dave132mm
super member
Reged: 12/28/06
Posts: 126
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Is this a good binocular, or should I get the fujinon
16x70
Thanks Dave 
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 12902
Loc: Lancashire UK
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Hi Dave ,
From what I've read ( a lot ) it's a VERY good binocular , and certainly a model that has long interested me , although not QUITE as good " for astronomy , per se " as the Fujinon FMTSX 16 x 70 -- but probably more suitable if you wear glasses , as I believe the eye - relief is longer .
But -- one usually costs at least twice as much as a Fujinon 16 x 70 !
Kenny
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Erik D
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 3196
Loc: Central New Jersey, USA
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Kenny makes a key point about the price of 16X FMT SX vs. 18X Astroluxe. In a 2003 Astronomy Magazine review of 60, 70 and 80mm binoculars, the Fuji come in 2nd. Just behind the discontinued Zeiss BGAT 15X60( $~2,000). Ahead of the 18X70 Astroluxe. ($1195)
There were some discussion of the Astrolux using SD glass a few years ago. Around the time a NYC volume dealer had the 18X70s on sale for $899. I was hoping the Astrolux will show less CA for day time viewing while offering 2X higher mag. An forum member who owned both said false color is still visible in the Astroluxe.
Adorama has the 18X70 Astroluxe for $950 at the moment.
ERik D
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 12902
Loc: Lancashire UK
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Hello Erik !
Not having had the pleasure of a Takahashi 60 or Kowa 82 , I've yet to look through ANY binoculars that don't show CA.
If I had $950 going spare at the moment specifically for binoculars , I'd be very tempted take a chance on the Nikon 18 x 70 at that price of $950 .
One would cost at least twice as much in the UK .
Kenny
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dave132mm
super member
Reged: 12/28/06
Posts: 126
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Well I just ordered one at that price. How bad can it be.
Dave
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 12902
Loc: Lancashire UK
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Congrats Dave !
< How bad can it be. > ?
I'll be very surprised if it's " bad " in any way at all .
Nikon's BEST are right up there amongst the VERY best !
I enjoy reading about certain models of binoculars more than most others , and along with the Zeiss 15 x 60 BGAT , this is one of them .
Please provide us with a report of your impressions when it arrives .
Kenny
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 12902
Loc: Lancashire UK
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I forgot to add , as with the Fujinon 70mm , one thing I REALLY like about these top notch 70mm binoculars is that they DON'T have / don't need those ugly central supporting hinges that , useful as they " may " be for suspending a support from in a position to provide optimum balance , personally I think totally ruin the appearance of ANY binoculars .
Kenny
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dave132mm
super member
Reged: 12/28/06
Posts: 126
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I will do just that Kenny. I do have Nikon 12x56 DCF roof
that I like, for the low cost. Way back I had a cheap
20x80 that was really bad. I hope this will turn out well.
Thanks Dave
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 12902
Loc: Lancashire UK
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Dave ,
Perverse as it may appear , I actually appreciated with a smile when I read that you considered a cheap 20 x 80 to be " really bad " .
The number of times I've read a statement like that on this forum seems almost insanely disproportionate when considering the large number owned by members here and the few that I've looked through .
I hope that makes sense !
Kenny
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dave132mm
super member
Reged: 12/28/06
Posts: 126
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My 20x80 had sharp zones scatered about in different places
away from center. Each barrel was different. I was very anoying.
Dave
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Solar B
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 02/28/07
Posts: 914
Loc: By Edinburgh , Scotland
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Look forward to hearing about the Nikons to Dave 
Ive got a pair of Bresser Zoom  dedicated solar binos that i bought 4 years ago,after selling my wee Binomites,they are really really bad, Kenny.
Brian
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" Gentlemen only ever use Refractors "
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Rich V.
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/02/05
Posts: 1394
Loc: Carson Valley, Nevada, USA
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Dave, don't forget the Nikon 7806 tripod adapter; the 18x70s don't have a 1/4"-20 mounting hole.
http://www.adorama.com/NKBTA.html
Congratulations!
Rich V
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Binoculars:
33/50/75/150x100 Saturn III, 16x70 FMT-SX, 10x50 PCF-V, 10x43 DCF-SP, 10x35 E2, 7x35 E, 8x30 E2, 7x26 Custom, 8x23AS Diplomat, 8x23 Travelite
Scopes:
C9.25, 6" f8 reflector, SV80S
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Les
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/22/06
Posts: 730
Loc: Maryland
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Congratulations on your purchase. I have owned them and they are a fine pair of binoculars. However, I believe that only the 10x70 has the true Astroluxe batch. Nikon Japan does not refer to the 18x70 as Astroluxe. The documentation that came with my 18x70 did not mention Astroluxe even though the American dealer advertised it as such. There were some discussion threads in this forum on this subject if you wish further research.
BTW, I found them to be of astronomical use only because the CA during daytime use is quite noticeable. You will also get significant flaring on bright nighttime objects, but this is common with many binoculars.
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Les
Canon 10x42L IS
Oberwerks BT80/45, Helix Hercules mount on Oberwerks Standard Tripod
Swift 8x44ED Ultralite
Questar 50th Anniversary Model, 501 head on Manfrotto 475 tripod
Stellarvue SV90T 90mm Fluorite refractor Bogen 3236/Televue Tele-Pod Head
Questar 7 Astro
Vixen GP-DX on Baader Surveyor Tripod
Edited by Les (10/27/09 10:56 AM)
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Rich V.
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/02/05
Posts: 1394
Loc: Carson Valley, Nevada, USA
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Les, FWIW, the 2003 Nikon USA catalog I have lists four binoculars under the Astronomy heading:
7x50 Prostar #7789
10x70 Astroluxe #7893
18x70 Astroluxe XL #7447
20x120 III #7448
So at least in the USA the 18x70 is an Astroluxe!
Rich V
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Binoculars:
33/50/75/150x100 Saturn III, 16x70 FMT-SX, 10x50 PCF-V, 10x43 DCF-SP, 10x35 E2, 7x35 E, 8x30 E2, 7x26 Custom, 8x23AS Diplomat, 8x23 Travelite
Scopes:
C9.25, 6" f8 reflector, SV80S
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Les
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/22/06
Posts: 730
Loc: Maryland
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Yes, I am well aware of how the American dealers market this binocular. But when you get the documentation and catalog that comes with it, you discover that there is no 18x70 Astroluxe in the lineup. The 10x70 has been designed for a flatter field and Nikon Japan gives it an Astroluxe designation. That said, the coatings on the 18x70 are exceptional, has better eye relief than Fujinon 16x70 and wider AFOV. A first rate binocular what ever its name.
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Les
Canon 10x42L IS
Oberwerks BT80/45, Helix Hercules mount on Oberwerks Standard Tripod
Swift 8x44ED Ultralite
Questar 50th Anniversary Model, 501 head on Manfrotto 475 tripod
Stellarvue SV90T 90mm Fluorite refractor Bogen 3236/Televue Tele-Pod Head
Questar 7 Astro
Vixen GP-DX on Baader Surveyor Tripod
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ghgwv
newbie
Reged: 08/01/09
Posts: 4
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I am interested in these as well because of the Nikon warranty and quality. On the USA nikon website in their "brochure" they list these for astronomical use along with the shooting star icon.
Gary
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Les
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/22/06
Posts: 730
Loc: Maryland
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They are excellent for deep sky. But pricey. The warranty is a nice Nikon feature.
Since you must use a tripod with these anyway, I found I had more fun with my binocular telescope with angled and interchangeable eyepieces EVEN if the optics were a bit inferior. Once I acquired those and a pair of IS binos, the Nikons never got used and I sold them. I understand that many on this forum pursue the Holy Grail of optical perfection but, for me, this quality alone does not necessarily maximize observing enjoyment.
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Les
Canon 10x42L IS
Oberwerks BT80/45, Helix Hercules mount on Oberwerks Standard Tripod
Swift 8x44ED Ultralite
Questar 50th Anniversary Model, 501 head on Manfrotto 475 tripod
Stellarvue SV90T 90mm Fluorite refractor Bogen 3236/Televue Tele-Pod Head
Questar 7 Astro
Vixen GP-DX on Baader Surveyor Tripod
Edited by Les (10/27/09 12:35 PM)
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dave132mm
super member
Reged: 12/28/06
Posts: 126
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Well, I will get the binocular on the 28th. It will be raining, though I will post some initial thoughts, and
specs.
Thanks Dave
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Tom Reichel
member
Reged: 01/05/09
Posts: 10
Loc: SE Michigan
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The B&H Photo website says the 18x70 Astroluxe are discontinued 
It also states that the 7x50 Prostar is discontinued..
Hope this is wrong, but I think they might be further casualties of the economy. 
Tom
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Tom
SE MI N42 W83
A couple of Dobs
More Bins and
Expanding used ep collection
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BarrySimon615
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/01/04
Posts: 1279
Loc: New Orleans, LA
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Quote:
Dave ,
Perverse as it may appear , I actually appreciated with a smile when I read that you considered a cheap 20 x 80 to be " really bad " .
Kenny
The pitfall related to looking thru good or better optical equipment is that it makes inferior optical equipment look "really bad". This is true for both binoculars and telescopes.
Having attended better than 40 recognized star parties (advertised and with a registration fee) I see all the time the hesitancy of people to look thru a larger or generally considered to be a better telescope or pair of binoculars unless they are actively shopping for an upgrade. There is even a hesitancy to look thru a larger good telescope when one has an equally well respected telescope, just a smaller one. As I said, when one has money in their pockets and is willing to upgrade and wants assurance that something reported to be of better quality or of equal figure (just larger) is truly better, they seek out comparisons to make sure the proposed investment is a good idea.
Getting back to binoculars, many seem to be happy with entry level and really do not want to look thru better stuff. It seems that at least they know that there is better to be had, they just don't want to see what they are missing.
At the 1992 Texas Star Party optics were being tested by Peter Cerravalo. He had a program where he would show the group each instrument that he tested and would make comments about each. Many instruments that should have been tested were not because the owners (if happy) did not want to know that the test showed sub-par optics. Others who felt there was something wrong with their optics were more willing to submit their optics for testing to verify a problem. It was really disheartening to see just how poorly some of the catidioptric scopes scored - 1/2 wave, 1 wave, etc. were not uncommon. Many had been ok with their scopes performance, but hearing stuff like this put most in the mood to sell. I think it is much the same with binoculars - if you don't know that there is better out there, you are happy with what you have, but then you look thru better and that view thru your "ole faithful" is never the same.
Barry Simon
Edited by BarrySimon615 (10/28/09 10:56 AM)
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