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rouseyfire
super member
Reged: 11/09/04
Posts: 143
Loc: loveland,colorado
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Just brought home a pair of new pentax 16x60's. I have had a pair of pentax 12x50's for about 6-7 years and enjoy their use but wanted something a little bit larger. The 12x50's show as being made in Japan whereas the new 16x60's show as being from China. The older ones came with a nicely padded leather case and the new ones with a nylon-not so padded-case. Doing a simple test, both showed good complete coatings and both showed nice round circles of light when held a foot away from my eyes. The contract in both looked the same with maybe the 16x60's have a little brighter image due to the larger 60mm versus the 50mm lens opening. I see no dust, or other marks in either pair when looking inside with a flashlight.
To me, its kinda a trade-off being having the higher power but with a smaller fov: Both is nice to have. Bith will work with the pentax tripod adapter I purchased (made in Japan). I guess the cheapest source of produces will keep the stockholders happy but I'm not sure of the consumer. The eyecups are a lot softer for the 12x50's and extend past the lens. The new ones are harder and no extension. Not sure which ones I like the best!
The older 12x50's had not got a lot of use for astronomy unitl recently when I purchased my firs scope. Now I like this hobby and for quick looks, I like useing the binoculars. Still being a newbie I have this question: Using the 12x50's I press the eyesocket against the rubber eyecups which gives me a steader view when handheld. The new 16x60's will give me a tunnel effect when my eyes are pressed against the cups. Using the new binoculars, the view is not cropped when my eye is a bit away from the eyecup. Which, I assume, may be better when using a tripod and not wanting any shake by my eyes touching the binoculars. This is cause by what? Is it 'eye relief'? For daytime senic or wildlife viewing, I think the old ones will work better when not using a tripod and resting the eyecups aginst my eyesockets but the new ones will give me a little further reach for particular sky images at night.
Then again, I not real sure if I even need both ( 30 day return policy for the new ones). $174.99 at Sportsman's Warehouse. Overall, I'm happy with how both perform and the optics seem the same quality in both. Having to move my eyes away from the lens on the 16x60's isn't a defect is it? Thanks for any comments you may have.
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glenn
Orion SVP 127 Mak
Pentax 8x32SP
Pentax 12x50
Oberwerk 20x80 deluxe II
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rouseyfire
super member
Reged: 11/09/04
Posts: 143
Loc: loveland,colorado
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Boy, am I dumb!! These have pop-up eye pieces! Now I like them even better. I guess it pays to read the directions before using. Please forget my question about the eyesocket against the eyepieces. I hope none of you read my first post before this is added. I'll try to use both tonight (weather permitting) and let you know how I like the new ones compared to the old 12x50's. Sorry again.
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glenn
Orion SVP 127 Mak
Pentax 8x32SP
Pentax 12x50
Oberwerk 20x80 deluxe II
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Erik D
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 2561
Loc: Central New Jersey, USA
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Glenn,
The Pentax PCF WPs have long 20mm eye relief. You WILL experience image black out if you don't wear glasses and try to view them with eye cups retracted.
I understand the Pentax PCFs have very good edge sharpness. I considered getting them for quick looks without a tripod after getting 20X80s and 25X100s a few years ago. Decided to go with Oberwerk 12X60s instead becasue of the much wider 5.7 deg FOV.
I suggest that you consider 20X80s if you decide not to keep the Pentax 16X. A typical 20X80 has ~3.2 deg FOV. You can cover 30% more sky and enjoy 25% higher power. See EdZ' review of the Oberwerk 20X80 Std in the mini review section.
ERik D
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12592
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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I think actually that's a pretty good combination of binoculars. I also have both an older 12x50 and a not so new 16x60. There is a big difference in the magnification.
The difference you see in where you put your eyes up to them is eye relief. I see you've figured out how to adjust it to your liking.
I think my Pentax PCF III 12x50s are one of the best mid size/mid priced binoculars I own. Oh yeh, the coatings are an older generation and don't match up to some of the newer finer coatings, but the pinpoint stars almost anywhere in the field of view makes them a shear pleasure to look thru. They have a more pinpoint image than the Nikon AE 12x50, although the field is widerin the Nikon.
The 16x60 is good as well, but I do reach for my 15x70 more often. The 16x60 is really quite narrow, but in the Pentax fashion really a sharp view out to near the edge. Try them out for as long as you can. I think you'll like them,
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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stendec
member
Reged: 06/13/04
Posts: 28
Loc: Sweden
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"Boy, am I dumb!! These have pop-up eye pieces! Now I like them even better. I guess it pays to read the directions before using. "
I made the same stupid mistake on my 20x60s 
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Fujinon 7x50 FMT-SX2
Edited by stendec (01/14/05 05:28 AM)
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