Telescope Reviews: Performance of 8.5x44 vs 9x63 vs 10x50?

Given the comments of many over the past few days, I would have to say that I would be happy going ahead with the Swift Audubon 820 8.5x44 binos.

Jay and many others have all commented on the centrefield sharpness being fantastic! And overall, many commented about the great views for astronomy (with the inherent and expected characteristic soft edges of a wide field binocular).

I no longer question their suitability for my requirements, and I am happy with the idea that the loss of image quality past the 6* FOV mark will be outside the area of my focused vision on the centre field and as such will not be all that noticable (unless I specifically look for it).

Having said all of this... I do not think I will be getting the Swift

for a a few reasons (none of which are too significant) with the exception of the eyepiece design.

I have tried on several occasions the new Pentax PCF V and PCF WP binos with the large pull-up eyecups. These are approximately 43mm in diamater! As a result, in trying to adjust the interpupillary distance to suit my eyes, the eyecups push in either side of my nose and I cannot quite get them into a comfortable position for viewing. I guess my eye sockets just aren't quite big enough...

I am assuming that these would be fantastic if your wore eye glasses, or perhaps you may need to rest them on your eyebrows rather than try to fit them into your eye sockets, but either way, they did not feel right and I could not get a comfortable viewing position with these binos.

Barry Simon was very kind in supplying me with some digital photos of his Swift 820ED yesterday, along with measurements of the eyecups, etc. The eyecups measure 42mm in diameter! Warning... Warning... Given my problem with the Pentax eyecups not being suitable, there is potentially a pretty good chance that I may have the same problem with the Swift as I did with the Pentax

A BVD review, Barry, and another user (who's name eludes me) also mention that with the eyecups up, you can't quite see the entire FOV and they only have an all or nothing setting.

Overall, this whole eyepiece issue has concerned me enough that I am not willing to take the risk and end up with some fantastic binoculars that simply don't fit my face!

And pondering over the "what if" scenarios will never substitute the ability to pick up a pair and plant them on your face

So... Despite "what may have been" I need to move on an asses what other options I may have, and without starting all over and starting yet another long list of binos to narrow down, I am seriously considering the Pentax DCF SP 10x43.

This bino can be ordered on the basis that I can return it if it is not suitable (the only one I can get like this as it is a special favour by a supplier). The warranty is local, and overall it is a very good spec bino.

6* FOV (60* AFOV) is by no means bad, and if the feedback from a few users on this forum is correct they will be sharp almost to the edge!

I have 10x now in my Nikon TravelLite 10x25 binos and as such I can handhold 10x pretty steady on the night sky. I have tried 8x and although slightly less movement, the added magnification of 10x gave a more pleasing view of the sky, but it is certainly a tradeoff between what you can see (reach) and hand holdability. The 8x43 model has virtually the same FOV (6.3*) but has only a 50* AFOV (hence the 10x43 being more appealing)...

So... The Pentax 10x43 DCF SP is looking like THE ONE

(allbeit just over double my original budget!)

In this price range, the Canon 10x30IS is also a contender (about $100 more) but this is not likely to be anywhere near as durable for the same investment (more fragile, faily bulky, requires batteries, etc). And 30mm compared to 43mm is a big jump as far as light gathering ability is concerned...

Final thoughts, advice, and sighs of "he finally got there" relief most graciously received...