763 replies to this topic

[jrazz]

Really can't believe that this isn't a thread already. I thought about a "Team 20x" or "Team 15x" thread but where does that leave the 16x or 18x? What about the 25x100s? Nahhh, let's be inclusive and have a thread for the bigger binos... For everything between 15 and 25x.

 

Here are my entries: OB 20x65ED and 15x70 Ultra. 

Love them both for different reasons. The 15x70 is a great generalist. I can even hand hold it... for about a minute. It's bright and wide and just built like a tank. The 15x is just enough to spot some of the brighter galaxies and wider doubles but is also wide enough to see a lot of open clusters in their entirety. If I want to "grab and go" to a dark site (which happens with startling regularity around here - since the dark site is close and the weather unpredictable) I take these and a simple tripod.

 

Where the 15x70 Ultra is a generalist tank the 20x65ED is a specialist jewel. The 20x65ED is honestly my favorite at home with moderately dark skies. It's just such an easy binocular to use! The focusers are easy, the eyepieces are narrower than the Ultra which is more comfortable to use, and the view is sharp right across with no CA whatsoever. I frequently find myself leaving the telescope inside, choosing a constellation, lying back, and just star-hopping with the 20x65ED to see which obscure target I can find. It's powerful enough to pick out some of the wider doubles and is also surprisingly good for galaxies. Markarian's chain is particularly impressive with it on very clear nights. 

 

I feel these cover my needs rather well though I am eyeing a bigger BT or maybe a 25x100.... Never say never!

 

 

 

Share your team members below 

Edited by jrazz, 08 May 2022 - 12:10 PM.

[ckwastro]

I have the Obie 20x65 and I agree, it’s a very nice bino. I use it for quick setup for lunar and brighter deep sky objects in my Bortle 8.6 skies. It can still pull many objects out of the muck. The only thing I’d personally change on it are the IF eyepieces. I much prefer center focus. It’s easier for sharing views and quicker to change focus when necessary. I still end up fiddling with the IF.

 

As much as I like them I’m also considering either the BT82 or 100 for the 45* angled viewing. Much easier at the zenith and allows for easier seated observing, plus variable mag. Probably should have gone that route from the start but the 20x65 design was very intriguing, and has not disappointed. 

[Rich V.]

For me, if we're talking about standard straight-through binos, it's an APM 16x70ED with a 4.1° FOV or a WO 22x70ED with a 3° FOV.  Depending on the situation, either are mounted on a tripod/head or a p-gram.

 

Above the weight of the 22x70s, though, I think a BT is a more appropriate solution with easier comfortable mounting options and choice of magnifications.

 

Rich

[Fiske]

Really can't believe that this isn't a thread already. I thought about a "Team 20x" or "Team 15x" thread but where does that leave the 16x or 18x? What about the 25x100s? Nahhh, let's be inclusive and have a thread for the bigger binos... For everything between 15 and 25x.

 

Share your team members below 

Well done, jrazz. 

[sevenofnine]

At only 3 lbs., the Oberwerk 15x70 LW is built for easy use on a monopod or lightweight tripod. With a little practice, hand held is doable. Clearly seeing M33 proved to me that it's a worthy instrument 

[Fiske]

My Team 15-25x.

 

 

From left to right:

 

Oberwerk 15x70 Ultra

Oberwerk 20x80 Deluxe III

Oberwerk 25x100 Deluxe

APM 20x80 ED MS

APM 16x70 ED MS

 

Center:

 

Oberwerk 20x65ED Deluxe

[jrazz]

That's a nice family photo!

I do have a soft spot for greeeeen binoculars

[Erik Bakker]

These are great instruments to bridge the gap from regular hand held binoculars to wide field refractors in the 3" to 4" range.

 

I use a Nikon 18x70, a wonderful deep sky instrument, enjoyable hand held in a comfortable chair and a stunning performer on a good mount. An instrument for life.

 

At 20-25x and above, I enjoy the added benefits a high quality refractor brings to the table with it's pinpoint stars and versatile magnification range.

[jrazz]

I subscribe to that notion. I initially thought of doing a 15x-20x thread for that reason and then adding a ">20x" thread because in my mind for magnification above 25 I really prefer my telescope...

 

But then I thought that this thread is just for fun and in reality 20x-25x seem closer to each other than 20x-15x plus the 2x scopes just look cool IMHO    (I really just want to ogle binoculars - really ppl, put pictures!)

[Dfresh]

 

My Team. 20x80  Burgess light weight with Oberwerk tripod adapter. Celestron 15x70 Skymaster.  And Oberwerk 15x70 Deluxe w/bino bandit and 3d printed light shields.

[Tamiji Homma]

I have several fixed power and inter-changeable eyepiece ones.

I typically use the same eyepieces for inter-changeable binoculars and I like 20x-ish power.

 

Fujinon 16x70 and Vixen 20x125:

 

 

Fujinon 16x70 and Canon 18x50 IS:

 

 

Oberwerk 20x65  and Takahashi Astronomer 22x60:

 

ATX95 with Panoptics 27, 20.4x and Kowa Highlander 21x:

 

 

Oberwerk 70XL-ED, Nikon NAV SW 17.5, 22.3x

 

 

Oberwerk-70XL-ED    Kowa-Highlander        Swaro-ATX95          TEC-140ED
  mag  tfov    ep    mag  tfov    ep    mag  tfov    ep    mag  tfov    ep
31.2  2.82  2.24   36.0  2.45  2.28   44.1  2.00  2.16   78.4  1.12  1.79  Docter UWA 12.5
22.3  3.23  3.14   25.7  2.80  3.19   31.5  2.29  3.02   56.0  1.28  2.50  Nikon NAV SW 17.5
18.6  3.39  3.77   21.4  2.94  3.83   26.2  2.40  3.62   46.7  1.35  3.00  Kowa 21
16.2  4.01  4.31   18.8  3.48  4.37   23.0  2.84  4.14   40.8  1.60  3.43  APM UFF 24
14.4  4.46  4.85   16.7  3.87  4.92   20.4  3.16  4.66   36.3  1.78  3.86  Televue Panoptic 27
13.0  5.32  5.38   15.0  4.61  5.47   18.4  3.76  5.17   32.7  2.12  4.29  APM UFF 30

 

Tammy

Edited by Tamiji Homma, 08 May 2022 - 07:47 PM.

[Fiske]

  

[Rich V.]

But then I thought that this thread is just for fun and in reality 20x-25x seem closer to each other than 20x-15x plus the 2x scopes just look cool IMHO    (I really just want to ogle binoculars - really ppl, put pictures!)

Ok, here's a couple of pics of the WO 22x70ED w/ dew shields retracted. They pull out an additional 2-1/2" so it's a pretty long beast.  It uses a modified KUO BA8 bino body that WO fitted with their Zenithstar 70mm f/6 FPL-51 doublet lenses. 

 

Views are great; because of the longer focal length scope lenses, it puts up more pinpoint stars than most any other standard binos outside of the Tak 22x60.  Great, deep, well framed views of the Pleiades; perfect in a 3° FOV.    

 

Rich

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[MT4]

Here's my team 15x-25x:

 

    (1) Canon 15x50 IS:         4.5 degrees

    (2) Maven B.5 15x56:      4.5 degrees

    (3) Nikon 18x70:              4 degrees

    (4) APM 20x70 MS ED:    3.3 degrees

 

I use all above, with the exception of the Canon, on a p-gram mount.   Love them all and I think I am done buying binos in mag category.

[SMark]

Okay, I gotta jump into this pool... 

 

I have a few entries, but this one is my favorite.

 

18x60ED with a fully illuminated 80° FOV...

 

 

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[jrazz]

That is super cool 

Is there a group this thing doesn't belong in?

[SMark]

That is super cool 

Is there a group this thing doesn't belong in?

Lol. Well, right now it ranges from 5.8x50 to 55x60. And if I keep buying eyepiece pairs... well it just gets out of hand pretty quickly.   

[MT4]

My Team 15-25x.

 

 

From left to right:

 

Oberwerk 15x70 Ultra

Oberwerk 20x80 Deluxe III

Oberwerk 25x100 Deluxe

APM 20x80 ED MS

APM 16x70 ED MS

 

Center:

 

Oberwerk 20x65ED Deluxe

 

But why is the 20x65ED the only one lying down ?   

[Fiske]

But why is the 20x65ED the only one lying down ?   

Because it was her voice that made the sky acutest at its vanishing. 

[jrazz]

But why is the 20x65ED the only one lying down ?   

Sorry... you've essentially put this in my head...

 

 

[Fiske]

And Wallace Stevens in mine. Go figure...

 

Edited by Fiske, 08 May 2022 - 10:06 PM.

[jrazz]

   

[Corcaroli78]

Nice thread!

 

I can easily spend a night observing with my Helios Stellar II 15x70 + Bino Bandits + my reference books especially when it is too cold to take a full telescope setup.

 

 

Not long time ago, i was surprised to see the Leo Triplet from my sidewalk Bortle 5-6 sky.

 

Carlos

[Echolight]

I wanna play..  How about a 20x monocular? 

 

I use this mainly at 20x for long distance terrestrial close-up views, or covert activities, on the widow sill or steering wheel of a vehicle. Sometimes on the Moon.

Gets a little shaky without a mount at higher mags. But not too bad.

 

Bugamosis foulasmellos from about 20 yards... a-focal phone pic.

 

Edited by Echolight, 09 May 2022 - 01:18 PM.

[Fiske]

It would be more legit if you used two simultaneously.