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Prof M
member
Reged: 07/26/09
Posts: 49
Loc: Southwest Utah
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I have a friend who is emptying his bino closet and has offered to sell me one of his 8x42s. I am wondering if anyone here has any information on either of these two as far as their usefulness for astro observing(sorry, this is all I know about them):
Pentax DCF
Eagle Optics (sold as the Audubon Equinox)
Any informtion will be apreciated.
Keith
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Joad
Wordsmith
Reged: 03/22/05
Posts: 12871
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I do not know about these two particular 8X42s (except that both Pentax and Eagle are good and reliable brands), but I am assuming that they are roof prism. I have been astonished about how well my roof prism 8X42 binoculars perform for astronomy viewing. Not good on planets, they can pick up DSOs quite well, as well as asterisms. They are really useful for the North America nebula. I even picked up M81 and 82 the other night, faintly, but they were there. And of course the Andromeda galaxy is very good with them.
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12.5 inch Portaball + Osypowski platform
LX10
Oberwerk BT100 45° binocular
Orion binoviewer + ScopeStuff extender (so it focuses at f/4.9)
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BobinKy
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/27/07
Posts: 1683
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Keith...
Hopefully, others will come along and provide some information on the specific models you are being offered. You might ask your friend if he knows the age of the binoculars.
. . .
There is an ongoing debate here in the binoculars forum between the 10x50 fans and the 8x42 fans, as to which is the better basic binocular for astronomy observing. Some, and I include myself in the third camp, think the 7x50 is the better basic binocular. Several issues enter into the debate, such as magnification, aperture, ergonomics of the specific models, darkness or amount of sky glow present in the observer's sky, ability of the observer to hand hold the heavier 50mm apertures, eye pupils of the observer, Field of View of the various models, preferred targets of the binocular observer, and on and on.
Personally, I do most of my night sky binocular observing with a 7x50 and 16x70. However, if the skies have more sky glow than usual, I will substitute a 8.5x44 for the 7x50.
. . .
So, to answer your question--Yes, many people use 8x42 binoculars for night sky binocular observing. Whether your friend's models will work for you, try them out and see for yourself.
Maybe he will let you borrow them for a few weeks?
. . .
Oh, and I almost forgot, another important question is how much (or how little) will your friend take for his unused glass? 
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Bob
38°N
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Unknownastron
sage
Reged: 04/06/05
Posts: 209
Loc: CatsEye Observatory,Rural Sout...
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I have a pair of Eagle Optics 8x42 and they have a very bright, sharp across the field image. I use them primarily for birdwatching but they are good for astronomy as well. I do not know if they are the exact model as Audobon Equinox but I really like them.
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"My God, it's full of stars!"
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Jeff Lee
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/17/06
Posts: 509
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I have a pair of Eagle Rangers, 10 X 50...very nice glass.
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Jeff Lee
C90,C5,C8, 10 x 50's
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Prof M
member
Reged: 07/26/09
Posts: 49
Loc: Southwest Utah
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I got a chance to try these binos side-by-side. The Eagles are definitely brighter and lighter. I'm going with them. Thanks for your information and insights.
Keith
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