Telescope Reviews: Re: Why are higher mag binos not popular?

My personal opinion - which may or may be representative of other bino viewer's decisions when considering the purchase of such an instrument: My initial reaction is that 30x is too much for an 80mm bino. Not only would I be concerned with dim views (exit pupil), the FOV would be too small. To me these factors work against the resaons why I like using binos in the first place (a wide view with adequately bright images). Also, 30x in an short-FL 80mm achromat is not going to cut it as far as clean, detailed views of astronomical objects is concerned; that's what a telescope is for. Again, this is my personal opinion/reaction to these 30x80s; I've never looked through a pair so I can't say for sure that it's an accurate opinion. Still, this isn't what I want in a bino. I'd have to go to a 100mm- or larger pair w/interchangeable EPs to justify using such an instrument (higher mag, narrow FOV) instead of a telescope. I owned a pair of 25x100s for a short time in late 2006. I actually found them less than satisfying visually and use-wise; meaning that for as big as they were the views weren't all that rewarding, especially considering their size/weight/bulk and the need for a stout tripod. Again, I felt that this size/magnification/FOV was approaching what I call telescope territory. In these ways everything about them was a compromise re my reasons why I enjoy binocular viewing. I may be in the minority here, but this is how I see it.

I returned these binos (though the main reason was defective optics) and swapped for a pair of Vixen ARK 11x80s (based largely on my memories of the overall performance of my late-'70s pair of University Optics 11x80s). The Vixens were quite a delight; half the weight of the 25x100s, larger FOV, and considerably brighter images. Yet after a while I started desiring more magnification as I aleady owned a beautiful pair of 10x50s (Celestron Nova). So I swapped the 11x80s for a pair of Vixen 16x80s. These are even more enjoyable to use than the 11s, yet they're a bit of a compromise. I stated wondering if I shouldn't have opted for 20x80s instead, and soon realized that in the end it wouldn't make that much difference, and I'd then be even further away from my primary reasons for using binoculars in the first place. Although the Vixens are wonderful and perform great, they're still a bit closer to that "no man's land" (a/k/a "dead zone") between convenient, hand-held, wide-angle, low-power viewing (wich are the things I love binos for) and a telescope. They leave me with a case of aperture fever in that they whet my appetite for more magnification. IMO this can only be truly satisfied with a telescope as binos aren't really meant/designed for such performance. Thus I find myself grabbing my Celestron 10x50s as often or more than I do the Vixens since the Celestrons more satisfyingly conform to my ideas of bino use/viewing; plus they're truly grab-&-go as they're relatively small and light and do not require a tripod.

Sorry for the long ramble; but as a bino user these are the reasons why I'd never consider a 30x80 pair. And as someone else here mentioned, price would also be a factor. Considering my priorities there's no way I could justify it. To illustrate this point, I've found myself occasionally drooling over those big Oberwerks - what are they, 25x120s? Yet for the total cost with the mount and an adequate tripod I could almost buy a Celestron CPC 1100 - which is the route I'd go since the big Obies are, IMO, in "telescope territory".

I'm sure that there are others who will disagree with me on all this, which is fine since there are many individual opinions/preferences regarding this topic. Still, I'm thinking that these may well be at least some of the reasons why binos like the 30x80 are not that popular.

Mike Rapchak Jr.

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