would expect people that go to the trouble participate in a binocular forum to be a bit more picky than the average Joe...
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Bill Tschumy
Where is M13? Freeware -- Add a new dimension to your observing.
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alhanson
member
Reged: 01/01/04
Posts: 36
Loc: Key Largo FL & London UK
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Quote:
Quote:
Binocular snobs, the lot of you .......
Well, surely you would expect people that go to the trouble participate in a binocular forum to be a bit more picky than the average Joe...
Absolutely, but at $11 including shipping *bleep* them with faint praise rather than poo poo them - my interest in astronomy was furthered by even less capable equipment.
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Al
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Well heck Al, why stop there? You can even enjoy astronomy for FREE with your own two peepers! No shipping required!
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Stargazer2
super member
Reged: 10/11/04
Posts: 172
Loc: Silverton, Oregon
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To be fair to the more advanced folk around here I have to agree there is need to to be very careful about items that could be concidered "hobby breakers".
Hobby breakers are often a real turn off to an otherwise rewarding adventure and sometimes a genuine waste of money. However, the same can be said for the most expensive equipment, only on a larger scale.
Having said this, I just received my new pair of $11.00 Meade 12x50 Travel Views and have to say these are not hobby breakers, just a really good deal (hey it happens  ). I found a finger print on the left ocular but my Lens Pen made it brand new again. Collimation seems good as well. I've been known to find the smallest things to complain about (I can be pickey too). But as of yet, can't find anything wrong with this deal.
Although I don't have a pair of primo binocs to compare with these, they do compare favorably to my Swift 7x50s optically and mechanically. I haven't had a clear night since who knows when, so I don't know if I'll ever get to try them out on the night sky but just from the terestrial views I think they'll be just fine for searching the sky.
Anyway, I'm very pleased. Score one for "Cheap Guy".
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Dale
Hardin 10" DSH in Beautiful Black
Swift 7x50
Meade 12x50
Celestron 15x70
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werewolf6977
Lord High Smasher
Reged: 12/15/03
Posts: 7444
Loc: Hanover, Ohio
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Wow, someone cheaper than me??
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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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rboe
Numbfinger
Reged: 03/16/02
Posts: 39729
Loc: Phx, AZ
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Don't panic Pete, he probably was just in the right mood. 
Dale; Tom T. had said they were not too bad and with your two cents in there I think I may just really like these guys. I've heard good things about the Swifts. Maybe I should pick up a second pair as a backup. 
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Ron
NS11GPS
Pronto
16" dob
15X70 Obies
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Well, there is one thing to be said: If you don't have any expectations, you can't be disappointed. I guess that can be a curse and a blessing. Enjoy the Meade binos Dale. Seriously! 
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Tim13
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/07/04
Posts: 575
Loc: Midwest
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Quote:
Binocular snobs, the lot of you .......
Well, I don't know if snob is the right word, but there certainly are less abrasive ways to express an opinion.
Tim
--------------------
One blue telescope.
One white telescope.
One white(formerly gray!)telescope.
Imagine a world without hypothetical situations.
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Bandoblue
sage
Reged: 07/15/04
Posts: 203
Loc: Rockville, MD
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I've been fol |
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