altmangf
newbie
Reged: 09/22/09
Posts: 3
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I'd like to buy a set of binoculars to use as an aid in learning my way around the night sky, and I came up with a short list of candidates for purchase. Your help in making a wise selection would be appreciated!
I'm 33 years old, and I wear glasses to correct my astigmatism. I plan on hand holding the binoculars from a lawn chair in my suburban neighborhood. The budget for binoculars is under $200.
Here are the models I'm considering, listed by exit pupil size and magnification.
Nikon 7x35 Action Extreme
Nikon 8X40 Action Extreme
Bushnell Natureview 8x42
Nikon 10x50 Action Extreme
Leupold Green Ring 10x50
Oberwerk 10x60 Marine Series
Celestron Skymaster 8X56
Celestron Skymaster 9x63
Since I can only afford one, which should it be?
Thanks!
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charen
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/28/05
Posts: 1083
Loc: New Zealand
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Interesting selection. Whilst I have not used them all and for a quick reply I would pick the Nikon 10x50 AE. Good aperture / magnification for hand holding, 5mm exit pupil. The AE's have decent build quality and optics with a wide 65 degree Afov.
Just my thoughts
Chris
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35 binos.
80mm Cat.
WO66ED
SV NH 80mm / EQ3
Meade 8in.LX90
Skywatcher Equinox ED120 / Goto HEQ5.
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daniel_h
sage
Reged: 03/08/08
Posts: 485
Loc: VIC, Australia
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with your eyeglasses/astig i would suggest you need to check the eye relief of all binos you are interested in first..& cross off the ones with low/small levels of eye relief. i am presuming you need to leave your glasses on while viewing
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regal 10x42, 10x50ultras, 15x70 ultras, 20x80
Oly e-500, vixen 100/1000 with 0.965"/1.25",
2 old sturdy tripods for the bins (slik & velbon)
zeiss f5.6 refractor/lens (under construction)
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backwoody
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/08/07
Posts: 1114
Loc: Idaho USA
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Quote:
Interesting selection. Whilst I have not used them all and for a quick reply I would pick the Nikon 10x50 AE. Good aperture / magnification for hand holding, 5mm exit pupil. The AE's have decent build quality and optics with a wide 65 degree Afov.
Just my thoughts
Chris
I think Chris is on the mark for your budget. The Nikon AE is a very good line - and the 10x50 is a great first astro bino that'a also quite useful for terrestrial viewing.
You would have to pay a lot more money for much higher quality. good luck,
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woody
a parsec farther out...
12.5" f/4.8 custom truss dob, EQ platform
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 2157
Loc: Rocky Mt. High Colorado
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Nikon AE ATB 10x50mm
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Celestron Traveler 8x25 & B. & H. 8x40 FC JAPAN & Revue 10x50 CF Porro FC JAPAN &
Pentax 12x50 PCF WP II FMC & Pentax 16x60 PCF WP FMC &
Pentax 20x60 PCF WP II FMC & Orion 12x63 Mini Giant FMC JAPAN &
SPECTRUM I 20x65 FC JAPAN &
Orion 15x70 Little Giant II FMC JAPAN & Orion 20x70 Little Giant II FMC JAPAN
Orion 16x80 Giant FMC JAPAN & Orion 30x80 MEGAView FMC JAPAN
Barska 30x80 X-Trail LW FC & Burgess Optical Series II 20x90 FMC
Hallelujah! For the LORD God Omnipotent Reigneth
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HoundDog
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/01/04
Posts: 2196
Loc: Greenwell Springs, La.
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I own an Oberwerk 8x56 pair of binoculars and they give me very nice wide field astronomical and terrestrial views with surprising little color fringing on the edges of contrasty objects. It's performance far exceeds the $99 paid for them. If an Oberwerk 10x50 perfoms like my 8x56's then you might want to consider them. BTW, I wear eyeglasses and can use my 8x56 Obies with the eyecups either fully extended or folded half way down.
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Ernest
Discovery DHQ 8" F7 Dob
Oberwerk 8x56 Binoculars
An odd assortment of eyepieces and other stargazing stuff
Two worthless cats!
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BobinKy
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/27/07
Posts: 1683
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Welcome to the Cloudy Nights Binoculars Forum.
You might be able to squeeze in two pairs for that budget. Nikon Action 7x35 (not extreme)
Nikon Action Extreme 10x50 The 10x50--well, you are getting plenty of recommendations for these best sellers. The 7x35, however, will give you nice wide views for sweeping the night sky and learning the constellations and many star formations.
Just my thoughts.
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Bob
38°N
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Luigi
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/03/07
Posts: 4947
Loc: MA
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IMO, for learning the sky, wide TFOV is most helpful. The 7x35 AE have a wide 9.3 degree TFOV which would be very nice for finding your way around the constellations. They're also small, lightweight, and easy to hold steady. The Nikon 10x50 AE at 6.5 deg TFOV is about the largest I would recommend for starting out. It's what I use.
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17.5" f/5 Dob. IM-715 MCT. 120ED. Lunt 60mm Ha.
Zeiss, Leica, Fujinon, Nikon, Pentax, Bushnell bins
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beachchairbill
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/06/08
Posts: 508
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The Canon 15x50 IS, save and go for it.
BB
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altmangf
newbie
Reged: 09/22/09
Posts: 3
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Thanks for all the replies to my question! I'm leaning towards purchasing the Nikon 10x50 binoculars. Have any of you used the Garrett Signature 10x50 binoculars? They are a bit of a budget stretcher. Do they represent a large enough increase in quality to justify the extra $90?
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BobinKy
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/27/07
Posts: 1683
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If you are going to increase your budget--and you want to learn the night sky--I recommend you consider the Vixen Foresta center focus 7x50.
Online vendor (B&H Photo)
Moderator EdZ's impeccable review
And my own nontechnical comparison of the Vixen Foresta with the Fujinon FMT-SX 7x50
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Bob
38°N
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charen
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/28/05
Posts: 1083
Loc: New Zealand
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The Garrett S.S. series are the same as the Oberwerk Ultra, Orion Resolux and others on the International market. They are the Chinese-Kunming United series 8AB. They have high optical and build qualities. They are very robustly built. This series which includes the 15x70 and the larger 85mm and 110 mm versions usually get very good reviews and feedback on C.N.s. I have a generic pair from the factory. They are I feel superior to the Nikons 10x50 AE's esp. in the area of contrast and light transmission. The lens coatings are excellent. They are I.F. but not a concern if just for astro use.
Are they worth $90 more ? Yes I believe they are -however the main caveat being is that they are noticably heavier.
Others may disagree with the cost / effectivness aspect.
Chris
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35 binos.
80mm Cat.
WO66ED
SV NH 80mm / EQ3
Meade 8in.LX90
Skywatcher Equinox ED120 / Goto HEQ5.
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 14732
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Considering some of the choices in your original post, and in keeping with budget considerations, you might also look at
Bushnell Legend 10x50 porro
Garrett Classic 10x50
Bushnell Legend 8x40 porro
Oberwerk Mariner 7x50
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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