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Equipment Discussions >> Binoculars

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txmnjim
sage

Reged: 03/31/09

Loc: Rochester, MN

Celstron Vs Orion Binocs?
#5588572 - 12/25/12 02:30 PM

hello all,
i'm getting ready to purchase a pair of 10x70 binocs and notice the Orion and Celestron are priced similarly (affordable!). I see a lot of good word on the Celestrons but rarely see anything about the Orion binocs? Anyone have any experience or advise with the Orions? Thanks for any info ahead of time!
jim

Post Extras:

txmnjim
sage

Reged: 03/31/09

Loc: Rochester, MN

Re: Celstron Vs Orion Binocs? new

[Re: txmnjim]
#5588633 - 12/25/12 03:48 PM

15X70 i mean

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planet-beaver
sage

Reged: 11/03/08

Loc: Shohola, PA

Re: Celstron Vs Orion Binocs? new

[Re: txmnjim]
#5590023 - 12/26/12 05:25 PM

Same bins made by same Chinese company with different names painted on. Make sure to buy from a place you can return them.

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Danny Lesandrini
journeyman

Reged: 10/05/08

Loc: Tucson, AZ

Re: Celstron Vs Orion Binocs? new

[Re: planet-beaver]
#5590035 - 12/26/12 05:32 PM

I don't know about the Celestron 15x70 but i had a pair of 100mm Celestron binocs I liked. On the other hand, I recently bought the 15x70 Orion ones and I couldn't be more dissappointed. You can have mine for $10 and the price of shipping. Maybe it's just my old eyes need more eye relief, but I just can't enjoy them. Afraid to sell them for more than that for fear the buyer will be as dissatisfied as I was.
http://www.telescope.com/Binoculars/Big-Binoculars/Orion-15x70-Astronomy-Bino...

Danny

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Bill Barlow
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/03/07

Loc: Overland Park KS

Re: Celstron Vs Orion Binocs? new

[Re: Danny Lesandrini]
#5590693 - 12/27/12 02:50 AM

Did you return them to Orion within 30 days of purchase for a refund?

Bill

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txmnjim
sage

Reged: 03/31/09

Loc: Rochester, MN

Re: Celstron Vs Orion Binocs? new

[Re: Danny Lesandrini]
#5590776 - 12/27/12 07:05 AM

Quote:

I don't know about the Celestron 15x70 but i had a pair of 100mm Celestron binocs I liked. On the other hand, I recently bought the 15x70 Orion ones and I couldn't be more dissappointed. You can have mine for $10 and the price of shipping. Maybe it's just my old eyes need more eye relief, but I just can't enjoy them. Afraid to sell them for more than that for fear the buyer will be as dissatisfied as I was.
http://www.telescope.com/Binoculars/Big-Binoculars/Orion-15x70-Astronomy-Bino...

Danny

they may need collimating? have you ever dropped them? pm me if your serious about selling them for 10.00

Post Extras:

txmnjim
sage

Reged: 03/31/09

Loc: Rochester, MN

Re: Celstron Vs Orion Binocs? new

[Re: txmnjim]
#5590777 - 12/27/12 07:08 AM

its amazing how much variation there is w/ these brands. i've heard good things about Orion in the past, and i've got an excellent pair of Celestron Pro 7X50's. I also used to own a great pair of Celestron Ultima's as well. Thanks for the info, i may just go w/ the Celestrons.

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Jon Isaacs
Postmaster

Reged: 06/16/04

Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA

Re: Celstron Vs Orion Binocs? new

[Re: txmnjim]
#5590786 - 12/27/12 07:36 AM

Quote:

its amazing how much variation there is w/ these brands. i've heard good things about Orion in the past, and i've got an excellent pair of Celestron Pro 7X50's. I also used to own a great pair of Celestron Ultima's as well. Thanks for the info, i may just go w/ the Celestrons.

Celestron and Orion are not manufacturers of binoculars, they are vendors, they buy something from a manufacturer and sell it under their name. The fact that you like the Ultimas has little to do with the Skymaster 15x70s because the Ultimas were made in Japan and the Skymasters are of Chinese manufacture, completely different manufacturers.

As far as the 15 x 70s, these get mixed reviews. Their actual aperture is about 63mm, still plenty. It seems that if they are collimated, they provide quite reasonable views. But if you are used to Ultima type quality, you will probably be disappointed.

Jon

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txmnjim
sage

Reged: 03/31/09

Loc: Rochester, MN

Re: Celstron Vs Orion Binocs? new

[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#5590896 - 12/27/12 09:48 AM

ok, thanks for the info. i guess you really do get what you pay for :-(

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Rich V.
Post Laureate

Reged: 01/02/05

Loc: Lake Tahoe area, Nevada, USA

Re: Celstron Vs Orion Binocs? new

[Re: txmnjim]
#5590957 - 12/27/12 10:41 AM

The Skymaster 15x70s have a reputation for poor collimation like no other binocualar discussed on this forum. They come up frequently because they are considered by many to be a great "bargain".

Despite their poor reputation, because there are so many bargain hunters out there, there are a number of owners who rave about them because they were either lucky or don't notice how bad they are due to lack of experience. Just be aware that there is a higher likelihood that you may have to return any of these very inexpensive binoculars once or twice before you get a "good" pair.

Buying from a vendor with a good return/refund policy is very important if you want to roll the dice and give them a try.

Rich

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BillC
on a new path

Reged: 06/04/04

Loc: Lake Stevens, WA, USA

Re: Celstron Vs Orion Binocs? new

[Re: Rich V.]
#5591123 - 12/27/12 12:36 PM

That "lack of experience" has created more than one "great" binocular . . . where none really existed.

As for "You get what you paid for," well, it is rapidly giving way to "you get what you're willing to believe." With integrity so often out the window, the novice walks through a mine field of shuck and jive.

Cheers,

BillC

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Binojunky
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/25/10

Re: Celstron Vs Orion Binocs? new

[Re: BillC]
#5591300 - 12/27/12 02:56 PM

The Skymaster depends on the model bought, the 15x70 can be picked up for as low as $50, however the 8x56 will cost three times that amount, both are from China though built to a higher spec: in the case of the 8x56.
As stated by others, you get what you pay for, a good pair of 10x50,s will give the owner far more long term satisfaction than a cheap 15x70, their are good cigars and nickel cigars but no good nickel cigars, DA.

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Tony Flanders
Postmaster

Reged: 05/18/06

Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA

Re: Celstron Vs Orion Binocs? new

[Re: Rich V.]
#5591376 - 12/27/12 03:34 PM

Quote:

The Skymaster 15x70s have a reputation for poor collimation like no other binocualar discussed on this forum. They come up frequently because they are considered by many to be a great "bargain".

Despite their poor reputation, because there are so many bargain hunters out there, there are a number of owners who rave about them because they were either lucky or don't notice how bad they are due to lack of experience.

I don't agree with that description.

When they're in collimation, these really are an incredible bargain. That has nothing to do with inexperience; it's a simple fact.

They have surprisingly good optics and excellent ergonomics. You could easily spend four times as much and do worse.

Of course, when they're not collimated, they're worse than useless.

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BillC
on a new path

Reged: 06/04/04

Loc: Lake Stevens, WA, USA

Re: Celstron Vs Orion Binocs? new

[Re: Tony Flanders]
#5591423 - 12/27/12 04:08 PM

I believe BOTH posts are right on.

You said, "When they're in collimation, these really are an incredible bargain."

You also said, "Of course, when they're not collimated, they're worse than useless."

Well, if your ball lands on the RIGHT number on the roulette wheel, you could win . . . bigtime! Yet, how many slots are there on the wheel?

And if they are collimated ONE day, will they be collimated the next, after the slightest jar?

But, they are what they are. My brass Baywatch telescope came about because the one from Celestron was having major QC issues. And, with all of Alan Hale's pull, the Chinese told him to "take it or leave it." He left it.

BillC

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Rich V.
Post Laureate

Reged: 01/02/05

Loc: Lake Tahoe area, Nevada, USA

Re: Celstron Vs Orion Binocs? new

[Re: Tony Flanders]
#5591723 - 12/27/12 07:55 PM

Quote:

Quote:

The Skymaster 15x70s have a reputation for poor collimation like no other binocualar discussed on this forum. They come up frequently because they are considered by many to be a great "bargain".

Despite their poor reputation, because there are so many bargain hunters out there, there are a number of owners who rave about them because they were either lucky or don't notice how bad they are due to lack of experience.

I don't agree with that description.

When they're in collimation, these really are an incredible bargain. That has nothing to do with inexperience; it's a simple fact.

They have surprisingly good optics and excellent ergonomics. You could easily spend four times as much and do worse.

Of course, when they're not collimated, they're worse than useless.

You're talking about the lucky buyers I referred to, Tony.

Inexperienced users might tolerate eye strain while merging images and still think their binoculars are OK.

If they're way out of collimation, the user will see double whether they're experienced or not.

What's the disagreement?

Rich

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Dwight J
sage

Reged: 05/14/09

Loc: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

Re: Celstron Vs Orion Binocs? new

[Re: Rich V.]
#5592105 - 12/28/12 02:39 AM

My first post to this forum. I own several bins from 9X63 to 25X100. I also bought the Celestron 15X70's at the same time a friend did from a different local vendor. My pair was well collimated and delivered ok views. My friend was not so lucky and got a pair that was way out and views of stars were double. I would opt for something else and pay a bit more for more consistent quality. You have to use a tripod anyway so go to 20X80's or to 9X63's for handheld. My Pentax roof prism 9X63's beat the pants off the Celestron 15x70's.

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rydberg
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 02/25/04

Loc: Richmond, KY, USA

Re: Celstron Vs Orion Binocs? new

[Re: Dwight J]
#5592494 - 12/28/12 11:17 AM

Celestron's 15x70 =

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edwincjones
Close Enough

Reged: 04/10/04

Re: Celstron Vs Orion Binocs? new

[Re: rydberg]
#5592513 - 12/28/12 11:28 AM

I remember the good old days when
I could walk into a dealers showroom
try out different optics before buying
return if problems and get results
I was happy dealer was happy

(I ordered an LX200 8" from Lymax in KC
went to pick up and owner checked-objective was fogged up,
so he took apart, cleaned, realigned, and sent home with me)

the good old days-not many showrooms left now

edj

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Jon Isaacs
Postmaster

Reged: 06/16/04

Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA

Re: Celstron Vs Orion Binocs? new

[Re: edwincjones]
#5592525 - 12/28/12 11:36 AM

My story:

I looked through a friends pair of 15x70 Skymasters and like Tony said, they were collimated and they were surprising good. A few years back I bought a pair of very similar Barskas and they were out of collimation and I returned them.

I thought long and hard about buying a pair of the Skymasters but decided I was too used to decent quality binoculars and I didn't want to have anything that I couldn't trust.

Jon

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Stacy
Star Partyer

Reged: 09/15/02

Loc: 48.0153° N, 122.0625° W

Re: Celstron Vs Orion Binocs? *DELETED* *DELETED* new

[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#5593040 - 12/28/12 05:54 PM

Post deleted by KWB

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