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20x50/45 - $30 find binos.

Started by chris charen , Jan 16 2013 03:07 AM

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19 replies to this topic

#1 chris charen

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Posted 16 January 2013 - 03:07 AM

What are 20x50's good for ? When they are 20x50/45's and optically very good, 20x50's are good for lot's of things.
I found this in a local junk shop for the equivalent of US$30. One of those 'Oh Wow' moments.
These are approx. 20 year old Japanese made 'Emsom' binoculars.
The optics are in mint condition the body is in good condition.
Water proof and with a 3 degree FOV. They are I.F. with a 20 mm ER and soft rubber eye cups.
They weigh a light 840 grams /29 oz. The lens are a green / magenta hue.
They are perfectly collimated. Clear aperture is a full 50 mm via the flash light test.
How do they perform ? very well. The image is primarily flat and sharp to edge, stars are almost pinpoint and yes for 20x50's the image is actually fairly bright.
The make just lovely 'grap and go' binos. Orion’s nebula show up nicely and Jupiter shows a nice round orb with a hint of a band visible. CA is visible but not distracting. They are just so great to use as a day time spotting bino scope and as quick look night scope. Plus they look cute. [My wifes comments].
Yes they are keepers.

Chris

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#2 chris charen

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Posted 16 January 2013 - 03:13 AM

and

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#3 Mark9473

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Posted 16 January 2013 - 03:30 AM

That's quite a find, Chris. They look very nice. What's that square thing underneath the barrels?

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#4 chris charen

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Posted 16 January 2013 - 04:18 AM

It is for the IDP adjustment mechanism. Underneath is just a normal 1/4 - 20 tripod mount. It works on any light tripod. I had them out again tonight. Just lift them out with one hand. The moon shows nice details. The 45 degree EP's do make it so easy to use.
In our drive to get bigger optics it's strange how one small 20x50mm bino can be so useable and rewarding.

Chris

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#5 chris charen

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Posted 16 January 2013 - 04:32 AM

Mini Me

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#6 StarStuff1

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Posted 16 January 2013 - 04:33 AM

Wow! Nice find for such a great price. I have never seen this model before but from your description it sure seems like a well built and nice performing instrument.

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#7 norton67

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Posted 16 January 2013 - 06:49 AM

Great find there. Sounds like I need to start shopping around at the local thrift stores and pawn shops and see what I come across.

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#8 Andresin150

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Posted 16 January 2013 - 08:39 AM

very interesting, congratulations on a great find!

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#9 mercedes_sl1970

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Posted 16 January 2013 - 03:28 PM

What a great find. They sound like good fun to use.

Andrew

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#10 hallelujah

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Posted 16 January 2013 - 03:58 PM

In our drive to get bigger optics it's strange how one small 20x50mm bino can be so useable and rewarding.

Chris

Chris,

The front objectives look BIGGER than 50mm in your photo.

Have you measured them?

Stan

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#11 Mark9473

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Posted 16 January 2013 - 05:22 PM

My guess is, per the first image, that the objective diameters are 15mm less than Chris' IPD.

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#12 KennyJ

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Posted 16 January 2013 - 05:37 PM

I like the look of those,Chris.

It must be a camera induced optical illusion,but the inclination of those oculars appears closer to 60 degrees than 45 !

Kenny

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#13 daniel_h

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Posted 16 January 2013 - 06:31 PM

"It is for the IDP adjustment mechanism." -i wondered how you adjusted the ipd -sounds like you found a jewel among the thorns, fairly unusual

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#14 chris charen

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Posted 16 January 2013 - 11:55 PM

Lens is 50 mm and clear aperture is 50 mm. [They look bigger due to the photo angle].
It is marked '20x50 waterproof - Made in Japan'. The IDP mechanism is smooth and it keeps perfect collimation when adjusting. There is no prism cut off. There is a white reflection on one of the prisms so it would appear to be 'Multi Coated' however light transmission is very good and the lens coatings are of a high quality. These are approx, 20 years old and obviously not made any more. I am sure they would be market for ones like this in the 50 mm - 60 mm aperture range with the 45 degree eyepieces.
I have used these more in the last week then my 100mm / 45 BT's as they are just so portable and easy and fun to use.

Chris

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#15 hallelujah

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Posted 17 January 2013 - 12:08 AM

Chris,

Would you mind doing a close up photo of the lettering on the side of the barrels, so I can read what it says?

Thanks,

Stan

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#16 chris charen

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Posted 17 January 2013 - 12:43 AM

Hi

Photo below.

I tried to research 'Emson' but came up with little. They appeared to have produced small opera type glases. Not to be confused with 'Emerson'.

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#17 GlennLeDrew

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Posted 17 January 2013 - 03:13 AM

Perhaps a decade ago I had a chance to look through a bino *very* like this one, but, if memory serves, it could have been a 15X45. It was awful! Seems you found a very much better (and more powerful) variant.