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engchris
super member

Reged: 05/17/12

Loc: Florida

Best sub $50 astronomy binos??? new

new

#5357628 - 08/08/12 07:52 AM

Hi all. I want to pick up some binos for quick sky scanning to help me locate objects with my telescopes. I really don't want to spend much (<$50) and don't need some super bulky pair that requires a tripod. I already own two telescopes so magnification isn't really what I'm going for. I would like to be able to locate Messier objects if possible. Would something in the 10x50 range accomplish this? I see Celestron and Bushnell have binos in the range and at less than $50 but don't really know much about them. Thanks in advance for any advice or recommendations!

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Joe Ogiba
Postmaster

Reged: 02/14/02

Loc: NJ USA

Re: Best sub $50 astronomy binos??? new

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[Re: engchris]
#5357649 - 08/08/12 08:31 AM

That is like saying what is the best new car for $5k, you get what you pay for.

Quote:

Only the best features and quality components are used in this model, making it the perfect optic for any outing or event.

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Binojunky
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 12/25/10

Re: Best sub $50 astronomy binos??? new

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[Re: Joe Ogiba]
#5357735 - 08/08/12 09:44 AM

Do yourself a favour, buy once and buy smart, $50 =junk binos, simple as that.However if you are prepared to double that then their are some that are very usable, if you are prepared to go even higher, say $150-250 then you can pick up a pair that if looked after will last for many many years,DA.

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Zdee
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 09/20/10

Loc: North Carolina, USA

Re: Best sub $50 astronomy binos??? new

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[Re: Binojunky]
#5357756 - 08/08/12 10:01 AM

I would tend to agree with Binojunky, but if you're on a budget take a look at these: Nikon 7x35 Action VII Binocular.

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Tony Flanders
Postmaster

Reged: 05/18/06

Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA

Re: Best sub $50 astronomy binos??? [Re: Binojunky]
#5357767 - 08/08/12 10:06 AM

Quote:

Do yourself a favour, buy once and buy smart, $50 =junk binos, simple as that.

Not necessarily. I have seen some quite respectable binos on sale for $50 or less. But you have to get lucky.

I agree that if you raise the limit to $100 or $150, your chances of getting a good pair on the first try improve dramatically.

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engchris
super member

Reged: 05/17/12

Loc: Florida

Re: Best sub $50 astronomy binos??? new

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[Re: Tony Flanders]
#5358025 - 08/08/12 01:12 PM

Ok. I see. I am on a budget but I suppose I could squeeze out another $50 and raise my limit to $100. I'm not really looking to do any serious observing with them. Mostly just locating objects and hopefully some decent wide field views. Are there decent binos at the $100 price point that would accomplish this? Thanks again for the advice!

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StarStuff1
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 04/01/07

Loc: South of the Mason-Dixon Line

Re: Best sub $50 astronomy binos??? new

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[Re: engchris]
#5358060 - 08/08/12 01:37 PM Attachment (20 downloads)

If you are knowledgeable enough to check out/inspect binoculars you can find some used models that will fit your needs. Over the years I have found several such "gems" at flea markets, garage sales, Craigs List, etc. Several were $15 or less! At a pawn shop in the Florida keys I found a Made in Japan Meibo 7x50. The case was rough and the bino had to be cleaned up and I had to add a strap. But the instrument was fully functional and collimated.

Oh, and the cost was $12.50.

Edited by StarStuff1 (08/08/12 01:39 PM)

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DarkDisplay
super member

Reged: 12/21/10

Loc: Texas

Re: Best sub $50 astronomy binos??? new

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[Re: engchris]
#5358097 - 08/08/12 01:57 PM

Garrett Optical provides excellent binoculars for astronomy. Some are within your price range.

Best wishes,
Frank

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tim-w
journeyman

Reged: 07/16/12

Re: Best sub $50 astronomy binos??? new

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[Re: DarkDisplay]
#5358116 - 08/08/12 02:06 PM

Would 60s or 70s Japanese binoculars in 7x35 or 7x50 be suitable? I've bought some on ebay that are very good (in my very inexperienced judgement) for way less than 50. Unfortunately I've also got some not so good along with some great bargains, which would defeat the purpose.
tim

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Jon Isaacs
Postmaster

Reged: 06/16/04

Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA

Re: Best sub $50 astronomy binos??? new

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[Re: engchris]
#5358160 - 08/08/12 02:25 PM

Quote:

Ok. I see. I am on a budget but I suppose I could squeeze out another $50 and raise my limit to $100. I'm not really looking to do any serious observing with them. Mostly just locating objects and hopefully some decent wide field views. Are there decent binos at the $100 price point that would accomplish this? Thanks again for the advice!

I think you will find mixed thoughts on this. This is the binocular forum and the members mostly have a good selection of binoculars and spend a good deal of their time observing with binoculars.

And yet, there is no consensus regarding the $75, 15x50 Celestron Starmasters. Some people are quite vocal in their dislike and yet others like Glenn Ledrew who has a vast amount of experience with all types of optics, find them reasonable and worthy of consideration.

I am with Tony on this, if you have $50, there are binoculars that are useful for casual use, finding your way around the night sky, enjoying a 15 minute break from the main scope.

By standards for this forum, I have a modest collection of binoculars, Minolta 8x20's, Nikon Sporter 8x36's, Meade Montana 7x42's, Eagle Optics PR 10x42's, Celestron Regal 10x50s and a pair of older Japanese 11x80's. The ones I use alongside my scope most often are the Meade 7x42s... they provide a nice 8 degree TFoV, they are roof prisms which I like and they are pretty good binos. They were not $50 but I think a set of 7x35s' could be had for $50 that would do the job...

Craigslist is sketchy for binoculars, good ones are rare and one has to be careful. A while back I bought a pair of Brunton 8x25 roofs, nicely made binos. I took a quick look, too quick. When I got them home, I realized that only one side would focus....

Fortunately I have a friend who is blind in his right eye, he thinks they're great.

That's my two cents.

Jon

Edited by Jon Isaacs (08/08/12 02:26 PM)

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Steve F
sage

Reged: 07/31/11

Loc: SE TX

Re: Best sub $50 astronomy binos??? new

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[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#5358315 - 08/08/12 03:50 PM

Spend what you can afford and don't let yourself feel guilty about it or get talked into spending more than you feel you can. Buy from a place with a good return policy. In your price range if the set you get is otherwise satisfactory you may need to make a minor adjustment to the collimation. There is a lot of information here and other places on the internet about how do make minor adjustments.

As a young teacher with 3 kids I scrimped and saved to get a pair of Wal-Mart Bushnell 7X50s. In those pre-internet days I had to learn how to adjust the collimation all on my own. I have since gotten over 25 years of enjoyment from them. I did not learn how bad they were until last year!

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hallelujah
Post Laureate

Reged: 07/14/06

Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains

Re: Best sub $50 astronomy binos??? new

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[Re: engchris]
#5358360 - 08/08/12 04:08 PM

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=Nikon+10x50+binoculars&_sacat=0

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Jim Rosenstock
Postmaster

Reged: 07/14/05

Loc: MD, south of the DC Nebula

Re: Best sub $50 astronomy binos??? new

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[Re: engchris]
#5358428 - 08/08/12 04:54 PM

Quote:

I'm not really looking to do any serious observing with them.

You might surprise yourself. IMO, binos are critical to serious observing! I never take a telescope out without bringing along binos, but often take out binos without my scope!

No need to break the bank or become an optics snob, though. Spend what you're comfortable with; 10X50 is the "standard" hand-held astronomy bino, and Garrett and Oberwerk are known astronomer-friendly retailers. (If you manage to get lucky for $10 at a yard sale, so much the better....)

But, the sooner you have a functional pair of binos, the sooner your observing will improve! Go for it!

Jim

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richsvt
sage

Reged: 01/09/09

Loc: North Shore of Boston

Re: Best sub $50 astronomy binos??? new

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[Re: engchris]
#5358478 - 08/08/12 05:28 PM

I don't want to sound like the snob, but don't buy a $50 bino. Save if you have to, but spend the money for quality. Some may say that getting a used pair at flea market was great for them or some such story. How long did it take to come across that great pair? How many ones did they get that were garbage?
If you are not really familiar with bino astronomy or the specifics with binoculars, that's ok. It takes time to learn. But don't buy something 'cheap' and rush into it. Getting a poor instrument and being disappointed is bad. What I don't like to hear is that someone purchased junk and it turned them off to the whole hobby, that 's a shame. Quality will almost always be more rewarding and the views you'll get will be memorable.
Ok, I've ranted some and probably given more than my due. You can go the cheap route, we all have at some time, just set your expectations accordingly.

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StarStuff1
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 04/01/07

Loc: South of the Mason-Dixon Line

Re: Best sub $50 astronomy binos??? new

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[Re: richsvt]
#5358607 - 08/08/12 06:47 PM

My wife and I used to go regularly to a local flea market mostly for buying fresh produce. After the grandson turned two we would take him so he could see the animals and toys and whatever. I was not specifically looking for binoculars but when I came across one I would examine it critically. If it was over priced or banged up and out of collimation I would thank the vendor and quickly move on.

I did find a couple of nice wide angle 7x35s: a 15-20 year old Tasco that was in mint shape and another one (I forget the brand name) with a superwide fov and very solid construction. it was covered in dust and grime but cleaned up nicely. They were each $15.

The point I was not so subtly making was that if one is into astronomy and has scopes it might be worthwhile to spend some time learning about binoculars, too. Then if a potential candidate shows up it is not very difficult to discern if it is a good buy or not. There is sooo much info on just this forum alone it is amazing

I have never bought a "junk" binocular but my next door neighbor did. He got one of those "Vivatar" 7x50s that were on sale at Walgreeen's for $10. He soon knocked on my door to see if I could tell him what was wrong with them as he couldn't see ANYTHING clearly.

There are more than 20 binoculars in my collection, most of them acquired used.

To each his own.

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Joad
Wordsmith

Reged: 03/22/05

Re: Best sub $50 astronomy binos??? new

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[Re: StarStuff1]
#5358620 - 08/08/12 06:55 PM

"Would something in the 10x50 range accomplish this?"

Yes. Since your concern is quick location with your binoculars rather than careful observation, a 10X50 is good. Just enough power and aperture to pull in that faint fuzzy. (Yes, I know that my 8X42 pulls in faint fuzzies too, but 10X50 is better for that purpose). 60mm would be better, but could prove to be more expensive. It would be pretty easy to find an inexpensive 10X50, but collimation could be a problem. Still, perfect collimation isn't what you're looking for if all you want is to flag down DSOs.

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mdowns
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 06/12/10

Loc: Englewood,FL

Re: Best sub $50 astronomy binos??? new

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[Re: StarStuff1]
#5358630 - 08/08/12 07:02 PM

Like StarStuff1, I have often gone into flea markets and found binoculars. Pawn shops too often have a large number. If you go into one and see a pair you like ask how long they have been in the store.More than a few weeks is good and usually means you can offer less.I once bought a very nice pair of National Instruments M15s (US made WW11 glasses) with orginal case for 30 bucks.A Fuji Melbo 7x50 in great shape for 30 bucks at another and a perfect Pentex 12x42 dcf for 40.I once got a pair of like new Swift 7x35 Tritons with case at a flea market for 10 bucks. However these examples are in fact few and far in between.Lots of junk with ocassional sprinklings of treasure.These avenues will yield decent glasses in your price range but could take some real time and effort before you hit pay dirt.

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WarmWeatherGuy
professor emeritus

Reged: 08/27/11

Loc: Orlando, FL 28° N, 81° W

Re: Best sub $50 astronomy binos??? [Re: engchris]
#5358674 - 08/08/12 07:32 PM

Celestron has some 10x50 wide angle (7°) binoculars for $40 at Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-UpClose-10x50-Binocular-71137/dp/B0000CAOGV

If you're lucky you will get a pair that will allow both eyes to point in the same direction. I use them to aim my telescope when using a green laser pen (mounted to the scope) in my driveway where I can't see any stars because of all the street lights.

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engchris
super member

Reged: 05/17/12

Loc: Florida

Re: Best sub $50 astronomy binos??? [Re: WarmWeatherGuy]
#5358874 - 08/08/12 09:51 PM

Wow! What great responses! Thanks very much for all the info. I definitely understand the concept of paying for what you get with the occasional cheapy hit. I think I'll just camp out here on the forums a bit more and try to learn more about binos and save up some more money before rushing into it. I definitely don't want to buy something and be dissappointed. I hate when that happens and have done it entirely too much. I'm in no huge rush so I'll try to educate myself some more first. Thanks again everyone! I guess I didn't realize how varied in quality binoculars really were. Learn new things all the time....

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BillC
on a new path

Reged: 06/04/04

Loc: Lake Stevens, WA, USA

Re: Best sub $50 astronomy binos??? [Re: engchris]
#5358911 - 08/08/12 10:31 PM Attachment (28 downloads)

Why spend so bloody much when, for $39.95, you can have a 120x120 with "Super Natural Lenses." AND, not only does it have 120 power . . . but an 11 degree field of view as well! Not only that, but it's "prismatic" with the warranty stamped plainly on the backplate! And finally, it comes in a size that easy to hand hold!!!

Just a thought.

BillC

PS I know there will be some who say,"That bino is an Olympia, and nothing but kwrap ever comes out of Olympia. But you have to understand. I live in Washington State . . . so I'm used to it.

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