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xmeecosmic
member
Reged: 10/04/09
Posts: 13
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Thanks Dj, your imput was very helpful. Just what I was looking for.
I have pretty much have decided to purchase the Nikon AE 10x50 because for my primary purposes the sharpness in the center takes precedence over the loss of clarity toward the edges and also, whether real or imagined, I have more confidence in the Nikons in regards to durability and Quality Control.
However, before I commit myself to the Nikons, I am considering changing gears slightly and my budget slightly (to $300).
What would be gained and what would be lost if I were to purchase a Swift Audobon 8.5x44 Porro (non ED) 820 instead of either the Nikon or Bushnell 10x50's or any 10x50?
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Mark9473
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/21/05
Posts: 3217
Loc: 51°N 4°E
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With the 8.5x44 you'd give up a bit of image scale and reach (limiting magnitude) in exchange for a 60% larger FOV and a bit more stability for hand-holding due to the lower magnification.
I have an older model of the Swift 8.5x44 and like it a lot. The 70° AFOV is very immersive.
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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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xmeecosmic
member
Reged: 10/04/09
Posts: 13
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Thanks Mark
I have a real fascination regarding the Audobons but have decided to purchase the Nikon AE 10x50 as they will complement
my Zen ED 8x43 better, I think, as they will be used not only for astronomy but also for long-range birding.
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Mark9473
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/21/05
Posts: 3217
Loc: 51°N 4°E
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I may be mistaken, but is this the first time it has come up that you already have 8x43 binoculars? For a noticeable step-up, you may consider the AE 12x50 instead of the 10x50.
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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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xmeecosmic
member
Reged: 10/04/09
Posts: 13
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Thanks again Mark,
These are going to be used mostly for birding, so would a 12x50 be practical?
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Mark9473
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/21/05
Posts: 3217
Loc: 51°N 4°E
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Well it doesn't help that you come with only bits and pieces of information every now and then.
For birding you need to check the closest distance at which you want to watch birds, then also you have to realize that even at a porro's closest focus distance, it suffers more than a roof from the two images not fully overlapping.
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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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NDfarmer
member
Reged: 04/02/09
Posts: 24
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The 12x50 is hard to hand hold. I would recommend staying with the 10x50 or 10x42 for birding. You will often see more without the shake that can bother the view.
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xmeecosmic
member
Reged: 10/04/09
Posts: 13
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In the end I decided not to purchase any of the Porros but, rather, a pair of ZEN-RAY Summit 10x42's. I just could not get very excited about any of the Porros in that price range and decided that since I hike and bird 2-5 hours a day that the ZSR's would travel better in terms of ruggedness and weight. As for optics, it seemed to be pretty much of a wash between the Porros and that roof prism. edz's reviews of the ZSR 10x42 showed that while it was a very good value for birding it also would be more than servicable as a beginner's astronomical binocular.
Thanks all for your comments and input.
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senske
sage
Reged: 01/10/09
Posts: 360
Loc: Spokane, WA
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Well I'm a little late to the thread, but thought I'd put in a good word for the Orion WorldView 10x50s. They're exceedingly inexpensive. They give a nice sharp view, a 6-degree (315 ft) FOV, and 16mm eye relief. I like them a lot, but I rarely (or never) hear them mentioned alongside the usual suspects.
Orion WorldView 10x50
Since I'm no binocular expert, maybe someone here can tell us how these Orion WorldViews compare to the Nikons or Pentax models.
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Andrew
Orion SkyQuest XT10 Intelliscope with Orion 9x50 and Telrad Finders
Orion WorldView 10x50 Binoculars
Celestron NexStar 8 SE with GSO 8x50 and Red Dot Finders
Galileoscope
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