Telescope Reviews: Garrett Optical 10x50 Genesis & 20x80 Gemini

I have tested a few models for Garrett Optical and provided feedback as to the quality of various of the models I tested. While some here have expressed concern that no one has yet provided any information about these binoculars, since the beginning it would have provided no service to the community to report on samples, as it is only the final selection of models that eventually reach the market. That is what is now being announced. I am not surprised at all that no information was made available until now.

I have two of the currently advertised models of Garrett binoculars in my hands, the 10x50 Genesis and the 20x80 Gemini. I can say this, both models are FMC and are pretty decent binoculars.

The 10x50 Genesis

This seems like a decent waterproof moderate priced 10x50 binocular.

This 10x50 has nice coatings. Coatings are on a par with the Pentax PCF WP 10x50 and the Oberwerk Mariner 10x60. Coatings are much less reflective than the Nikon Action Extreme 10x50.

The 10x50 genesis weighs 2#2oz.

Eye relief appears to measure about 14-15mm. For me it's fine with the cups folded down with my glasses on. With the cups fully extended and without glasses, depth to the lens is 16mm and I needed to push the eyecups tight to my socket to see the entire fov. When the eyecups are folded down completely, the lens recess is 3.2mm.

The fov is advertised as 114m at 1000m (6.5°). It measures 6.4° preliminary, this needs further confirmation.

[edit 10-27-05] Confirmed that the maximum extent of the true field of view in the 10x50 is just a hair more than 6.1°. Confirmed the field of view is almost identical between the Genesis and the Nikon AE 10x50. Just a hair wider in the Genesis. My notes and previous review of the Nikon AE 10x50 list "Both the Orion Ultraview 10x50 and the Nikon AE 10x50 measured almost exactly the same field of view, just a hair less than 6.1°."

The objective lens has an aperture stop just behind the lens that reduces the usable aperture to (as close as I can measure) an effective 46mm. Since this aperture stop seems to raise some concern, I took more measures today on the exit pupil. In 5 measures I got a high of 4.8mm and a low of 4.6mm and I got an average of 4.7mm. It would be conservative to say this aperture stop is reducing the binocular to an effective 46mm. It may be 47-48mm. I'm using a dial caliper with divisions to 0.02mm and it's still difficult to measure.

This issue caused me to take a much closer look at some other binoculars. I found that the Oberwerk Mariner 10x60 also has an aperture stop ring behind the objective lens. Several measurements seems to indicate the Oberwerk Mariner 10x60 is operating at an effective aperture of about 56mm.

The right diopter sounds like a click stop, but it is not a positive stop at each click position so it is more or less a twist diopter adjustment. After more use I find this is just stickiness of lubricant that I heard crackling.

[edit 10-27-05] confirmed it is not click-stop diopter. The 10x50 Genesis is center focus with right diopter twist adjustment. the right diopter moves smoothly, no more sticky lubricant sound.

No adjustments were loose. No hinges stick. Nothing wobbles excessively.

I did some sharpness tests today on the 10x50. I compared to other binoculars on the same target. Generally I found that resolution in the range 50%-70% out from center is not quite as good as Nikon AE 10x50, but only by maybe 5% less.

The same target that is lost from view at 60-70% out from center in The Garrett Genesis 10x50 can still be seen clearly resolved at the extreme edge of the field stop in both the Oberwerk 10x60 Mariner and the Pentax PCF WP 10x50. Both of these have a 5° fov.

The 10x50 has an IPD range of 59.8 to 73.5mm.

There are no externally accessable prism adjustment screws on the Genesis. You can't just push back the rubber coating to get at screws.

The 20x80 Gemini Giant

The Genesis and the Gemini Giant are two very different binoculars. The 20x80 Gemini has the exact same prism housing as the very robust Oberwerk Mariner line. The Oberwerk Mariner 10x60, the Oberwerk 25x100 IF and the Garrett Gemini 20x80 have the exact same prism housing construction. Remove the barrels and cover the nameplate and you would not be able to tell one from the other. The Genesis 10x50 is completely different.

You can get at the back prism screws under the rubber coating on the Gemini Giant 20x80.

The 20x80 Gemini is individual focus eyepieces. Mine are a little sticky. Could it be the lubricant needs to be loosened up and spread around?

The coatings of the Gemini 20x80 are on a par with the coatings on the Oberwerk 25x100 IF.

Usable eye relief with the eyecups folded down is 13.5mm. I could see the filed stop all the way around with my glasses on. Depth to the eye lens with cups down is 4.2mm. With the cups fully extended, and without my glasses, I needed to scrunch in tight to see the entire filed of view.

IPD measures 61mm to 71mm.

Weight is about 7.5#.

The 20x80, by outward appearances is a duplicate of the Oberwerk 20x80 IF. However the Oberwerk is advertised as 3.2° fov. I have not tested the Oberwerk 20x80. The Gemini is advertised as 55m at 1000m (3.15°). I measured the field of view accurately at 2.9° Tfov. The prism housing and prism shelf are identical to the Oberwerk.

edz