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rgm40
sage
Reged: 04/15/08
Loc: Western Kentucky
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New to binoculars. Help would be appreciated.
#5084562 - 02/21/12 08:56 PM
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Good evening to all. I thought it would be nice to pick up a modest set of binos to use on nights when I didn't feel like setting up the Dob--in other words, a grab-and-go instrument. After reading a few reviews, and honestly a few warnings on CN, I decided to take a chance on the Celestron Skymaster 15x70mm. Got them in today, and back they go. The center focusing mechanism is non-functional. Turn it either direction, and no movement at the eyepieces. Turn it till blue in the face, and no movement at all. Acts as tho it is stripped. Very disappointing.
This being said, I noticed something while attempting to focus in. I had to adjust the interpupillary distance all the way to the lowest setting to even get close to a single view (no double vision). When I adjusted for comfort (binos to eye socket comfort) the view was way off. So, I am wondering if this is a result of bad collimation? I must have unusually short distance between the eyes? When adjusting for feel and comfort, I was nearly at the end of the adjusting capability of the binos. In other words, the two sides almost completely pulled together. Sorry for the poor terminology. I have built two fully functional telescopes, but I am new to the bino world. Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks.
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hallelujah
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/14/06
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains
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Re: New to binoculars. Help would be appreciated.
[Re: rgm40]
#5084585 - 02/21/12 09:09 PM
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You can always replace the Celestron 15x70 with one of these:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/319413-USA/Nikon_7247_16x50_Action_EX_Extreme.html
Stan
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ronharper
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/14/06
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Re: New to binoculars. Help would be appreciated.
[Re: rgm40]
#5084602 - 02/21/12 09:18 PM
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If you still have the binocular in hand, measure the eyepiece separation that gave you the good view. Now, go stand in front of a mirror with a ruler in front of your eyes, and, opening one eye at a time and reading the ruler reading for it to eliminate parallax, measure the separation of your eyes.
If these two measurements match within a mm or two, you simply have close set eyes, and perhaps oddly shaped eye sockets to which eyecups don't feel right.
If these measurement disagree, it seems like the binocular has a problem, but I couldn't say what.
Regarding the focus inoperability, it seem it would be hard to judge the collimation very closely if it won't focus. Anyhow, a die hard Skymaster fan would cheerfully return it for an exchange, etc., until a good one arrived, and then call it a great bargain. Which, if you're willing to go through that, it actually would be. Two or three usually does it. At some point they get tired of you and actually take it out of the box and try it before shipping it to you. Just for perspective, I know a guy who had to go through three 8x42 Zeiss FLs to get one he was satisfied with!
Ron
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Andresin150
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/14/07
Loc: Bogotá - La Calera / Colombia
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Re: New to binoculars. Help would be appreciated.
[Re: rgm40]
#5084610 - 02/21/12 09:22 PM
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Quote:
After reading a few reviews, and honestly a few warnings on CN, I decided to take a chance on the Celestron Skymaster 15x70mm.
RGM, I really thought there were enough warnings on those to help someone like you avoid that situation!
Fortunately you can return them.
Hopefully sooner or later you´ll end with an acceptable pair. Good luck
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rgm40
sage
Reged: 04/15/08
Loc: Western Kentucky
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Re: New to binoculars. Help would be appreciated.
[Re: Andresin150]
#5084623 - 02/21/12 09:43 PM
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Thanks guys. I probably jumped into this before doing enough research (obviously). Should have known that I would not be one of the lucky ones to get a good set 
When measuring the interpupillary distance is this done by measuring pupil center to pupil center? I am sure this is discussed here somewhere already so please forgive. I have not came upon it yet.
How about those Orion LittleGiant II binos Stan? I will definitely give the Nikon and the Orions a look.
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rgm40
sage
Reged: 04/15/08
Loc: Western Kentucky
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Re: New to binoculars. Help would be appreciated.
[Re: rgm40]
#5084648 - 02/21/12 10:00 PM
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Just read a product review on the Orion T & B site about Celestron Skymaster focuser adjustment doing the same thing as the one I received today. Must be a quality control problem somewhere.
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hallelujah
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/14/06
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains
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Re: New to binoculars. Help would be appreciated.
[Re: rgm40]
#5084721 - 02/21/12 10:42 PM
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How about those Orion LittleGiant II binos Stan? I will definitely give the Nikon and the Orions a look.
The Orion Little Giant II binoculars have been discontinued for a number of years.
The eye relief is very short, in the neighborhood of 8mm. 
Here's one of the current models:
http://www.telescope.com/Binoculars/Astronomy-Binoculars/Orion-Mini-Giant-15x63-Astronomy-Binoculars/pc/-1/c/5/sc/72/p/9466.uts
Stan
Edited by hallelujah (02/22/12 10:29 PM)
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DarkDisplay
super member
Reged: 12/21/10
Loc: Texas
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Re: New to binoculars. Help would be appreciated.
[Re: hallelujah]
#5084805 - 02/21/12 11:16 PM
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I've been very satisfied with the quality of Garrett binoculars. Great views (beautiful) and excellent customer service.
Sooner or later I'll get a scope. A good binocular, however, is ready to go when you are and gives that 3D sort of view allowed by the use of both eyes. Love it!
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ronharper
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/14/06
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Re: New to binoculars. Help would be appreciated.
[Re: DarkDisplay]
#5084862 - 02/22/12 12:00 AM
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Yep, center to center, same with the eyepieces.
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rgm40
sage
Reged: 04/15/08
Loc: Western Kentucky
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Re: New to binoculars. Help would be appreciated.
[Re: ronharper]
#5086462 - 02/22/12 10:26 PM
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I must have sucker written all over me. I just arranged for an exchange for another set. I'll try it one more time, but won't be back for a third go around if this next one doesn't work out.
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