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Anonymous
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I started looking at a Telescope for my 13 year son's birthday. Someone suggested binoculars instead, and after some thought, I am going that way.
I know a lot about a few hobbies, but zip about binoculars.
Been looking on eBay and on the net
'Celestron 15x70 Skymaster Giants'
I saw these on sale for $95.00 with free shipping.
Good price range for a budding teenager who leaves every thing everywhere....
Thanks,
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12566
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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15x70s require an additional investment of $150 for a tripod andf mount bracket. They cannot be handheld.
For a budding astronomer you might be much better off with a good 10x50 that can be mounted if you wish, but could also be easily hand held with braced elbows.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I recently ordered a pair of Barska 15X70's for $75 US through ebay. (should be here by Friday) The price didn't include shipping but they do come with a small tripod which from what I gathered is recommended for 15X binos of this size. Although a full size tripod would be better, it is something to start with especially for a 13yr old.
Note: There has been some comments however that the provided tripod adapter isn't adequate but I have also heard that this is the case for the Celestrons as well.
The Celestron 15X70s was my original choice but I decided to go with Barska's in the end because of all of the great reviews and comments I have heard about them over the past few months, especially on some of the other astronomy based forums. Plus there is a pretty good review of the barska's on this site;
http://www.cloudynights.com/breviews/barka.htm
The other plus for the Barska's is that you can collimate them yourself if you ever needed to. I am not sure if you can do this with the Celestrons.
Here is a link to one on ebay;
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2977381964&category=50540
or you can order directly from www.thehuntersmall.com.
Unfortunately, I am not able to give you any hands on feedback yet as I haven’t received mine yet, but as I mentioned earlier, I have read alot of happy user comments. I will try to post a small review when I get them.
Either way, I think the celestrons would be great as well. It was actually quite a delima for me but the Barska's won in the end.
I hope that helps.
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Anonymous
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I did a buy it now on that auction for $75.00. Thanks, I am sure this is just the start of a much more expensive hobby.
Ciao, Bob
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Anonymous
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Perhaps, but it is a worthy hobby forsure. 
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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OK, should I upgrade to the Barska 12-60x70mm they have. Will
this give better images with more magnification, or what ?
Is that better than 15x power with out trade offs ?
Thanks, Bob
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Zoom binoculars generally give up FoV compared to a similer binocualar of only one magnification level. I had also thought that one of these would be fun, but from what I've read and been told, people are generally unhappy with these when the purpose is astronomy.
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Tom L
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 29817
Loc: Sunny Oregon
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Bob, spend some time reading all the threads in the binocular forum. You will learn more than you ever dreamed of. We have some awesome experts here that love to help the uninitiated. Good luck! It is well worth the read!
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Tom 
Tele Vue 102mm f/8.6 on an EzTouch
Vixen 80mm f/5 A80SSWT on a grab-n-go mount
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10143
Loc: Lancashire UK
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Bob,
For what it's worth , if you or anyone else is considering classifying a move to a Barska --or indeed ANY other
12-60 x 70 binocular as an "UPGRADE" -- then the grade of the existing binocular must be "Too low for classification"
Now the 15 x 70 Barska may be O.K , but if you want MORE MAGNIFICATION than 15x , unless you are prepared to splash out a lot more money than you did for your Barska , you are going to need to go "bigger" with the objective size too.
20 x 80 , 22 x 100 , 25 x 100 , -- these are the more sensible options currently available for anyone looking for higher power without troubling the bank manager too much.
The 12-60 x 70 binocular will certainly NOT give better images at ANY magnification than the 15 x 70.
My advise is for you to take some time to read a wide selection of previous posts to this binocular forum and try to work some sense out for yourself.
Real quality comes at a price.
Good luck --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
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Quote:
OK, should I upgrade to the Barska 12-60x70mm they have. Will
this give better images with more magnification, or what ?
Is that better than 15x power with out trade offs ?
Thanks, Bob
I posted a similar question on this forum about a week back. At the time I had found out that the Barskas 15X70s are not available through any distributors in Canada but the Zoom model was. So I posted a question on this forum was quickly corrected that the Zooms are not the way to go. Here is a link to that thread, but I think the guys have pretty well summed it up already for you. (hope it works)
Cloudy Nights
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edcannon
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/19/03
Posts: 679
Loc: Austin, Texas
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One thing about binoculars for kids would be whether the binoculars can go to a small enough interpupillary distance. Some adults, including a relative of mine, have trouble finding binoculars that will go to a narrow enough IPD, so it has to be moreso with kids.
I wonder if there are any monoculars (i.e., correct image of course) that would be good for kids who are too small, in terms of IPD, for binoculars.
I would think that with kids a good beginning would be something inexpensive and lightweight with low power and a wide field of view. If the kid takes to that, then something more advanced might very well be in order.
I've got some "don't buy these" plastic binoculars -- 4x30, lightweight and narrow IPD but like looking through a soda straw. I think they were a giveaway for going into a store somewhere. Those would not be good for a kid if for no other reason than because the view is so restricted.
One other thing about kids is of course making SURE that they do NOT look at the Sun!
Ed Cannon - ecannon@mail.utexas.edu - Austin, Texas, USA
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Ed Cannon - Austin, Texas, USA
As of 23 August 2008 - Celestron Skymaster 12x60
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brocknroller
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/16/03
Posts: 1516
Loc: Liberal, Kansas
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Bob,
a 7X50 makes a nice bin for kids, large exit pupil, good light gathering power, lower power for steady views. however, some 7X50s are too heavy, so if possible, have him try the bin in person. does he wear glasses for astigmatism? if so, then you'll need good eye relief bin such a Pentax 7X50 PCF V. a 10X50 will provide more impressive views, but may be hard to steady. he should try both and if he can steady the 10X on the sky (don't just try on terrestrial targets since it's easier to steady bins when holding them level), and likes them better, go for the 10X. if eye relief is not an issue, then you might want to check out the nikon action 7X50 and 10X50, cheaper than pentax.
if he plans to use the bin for daytime activities (birding, hunting, spectator sports), get higher eye relief (17mm-20mm) for sunglasses.
the bin i wish i had bought as my first is the 8X42 Swift Ultralite. very light, nice rubber armoring, excellent coatings and resolution, and easy to handhold at 8X, good for birding too. they can be found for under $200 and are worth every penny.
the important thing is that he's comfortable with them. no matter how good the optics, if they are uncomfortable for his hands or face, or hard to steady, he's going to lose interest.
--------------------
Oscar Zoroaster Diggs
"O.Z."
#########################################
"And remember, my sentimental friend....a heart is not judged by how much you love,
but by how much you are loved by others."
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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1st, thanks for all the help/info you all. As I said in the follow up, I did get the 'Barskas 15X70s' from that auction.
My son's birthday was yesterday, 1/24, and I made a mount for the binos to fit onto an old Cam-corder Tripod we have had laying about forever. He loves them, and the entire family was in awe looking at the moon. Further-more, we live 20 miles west of the Nashville's BNA airport. The Jets are pretty high by 20 miles out, 15k and climbing I am guessing. They look to the naked eye like a dim star moving across the sky. But through the binos, you can clearly see each and every light on the jets, it is pretty cool. The stars and clusters are OK, but as one might guess, a 1/10 of a mm of movement at the optics nets a lot of movement at a few hunded thousand mile. 
Ciao
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Glad to hear that you are enjoying your Barska's. I recieved mine over a week ago and I have yet to really try them out. It has either been cloudy or rediculously cold, -40 this morning. Day time use however has been right on par with the review here at cloudy nights. So far I too have been very pleased with them, but the true test will come when it warms up, and it is dark.
Edited by gdakin (01/27/04 11:32 AM)
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