kray
super member
Reged: 01/25/05
Posts: 134
Loc: NC, USA
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Has anyone ever seen used 22 x 60's on the used market and if so, what price do they command for ones in good/excellent condition??
I've looked all over the web and never had a whiff of one available.
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Ken
Celestron Regal LX 8 x 42 roof
Orion Expanse 7 x 32 (14 degree)
Nikon 10 x 35 E2
Nikon 10 x 50 Action V ( Made in Japan)
Oberwerk 15 x 70
GO 25 x 100 IF Bogen 501/3046
Celestron 102 F/5 Wide View Refractor
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4430
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I do not think that they sold very many, so they are rare and maybe now a collectors item.
I should have gotten one when I could.
edj
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
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Rick
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/05
Posts: 2575
Loc: Tokyo, Japan
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I think they go for about $1000 on average. If you are interested, I can put you in touch with a friend here in Japan that may sell his.
-Rick
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www.japanastro.com
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 10163
Loc: Lancashire UK
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http://www.swoptics.co.uk/list.asp?CAT=90
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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Joe Ogiba
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/14/02
Posts: 3363
Loc: NJ USA
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$895
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Pentax PF-80ED
Meade 102ED APO
Orion EON 72
120ST
Apex 127
C6 XLT
CR150
C9.25
XT10
Zeiss 7x42 FL
Canon 10x42L IS WP
15x50 IS
12x36 IS II
Garrett Optical 28x110 HD-WP Signature Series
Oberwerk BT-80 45
Apogee RA-88-SA
Denk II Power x Switch binoviewer w/13mm Ethos, 20mm Pentax XW's, 20mm Widescan III's.
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John F
sage
Reged: 02/16/04
Posts: 308
Loc: Washington State
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I've seen them appear for sale on ASTROMART several times over the past few years. I believe the asking price has been in the $850 - $950 range. You could try a Wanted to Buy ad on ASTROMART and see if anyone replies.
John Finnan
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Leica 7x42 Ultravid
Nikon 7x50 Prostar
Swarovski 8.5x42 EL
Nikon 10x70 Astroluxe
Leica 12x50 Ultravid
Zeiss 15x60 B/GAT
Takahashi 22x60 Astronomer
NP-127 w/Bino Vue
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kray
super member
Reged: 01/25/05
Posts: 134
Loc: NC, USA
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Thanks for the information. I think they may be worth the investment because it doesn't look like anything approaching their quality to deliver non flaring pinpoint images ( with real black backgrounds in a suburban environment) are on the horizon.
Ken
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Ken
Celestron Regal LX 8 x 42 roof
Orion Expanse 7 x 32 (14 degree)
Nikon 10 x 35 E2
Nikon 10 x 50 Action V ( Made in Japan)
Oberwerk 15 x 70
GO 25 x 100 IF Bogen 501/3046
Celestron 102 F/5 Wide View Refractor
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Rick
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/05
Posts: 2575
Loc: Tokyo, Japan
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My friend has the Taks but seems to prefer his Nikon 18x70. I think you might find the Steiner 25x80 meets or exceeds the Tak on everything but the Moon, where it shows a slight bit of lateral CA. And it is a good $300 cheaper. Also, in the same price range of the Taks is the Miyauchi Saturn II which has the added benefits of multi-mag angled oculars.
This probably sound silly, but I actually think the Tak 22x60 might be worth MORE split into 2 spotting scopes than as a bino.
clear skies,
Rick
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www.japanastro.com
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Barry Kawa
member
Reged: 02/24/04
Posts: 29
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I'm Rick's friend here in Japan, I bought my Tak 22X60 binoculars new in 2001 and have hardly used them, but they are great binos, excellent eye relief and sharp edge to edge. At the Starbase Takahashi store, they used to have a pair on display outside in front of the store on a camera tripod for passers-by to try out!
I suspect $895 for a used pair is a low price, they seem to get snapped up very quickly, which means the seller probably priced them too low.
I have been bitten by the camera bug lately, so I put an ad on Astromart to trade them for a good rangefinder, but had only one decent offer. But the Taks are one binocular I know I would regret selling or trading, so for now, I'm keeping them.
Barry
Yokohama, Japan
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Vixen VMC 200
JSO 125 SC
Questar Duplex
Borg 76 ED-L
Vixen BT-80
Takahashi 22X60
Nikon 18X70 SP
Canon 15X45IS
Nikon 10X70 WF 6.5
Canon 10X30IS
Nikon 7X50 SP
Zeiss 7X42 BGAT
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Barry Kawa
member
Reged: 02/24/04
Posts: 29
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The Takahashi 22X60s are sharp to the edge, whereas my Nikon 18X70s get a little soft about 20 percent from the edge, although the wider field of view of the Nikons is much nicer. I also have to attach a Rigel Quickfinder to the Taks, which is a pain, and I have a view of Mount Fuji from my home, so I use the Nikon 18X70s and 10X70s more for terrestrial viewing with their much wider field of view, so that is a big consideration for me.
Where my Tak 22X60s really beat my Nikon 18X70s is on lunar observing and the few deep-sky objects I can see from my light-polluted backyard such as the Orion Nebula and the Double Cluster. They are also a really nice pair to just take out of their case and look at on the many cloudy nights we seem to get here, a prime consideration if you are an equipment junkie like I am.
I also chose the Vixen BT-80s over the Miyauchi Saturn II because I like being able to use my own pairs of eyepieces rather than the Miyauchi pairs. The Taks are much lighter and more portable than the BT-80s, which I have to use on a heavy-duty Carton alt-aziumuth mount to comfortably use them, especially at high power.
Barry
Yokohama, Japan
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Vixen VMC 200
JSO 125 SC
Questar Duplex
Borg 76 ED-L
Vixen BT-80
Takahashi 22X60
Nikon 18X70 SP
Canon 15X45IS
Nikon 10X70 WF 6.5
Canon 10X30IS
Nikon 7X50 SP
Zeiss 7X42 BGAT
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14703
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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Without completely sidetracking the thread...
My stepson is going to Japan later this year and will be over there on a working visa for several months. How much cheaper (if any) are the Miyauchi, Tak, and Fuji binoculars over there at the source? For example, a Miyauchi that runs around $1000 over here, might cost what over there?
If possible, I may use him as a proxy to score me a set of premium binoculars at a discount compared to American retail.
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & 35 different falls and types!
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Rick
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/05
Posts: 2575
Loc: Tokyo, Japan
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With few exceptions (Nikon SE) new binos in retail stores are not that cheap. The REAL bargains on both new and used binos are found on Yahoo Japan Auctions. A used Fuji 16x70 circa 2000 sold for 43,000 yen a few days ago. A Saturn II with 22x and 115x eyepieces is up now for 75,000 "buy it now". The 77mm Exceeds runs about 50,000 yen. The 100mm flourites tend to go for about 150,000 yen. Most items are in cherry condition.
cheers,
Rick
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www.japanastro.com
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14703
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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Rick -
What is the exchange rate? How much is a 1000 yen worth in US dollars?
Thanks....
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & 35 different falls and types!
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Rick
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/05
Posts: 2575
Loc: Tokyo, Japan
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Bookmark this, http://www.xe.net/currency/
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www.japanastro.com
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Erik D
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 2565
Loc: Central New Jersey, USA
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This link gives you FX rate of major currency in tabular form. Just look for the country flag. 115 yen= 1 USD on June 13, 06.
http://xe.com/
Erik D
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14703
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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Quote:
A Saturn II with 22x and 115x eyepieces is up now for 75,000 "buy it now". The 77mm Exceeds runs about 50,000 yen. The 100mm flourites tend to go for about 150,000 yen. Most items are in cherry condition.
WOW... 
At today's exchange rate - 75,000 yen for a Saturn II, albeit used, is something I could ALMOST swing. This gives me much more food for thought.....or should I say, obsess over?! Wow, wouldn't that be something if I ended up with a used Tak 22x60 or Nikon Astrolux for a little more than what I would pay for a Chinese import over here.......Ok, I must go obsess now.
Clear dark skies...
MikeG
PS - unfortunately, my stepson does not speak Japanese. This may present a problem if trying to broker a deal over there. But at least I have some measure of hope.
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & 35 different falls and types!
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Rick
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/12/05
Posts: 2575
Loc: Tokyo, Japan
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Here is the Saturn II, http://page13.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/r25355167
And here is a slightly overpriced 77mm Exceed on the fork pier,
http://page6.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f43574998
And like I've mentioned, I'm not married to my Fuji's either now that I have the Canon IS 
Will your stepson ever be in/near Tokyo?
cheers,
Rick
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www.japanastro.com
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 14703
Loc: Hurricane Alley
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Rick -
I'm not sure if he will be in or near Tokyo. His girlfriend has a teaching degree and she is going over there to teach English. He is tagging along for a few months, but cannot stay the duration because of some visa regulations. However, he's in a financial position to "cover me" on any astro gear purchase, so I can find something online and direct him to it to broker the deal. I bounced the idea off of him, and he is willing to do it.
So, now I have to go find the language-charset download for Internet Explorer so I can view those Japanese pages. Even if I can't read language, the pages will look more "normal" - right now, all of the places where text would be look like empty blocks.
Thanks for the pointers and I'll get back to you once I find out where he will be staying.
Clear dark skies...
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - Buy/Sell/Trade Meteorites, Moon Rocks, Mars Rocks, & 35 different falls and types!
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John F
sage
Reged: 02/16/04
Posts: 308
Loc: Washington State
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If I could only afford to own one binocular in this magnification/aperture range I think I'd pick the Nikon 18x70s over the Tak 22x60s because the the much larger true and apparent field advantage of the Nikons. However, a combination I prefer to either of those two binoculars alone is the Zeiss 15x60s and the Takahashi 22x60. Unlike having the 18x70s and 22x60s there is enough magnification difference between the 15x60s and 22x60s to warrant using both of them.
Another feature I like about the Taks is that they are relatively small and light weight for such a high magnification binocular. Their light weight also enables me to use them with the same mounts that I use with lower magnification binoculars. Also, the stereo view they offer makes them a nice alternative to a spotting scope for longer distance terrestrial viewing.
John Finnan
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Leica 7x42 Ultravid
Nikon 7x50 Prostar
Swarovski 8.5x42 EL
Nikon 10x70 Astroluxe
Leica 12x50 Ultravid
Zeiss 15x60 B/GAT
Takahashi 22x60 Astronomer
NP-127 w/Bino Vue
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Barry Kawa
member
Reged: 02/24/04
Posts: 29
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I considered the Zeiss 15X60 B/GAT and passed on them a few times here in a Tokyo telescope store, the older Canon 15X45 IS I have are razor-sharp and would duplicate magnification with the binoculars I have.
I use my Canon 15X45 IS mostly with my SkyWindow, believe it or not, with a special adapter, without the IS feature engaged. The guy who makes the SkyWindow once said he's tried about every binocular since users send them to him to make adapters for their SkyWindow.
He said the Canon IS 15X45s gave the best images he's seen, sharp edge to edge, which I believe, and a real treat using them with a SkyWindow.
With those and my Tak 22X60s I felt set, and the Nikon 18X70s with their wider field of view are great for terrestrial and astronomical viewing. From looking at the older Japanese Nikon catalogs, the company didn't list the Nikon 18X70s as astro binoculars, although it did list the 7X50 SPs, the 10X70 SPs, the various SEs and the 20X120s for that usage.
Barry
Yokohama, Japan
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Vixen VMC 200
JSO 125 SC
Questar Duplex
Borg 76 ED-L
Vixen BT-80
Takahashi 22X60
Nikon 18X70 SP
Canon 15X45IS
Nikon 10X70 WF 6.5
Canon 10X30IS
Nikon 7X50 SP
Zeiss 7X42 BGAT
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