Craig Simmons
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/10/03
Posts: 1502
Loc: Falls Church, VA
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I'm considering buying one of these two giant bino models. How much difference will I see between the two. Is that extra 10mm and 2X worth the extra $100? Is the extra light gathering a significant plus since two objectives are involved? It looks like the 22x100 are a little sturdier but both look like well made binos.
Craig Simmons
Falls Church, VA
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Craig Simmons
Oberwerk 8x56, 20x90
Nikon Action IV 10x50
Barska 15x70
Galileo 20x60
Stellarvue 15x63, 20x85
Orion XT10 pre-Classic
Antares 10
Stellarvue AT1010
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I wouldn't expect there to be much of a difference, in fact, I think the 20x80mm's should also be considered. That said, I chose the 22x100mm, they are basically the biggest and best pair for less than $1000, so along with a good deal you get pride of ownership, and a cool looking pair. Although you would also get that with the 90mm's wouldn't you?
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Craig Simmons
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/10/03
Posts: 1502
Loc: Falls Church, VA
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I have a pair of 15x70 Barskas, so I figured I'd need a larger jump in aperture over 80mm to notice a better image.
Craig
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Craig Simmons
Oberwerk 8x56, 20x90
Nikon Action IV 10x50
Barska 15x70
Galileo 20x60
Stellarvue 15x63, 20x85
Orion XT10 pre-Classic
Antares 10
Stellarvue AT1010
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Well, 100mm will give you 2x the apurture, and 22 mag will give you 2x the area magnified. I think the extra coatings and magnification will help the 80's more than you think, but 100mm seems to fit best because of the numbers.
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Erik D
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 2573
Loc: Central New Jersey, USA
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Hi Craig,
The objective numbers indicate a 23.46% increase in light gathering area and excatly 10% increase in maganification with the 22X100... I wouldn't expect a dramatic difference at the eyepiece based on those numbers. However, in the case of the above mentioned binos those gains are achieved without ANY sacrifice in FOV, eye relief and a small 3.2 oz increase in weight. In fact, if we accept the specs on the Oberwerk web site the FOV and eye relief of the 22X model is 0.1 deg wider and 1mm longer than the smaller 90mm version. My intuition says "go for the bigger one".
$100 higher price(33%) seem high in percentage terms but think of how much more we are willing to pay for incremental improvement in other astro gear? WO 2 in diagnol, 97% reflectivity,$99; 99%, $199. Celestron StarBright Coating/Meade UHTC? Zeiss T coat vs. Pentax SMC?
I do prefer the rubber armor on the 20X90 over the painted finish of the 22X100 but that's a minor issue. I think you will be very happy with either. You should be aware that the 22X100 comes with standard winged eyeguards. You may want to order optional regular eyeguards if you wear glasses.
Erik D
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Craig Simmons
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/10/03
Posts: 1502
Loc: Falls Church, VA
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Erik and Dan, thank you both for the good info and perspectives. I'm inclined also to get the 22x100s. This will be my first step into the larger giant binos. The the Barskas I've only had since xmas and my other pairs are 10x50 Nikons Action IVs and Galileo 20x60s. Glasses aren't a problem, I just use some for reading. The wings would be good for my suburban viewing to help block neighborhood lights, but I do have access to dark skies a few weekends a month.
Craig
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Craig Simmons
Oberwerk 8x56, 20x90
Nikon Action IV 10x50
Barska 15x70
Galileo 20x60
Stellarvue 15x63, 20x85
Orion XT10 pre-Classic
Antares 10
Stellarvue AT1010
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Diego
super member
Reged: 07/29/03
Posts: 179
Loc: Argentina South America
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Hello Craig,
I have the 20x90. I too was inclined at first to buy the 22x100, but as you first pointed out, it involved an extra $100.
I haven't been able to test my pair at a dark site, but they seem very promising. The only difference you would probably notice at the ep between the two (beside the extra 2x mag) is the usable FOV due to the slightly larger objectives. The exit pupils of both binos are 4.5mm so I guess that the brightness won't vary much from one another.
The only thing that I've read about the 22x100 is that minimum interpupillary distance isn't narrow enough for some people.
Any one you choose will give you good performance.
Good Luck!
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Diego
Celestron 80 mm f11.4
Oberwerk 20x90
6" f7.8 Reflector
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Garfield
sage
Reged: 02/02/04
Posts: 210
Loc: South-Western ON Canada
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On a somewhat related note, I also recently had to decide which "big" binos to purchase. The largest I had ever used before were 50mm.
After researching I decided that the 20x80's would meet my needs the best. I looked at the 20x90's but figured they would provide negligable improvements in light gathering (in a real-world use). Similarly with the 22x100's - where the limited additional light gathering would be somewhat offset by 2x extra power. But the real deciding factor for me was that I didn't want the weight of the 20x90's or 22x100's - staying with lighter binos allow for more flexibility when mounting.
Unfortunately, one of the risks with the lighter, non-braced 20x80 binos is that they can be knocked out of collimation more easily, but that's a risk I'm prepared to take - for now.
But if I already had a 15x70's, I'm not certain what I would have done.
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AT66ED
Pentax Papilio 6.5x21 ●
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Craig Simmons
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/10/03
Posts: 1502
Loc: Falls Church, VA
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Diego and Garfield, thanks for the input. I have very solid mounting built for larger binos (homemade bino chair and P-mount on tripod). The wallet says 20x90, my inclination of bigger is better says 22x100. I'm not afraid of collimation. Couldn't be much harder than a newt. Now I'm tempted to downsize and save the $100. My IPD is within both bino's range.
Craig
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Craig Simmons
Oberwerk 8x56, 20x90
Nikon Action IV 10x50
Barska 15x70
Galileo 20x60
Stellarvue 15x63, 20x85
Orion XT10 pre-Classic
Antares 10
Stellarvue AT1010
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Craig Simmons
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/10/03
Posts: 1502
Loc: Falls Church, VA
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I went with the 20x90s. Thanks for everyone's comments. Review to follow in the next week or so.
Craig
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Craig Simmons
Oberwerk 8x56, 20x90
Nikon Action IV 10x50
Barska 15x70
Galileo 20x60
Stellarvue 15x63, 20x85
Orion XT10 pre-Classic
Antares 10
Stellarvue AT1010
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Erik D
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 2573
Loc: Central New Jersey, USA
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Craig,
Look forward to your review in a few days. I'd expect delivery schedule from Kevin B to be much more reliable than your previous vendor. ;-))
All the Best,
Erik D
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Craig Simmons
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/10/03
Posts: 1502
Loc: Falls Church, VA
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Yes indeed. He has a very easy setup for ordering and I received confirmation immediately. I appreciate that in a business. This purchase will be a much needed change from the wretched soap opera I went thru this past year.  I looked through some Obie 20x80 LWs last week and I though they were pretty good. I've worked out the shakey bugs in my bino chair and can't wait to mount these binos and have some fun with them.
Craig
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Craig Simmons
Oberwerk 8x56, 20x90
Nikon Action IV 10x50
Barska 15x70
Galileo 20x60
Stellarvue 15x63, 20x85
Orion XT10 pre-Classic
Antares 10
Stellarvue AT1010
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Diego
super member
Reged: 07/29/03
Posts: 179
Loc: Argentina South America
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Hi Craig,
Congratulations on your purchase. You'll like the 20x90. I will be home in one more week where I can test them at my dark site.
Don't fear collimation, I had to collimate the giant binos and it was VERY easy, easier than a Newt.
Good Luck,
Diego
PS: got any plans or pictures of your binochair? 
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Diego
Celestron 80 mm f11.4
Oberwerk 20x90
6" f7.8 Reflector
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Craig Simmons
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/10/03
Posts: 1502
Loc: Falls Church, VA
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Here's one the more recent pics of it right here:
http://www.cloudynights.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=474&password=&sort=7&thecat=500
It's gone through several modifications. Kind of crude looking but it works and is very stable. It's like sitting in a AA battery. I'd like to replace the chair with a commercial recliner, but I haven't found one strong enough yet. It breaks down into 4 parts: base & ground board assembly, P-mount bases, P-mount booms & center support, and chair. No bolting is needed to put everything together. Uses cart wheels for a lazy susan type bearing on the groundboard and for the sliding P-mount bases. What isn't shown are threaded clamps (eyebolts) that hold the P-mount center supports tighter into the P-mount bases. Those were added this past weekend. All it needs now is to be painted black with red racing stripes. Or maybe battleship grey camoflage. I'm in the process of drawing up plans in AutoCAD.
Craig
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Craig Simmons
Oberwerk 8x56, 20x90
Nikon Action IV 10x50
Barska 15x70
Galileo 20x60
Stellarvue 15x63, 20x85
Orion XT10 pre-Classic
Antares 10
Stellarvue AT1010
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Craig Simmons
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/10/03
Posts: 1502
Loc: Falls Church, VA
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The binos will be here tomorrow. They were shipped the next day. That's what I call excellent customer service.
Craig
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Craig Simmons
Oberwerk 8x56, 20x90
Nikon Action IV 10x50
Barska 15x70
Galileo 20x60
Stellarvue 15x63, 20x85
Orion XT10 pre-Classic
Antares 10
Stellarvue AT1010
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Rusty
Postmaster
Reged: 08/06/03
Posts: 16419
Loc: Brooker, FL
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Next is for you to add a piggyback arrangement - then you can stack the 22x100s you'll have to have, the 20x90s, then the 15x80s, the 12x60s, 10x50s, and 8x56. Just move the mount up and down to zoom in and out... 
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