Tinners
journeyman
Reged: 08/29/07
Posts: 5
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Which 15X70 binoculars are the lightest avaliable and which of these would you reccomend for handheld viewing.
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Mark9473
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/21/05
Posts: 3211
Loc: 51°N 4°E
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Welcome to the forum. In theory 15x70 can be hand-held, but if this is to be your first hand-held binocular, chances are you'll find the view too shaky to enjoy. Do you have a lot of experience hand-holding 10x50 or 12x50 or so?
Also it depends on your viewing style. For quick peaks at something, you might manage. For really studying something in detail, forget it.
In 15x power the easiest to use hand-held is the Canon 15x50 IS because of its image stabilization. In the more traditional binoculars, I personally prefer 15x60 or 15x63 because 15x70 are more front-heavy. 15x70 could be preferrable for an instrument that's primarily used mounted, with only occasional hand-held use.
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Mark
Leica 8x20; Vixen 8x42; Swift 8.5x44, 10x50 and 20x80; TS 7x50; Orion 15x63; Docter 15x60
WO Megrez II 80 FD + Baader 90° T2 Amici
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Tinners
journeyman
Reged: 08/29/07
Posts: 5
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I have a bresser 10x50 and a tripod but would like the option of a 'lighter' pair of quality 15x70 si I don't always have to cart the tripod around with me.
The various 15x70 avilable appear to have different wieghts
but its difficult to work out if its binocular wieght or box wieght.
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Mark9473
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/21/05
Posts: 3211
Loc: 51°N 4°E
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Well the weight you see specified in the technical information, is always the binocular weight. It may be with or without the strap or so, but never with the box included.
Try using your 10x50 with one hand, that will give you an idea of what the 15x70 will be like.
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Mark
Leica 8x20; Vixen 8x42; Swift 8.5x44, 10x50 and 20x80; TS 7x50; Orion 15x63; Docter 15x60
WO Megrez II 80 FD + Baader 90° T2 Amici
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harbinjer
super member
Reged: 12/17/08
Posts: 126
Loc: Southeastern Minnesota
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Quote:
Also it depends on your viewing style. For quick peaks at something, you might manage. For really studying something in detail, forget it.
I would re-iterate this. It is my experience exactly. That said the Oberwerk, Garrett LW and Celestron Skymaster are pretty similar in weight in my memory. The Oberwerk Ultra, Garrett Signature, and Fuji Polaris are all much heavier. Roughly 3 lbs for the former and 5 lbs for the latter. A decent 12x50 like the Nikon AE may suit your purposes as well or better. It will be less shaky than a 15X and also lighter.
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Tinners
journeyman
Reged: 08/29/07
Posts: 5
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Quote:
Well the weight you see specified in the technical information, is always the binocular weight.
http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10323475&lang=en-CA
Is this just the binocular weight shown here?
Edited by Tinners (10/06/09 04:12 PM)
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 14731
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Weight is NOT the more important factor for hand holding. Magnification is.
Whether it's 3# or 4# or 5# is almost insignificant. What's far more important is that you simply cannot hold 15x steady. Really, you will probably tire more quickly with a 5# binoc, but regardless, you won't be able to hold it any more steady because you pick a 3# binoc.
So as you've found there are quite a variety with different weights, so I won't bother with which is the lightest. But to answer your second queestion, I wouldn't recommend any of them for hand held.
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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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 14731
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Quote:
http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10323475&lang=en-CA
Is this just the binocular weight shown here?
no that binocular weighs about 3#
looks like they posted the specifications for the 20x80
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
Edited by EdZ (10/06/09 04:19 PM)
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ronharper
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/14/06
Posts: 1276
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You've got a 10x50 already, so all the way to 15x70 is the reasonable next jump. I don't think you're going to like it hand held either, although braced against something you might get a fun quick look at something. You've got a tripod already, and mounted I think you will probably like a 15x70 very much. Try mounting your 10x50 first, if you haven't already, to make sure you are comfortable with a tripod arrangement(which I am not, but that's just me).
Ron
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 2155
Loc: Rocky Mt. High Colorado
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This one weighs in at 4 lbs.
http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~product_id=09327
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Celestron Traveler 8x25 & B. & H. 8x40 FC JAPAN & Revue 10x50 CF Porro FC JAPAN &
Pentax 12x50 PCF WP II FMC & Pentax 16x60 PCF WP FMC &
Pentax 20x60 PCF WP II FMC & Orion 12x63 Mini Giant FMC JAPAN &
SPECTRUM I 20x65 FC JAPAN &
Orion 15x70 Little Giant II FMC JAPAN & Orion 20x70 Little Giant II FMC JAPAN
Orion 16x80 Giant FMC JAPAN & Orion 30x80 MEGAView FMC JAPAN
Barska 30x80 X-Trail LW FC & Burgess Optical Series II 20x90 FMC
Hallelujah! For the LORD God Omnipotent Reigneth
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Tony Flanders
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/06
Posts: 3469
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA
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Quote:
Which 15X70 binoculars are the lightest avaliable and which of these would you reccomend for handheld viewing.
To dissent from the general consensus, I own 15x70 binoculars, and for most purposes, I much prefer hand-holding them to using them on a mount.
However, I'm only *really* happy hand-holding those 15x70s when I'm solidly planted in a lounge chair. Second best is lying on the ground or sitting in a regular chair, but those are significantly less stable.
As for hand-holding them from a standing position -- yes, it's fine for quick looks, and I still see vastly more than through my 10x50s used in identical fashion. But it's pretty frustrating due to the wobbliness of the view.
My own binos are pretty light, but I think I would do OK hand-holding 5-pound binos too -- as long as I'm well enough planted to hold them reasonably steady in the first place.
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Tony Flanders
First and foremost observing love: naked eye.
Second, binoculars.
Last but not least, telescopes.
And I sometimes dabble with cameras.
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Man in a Tub
Not Retired!, But a little cranky!!!
Reged: 10/28/08
Posts: 2037
Loc: San Francisco, CA
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I've done handheld observing with all three 15x binoculars in my signature. I started handholding when I worked night shift and came home too late to go out on the city sidewalk. I have a bathroom window facing west. So, I use my elbows and the sill most of the time. However, the best views are outside on the sidewalk and with the binoculars mounted. For example, with handholding, it's taken almost four years to get a decent view of double star Albireo. I guess that's a fair amount of practice!
The "steadiest," albeit briefest, handheld views are with my Garrett Optical Signature Series 15x70 which weighs over 5 pounds.
I've been considering the Garrett Gemini LW 15x70. (Just for the heck of it.) It's the lightest I know of. However, one thing to consider is quality. My understanding is that "lightweight" porro prisms, over a range of magnifications and apertures, can involve production compromises.
Oh, and by the way, I recently bought a Nikon 12x50 Action Extreme. It's a well regarded binocular in this forum. It serves me as well as my 15x binoculars for a significant amount of viewing. I don't know if the forum archives are now available. I recommend you read the information about the Action Extreme models.
FYI: My Brunton Eterna 15x51, a roof prism, weighs 2 pounds. It was used a lot from December 2005 until May 2008. I still use it. But what's pertinent here is that I know when to use it.
Tonight, I am going out to practice with my new Garrett Optical Series 2000 Grip-Action Monopod. For starters, it'll be the Nikon...
Clear skies,
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Todd
Brunton Eterna 15x51 ° Garrett Optical Signature Series 15x70
Nikon Action EX 12x50 ° Oberwerk 15x60 and 20x80 Standard
Orion Paragon Plus Mount and Paragon XHD Tripod
Garrett Optical Series 2000 Grip-Action Monopod
Edited by Man in a Tub (10/06/09 10:41 PM)
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94bamf
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/15/08
Posts: 711
Loc: Kansas City,Mo
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I agree with Tony. While the views are always better mounted, I do find 15x70's even hand held show much more than 10x50's. I like the Celestron Skymaster 15x70. They are far from the best 15x70's you could buy, but they are the BEST 15x70's that you can buy for $65-$70 shipped. I use mine handheld all the time, and as Tony said, they are best sitting in a chair or braced against something, but I find them even acceptable standing for short periods.
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
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Richard McC
member
Reged: 12/31/04
Posts: 13
Loc: Australia
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According to my wife's kitchen scales my Orion Little Giant II 15x70 binoculars weigh 2lb 12oz (1.25kg). I and a friend have used these binoculars handheld for several years. I cannot hold them really still but even with slight shakes I still see more with them than any 10x50 binocular I have used. However, I would like to reduce those shakes a bit so I am currently experimenting with a 12x50 binocular to see if that is the best handheld trade off for me.
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