Anonymous
Unregistered
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I'm interested in moving up in the giant binocular field, Does anyone have any experince with the Miyauchi 141 Galaxy or the Fujinon 40 x 150mm?
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I have no experience. I was under the impression that most people prefered the 25x Fujinon over the 40x; are you only looking at the 40x and not the 25x? If you are looking at the 40x over the 25x, I'm curious to know why.
Hopefully others will be able to give you useful information. Even though I can't help, I found this post too interesting to stay out of.
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I picked the 40x because there are only reviews on the 25x Fujinons, so I'm curious as to how much improvement the 40x offers in resolution.
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Erik D
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 2565
Loc: Central New Jersey, USA
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I have been reading reviews of the Fuji 150s for several years. Have never heard from anyone with the 40X model(at least in the US). I know several people who use the 25X150 regularly and post observing reports. 40X actually makes better use of the huge 150mm objective 25X but cost several $K more. I'd expect you can see dimmer objects and more detail because of the higher X but not better resolution per se. The trade off is narrower 1.7 deg FOV vs 2.7 deg.
I like the Miyauchii 141 package better. For about $13K you get the fork mount, tripod and finder and 45 deg EPs. Standard EP is 25X but optional 33X and 45X are available. Kevin B at Oberwerk mentioned he has had the Miyauchii 141s on back order for about a year. Someting about not enough flourite glass in Japan to make a pair....
For me the issue with getting these ultra/super jumbo binos is more than $$$$. The Fuji 25X150 OTA is available for under $6k. But you need to think about how you are going to mount AND move them each time you want to observe. Mr. Bill has photos of his set up here on CN. I think the Fuji 150mm with UA Sirius mount and Losmandy G11 tripod can be had for about $8K.... half the price of a Honda Civic. I can drive the Honda every day. But there are very very few nights each year in NJ when sky conditons are good enough(clear, moonless,above freezing Fri or Sat nights) for me to want to mount and dismount over 150 lb of astro equipment. I feel the same way about 6 in binoscopes that can reach 200X or more. I don't mind spending $10K+ on the best optics if I can use it every weekend, but we all know that's never be the case with astro equipment.
ERik D
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10163
Loc: Lancashire UK
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zx12 ( which I suspect is not a name given at birth )
says:
< I picked the 40x because there are only reviews on the 25x Fujinons, so I'm curious as to how much improvement the 40x offers in resolution >
This seems a very expensive way to find out :-)
Also if there are NO reviews ANYWHERE about these instruments , it strikes me as being a little optimistic to hope that any of us has experience with them.
I'm pretty sure that if someone DOES own or HAD owned them at some time , it might have occured to them to mention it in passing at the very least before now . :-)
Regards -- Kenny.
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If everyone is thinking the same thing , no-one is thinking - General George S.Patton
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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From those I have spoken to or read reports from who have done comparisons, to include Markus Ludes, Phil Harrington and a couple of Japanese optical engineers (whose names I couldn't begin to remember), the Kowa High Landers produce images that are superior to either the Fujis or Miyauchis IN SPITE OF the the larger objectives in the latter two. It is simply a case of quality vs. quantity.
I have used the fluorite High Landers briefly, (non-fluorite model available, also) and the views are nothing less than stunning.
http://www.kowascope.com
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10163
Loc: Lancashire UK
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David , ZX et al ,
I too am sure I've read what amounts to at least a "mini-review" of the 40x versions somewhere , but cannot recall or re-find the source.
These Kowa 82mm fluorite binos with angled oculars and wide -field eyepieces certainly appear to be the closest things I've seen to being my "dream" astro-binoculars.
There being such a vast difference in light gathering between 82mm and 150mm says a hell of a lot for QUALITY over SIZE , particularly when in this case SIZE has the word Fujinon it's side too !
Strange that although very good (to the point of being one of the most underated and undermentioned manufacturers in "birding circles") other Kowa binoculars and spotting scopes seem to fall just short of the very highest standards set by the Big Four.
The "portability" factor alone would be enough to tempt me to go for the Kowas v Fujis / Nikons or Miyauchi super giants if I ever win that damned lottery ( one number drawn from my 24 last night ).
Regards --Kenny.
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If everyone is thinking the same thing , no-one is thinking - General George S.Patton
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:
Kowa spotting scopes seem to fall just short of the very highest standards set by the Big Four.
Big Four?
I disagree. And with a budget not limited to wage-earner considerations, the U.S. Army shooting team disagrees, too. They just bought three fluorite High Landers, and the U.S. Army Rangers have just ordered eighty (80) Kowa spotting scopes. They could have had any brand they wanted. Have you ever tried to spot .30 cal. bullet holes at 1000 yds?
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10163
Loc: Lancashire UK
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David ,
I am slightly confused and a little annoyed that you appear to be adding a srange "twist" to my last post on this topic , which ,as anyone who reads it fully ought to appreciate , was mainly one of appreciation and commendation of Kowa products.
With respect , I quoted " BINOCULARS and spotting scopes", not just "spotting scopes" -- so if you are going to use the old "cut and paste" technique , I would appreciate you at least cutting and pasting my exact quotes , and not a portion of it that you might feel "supports" your own opinion.
I certainly did not include the "Highlander" in that statement as you seem to imply by your retort , in fact it was the difference between the superlative aspects of the 82mm Highlander Fluourite binos as opposed to the "not QUITE so superlative" other Kowa products that I was bringing to attention.
I could find and highlight MANY review sites on the internet specialising in binocular and scope comparisons that would support my assertion that over the past two years
even the most highly rated (the most recent fluorite version )of the plethora of Kowa spotting scopes have, in the opinions of reviewers ( some professional )far more experienced than myself , have just fallen behind the latest top of the range offerings from Leica , Nikon , Swarovski and Zeiss.
It is certainly NOT just MY opinion -- far from it.
As regards the "selection committees" of the armed forces entrusted with selecting "optical equipment" --are these not the same bodies of people who chose Steiner for the same purpose not too many moons ago ?
Hmmmmm --if you think my comments about Kowa binoculars were "detrimental" -- I think the least I say about Steiner the better !
Regards -- Kenny.
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If everyone is thinking the same thing , no-one is thinking - General George S.Patton
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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Sorry, Kenny, I should have included the binocular portion of your quote. I did not because I have to say that the hand-held Kowa glasses are definitely not to be grouped with the very high-end models available from others, although they are good, not great, at their own price level. So, I agree with your post on this point. They are made for Kowa, to Kowa specs, by another manufacturer (which they intend to do away with, and construct in-house at some future date).
I simply wanted to seperate out the High Landers from the "binoculars" portion of your post because these ARE constructed in-house by Kowa and live up to the descriptions I've gathered on them.
As to the Steiners, they had the contract to supply the U.S. Army during the Gulf War ('91) period (low bidder), but subsequently lost it.
For the Shooting Teams, product selection is a trifle different.
No offense intended.
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Rusty
Postmaster
Reged: 08/06/03
Posts: 16419
Loc: Brooker, FL
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Quote:
Have you ever tried to spot .30 cal. bullet holes at 1000 yds?
No, but I've made 'em.... 
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N11GPS Fastar
TOA-130S
MK66 Std
Vintage C5
Megrez II 80mm ED Triplet APO
SolarMax 40
NJP Temma II
Sirius EQ-G
ST8XE/CFW-8(LRGBHa)/AO-7/DF-2/STV Dlx/ST237a/350D (Unmodded)/Mallincam Color Hyper Plus/DSI III Color/DSI II Pro
Two not-spoiled Golden Retrievers - Maggie and Casey
Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not. In either case the idea is quite staggering. - Arthur C. Clarke
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10163
Loc: Lancashire UK
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David,
Thank you for being so "non-confrontational" in your last message.
I really appreciate that -- and am sorry if I appeared a bit "stressed" about the point.
I tend to get that way sometimes -- could be related to having the spent the past 24 years surrounded by women in the house :-)
Kind regards -- Kenny.
--------------------
If everyone is thinking the same thing , no-one is thinking - General George S.Patton
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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werewolf6977
Lord High Smasher
Reged: 12/15/03
Posts: 7445
Loc: Hanover, Ohio
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Rusty,
You too? It's not too hard if you've got the right equipment, and watch the caffeine. WW
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Pete
6" Apogee/LXD55 - "The Beast"
Starhopper 6" Dob - "Shiva"
Spaceprobe 130 EQ - "Spacey"
Bushnell Fatboy
The Abomination
Sun Pak Pro 7500 Platinum Edition
10X25 Bushnell Camo Roofies
7X35 Tasco Classic Plastic (good views though)
7X42 Tasco Rare Bird
10X50 Nikon Actions (Type 7)
15X70 Skymasters - "DroolMeisters"
One ratty old IBM 600E LapTop
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Rusty
Postmaster
Reged: 08/06/03
Posts: 16419
Loc: Brooker, FL
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Well, the motto was in my day, "One shot, one kill", but I like the recent motto from a USMC Recon sniper friend of mine, "Reach out and touch someone..."
BTW, we had to qual at 500 yds with open sights before going on - I have no idea how I managed to SEE that far - I don't even think I can WALK that far today! 
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N11GPS Fastar
TOA-130S
MK66 Std
Vintage C5
Megrez II 80mm ED Triplet APO
SolarMax 40
NJP Temma II
Sirius EQ-G
ST8XE/CFW-8(LRGBHa)/AO-7/DF-2/STV Dlx/ST237a/350D (Unmodded)/Mallincam Color Hyper Plus/DSI III Color/DSI II Pro
Two not-spoiled Golden Retrievers - Maggie and Casey
Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not. In either case the idea is quite staggering. - Arthur C. Clarke
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werewolf6977
Lord High Smasher
Reged: 12/15/03
Posts: 7445
Loc: Hanover, Ohio
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Yeah, well, I'm jealous of what the new crop gets to play with. I'd love to qualify with that there Barrett .50 WW
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Pete
6" Apogee/LXD55 - "The Beast"
Starhopper 6" Dob - "Shiva"
Spaceprobe 130 EQ - "Spacey"
Bushnell Fatboy
The Abomination
Sun Pak Pro 7500 Platinum Edition
10X25 Bushnell Camo Roofies
7X35 Tasco Classic Plastic (good views though)
7X42 Tasco Rare Bird
10X50 Nikon Actions (Type 7)
15X70 Skymasters - "DroolMeisters"
One ratty old IBM 600E LapTop
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Quote:
Yeah, well, I'm jealous of what the new crop gets to play with. I'd love to qualify with that there Barrett .50 WW
If you like the BMG cartridge, and are a gambler, go here and read the red print:
http://bluegrassarmory.com/
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werewolf6977
Lord High Smasher
Reged: 12/15/03
Posts: 7445
Loc: Hanover, Ohio
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Holy -----! Wow!! Coulda used that several times in the past!! Rusty, talk about reaching out and touching someone!! I figure 1500-2000 yards if you do it right!! Even at 30lbs, though, I bet that sucker dents the ole shoulder!!  WW
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Pete
6" Apogee/LXD55 - "The Beast"
Starhopper 6" Dob - "Shiva"
Spaceprobe 130 EQ - "Spacey"
Bushnell Fatboy
The Abomination
Sun Pak Pro 7500 Platinum Edition
10X25 Bushnell Camo Roofies
7X35 Tasco Classic Plastic (good views though)
7X42 Tasco Rare Bird
10X50 Nikon Actions (Type 7)
15X70 Skymasters - "DroolMeisters"
One ratty old IBM 600E LapTop
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