Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums
Privacy Policy |
Please read our Terms
of Service | Signup and
Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu.... uh, User
jermng
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/29/05
Posts: 665
|
|
Hi all,
I'm just wondering, will a "Triplet" pair of binos show a considerable improvement compared to a pair or "normal" binos (what are those called anway?)?
Reason I asked is cos in one of Prof Edz's reviews, it seems the triplet showed a significantly higher star count. What other improvements will there be if I move on to a pair of triplets?
The ultimate question though, is this: Is it worth moving up to a pair of triplets if I just got my pair of 20x80Standards just 1 week ago.
Reason I'm thinking of moving up is I've been given another good offer for a brand new pair of 20x80 triplets in my local astro club and they seem to have similar coatings as the Oberwerks Broadband Multi-coatings (FMC) according to a review by another astro club member.
If you guys advice otherwise, what other stuff should I buy with the money? Books, accessories ... whatever ...
Yes, I'm on a buying streak ... I think I've gotta go for counselling.... HAHA ...
I'm giving you guys a chance to help me spend money!!! 
--------------------
Jeremy Ng
Along the Equator with -
C8 OTA
C6R OTA
TMB 80/480
Orion Skyview Pro Mount w/Intelliscope Upgrade
AstroSlew I Alt-Az mount
Minolta Activa 12x50WA
Olympus 7x35 DPS
|
KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10163
Loc: Lancashire UK
|
|
Jeremy ,
Whilst a TRIPLET cell arrangement in objective lenses ought undoubtedly to improve images , there are so many other facets contributing to what constitues a superior binocular that the presence of such , in itself , would certainly not necessarily guarantee such superiority .
To use a purely hypothetical example , even a true APO 100mm binocular with the best eyepieces ever made would be of little use if the collimation was all over the place , or the focus mechanism didn't stay put .
That said , the model reviewed by Prof.EdZ does seem to be " superior " in several ways to many other 80mm binoculars currently available .
If you get REALLY stuck with not knowing how to spend the money , you could always send it to ME :-)
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
|
Joad
Wordsmith
Reged: 03/22/05
Posts: 11923
|
|
A triplet, I believe, can provide better color correction than a doublet when ordinary crown or flint glass is used for the optics. This is what makes my Oberwerk triplet a "semi-APO," which is a real optical designation. The less CA, the better the view on certain objects. A true APO requires some sort of ED glass, and an appropriate optical design, of course. I do find the color correction to be pretty good in my triplet. Venus, Mars, and Jupiter show CA, but not the moon or Saturn, and, of course, binos are best for star sweeping views anyway.
|
jermng
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/29/05
Posts: 665
|
|
Kenny, I understand what you're saying - there really are alot of variables to this. I'm just trying hard not to buy another pair of binos .... what other accesories do Bino astronomers deem as necessary? (should I start a new thread with this question? Has it been covered before?)
Joad, does that mean if I don't need the good colour correction (since I do look at star clusters more than planets with these) using a normal doublet would produce similar star counts?
I think I'm messing up again, my question to Joad above should be more like: Other than colour correction, what other benefits would a triplet design offer compared to a normal pair of binos?
--------------------
Jeremy Ng
Along the Equator with -
C8 OTA
C6R OTA
TMB 80/480
Orion Skyview Pro Mount w/Intelliscope Upgrade
AstroSlew I Alt-Az mount
Minolta Activa 12x50WA
Olympus 7x35 DPS
|
Erik D
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 2565
Loc: Central New Jersey, USA
|
|
As Kenny said, a triplet design by itself does not always mean superior performance. Furthermore, achieving higher star count depends on your local sky condition and the object you are observing. A gain of 1/2 magnitude limiting visibility may be significant on paper but it may not make ANY noticable difference for many regions that your observe.
Also consider FOV when you contemplate switching to another pair of 80mm. 20X80 binos have MEASURED FOV ranging from 2.9 deg to 3.5+ Deg. IIRC, some triplet models have 2.9 deg FOV. A 20X80 with 3.5 deg FOV will cover 45% more sky AREA....That single factor could mean a lot more than a gain in Limiting Magnitude from Mag 9.6 to 10.1 ...
I have a pair of 25X100s with ~2.5 deg FOV, but I usually prefer observing with the wider FOV of my 20X80s from my ~mag 4.5 backyard.
Prof EdZ enjoys skies that are darker than most people livinig near urban or suburban areas...
I encourage anyone who enjoy astronomy with 40 or 50mm binoculars to invest in a pair of good quality giant binoculars. However, once you move beyond the $200-$250 USD price range and 20X80 size you approach the point of diminishing return....
Erik D
|
Joad
Wordsmith
Reged: 03/22/05
Posts: 11923
|
|
I'm no expert, but I do know that the more glass you put in the way of incoming light, the more light you lose. That's why coatings are so important and expensive. The really good coatings are on products like Zeiss and Leica and Kowa and Fujinon. I'll be happy to stand corrected on this, but if you are a star guy, your current 20X80, if it is a good unit that you like to use, should be fine.
|
KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10163
Loc: Lancashire UK
|
|
Jeremy ,
Never having knowingly looked through a binocular with a triplet objective , I am not really able to answer your question any better than I've alread tried .
EdZ is probably as well equipped as anyone to give you the answers you're looking for with regard to Triplets v Non Triplets .
As regards " any other useful accessories " , then yes , I think THAT question could make an interesting thread of it's own , which would be made easier for others to respond to if you made it clear what HAVE got at present , and what your main intentions are ( I deliberately avoided using the word OBJECTIVES there ) :-)
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
|
jermng
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/29/05
Posts: 665
|
|
Thanks guys!
I'll stick with my current Binos ... they're my favourite optical instrument purchase since I started astronomy! (Shhhh ... don't let the scopes hear me ... )
Clear Skies to all!!
--------------------
Jeremy Ng
Along the Equator with -
C8 OTA
C6R OTA
TMB 80/480
Orion Skyview Pro Mount w/Intelliscope Upgrade
AstroSlew I Alt-Az mount
Minolta Activa 12x50WA
Olympus 7x35 DPS
|
DJB
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/23/05
Posts: 1268
|
|
Hi Jermng,
I have behind me two 20x80s. One is a circa 1980s Celestron, the original one with a 3.7* FOV (Japan). The other is the OB 20x80 DII with a 3.2* FOV (China). When I speak of FOV, you know of which I speak.
A few points, quickly. Both are quite reasonable while viewing pinpoint stars on axis. The Celestron has some CA on the moon way out on the edge, as does Jupiter. Since it is raining here tonight, I had to use a street lamp for the comparisons. First off, believe me, the results are quite similar.
The OB is cleaner toward the edge with less CA, although this is very subjective. BUT, the FOV is less, so I would expect that. Brightness/contrast: the OB wins by a small margin, probably due to the better coatings. Now, which do I prefer? Both! The OB has one advantage for me, and that is the weight of the unit on one of my Bogen tripods.
This is important to me because of an industrial back injury I (acquired) back in 1994.
There are so many parameters for each of us to consider. I personally feel that you would be better served keeping the unit that you have and enjoy it to your best advantage.
Hate to ramble, but regards,
Dave.
|
EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 12599
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
|
|
Although we would normally count on a triplet to deliver a better color corrected image, just the fact it is a triplet doesn't gaurauntee that. And although some triplets are semi-apo or even apo, not all triplets are. As was mentioned above, there is much more than just the fact a model is a triplet that is necessary to deliver a good image.
edz
--------------------
Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
|
|
4 registered and 21 anonymous users are browsing this forum.
Moderator: EdZ
Print Thread
|
Forum Permissions
You cannot start new topics
You cannot reply to topics
HTML is disabled
UBBCode is enabled
|
Thread views: 409
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
[Re: 