280 replies to this topic

[Mr. Bill]

Just received from China....

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[Mr. Bill]

First, these have diopter adjustment on right barrel as well as center focus.

 

Build quality remarkable at the price point...coatings very good and well applied.

 

AFOV appears to be somewhere between my Naglers and Ethos eps.....you have to roll your eye around to directly view the fieldstop. If you like Ethos views, you'll enjoy these.

 

Adjustable eye cups and plenty of eye relief for those without glasses.

 

These focus quite sharply and have minimum focus of about 10 feet.

 

Depth of field remarkable creating a very apparent 3D effect.

 

Scanning town lights below at night showed no ghosting in spite of false pupils as seen in image.

 

Have to wait for a clear moonless night to evaluate astronomy potential.

Edited by Mr. Bill, 24 November 2015 - 06:11 PM.

[Mark9473]

Any way of estimating the accuracy of the FOV spec, Mr. Bill?

[Mr. Bill]

Mark

 

Its WIDE, I believe in the stated 15.8 degree fov....will measure with star separations.

 

[stevecoe]

Bill;

 

Who sells them?

 

Steve Coe

[Mr. Bill]

Bill;

 

Who sells them?

 

Steve Coe

 

http://www.ebay.com/...WQAAOxyVaBSqDbs

[Mr. Bill]

These are clearly much better than the Bushnell Xwide with fixed focus......

 

sent those back to B&H as my eyes could not achieve a good infinity focus.

 

[rogan]

Recently a used Visionking 90mm F/5.6 refractor with a bunch of extras came up buy it now on eBay.  I caught it just after it was listed. I knew virtually nothing about the brand but it appeared to be a deal too good to pass. I very quickly researched the brand and pulled the trigger. While there is little info on the brand everything that I learned and have since learned points to outstanding value, excellent optics, solid build, and features more in line with a much higher pricepoint. I have also heard of excellent customer service when a scope shipped from China was damaged in customs. Visionking immediately shipped another scope via global express mail. Negative comments about their products seems to come from those who have no actual experience. While most of my research turned up results regarding scopes the info on binocs seemed to be the same. I don't currently have actual experience with the brand as my scope sits in the post office until I return from a trip. 

[Mad Matt]

Thanks Bill,

 

these do look interesting. Is the front 32mm element only an optical window or does it have curved surfaces. 

[range88]

Thanks Bill,

 

these do look interesting. Is the front 32mm element only an optical window or does it have curved surfaces. 

 

Only protection glass.

[Sarkikos]

I received my VisionKing 5x25's yesterday.  Much quicker shipping than the estimated arrival date of Dec. 11 - 30th, IIRC.  Apparently the vendor believes in under-promising, a good idea in business.

 

The form, optical quality and overall appearance of these binos remind me of my Brunton Lite-Tech 8x42's.  I wouldn't be surprised if they were made by the same manufacturer.

 

I agree with Mr. Bill's comments.  I took them out last night for a quick look around the sky.  Not much to look at with a Full Moon.  I had no problem keeping my eyeglasses on when viewing through them.  They appear well collimated.  The Moon looked sharp.  I wanted to see if I could split Albireo with them.  But I hadn't brought out my camping stool.  Sitting steadies the image.  Even when viewing through binos, standing is not a good idea.

 

I wasn't out there long when the wife called me in to dinner.  That was the end of my observing for the night.  I'll be able to give them a better field test when the Moon - and my family - allow it.

 

Mike

Edited by Sarkikos, 25 November 2015 - 10:59 AM.

[Mr. Bill]

There is a 1/4-20 center post mount.....

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[Sarkikos]

At 5x and such small binos, all I need is a good seat to stabilize the view.  It's a nice touch that they can be mounted on a tripod, but I don't think I'll ever do that.

 

Of course, if binos don't have built-in stabilization, the best way to steady the view is to use a tripod and sit down.

 

Mike

Edited by Sarkikos, 25 November 2015 - 05:05 PM.

[Mr. Bill]

Even at 5x, I find that fine detail is best seen with binos mounted on tripod.

 

For casual terrestrial viewing, handholding works fine.

[Sarkikos]

I can keep my hands pretty steady.  But I suppose I could have been spoiled by my Canon 10x42 IS.

 

Mike

[Mr. Bill]

I can keep my hands pretty steady.  But I suppose I could have been spoiled by my Canon 10x42 IS.

 

Mike

 

The other reason I mentioned this is, in another thread, it was said that there was no center post mount.

Edited by Mr. Bill, 25 November 2015 - 06:52 PM.

[drt3d]

The Amazon price is $10 lower than eBay. I ordered a pair.

George

[SMark]

Since I wasn't exactly happy with the clarity of my VisionKing 5x25, and since no one else seemed interested in trying it, I went ahead and removed the "optical windows" from in front of the objectives. Not a "night & day" difference for sure, but I now find a sharper focus than I did previously. So it was definitely worth the experimentation, and it's easily reversed if desired in the future. And the lens caps fit fine, just as they did before.

 

[Sarkikos]

This evening I tried to split Albireo while sitting.  Wasn't quite sure I was able to.  Then I attached the binos to a tripod with an adapter.  I quickly found out that these binos need an adapter with a very short screw.  The screw on the adapter was too long to attach solidly to the 1/4-20 hole.  Also, having the screw in the binos temporarily loosened up the IPD adjustment.  I won't repeat this again. These little binos really should be hand-held.

 

In any case, I believe I was able to barely split Albireo.  I verified this by checking the PA of the double when I went back inside. 

 

The VisionKing 5x25 aren't the best choice for doubles.  I think I'll stick with telescopes or at least IS binos for double stars.  My Canon 10x42 IS are great star splitters.  (76 doubles split so far, all hand-held.) 

 

I won't be taking the VisionKings out again until the Moon is out of the sky and I can see Messier and other DSO without the glare interfering.

 

Mike

Edited by Sarkikos, 25 November 2015 - 10:12 PM.

[Sarkikos]

Since I wasn't exactly happy with the clarity of my VisionKing 5x25, and since no one else seemed interested in trying it, I went ahead and removed the "optical windows" from in front of the objectives. Not a "night & day" difference for sure, but I now find a sharper focus than I did previously. So it was definitely worth the experimentation, and it's easily reversed if desired in the future. And the lens caps fit fine, just as they did before.

 

 

Exactly how did you take the windows out?

 

Mike

[stevecoe]

George;

 

I saw the same thing you did on price at Amazon, so I also ordered a pair.  They are my Christmas present to myself.  I see in your avatar that you have a parallelogram mount, I don't.  But, I do have a modest tripod and I can rig up the holder to keep the 5X binocs steady. 

 

I just got an email that they have shipped, so I will have them by next New Moon.  Looking forward to some Autumn Milky Way scanning at very wide angles.  Lots to see.  A "Thank You" to Mr. Bill for pointing these out.

 

Clear skies to us all;

 

Steve Coe

[SMark]

 

Since I wasn't exactly happy with the clarity of my VisionKing 5x25, and since no one else seemed interested in trying it, I went ahead and removed the "optical windows" from in front of the objectives. Not a "night & day" difference for sure, but I now find a sharper focus than I did previously. So it was definitely worth the experimentation, and it's easily reversed if desired in the future. And the lens caps fit fine, just as they did before.

 

 

Exactly how did you take the windows out?

 

Mike

 

 

I started right at the top on either side of the central hinge, and just peeled back the rubber. There is a bit of glue holding it down near the edges of the eyepieces, but it's easy to pull away. Once the glue is loosened you just pull everything down away from the eyepieces and towards the objectives. Both sides come off separately. Once off, you then just unscrew the cells holding the windows. Then I just put the rubber back in place. You shouldn't need any glue, it stays on just fine.

 

After you finish with the VisionKing optical windows, I'll bet it would work with your Canon 10x42 optical windows as well. Try it and let me know how it goes... 

 

[MeridianStarGazer]

When you look 20 degrees away from a light, does glare splash across the field of view?

How sharp does the edge look in the daytime? 

Do the coatings appear to be functional?

 

Thanks for posting this. I'm thinking about getting some. It would be nice having an AFOV that does not feel restrictive and lets me look up at the sky.

[Sarkikos]

 

I started right at the top on either side of the central hinge, and just peeled back the rubber. There is a bit of glue holding it down near the edges of the eyepieces, but it's easy to pull away. Once the glue is loosened you just pull everything down away from the eyepieces and towards the objectives. Both sides come off separately. Once off, you then just unscrew the cells holding the windows. Then I just put the rubber back in place. You shouldn't need any glue, it stays on just fine.

 

After you finish with the VisionKing optical windows, I'll bet it would work with your Canon 10x42 optical windows as well. Try it and let me know how it goes... 

 

 

 

Well, I'm willing to experiment with the VisionKings.  But I think I'll leave the Canons just the way they are.

 

I'm seriously thinking about getting the Canon 15x50 or 18x50 if a deal comes up for Turkey Day.  Now if I could just trust that .... website.

 

Mike

Edited by Sarkikos, 25 November 2015 - 11:53 PM.

[Sarkikos]

George;

 

I saw the same thing you did on price at Amazon, so I also ordered a pair.  They are my Christmas present to myself.  I see in your avatar that you have a parallelogram mount, I don't.  But, I do have a modest tripod and I can rig up the holder to keep the 5X binocs steady. 

 

I just got an email that they have shipped, so I will have them by next New Moon.  Looking forward to some Autumn Milky Way scanning at very wide angles.  Lots to see.  A "Thank You" to Mr. Bill for pointing these out.

 

Clear skies to us all;

 

Steve Coe

 

IME, the vendor overestimates the arrival date for their shipments.  Mine wasn't supposed to arrive until Dec. 11 to 30th, but it came yesterday.  So yours might come sooner than you think. 

 

By the way, I was the one who saw the low price on Amazon, and mentioned it to Bill and others in another thread.  I'll let Bill take the credit since he went to the trouble of starting a new thread about it.

 

Mike

Edited by Sarkikos, 26 November 2015 - 12:00 AM.