Telescope Reviews: Helios 15x70

Hi Geoffrey,

The Helios 15 x 70s are a DEFINITE No-No
if ,like me, you need glasses to see properly.

It's a strange one really , because all the other configurations , even the 20x70s and 20 x 80s have greater eye -relief.

This is a shame , because they are quite good value for money otherwise.

I don't really like them for terrestrial use though , but I have been seen walking around with them strung around my neck on quite a few occasions.

I mainly use them for "little experiments" against my other binos , mainly 10 x 50s , to be honest.

In fact if you didn't need glasses I would be quite happy to sell them on to you at a very good price ( after all I'm only about 30 miles away I think ! )

I was using them tonight earlier to look at the Orion Nebula
mainly ,and with glasses on , I checked the TFOV using EdZs reliable method of calculation with the three belt stars , and could only barely get all three stars ( around 2.8 degrees ) into the field of view at the same time.

That kind of field of view restriction is what prevents me
from even considering such as the Pentax 16x and 20x models , good as they are otherwise.

Even on the nebula itself , I have never been impressed with the view through these 15 x 70s.

I'm convinced that no way could anyone ever resolve the 4th trapezium star with these , unless they had super -human eyesight and were under the darkest skies on earth.

I do long sometimes for the quality of view available with a Fujinon 16 x 70 , but in spite of enjoying reading books and internet articles about binocular astronomy , in this climate and these seeing conditions , my interest in the subject is just not quite keen enough to warrant buying such a pair of binos just for the few occasions I'm prepared to brave the cold.

Of course the Zeiss 15 x 60, Swarovski 15 x 56 or even Minox 15 x 58 or Optolyth Royale 15 x 63 would probably be much more versatile and more useful for me than the Fujinon 16 x 70.

I'd rather put the £650 towards a really good spotting scope to be honest.

Sorry about the bad news , but if you're struck on 15 x 70s why not consider importing Oberwerk 15 x 70s from Kevin Busarrow at Big Binoculars.com ?

Even with import duty and shipping etc. they still work out at only around £160 tops. -- Not much less than the Helios.

Don't forget the Oberwerks have around 19mm eye relief and a wider field of view ( 4.3 v 4.0 ). Just a thought !

Regards Geoffrey and keep in touch -- Kenny.

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Two eyes and a preference to use both

Zeiss 7 x 42 BGAT
Captain's Helmsman 7 x 50
Nikon 10 x 42 Superior E
Swift Audubon Kestrel 10 x 50
Helios 15 x 70 Observation
Strathspey 20 x 90
Televue 76 APO
Zeiss 85 Diascope
Helios 102 f5 refractor
Various eyepieces barlows tripods mounts etc.
Panasonic Lumix DMC - TZ5 digital camera