29 replies to this topic

[moynihan]

http://vixenamerica....roof Binoculars

[Rich N]

New to me, thanks.

It would be nice if Orion and other stores would carry Vixen products so we could try before we buy.

Rich

[EdZ]

They list Adorama as one of their distributors.

edz

[Rich N]

That's great if you are in New York. :-)

I'm 3000 miles from Adorama and almost walking distance from
Orion.

Rich

[btschumy]

We discussed these briefly a month or two ago. I, for one, am very interested in them. I think it is likely I will order a pair (probably the 20x80) in the next month to see what they are like. I haven't found any reviews of them on the web.

[Rich N]

Come on Bill. Order one each. It would make a much more interesting report. :-)

Rich

[Joe Ogiba]

See here .

[Rich N]

Great. You know how far California is from Washington state?

I want to touch and look through these Vixens before I buy.

Thank you,
Rich

:-)

[moynihan]

Anybody seem any eye relief figures on these? specially the 20x80 ones?

[Rich N]

You could call "Uncle Al" at Tele Vue. Aren't they the official importer of Vixen products?

Rich

[EdZ]

You can click on the link provided by Jay. On the Vixen webpage click on more dealers. There are 30-40 dealers listed, some in CA Rich. Televue is not among the dealers listed. Astronomics, our web host, is listed.

edz

[Rich N]

Thanks, I'll check out the site.

I thought a couple of years ago TV became the US importer of Vixen, or something like that.

Rich

[HfxObserver]

According to Optics Planet web site the 12X and 30X models have 18mm eye relief while the 16X and 20X have 20mm eye relief.

The 16X80 appeals most to me, with a 4.3 degree TFOV it would be one of the widest field 80mm mid power binos out there, I think the Orion and Generic 16X and 15X 80mm's only have around 3.5 TFOV.

This past April I had to get in touch with the Vixen North American importer to obtain my Vixen 7X50's.

-Chris

[EdZ]

the 16x80 is listed as 3.5° Tfov with a 52.5° Afov which is actually a 3.25° Tfov. That's about the same as Orion's old 16x80 Giant which was 3.3°, which I think was a Vixen and which was discontinued about 3 years ago. That particular model had poor edge sharpness beyond 60%.

the 20x80 is listed as a 3.3° Tfov, 66° Afov.

the 12x80 lists a 4.5° Tfov, Afov = 54°

edz

[btschumy]

the 16x80 is listed as 3.5° Tfov with a 52.5° Afov which is actually a 3.25° Tfov.

Where are you seeing this? On the Vixen page it says 4.3 degrees.

[EdZ]

in the detailed specs listed on the website referred to above, Optics Planet, which BTW, make more sense to me and fit in line with everything else I see on the market.

edz

[btschumy]

Hard to know who to believe. Optics Plant has the 16x80 listed as having a magnification of 20 so we know off the bat their proofing isn't too good.

I'll try contacting Vixen directly to see what they say.

[Erik D]

the 16x80 is listed as 3.5° Tfov with a 52.5° Afov which is actually a 3.25° Tfov. That's about the same as Orion's old 16x80 Giant which was 3.3°, which I think was a Vixen and which was discontinued about 3 years ago. That particular model had poor edge sharpness beyond 60%.

the 20x80 is listed as a 3.3° Tfov, 66° Afov..........
edz

I have the Orion 20X80( Japanese, 2001)last sold for $399. It's marked as having 3.5 deg FOV. Edge sharpness on mine is also poor beyond 60%. Just about unuseable by 70% from center. The bino feel very solid with a metal brace connecting the objectives. Optics are just average.

Paying higher price for "made in Japan" binocular does not guarantee better quality optics for your $$$.

Erik D

[Mark9473]

the 16x80 is listed as 3.5° Tfov with a 52.5° Afov which is actually a 3.25° Tfov.

Ed, you're looking at the wrong specs. The current "Giant" model has 52,5° AFOV. The new "ARK" model lists 68.8° AFOV for the 16x80, or a 4.3° TFOV.
See this page from Vixen Europe comparing the two series - it's in German but the table at the bottom of the page should be clear enough:
http://www.vixen-eur...fernglaeser.htm

[EdZ]

the specifications I quoted from the Optics Planet website for the 16x80 are for the model 1456, the ARK model as listed on Vixens website.

There are discrepencies in the specs.

edz

[btschumy]

Mark,

I'm glad you found the german site and posted it. It does clear up the discrepencies. BTW: here is the page run through the Google translator. It does a pretty good job of it.

The Vixen Europe site also seems to make it clear that the optics are multi-coated (MC) not fully multi-coated (FMC). I wonder why they left some surfaces uncoated on a relatively expensive instrument? I wonder if it really makes a significant difference?

[KennyJ]

Given that a little line at the bottom of the web -site is written the date 2004 , I suspect the answer to the original thread question is NO -- these are NOT NEW :-)

If that stated TFOV of 4.3 degrees IS a mistake , it is not just a TYPO -- the TFOV expressed in metres at 1000m is 75m , which is also 4.3 degrees.

Kenny

[Mark9473]

Mark, I'm glad you found the german site and posted it.

You're very welcome, Bill. Let me know if you need any help in translating specific words.

[HfxObserver]

Since I purchased my 7X50 Vixen Geoma's the new big binos came out and there has been differing specs on all sites! Some list the 12X as having only 4.1 degrees TFOV while others list it as 4.5 and various other inconsistencies. (yes I know all about the TFOV AFOV and xxM at 1km pitfalls that's just an example)

I will say that it doesn't surprise me that they are actually MC vs FMC since my 7x50's, though very nice, appear to be only MC, one surface remains uncoated. After checking with other RASC members in my RASC Halifax center we all agreed that the optics in our Vixens, whether they be binos or scopes, were very good but the common thread was that of an uncoated surface.

-Chris