keithlm
newbie
Reged: 09/10/09
Posts: 3
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I was looking at getting a pair of good binocs. Went to the local sporting goods store (Dick's) and was going to buy the Nikon Action EX 10x50. But they don't carry that one in the store, only online. They did have the 7x50 Action EX in the store which I decided to buy after comparing to a normal 10x50 action.
Marked price: $149.95. Price at register: $89.95.
I asked to make sure I wasn't stealing them.
SIDE NOTE: I also plan on getting something like a GO SS 15x70 or maybe even a GO SS 20x80 (Maybe the triplet). But I want the better optics regarless and I can't afford Fujinon. Anyway because I was planning on the larger tripod mounted binocular, I was debating whether a 7x50 or 8x50 would be better than a 10x50.
Saving 33% doesn't hurt.
(So does anybody have a very negative thing to say about the 7x50's, or did I get an okay deal?)
EDIT: Oh yeah... my first post. 
Edited by keithlm (09/15/09 05:11 PM)
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94bamf
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/15/08
Posts: 722
Loc: Kansas City,Mo
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$89 for 7x50 Action Extremes is a real good deal. I have a pair of 7x50 Nikon Actions. They perform ok, but the eyepiece focus bridge moves around and they have a somewhat limited AFOV at around 44 deg. Yours share the same AFOV, but if you looked through them and it doesn't bother you, then its not an issue. Apparent Field of View is a personal perference thing more than anything. I have no idea on the mechanical construction of the Action Extreme model of this bino since I have no experience with it. The 10x50 and 12x50 seem to be pretty popular around here. Great deal though, cheapest I have seen around the net is ~$125..
Ken
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Telescopes:
Celestron C6 SCT on CG4 mount
Skywatcher 8 inch F/5 Newt on a GEM
Celestron 8 inch Starhopper Dob
Celestron Oynx 80ED
Celestron C130 Mak
Celestron C102HD
Binoculars:
Nikon 7x35 Action
Nikon 7x50 Action
Zen Ray Summit 10x42
Celestron 10x42 Noble
Orion 10x50 Scenix
Celestron 10x50 Noble
Pentax 12x50 PCF WP II
Celestron 15x70 Skymaster
Oberwerk 20x60
Zhumell 20x80
Edited by 94bamf (09/15/09 05:45 PM)
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charen
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/28/05
Posts: 1083
Loc: New Zealand
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Hi ! welcome to C.N.s. As Ken says that is a good price. The Nikon EX [or AE ]line does get good support and reviews here at Cloudy Nights. The EX 10x50 esp. is recommended for astro use.
The 7x50 size does get mixed reviews as to there suitability for astro use as they give a 7 mm exit pupil which is best suited for dark skies and / or young eyes.
There are however many experienced observers who still prefer the 7x50's as they do give a bright image and a wide F.O.V.
The Nikon EX 70x50 however has a 6.4 Degree FOV which is certainly not 'wide' but will give you a usable FOV. The 10x50 EX actually does give you a 6.5 degree FOV and a much wider Afov of 65 degrees.
Choosing the 7x50 EX over the entry level Action 10x50 is wise in my opinion as the EX is waterproof and does give improved optical and build qualities. The Action 10x50 does have noticeable edge deterioration and an eye bridge that does have excessive movement.
Lastly the Garrett SS 15x70 is an excellent choice and gets excellent reviews and comments.
Hope you enjoy your new binos.
Chris
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35 binos.
80mm Cat.
WO66ED
SV NH 80mm / EQ3
Meade 8in.LX90
Skywatcher Equinox ED120 / Goto HEQ5.
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ronharper
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/14/06
Posts: 1276
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Kieth,
I haven't used them personally, but the Action EX is the most common recommendation on this forum for a $150 Porro.
Any size/magnification has advantages and disadvantages that can be argued endlessly. I own a small selection of binoculars, and my 7x50 gets a lot of use. Because of its advantages, of course, not because of its disadvantages!
You got a great deal on a good quality instrument. I think you'll find it easy to use, and that's an important thing when you're starting out learning your way around the sky. 7x50 gives great views in the daytime too.
I hope you enjoy the new pursuit. Of course you have to get over a bit of a learning hump before it feels worthwhile. Holler if we can help.
Ron
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HoundDog
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/01/04
Posts: 2198
Loc: Greenwell Springs, La.
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Keith, congratulations on your purchase and welcome to the forum!
I think you did good for yourself so get out there and use your 7x50's. Do a little daytime birding, chase airplanes, and just scan around the nighttime sky for starters.
There are a lot of nice people who hang around here and they'll be more than happy to offer guidance and advice if you wish to take advantage of that.
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Ernest
Discovery DHQ 8" F7 Dob
Oberwerk 8x56 Binoculars
An odd assortment of eyepieces and other stargazing stuff
Two worthless cats!
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keithlm
newbie
Reged: 09/10/09
Posts: 3
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Thanks for the responses.
Wouldn't you know... rain and clouds on the night I buy a new toy. Oh well I guess that can't not happen... it would cause the Earth to tilt off axis or something.
Actually it did clear up a little bit. At least some breaks in the clouds. Still hazy... but I could clearly see 3 moons of Jupiter. Vega and Altair were also nice and bright but I couldn't see much of anything else. Besides it's been a few years since I've done any stargazing... so it'll take me awhile to find stuff again.
I do have an Orion 130ST reflector... but like a lot of people I discovered when I bought it a few years back that I probably should have bought binoculars first. But the 90 or so minutes I spend outside peeping through breaks in the clouds tonight tells me I'll probably be getting a parallelogram mount soon. (I might just make one.)
BTW: These 7x50's are probably really going to be most useful when I'm camping in the Rocky Mountains at 11,000 feet. It's really dark up there.
Edited by keithlm (09/16/09 02:53 AM)
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keithlm
newbie
Reged: 09/10/09
Posts: 3
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So I go and buy a few screws and an L bracket so I can mount this thing on my medium sized camera tripod.
HEY... major thunderstorm and rain so bad it'll soak you in a few minutes.
If you waxed your car AND bought a new piece of gear what would happen? Storm of the century?
Actually though... I'm looking at the mountain through the rain... VERY cool.. seeing birds that landed on treetops to wait out the storm.
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RichD
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/08/07
Posts: 567
Loc: Derbyshire, UK
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Great deal on that bino! I know I sound like a stuck record on this forum but you guys in the states get some GREAT deals on binos.
enjoy!
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Clear skies
Rich
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ronharper
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/14/06
Posts: 1276
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Yeah, what's up with that? It seems like English guys pay in pounds darn near what we pay in relatively unworthy dollars. The bino-pound is it's own special denomination. I'm sorry. Oh well, I hear you guys are relatively polite to one another and not particularly inclined towards mass murders with automatic weapons. Maybe that counts for something!
Ron
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RichD
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/08/07
Posts: 567
Loc: Derbyshire, UK
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I don't know why it is Ron! All I know is it makes this hobby pretty expensive. It's not like there isn't large demand for high end binos over here - birding is as popular as ever.
I'd love to pick up a 7x50 fmt but just can't justify another £500 after i bought the 10x50.I still keep checking out the used market though...
Time to be grateful with what I already have I think!
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Clear skies
Rich
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werewolf6977
Lord High Smasher
Reged: 12/15/03
Posts: 8431
Loc: Hanover, Ohio
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When you get up high, do this: get a towel for the drool, and slowly pan Lyra, Cygnus, Aquila, Sagittarius, and Scorpio. When you're done, mop the drool off of your chest! You'll need to, believe you me! Feast your eyes!
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Pete
6" Apogee/LXD55
Starhopper 6" Dob
Spaceprobe 130EQ
Black C8 OTA
WO Zenith Star 66 Patriot Edition
Sun Pak Pro 7500 Platinum Edition
8X42 Bushnell H2O Porro
7X35 Tasco
10X50 Nikon Actions (Type 7)
15X70 Skymasters
Dell Inspiron Dual Core 531s
"Science without Religion is lame, Religion without Science is blind" A.Einstein.
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RichD
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/08/07
Posts: 567
Loc: Derbyshire, UK
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I'm drooling now just thinking about it...
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Clear skies
Rich
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