41 replies to this topic

[ATY]

I am interested in one of these big binoculars for terrestrial and long distance viewing and some astronomy use. I found three from APM and one from Oberwerk, they are all under $800 with shipping. Here they are:

 

APM - 28x110 MS Bino

Omegon Fernglas Brightsky 28x110

TS Optics TS 28x110 MX

Oberwerk 28x110mm Ultra

 

From reading  the spec they all seemed very similar in size , weight, and looks. I was wondering if there is any real performance difference between these four models. Also for less than $800 for a 110mm equipment that sounded too good to be true but it fits my budget. I already have a Celestron Evolution mount and I can make a fabricate a dovetail L-bracket that work with any binoculars on the Evolution mount.

 

So what do you think in terms of image quality, sharpness, contrast, brightness, resolution, CA, build quality and acceptability and which one would you choose.

Many thanks.

[Rich V.]

There has never been any evidence that these KUO BA8 series binos differ between vendors.

 

I'd say purchase them from the vendor nearest you to avoid shipping damage and make the customer service aspect as convenient as possible.

 

Rich

[Mad Matt]

All 4 models are the same binoculars simply with different branding. They are commonly referred to by the manufacturers designation BA8

A related side note: I had an email conversation with Markus Ludes at APM and he mentioned that the 28x110 is the best selling of the BA8 series.

Edited by Mad Matt, 23 January 2016 - 01:30 PM.

[Allardk]

A heavy beast :-)

You will have to do some homework to find a solution to mount it in a stable way. The center bar is not a great system. I have a similar 25x100.

You are still looking for a vacation scope ?

[Mad Matt]

You are still looking for a vacation scope ?

If you meant me. Not really... I will get a 22x85, just waiting for my bonus check before I pull the trigger next week.

Edited by Mad Matt, 23 January 2016 - 02:06 PM.

[garret]

By change I finished  today the construction of a new mounting system for my old 28x110 bino...

It has now a Losmandy dovetail plate adapter (but the one from ADM is better).

 

Optical quality: sharp center, soft edge, very little reflections ("finger nails" , stray-light), very good for terrestrial and long distance viewing.

Astronomy? No, I never get sharp/ tight stars, for this reason I bought the APM 100mm ED APO.

 

Garret

Attached Thumbnails

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Edited by garret, 23 January 2016 - 02:53 PM.

[Allardk]

Ok, let us know how this 22x85 is :-)

 

Back to the subject !

Seeing you already have some nice eyepieces I would consider the APM 100-45 non APO. With the 45 angle it is easier to observe the night sky. The straight 28x110 will make you go direction P-mount if you wanna protect your neck.

 

You can use your excellent eyepieces like the Delos 14 giving you about 36x magnification. Exit pupil 2.8 and FOV about 2 degrees. With the APM you can start changing magnification if needed. The use of  very good eyepieces will make it beat any bino in this size. 

 

The APM is much easier to mount. Think Manfrotto 028 or 475 and a 501 head. You will need a strong mount for the 28x110 any way.

[Allardk]

By change I finished  today the construction of a new mounting system for my old 28x110 bino...

It has now a Losmandy dovetail plate adapter (but the one from ADM is better).

 

Garret

Just what I meant :-)

You will have to do some work to improve the center bar system.

[ATY]

As I stated in my post that I will be using the Celestron Nexstar Evolution mount. It is quite easy to make a dovetail L-bracket to use with the mount. Day time straight through viewing with Evolution mount should be no problem. Night time I have to limit the elevation so the eyepieces of the binoculars will not hit the base of the mount.

 

Although I have some nice eyepieces but I only have one of each not a pair so I am not quite ready for the APM 100 yet.

 

The 28x110 is inexpensive in comparison. And it is very imposing to look at and it is a women magnet... just joking.

[Allardk]

The half APO APM bino is about 1100 euro. The 28x110 about 700 euro.

For daytime viewing you need to check which eyepieces work best. Televue is better for stars, Pentax works good in daylightt as well.

 

With the APM you have a versatile piece of equipment. The 28x110 has more limitations for astronomy as it is a straight bino. 

Edited by Allardk, 23 January 2016 - 06:10 PM.

[Rich V.]

The 28x110 is inexpensive in comparison. And it is very imposing to look at and it is a women magnet... just joking.

 

"Inexpensive" is relative; for comfortable viewing near zenith with straight-through 110mm binos, you'll need something like the UA Millennium Unimount.  That will run you around $900. + shipping so your investment will more than double the price of the $750. binos alone.

 

This is where the mounting simplicity of a Binocular Telescope becomes an advantage. A sturdy tripod/head combo is all you need. The added usefulness of different magnifications really adds to the value of a BT, IMO. The 10mms of aperture you lose is more than made up by that extra flexibility.

 

Rich

[garret]

 

The 28x110 is inexpensive in comparison.

If you really want this bino, look for a used one and save 50%.

 

But for 50% more you can may find a used  binocular telescope like the APM half-APO and eyepieces.

 

Garret

[F.Meiresonne]

To answer the question of the OP.

These are the Kunming BA8 series.

 

The 20x/28x110 are heavy beast and you  will have to be sure you can mount them well. 

The bulk and weight always has been an issue for me and is one of the reasons i will not get it. Long ago i settled for the BA8 22x85 which is a great bino for DSO  IMO. But thisone too is allready rather heavy...

 

I've read that the 20x110 has a somehow more refined image over the 28x

[denis0007dl]

To answer the question of the OP.

These are the Kunming BA8 series.

 

The 20x/28x110 are heavy beast and you  will have to be sure you can mount them well. 

The bulk and weight always has been an issue for me and is one of the reasons i will not get it. Long ago i settled for the BA8 22x85 which is a great bino for DSO  IMO. But thisone too is allready rather heavy...

 

I've read that the 20x110 has a somehow more refined image over the 28x

I agree!

 

I had all BA8 series of binos, 7x50, 10x50, 10.5x70, 15x70, 15x85, 22x85, 20x110 and 28x110.

28x110 model have too much false colours for my taste, while 20x110 is much better in this regard, but with smaller FOV, but with longer eye releaf, so it is much more comfortable.

 

I liked only 7x50, 10.5x70, 15x85 and 20x110 models of BA8 series, which are excellent.

[pcctex]

Everyone trying to talk you out of the binoculars you are interested in.......

 

I have the Oberwerk 28x110; mount it on the Oberwerk 5000 series tripod.  Love it.  I raise the tripod high enough to sit under the binoculars with a leg of the tripod on each side of my observing chair.  This gives me the whole sky except directly overhead in the "Dobson's Hole".  I simply pick the tripod up by the two adjacent legs to reposition.  I have several other astronomy binoculars and several telescopes.  The 28x110's are one of my favorites.

 

Thank you,

Clear Skies.

[Allardk]

We don't wanna hurt anybody's feelings :-)

I have a 25x100 for years. With what I know now I would recommend an APM kind of binoculars. You spend a bit more but end up with a more versatile bino. If you can handle some CA it could last you a lifetime.

[F.Meiresonne]

Everyone trying to talk you out of the binoculars you are interested in.......

 

I have the Oberwerk 28x110; mount it on the Oberwerk 5000 series tripod.  Love it.  I raise the tripod high enough to sit under the binoculars with a leg of the tripod on each side of my observing chair.  This gives me the whole sky except directly overhead in the "Dobson's Hole".  I simply pick the tripod up by the two adjacent legs to reposition.  I have several other astronomy binoculars and several telescopes.  The 28x110's are one of my favorites.

 

Thank you,

Clear Skies.

Well, not really...it is just a matter of knowing if you get one, how to deal with it and be aware of the considerations....

[Rich V.]

I agree with Freddy; we're not trying to dismiss the 28x110, it's just that mounting one so that your viewing position is comfortable can be tricky.

 

For me, it takes a tall, sturdy tripod or a parallelogram/recliner setup to get the most out of big, straight-through design binos.  

 

As long as ATY's Nexstar Evo mount will position the binos high enough to comfortably get his eyes lined up with the eyepieces, he should be good to go.  I really prefer seated viewing; perhaps there's a way to sit and still avoid interference with the Nexstar's tripod legs?

 

Rich

[mikenoname]

An inexpensive mount option that was designed specifically for these BA8 monsters:

 

http://www.petersone.../supermount.htm

[Allardk]

This will work if you have the space. That thing is huge :-)

Nice design giving one the opportunity to use this bino to its full potential.

It will cost you over 200 US Dollars plus the chair.

 

So topic starter ATY has enough info now to make a balanced decision....

[Mad Matt]

make a balanced decision....

 

In the context of P-Mounts... "balanced decision" gave me a little chuckle 

Edited by Mad Matt, 25 January 2016 - 04:35 AM.

[Allardk]

The pun was intended 

[ArsMachina]

I can not imagine that these thin and long pipes are any rigid.

I believe the whole thing will be wobbling a lot.

 

Jochen

[Mad Matt]

I can not imagine that these thin and long pipes are any rigid.

I believe the whole thing will be wobbling a lot.

 

Jochen

 

There is a cable and post at the top similar to suspension bridge. Also there is so much mass in those iron tubes and counterweights, I bet the harmonic frequencies can be measured in minutes :-) 

[ArsMachina]

The longer the torque arms and the higher the masses will be the more trembling will be in the system.

 

Jochen