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magic612
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/30/08
Posts: 561
Loc: Somewhere south of Chicago, IL
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On Friday, I picked up a pair of older Sears 7x35 binoculars for all of $15. I figured, for $15, what did I have to lose? The model number is 6207, made in Japan, purple lens coatings, metal body, and they came with a nice hard leather-covered case. When I looked through the seller's window (!!!) to test them, they seemed really nice, so again, I thought - hey, it's $15, right?
At the time, they seemed well collimated. I brought them home, and did some other tests, and they still seemed to be aligned properly. But literally from one "look through" to the next, suddenly they were very clearly and obviously WAY off. I thought, "What the heck? How did THAT happen?"
Neither of the objective lenses were loose. I couldn't hear any "rattling" when I gently shook the glasses. There did seem to be a small spot on the prism of the right side, like a flake of paint or something. I also saw that the right side metal casing for the objective seemed slightly askew. It seemed to be threaded on, and I managed to "pop" it back into place (you don't want to know how!). After that the collimation was definitely better.
The views of stars are okay, but there still is a very slight misalignment. The outer covering does not peel up (to reveal any collimation screws), and there do not seem to be any collimation screws on the outside of the body either, that I would recognize as such anyway. (The few visible ones appear as functional ones to hold the glasses together.) Should I try and "unscrew" the objective - particularly the right side - and while it's off, GENTLY clean the prism - then screw the housing section back on (hopefully realigning it)? Could that be causing the issue? Were the objective housings from this era screwed onto the body using finely threaded sections? Any other ideas?
Don't get me wrong, for $15, they're fine. And the view of the sky is still "okay." I mean, the 7 degree field of view if really nice!! But I'm just wondering if I can make it a bit better, without of course, screwing them up...
Any help much appreciated!
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- Celestron C8+, Orion 90mm f/10, Orion ST-80, 5" f/8 Dob, 127mm f/9.4 refractor, 114mm f/8 on DS GoTo, 60mm Sears 6333-A, 127mm f4.4 refractor lens (current project), 12" f/5 mirror (future project)
- Orion Vista 10x50s (5 deg), Sears #6207 7x35 (7 deg), Jason #138 Statesman 7x35 (11.5 deg)
Yes, I'm addicted to telescopes and binoculars. I am getting help. Every time I look at the heavens, it helps.
http://www.eyesonthesky.com
Edited by magic612 (10/05/09 09:57 AM)
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Simon S
sage
Reged: 01/07/07
Posts: 391
Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK
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The three screws that hold the prism shelf to the body have come loose. remove the tripod cover undo the screw in the hole and wind the focus bar up until it becomes unthreaded.
Then remove the ocular sleeves ans prism covers.
You will see the prism shelf and three cross head screws, not the smaller grub screws. Alighnment will be tricky but tighten them up just enough to, say 1/4 turn past the point of first resistance.
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My binocular collection recent first
http://www.flickr.com/photos/binoculars/
My binoculars in Alphabetical order http://www.flickr.com/photos/binoculars/sets/72157613812824211/detail/
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magic612
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/30/08
Posts: 561
Loc: Somewhere south of Chicago, IL
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I will try that - thank you, Simon!
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- Celestron C8+, Orion 90mm f/10, Orion ST-80, 5" f/8 Dob, 127mm f/9.4 refractor, 114mm f/8 on DS GoTo, 60mm Sears 6333-A, 127mm f4.4 refractor lens (current project), 12" f/5 mirror (future project)
- Orion Vista 10x50s (5 deg), Sears #6207 7x35 (7 deg), Jason #138 Statesman 7x35 (11.5 deg)
Yes, I'm addicted to telescopes and binoculars. I am getting help. Every time I look at the heavens, it helps.
http://www.eyesonthesky.com
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magic612
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/30/08
Posts: 561
Loc: Somewhere south of Chicago, IL
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Well, it appears that simply unscrewing both of the objective housings and carefully aligning the threads to avoid cross-threading while re-attaching them did the trick. I removed that small spot on the prism with some canned air while the one side was off. Star images are quite nice now!
I gotta say, I'm amazed at what I can see in these things. I never would have considered binocs with objectives smaller than 50mm previously, but the nice wide field of these makes them really comfortable for wide-field observing, and I could see M92 even under nearly full-Moon conditions tonight.
Not bad for a pair of used, $15 7x35's from yesteryear!
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- Celestron C8+, Orion 90mm f/10, Orion ST-80, 5" f/8 Dob, 127mm f/9.4 refractor, 114mm f/8 on DS GoTo, 60mm Sears 6333-A, 127mm f4.4 refractor lens (current project), 12" f/5 mirror (future project)
- Orion Vista 10x50s (5 deg), Sears #6207 7x35 (7 deg), Jason #138 Statesman 7x35 (11.5 deg)
Yes, I'm addicted to telescopes and binoculars. I am getting help. Every time I look at the heavens, it helps.
http://www.eyesonthesky.com
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Simon S
sage
Reged: 01/07/07
Posts: 391
Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK
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Well done magic612 7x35's are great for scanning the sky, if the prisms are clean and you have a good pair, the view is breathtaking.
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My binocular collection recent first
http://www.flickr.com/photos/binoculars/
My binoculars in Alphabetical order http://www.flickr.com/photos/binoculars/sets/72157613812824211/detail/
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magic612
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/30/08
Posts: 561
Loc: Somewhere south of Chicago, IL
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Thanks Simon, and I agree! A 7 degree field is a wonderful thing. Plus, they're so lightweight, they make a great companion for quickly scanning an area of sky at which I plan to point a scope a few minutes later. And the strap isn't a "pain in the neck" either! 
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- Celestron C8+, Orion 90mm f/10, Orion ST-80, 5" f/8 Dob, 127mm f/9.4 refractor, 114mm f/8 on DS GoTo, 60mm Sears 6333-A, 127mm f4.4 refractor lens (current project), 12" f/5 mirror (future project)
- Orion Vista 10x50s (5 deg), Sears #6207 7x35 (7 deg), Jason #138 Statesman 7x35 (11.5 deg)
Yes, I'm addicted to telescopes and binoculars. I am getting help. Every time I look at the heavens, it helps.
http://www.eyesonthesky.com
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GlennLeDrew
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/18/08
Posts: 1304
Loc: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Magic,
I'm rather surprised to see a 7 degree field on a 7x35; they're obviously not a wide field design. If a pair of 'extra wide angle' 7X35's pop up, do consider grabbing them. If you think 7 degrees is a wonderful thing, wait 'til you have an 11 degree vista before your eyes!That's almost 2.5 times more sky *area*! And even if the edge-of-field sharpness leaves much to be desired, don't necessarily be put off. As long as you're looking toward the center, your lower-resolution peripheral vision will make very good use of all that extra sky you're putting in the view.
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Home-made 11X50 right angle bino, 8.1 deg. FOV
Modified 26X100 bino, 3.5 deg. FOV
Home-made Mk II RA bino, using interchangeable objectives and eyepieces
My Gallery
Mediocre minds discuss people. Good minds discuss events. Great minds discuss ideas.
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magic612
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/30/08
Posts: 561
Loc: Somewhere south of Chicago, IL
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Forgive me - I've been slow to adopt binoculars into my stable of astronomical-object-viewing instruments. Not to worry - I'm a convert through-and-through! Although I've been star-gazing on and off for the better part of 25 years, and have owned my 8" SCT for the last 15, I didn't get my first set of "real" binoculars until this last Christmas. (I don't count the "focus free" Simmons 10x50's that I've had forever that offer mostly coma-FILLED views.)
I know, I know - what was I thinking!!! 
I've finally seen the light (pun intended!). Yet the 10x50's that I did pick up only provide a 5 degree field of view - so even 7 degrees seems quite comfortable in comparison (and the 5 degrees is still nice compared to the scopes).
All that said, I will keep an eye out for some wider field 7x35's if I can Glenn. A 10 or 11 degree field would be... well - WOW! 
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- Celestron C8+, Orion 90mm f/10, Orion ST-80, 5" f/8 Dob, 127mm f/9.4 refractor, 114mm f/8 on DS GoTo, 60mm Sears 6333-A, 127mm f4.4 refractor lens (current project), 12" f/5 mirror (future project)
- Orion Vista 10x50s (5 deg), Sears #6207 7x35 (7 deg), Jason #138 Statesman 7x35 (11.5 deg)
Yes, I'm addicted to telescopes and binoculars. I am getting help. Every time I look at the heavens, it helps.
http://www.eyesonthesky.com
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GlennLeDrew
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/18/08
Posts: 1304
Loc: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Interesting, isn't it, how for many skygazers binoculars are a rather later addition to the 'stable', as you put it.
Naturally, I'm speaking from the point of view of a wide field nut. As I've railed on about in these forums before, I advocate making *effective* use of one's peripheral vision. And especially in a hend-held instrument, where one can instantly center on the object of interest, the outer parts of the field can be relegated to painting the outer, more sensitive parts of the retina. This makes for easier star hopping, and affords a better chance to sweep up objects which might otherwise be missed when the field is smaller.
Another option for wide true fields is an extra wide angle 10X50. I once owned a Minolta which delivered a whopping 7.8 degrees. But this was before I started making my own binos. For comparison, consider that my Mk II right angle in the 13X50 mode offers up an astounding 7.7 degrees via its Ethos eyepieces.
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Home-made 11X50 right angle bino, 8.1 deg. FOV
Modified 26X100 bino, 3.5 deg. FOV
Home-made Mk II RA bino, using interchangeable objectives and eyepieces
My Gallery
Mediocre minds discuss people. Good minds discuss events. Great minds discuss ideas.
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DJB
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/23/05
Posts: 1590
Loc: Lisle NY
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Hi Glenn,
I believe that you could not have said it better. Wide is wonderful.
As you stated, even if the edges are somewhat comprimised, at least one can still see and scan the star fields. I have a number of wides, and I'll take them over any 7* field any day!
Good observations.
Best regards,
Dave.
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Simon S
sage
Reged: 01/07/07
Posts: 391
Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK
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Indeed the wide angle 7x35,s like the Pentax Sears and a few of the Tasco's are really very good. I think the classic Swift Audobon and Saratoga's are well up there although not 7x35,s
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My binocular collection recent first
http://www.flickr.com/photos/binoculars/
My binoculars in Alphabetical order http://www.flickr.com/photos/binoculars/sets/72157613812824211/detail/
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magic612
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/30/08
Posts: 561
Loc: Somewhere south of Chicago, IL
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Quote:
Interesting, isn't it, how for many skygazers binoculars are a rather later addition to the 'stable', as you put it.
Naturally, I'm speaking from the point of view of a wide field nut.
But one needn't be a "wide field nut" to get excellent usage out of a set of binocs. I'm just kicking myself for not getting some sooner!!
Quote:
This makes for easier star hopping, and affords a better chance to sweep up objects which might otherwise be missed when the field is smaller.
And THAT would be precisely WHY.
Of note, I've placed a bid on some wide field 7x35's. Not quite the 10 or 11 degree field that you spoke of Glenn, but a decent 9.5 degree field. Still more than 7, though. We'll see if I wind up the high bidder, but even if I'm not, I'll still keep looking. Thanks for the great suggestions, everyone. 
--------------------
- Celestron C8+, Orion 90mm f/10, Orion ST-80, 5" f/8 Dob, 127mm f/9.4 refractor, 114mm f/8 on DS GoTo, 60mm Sears 6333-A, 127mm f4.4 refractor lens (current project), 12" f/5 mirror (future project)
- Orion Vista 10x50s (5 deg), Sears #6207 7x35 (7 deg), Jason #138 Statesman 7x35 (11.5 deg)
Yes, I'm addicted to telescopes and binoculars. I am getting help. Every time I look at the heavens, it helps.
http://www.eyesonthesky.com
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KBK
member
Reged: 08/05/09
Posts: 68
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Quote:
Indeed the wide angle 7x35,s like the Pentax Sears and a few of the Tasco's are really very good. I think the classic Swift Audobon and Saratoga's are well up there although not 7x35,s
Uhm, Simon..Are the classic Sears amber coated any good? There are those that seem to be very wide angle with interesting eyepieces. If they 'color' too much and there is notable light loss, I'm not interested, overall. I find the Asahi Pentax gold coated (eyepieces) to be totally unacceptable, and will never buy another pair. The one pair I received has a warped magnesium body, to boot! If the Sears Amber are similar, I'm not going to bother. All my viewing situations are critical to me, ie, high contrast, mid to low light. I like my eye pop--for all the right reasons. I want it all and will not accept less! Like a car, not just acceleration but brakes and cornering are critical as well- at least to me. (EG: If I had an old TR6, I'd first start looking into recasting the block in titanium..and then supercharging...you know: full scale insanity-both barrels-'screaming into the abyss fully automatic rocket propelled barrels', that is*) How are those amber Sears units? As stated, I'm buying these and having a blast retro-fitting these things to modern and custom levels of masking, blackening, etc.
I've got my Hitachi made 'Le Gran' 10x50's looking mighty good and are now worth taking into a shop and comparing to the mid level Nikons and similar.
Ken
(yes, another damn Ken)
*Like the comcast bunny..totally overbuilt
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It is the image of the ungraspable phantom of life; and this...is the key
to it all.
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Simon S
sage
Reged: 01/07/07
Posts: 391
Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK
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There are yellow coatings found in the early Sears etc and then there are the coatings you mention on the pentax eye lenses and found on the budget range of binoculars. The old coatings increase the light transmition and do not effect colour temerature. The gold orange coatings probably do a better job at light transmittion but send the colour way off.
Bottom line the Sears 7x35 (see my sight) are good if clean but they will never perform like a modern binocular with high index prisms and modern coatings.
--------------------
My binocular collection recent first
http://www.flickr.com/photos/binoculars/
My binoculars in Alphabetical order http://www.flickr.com/photos/binoculars/sets/72157613812824211/detail/
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magic612
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/30/08
Posts: 561
Loc: Somewhere south of Chicago, IL
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Well, I'm still getting some good use from the Sears binocs. And per Glenn's suggestion, I found some older, very wide angle (11.5 degrees!) Jason Statesman 7x35's online that I bought for not-all-that-much. They arrived slightly out of collimation, but by carefully removing the eyepieces and that end of the prism covers, I then tightened up the screws holding the prisms in place. Now it's all set!
And after just stepping outside for a few minutes, all I can say is "WOW!" I looked up towards the area between Cassiopeia and Perseus, and the Milky Way in that area looked like someone had spilled salt on a black tablecloth. The sky literally looked "granular" there were so many visible and "almost visible" stars... just breathtaking!
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- Celestron C8+, Orion 90mm f/10, Orion ST-80, 5" f/8 Dob, 127mm f/9.4 refractor, 114mm f/8 on DS GoTo, 60mm Sears 6333-A, 127mm f4.4 refractor lens (current project), 12" f/5 mirror (future project)
- Orion Vista 10x50s (5 deg), Sears #6207 7x35 (7 deg), Jason #138 Statesman 7x35 (11.5 deg)
Yes, I'm addicted to telescopes and binoculars. I am getting help. Every time I look at the heavens, it helps.
http://www.eyesonthesky.com
Edited by magic612 (11/10/09 10:05 PM)
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Luigi
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/03/07
Posts: 4947
Loc: MA
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>>> I can say is "WOW!" <<<
Agreed. 11.5 degrees at 7x must be wonderful. At 8 degrees, my widest angle 8x bins don't approach that. The tendency is to keep going to larger and higher power bins and overlook the value of low power wide angle views. I think most beginning bino observers would be well served starting out with wide angle 7 or 8x bins, and 35mm often have wider TFOVs than larger apertures. It makes it a lot easier to find your way around the sky when you can take in a number of the bright stars in a constellation at one time.
It's an unfortunate side effect of the trend toward roofs that they generally have significantly narrower TFOVs than Porros, except at the very high end of the price range.
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17.5" f/5 Dob. IM-715 MCT. 120ED. Lunt 60mm Ha.
Zeiss, Leica, Fujinon, Nikon, Pentax, Bushnell bins
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DJB
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/23/05
Posts: 1590
Loc: Lisle NY
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Hi there,
I have had nothing but good luck with my Jason 138s. These are the Statesman brand. I purchased them all on eBay.
The coatings are perfect, and the collimation was always perfect. I gave two away, and I'll probably sell some on line later on. They ain't the brighest, but they are so cool!
Best regards,
Dave.
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magic612
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/30/08
Posts: 561
Loc: Somewhere south of Chicago, IL
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Luigi - in a way, it's almost disorienting at first, because the FOV is SO wide! I had to keep going back and forth between the binocs and naked eye to be sure I was really looking at the part of Cassiopeia I thought I was. But once my brain "got it" in terms of the huge FOV, I was able to really know where I was and enjoy what I was seeing.
And I must say, now owning several pairs of 7x35's, that these are probably some of the most under-rated binocs for astronomy. Sure, they don't have the light grasp of 50mm objectives, but the wider FOV more than makes up for the - what seems to me - minimal light loss. One can still see A LOT more with 7x35's than even naked eye.
Dave - I agree; coatings on mine look very good, and although used and have a few scratches on the glass, seem to perform rather well. A little fuzzy at the edges, but at 11.5 degrees FOV, I'm not complaining! True, not as bright as my Sears, but oddly, the greater contrast due to the dimmer view seems to help.
--------------------
- Celestron C8+, Orion 90mm f/10, Orion ST-80, 5" f/8 Dob, 127mm f/9.4 refractor, 114mm f/8 on DS GoTo, 60mm Sears 6333-A, 127mm f4.4 refractor lens (current project), 12" f/5 mirror (future project)
- Orion Vista 10x50s (5 deg), Sears #6207 7x35 (7 deg), Jason #138 Statesman 7x35 (11.5 deg)
Yes, I'm addicted to telescopes and binoculars. I am getting help. Every time I look at the heavens, it helps.
http://www.eyesonthesky.com
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Simon S
sage
Reged: 01/07/07
Posts: 391
Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK
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Looking through a wide angle 7x35 such as the Jason Statesman or similar, reminds me of what an astronaut would possibly see on a space walk. Very worth trying once at least.
--------------------
My binocular collection recent first
http://www.flickr.com/photos/binoculars/
My binoculars in Alphabetical order http://www.flickr.com/photos/binoculars/sets/72157613812824211/detail/
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magic612
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/30/08
Posts: 561
Loc: Somewhere south of Chicago, IL
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Simon - my Statesmans look very similar your picture, but unlike yours, mine's got a focus wheel. I haven't had a problem with an overly sensitive focus like you experienced.
I agree with the "what an astronaut might see" thing - it's quite an experience to see that much sky magnified at once.
--------------------
- Celestron C8+, Orion 90mm f/10, Orion ST-80, 5" f/8 Dob, 127mm f/9.4 refractor, 114mm f/8 on DS GoTo, 60mm Sears 6333-A, 127mm f4.4 refractor lens (current project), 12" f/5 mirror (future project)
- Orion Vista 10x50s (5 deg), Sears #6207 7x35 (7 deg), Jason #138 Statesman 7x35 (11.5 deg)
Yes, I'm addicted to telescopes and binoculars. I am getting help. Every time I look at the heavens, it helps.
http://www.eyesonthesky.com
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