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Equipment Discussions >> Binoculars

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mv1612
member

Reged: 08/11/09

7x35 binoculars for viewing the stars?
#5558878 - 12/07/12 09:14 AM

Hello,

I have a 6" dobsonian and now I want to start using binoculars, because I love large fields of view. Then there is my 5 years old daughter who also seems interested in seeing "lots of stars". I will probably buy both small binoculars so that she's able to hold them and also bigger ones on a mount.

I will start with the small ones. Can I use 7x35 binoculars for introducing my daughter to the skies? Will they be reasonably spectacular compared to naked eyes? I don't think there are 7x35 "astronomical binoculars", so I would buy just all purpose binos, is it worth it? Then, they shouldn't be expensive, I wouldn' t go over $70-80 cause maybe I would buy two, so that we can observe simultaneously.

I have also asked this question on another forum, I hope it's not a problem, I just need as many suggestions as possible.

So, can I use a 7x35 binos, to give nice views of the stars?

Thanks, Virgil.

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Mark9473
Postmaster

Reged: 07/21/05

Loc: 51°N 4°E

Re: 7x35 binoculars for viewing the stars? new

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[Re: mv1612]
#5558880 - 12/07/12 09:16 AM

YES to all of your questions!

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StarStuff1
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 04/01/07

Loc: South of the Mason-Dixon Line

Re: 7x35 binoculars for viewing the stars? new

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[Re: Mark9473]
#5558936 - 12/07/12 09:55 AM

7x35s, especially wide angle ones, are excellent for introduction to the starry skies. Flea markets and garage sales are good places to get them cheap. Just be sure to check mechanical functions and alignment before buying.

Lots of good prices on new ones this time of year. I prefer buying "in person" to check them out. What you would pay in sales tax would probably be less than shipping costs unless you got a free shipping deal.

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ronharper
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 02/14/06

Re: 7x35 binoculars for viewing the stars? new

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[Re: StarStuff1]
#5559014 - 12/07/12 10:34 AM

These are good, and especially so for children because the eye spacing can be set small.
Yosemite
Between the 6x and 8x I'm not sure. The 8x will show more, but the 6x is easier to use.
Ron

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steve@37n83.9w
sage

Reged: 01/20/11

Loc: Kentucky

Re: 7x35 binoculars for viewing the stars? new

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[Re: mv1612]
#5559120 - 12/07/12 11:33 AM

Like Ron I highly recommend the Yosemite. I purchased two pairs (6x30) for my grandsons about three years ago and the binos are holding up well. I would also consider a used 7x35 as mentioned by some of the other posters. I have purchased many vintage 7x35s on ebay including my 7x35 9.3* Nikon WideField which is one of my better binoculars.

Steve

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mv1612
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Reged: 08/11/09

Re: 7x35 binoculars for viewing the stars? new

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[Re: steve@37n83.9w]
#5559231 - 12/07/12 12:37 PM

Hi,

Thanks for your opinions, it seems a small 7x35 will be good for starting. I checked B&H for prices, Amazon and other places for reviews and I ended up with the folowing list of contenders :

Bushnell 7x35 Falcon $24.55 595g
Nikon 7x35 Action VII $64.95 715g
Barska 7x35 Focus Free $29.99 567g
Bushnell 7x35 Powerview $45.77 539g
Eagle Optics 7x35 Triumph $69.95 578g
Leupold Yosemite Binoculars BX-1 6x30 $89.79 482g

The prices are mainly from B&H, an excellent store for me not only because they’re good professionals but also because they have very good prices for shipping to Canada.

I was recommended the Nikon which unfortunately is heavy for my girl, and Yosemite, which is on the expensive side for me and only 30mm compared to 35mm the others. Bushnell Falcon is very cheap and has excellent reviews everywhere… The others, I don’t know…

My favorites are the Falcon, because of reviews and price, and the Yosemites, because of your recommandation, reviews and weight (a bit expensive though).

I’m also tempted by Bushnell Powerview which are lighter than the Falcons. I will eliminate the Nikons because they’re heavy.

Please keep sending your suggestions...

Thanks, Virgil.

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StarStuff1
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 04/01/07

Loc: South of the Mason-Dixon Line

Re: 7x35 binoculars for viewing the stars? new

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[Re: mv1612]
#5559250 - 12/07/12 12:53 PM

Stay away from any fixed focus binocular.

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Rich V.
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Reged: 01/02/05

Loc: Lake Tahoe area, Nevada, USA

Re: 7x35 binoculars for viewing the stars? new

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[Re: mv1612]
#5559254 - 12/07/12 12:56 PM

Just about any inexpensive binocular would be better than a "focus free" binocular for astronomy, IMO. Astronomy requires that stars be viewed at the best possible focus; anything less will ruin the experience.

I also think the "InstaFocus" mechanism as used in the Bushnells, while it works, is less precise than a standard center focus binocular that uses a wheel instead.

At least, you'd do yourself a favor by dropping the Barska "focus free" model from your list...

Rich

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mv1612
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Reged: 08/11/09

Re: 7x35 binoculars for viewing the stars? new

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[Re: Rich V.]
#5559265 - 12/07/12 01:01 PM

OK, so I eliminate the Barska.

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mv1612
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Reged: 08/11/09

Re: 7x35 binoculars for viewing the stars? new

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[Re: mv1612]
#5559267 - 12/07/12 01:03 PM

Bushnell 7x35 Falcon $24.55 595g
Bushnell 7x35 Powerview $45.77 539g
Eagle Optics 7x35 Triumph $69.95 578g
Leupold Yosemite Binoculars BX-1 6x30 $89.79 482g

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Rich V.
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Reged: 01/02/05

Loc: Lake Tahoe area, Nevada, USA

Re: 7x35 binoculars for viewing the stars? new

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[Re: mv1612]
#5559316 - 12/07/12 01:38 PM

I don't see the EO Triumph listed as a 7x35; only an 8x42. The Triumph shows a minimum IPD setting of 55mm which may be too wide for a five year old.

Bushnell doesn't even list the IPDs of their 7x35s but they do say the prisms are BK7 instead of the preferred BaK4. Do you want to take a chance that they will fit? I doubt they go down to a minimum of 50mm.

Only the Yosemite binos have the 50mm minimum IPD that I think would guarantee a fit for a youngster. They use the premium BaK4 prisms as well. The price is higher but the chances of getting satisfaction from them is higher as well.

Rich

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mv1612
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Reged: 08/11/09

Re: 7x35 binoculars for viewing the stars? new

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[Re: Rich V.]
#5559334 - 12/07/12 01:47 PM

Quote:

I don't see the EO Triumph listed as a 7x35; only an 8x42. The Triumph shows a minimum IPD setting of 55mm which may be too wide for a five year old.

Bushnell doesn't even list the IPDs of their 7x35s but they do say the prisms are BK7 instead of the preferred BaK4. Do you want to take a chance that they will fit? I doubt they go down to a minimum of 50mm.

Only the Yosemite binos have the 50mm minimum IPD that I think would guarantee a fit for a youngster. They use the premium BaK4 prisms as well. The price is higher but the chances of getting satisfaction from them is higher as well.

Rich

Thanks. Excellent information! So things all point towards choosing the Yosemites for the girl: weight, IPD, Bak4. For me, I guess the Bushnell Falcon will be good enough.

Time to go shopping

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Jay_Bird
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/04/06

Loc: USA

Re: 7x35 binoculars for viewing the stars? new

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[Re: mv1612]
#5559367 - 12/07/12 02:04 PM

All seem to agree the Yosemite are well made in 6x30 and 8x30. Binoculars are the sum of a lot of build quality and optical factors, the Yosemite seem to be a good combination of those. A neightbor loaned me a generic Japanse 8x30 when I was in middle school as first astro binocular, it was no slouch, so don't worry about 30mm size.

Check the IPD specs and maybe a Bushnell H2O 8x42 Porro model is another option for $60-$80 for dad if not for daughter.

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mv1612
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Reged: 08/11/09

Re: 7x35 binoculars for viewing the stars? new

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[Re: Jay_Bird]
#5559407 - 12/07/12 02:27 PM

I was just been told that the Yosemite has a narrow field of view... 45 deg... Wouldn't this be kind of tunnel-like?

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ronharper
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 02/14/06

Re: 7x35 binoculars for viewing the stars? new

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[Re: mv1612]
#5559415 - 12/07/12 02:37 PM

Yes. The 8x has a nice wide field.
Ron

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mv1612
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Reged: 08/11/09

Re: 7x35 binoculars for viewing the stars? new

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[Re: ronharper]
#5559423 - 12/07/12 02:41 PM

hmmm.....

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ronharper
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 02/14/06

Re: 7x35 binoculars for viewing the stars? new

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[Re: mv1612]
#5559514 - 12/07/12 03:48 PM

What I meant was, the 6x is narrow, the 8x is wide! Sorry bout that...
Ron

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Simon S
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Reged: 01/07/07

Loc: Crawley West Sussex UK

Re: 7x35 binoculars for viewing the stars? new

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[Re: ronharper]
#5559586 - 12/07/12 04:37 PM

A 7x35 or even an 8x40 makes for good constellation exploration when your finding your way around the stars.
?Bare in mind modern x35's and 8x40's are rare, so if your using an old binocular make sure it's not full of muck.

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ronharper
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 02/14/06

Re: 7x35 binoculars for viewing the stars? new

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[Re: Simon S]
#5559651 - 12/07/12 05:33 PM

A PM from another member has raised another question about my meaning, of the field width of the 8x and 6x30 Yosemites. I'll just answer publicly because I do want to help the OP out.

The true fields of the 6x and 8x are 8 degrees and 7.4 degrees respectively. So in that sense, the 6x is wider.

But, the appearance of "tunnel view" arises from a narrow apparent field. That is, how wide the view looks to am observer. To obtain a good approximation of the apparent field, you multiply the true field width in degrees by the magnification. This gives apparent fields for the 6x and 8x of 48 degrees and 59.2 degrees.

That is a big difference at the eyepiece. A common rule of thumb is that anything less than 50 degrees is unacceptably narrow, and that the minimum that can be considered truly "wide field" is 60 degrees. I think those are pretty good places to draw the arbitrary lines.
Ron

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KennyJ
The British Flash

Reged: 04/27/03

Loc: Lancashire UK

Re: 7x35 binoculars for viewing the stars? new

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[Re: ronharper]
#5559723 - 12/07/12 06:09 PM

Ron is correct(as usual)about those considerable differences.

Others are correct about the Yosemite probably being the only model with suitably narrow I.P.D for such a young one.

I once bought an aforementioned Bushnell 8 x 42 H2O Porro for one of my ADULT daughters,and it's still going strong after 9 years.Very good value for money,but the minimal I.P.D setting is far too wide for a child.

Kenny

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