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mtb54703
sage
Reged: 11/12/08
Posts: 259
Loc: Eau Claire, WI
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Did a search and didn't get a lot of hits on the Vixen Geoma. Just a couple posts asking this same question. Last one appears to be back in May.
Although the Vixen Foresta is the front runner on my list I'm curious where these fall relative to that model.
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18" F/4.15 AstroSystems Telekit
Meade 12" Lightbridge
Vixen Foresta 7x50
Chippewa Valley Astronomical Society
My Gallery
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Erik D
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 3738
Loc: Central New Jersey, USA
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Any particular model or configuration of the Geoma interests you?
I did a quick search of Vixen Groma and found a 9X63 Porro resembling the old Celestron Ultima 9X63. Price is about the same as what the Ultima sold for ~$330. Also saw an 8X56 that resembles the Orion Ultraview in outward appearance. These Vixens of Japanese origin commands higher price than the their Chinese counterparts but it's difficult to offer suggestions without been model specific.
I have binoculars marked "Made in Japan" with inferior optics, Leupold Roof Prisms marked "China" but performs every bit as good as Eagle Optics roofs marked "Japan"
It's difficult to judge Optics based on Brand Name, series or country of origin these days. Some Vixen 12/16/20X 80s that were suppose to be from Japan received mixed reviews on CN a few years back. I understand optical powerhouses such as Pentax, Fujinon have had factories in China for sometime.
ERik D
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mtb54703
sage
Reged: 11/12/08
Posts: 259
Loc: Eau Claire, WI
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I did fire an email off to Vixen asking for differences between the Foresta and Geoma - 7x50 models and up (guess that puts 1 Foresta against 3 Geomas)
Foresta origin: China (early models where from Japan)
Geoma origin: Japan
Both have "similar" glass and coatings.
Foresta are more armored and a have a triplet instead of a single element objective.
Both are 100% Vixen inspected and have a lifetime limited warranty.
Primarily searching for a 7x to 10x. The Geoma 7x50 would be lighter than the Foresta, and 8x and 9x models are only slightly heavier (according to specs at least), but also the Geoma 7x50 has a slightly narrower FOV and it only gets narrower as the magnification goes up.
Still more reading in the mini-reviews to do...
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18" F/4.15 AstroSystems Telekit
Meade 12" Lightbridge
Vixen Foresta 7x50
Chippewa Valley Astronomical Society
My Gallery
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 2349
Loc: Rocky Mt. High Colorado
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Well, their own web site says that the Foresta is Fully Multi-Coated and the Geoma is Perfect Fully Multi-Coated.
According to Mark at Vixen, the PFMC is a better level of optical coatings than the standard FMC and he also stated that the prisms are a "matched" grade for the Geoma. 
The Geoma is $50 higher.
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Celestron Traveler 8x25 & Bell & Howell 8x40 JAPAN &
Pentax 12x50 PCF WP II & Pentax 16x60 PCF WP &
Pentax 20x60 PCF WP II & Orion 12x63 Mini Giant JAPAN &
SPECTRUM I 20x65 JAPAN & Orion 15x70 Little Giant II JAPAN &
Orion 20x70 Little Giant II JAPAN & Orion 16x80 Giant JAPAN &
Orion 30x80 MEGAView JAPAN & Barska 30x80 X-Trail &
Burgess Optical Series II 20x90
Ps.33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made:
Edited by hallelujah (11/05/09 05:32 PM)
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Erik D
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 3738
Loc: Central New Jersey, USA
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Quote:
Primarily searching for a 7x to 10x. The Geoma 7x50 would be lighter than the Foresta, and 8x and 9x models are only slightly heavier (according to specs at least), but also the Geoma 7x50 has a slightly narrower FOV and it only gets narrower as the magnification goes up.
I have a pair of Japanese 7X50s from the mid 1980 with 10 deg FOV. Don't use them much for astronomy. Prefer 10 or 12X50s from my mag 4.5 suburban location. More stars are visible even though TFOV is smaller. Just acquired a pair of vintage 10X50s with 8 deg FOV.
For me 7X50s work better as passive night vision glass. If you are looking to spend a little more for the very best 7X50s you may want to consider a pair of Nikon ProStar Wes have for sale.
ERik D
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Mike Rapchak
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/17/06
Posts: 568
Loc: Indiana, USA
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Erik,
Is your vintage 10x50 model a Celestron? 
Mike Rapchak Jr.
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Erik D
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 3738
Loc: Central New Jersey, USA
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Mike,
No they are a pair of Sears Model 2531 EWA 420 ft/1000 yard. Tripod 1/4-20 tripod mounting socket under the right prism housing. The binos are in very good condition but no box or paper work of any kind.
My guess is they are from the 1970s. I have a Celestron catalog from the mid 1980s showing your Nova 10X50 with 8 deg FOV. I think by then 10X binos with 80 deg AFOV were rare.
I like the resolution of the Sears 2531 better than a pair of Minolta MK 10X50s(Japan) with rubber armor. I purchased the Minoltas used a several years back. I guess Minolta are from the late 1990s. Never cared for the optical quality. Some times I keep the pair in my commuting car.
ERik D
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Rick
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/12/05
Posts: 3181
Loc: Tokyo, Japan
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Geoma has been Vixen's fieldscope moniker so seeing it applied to binoculars kinda threw me. But looking at them, they seem to be the same as the current/old Ultima sold now in Japan.
Frankly, Vixen's entire current lineup is not that good. Like most of the small Vixen porros I've seen they have prism clipping issues. The only Vixen bino that I would consider buying would be the Foresta 7x50 porro because it is s lightweight while still being weatherproof.
cheers,
Rick
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ronharper
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/14/06
Posts: 1347
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The Geomas appear to be the continuation of the known to be Vixen-made original Celestron Ultima. Although the Ultimas became Chinese with the DX, this binocular has never died out, and was marketed a while under the Orion brand too, as well as by Vixen itself. BillC's S&T bino review a few years back praised them as good for the money, although they are not exactly cheap.
I have an original Ultima 10x50, and it strikes me as an old timey binocular, modest in design and short on "features", but with very good basic mechanics and optics. They are light weight and narrow fielded, being small of prism. The multicoatings and contrast are excellent, the central image as sharp as anything I've seen, and the slender construction and good mechanics make for a handy and comfortable view. It was my first good binocular, and gave years of all around service, and is still with me. I eventually realized that its 5deg field was narrow, and seemed additionally restrictive due to the blurry edge, found the eye relief excessive although the soft rubber cups do take up the space, was annoyed that the diopter adjust on the right eyepiece would not hold, and wanted something waterproof. But it will sock the basic 10x50 view right to ya!
Ron
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