12 replies to this topic

[herrbrahms]

Hi everyone,

 

I have a pair of Orion Vista 10x50s with BAK-4 porro prisms, FMC, 5.3° FOV.  If memory serves, I bought them to view the 2012 transit of Venus.  Paired with the Paragon Plus mount, I had a popular observing setup in Grand Teton for the August 2017 Total.  I really love these binocs.  I imagine many of you do as well.

 

My nephew just graduated high school.  Last Wednesday night, he texted me out of the blue to ask some questions about the major lunar standstill.  He's a taciturn kid who texts me maybe once a year, so I was surprised to see his interest.  I answered a few of his questions without getting too deep in the weeds.  He had not been aware of how the full Moon is highest in the sky in winter and lowest in the summer, so we had a conversation covering the basics of the Moon's orbit.

 

I haven't gotten him a graduation present yet and immediately thought about getting him some binocs to match mine, when I discovered to my horror that Orion Telescope joined the choir invisible last year.  Yikes, what a terrible thing to happen to this hobby!

 

Anyway, since I've been out of the binocular market for a while, I wonder what you folks would do in my situation.  Is there a different binoc that's comparable to the pair I own?  Since mine were made in Japan, I imagine they were a relabel of that maker, whoever that happened to be.  Is that maker still in business, putting out optics under a different name?  Is my reverence for Japanese optics hopelessly old fashioned?

 

Or should I consider getting some super fancy new binocs for myself and pass on my old pair to the kid?  The only concerns I have are that they have to be compatible with my existing Orion mount and my solar filters which have also served me well.  I was thinking about a pair of Oberwerks.  Are they truly a step up, or is it just an excuse to pay too much for optics that are objectively (no pun intended) 3% better?

 

I'm only interested in binocs at least as good as the ones I have.  Image stabilization sounds both expensive and heavy.  I usually lie on the ground to view within 20° of the zenith or prop myself against a car door for objects at lower altitudes.  If you have it and feel that it's life changing, I'd like to hear your argument.

 

I apologize in advance if someone asks this same dumb question once a week and people dutifully reply.  Feel free to herd me to the sticky that I didn't see on the way in.

 

Thank you.

[xmarkanthonyx]

GREAT QUESTIONS, and our many friends here will have great advice...I'll offer this: #1 I do think Oberwerk markets nice binoculars. I don't think, model-by-model or feature-by-feature they have anything extra or "Made Especially For Oberwerk" or "An Oberwerk Exclusive". Levenhuk ("Bruno-PLUS") for example markets nitrogen filled, BAK-4 glass, Porro-Prism, fully-multi-coated binoculars, as does Celestron (especially in their "PRO" version). #2. Where Oberwerk shines is that I believe they have held their Chinese suppliers "feet-to-the-fire" by testing binoculars over the years, regular sampling EACH year, maybe each production batch (??) and over the years have REJECTED any faulty product...poor collimation batch, icky/sticky focusers, faulty graining/texture on the binocular case, and so on. #3. They have built a great reputation, and GUARD it by keeping high "QA" standards and EXCELLENT (!!) customer service. As the quality of all Chinese-Made Binoculars has INCREASED overall since your 2010-2011 manufacture 10x50s...and IF you will be more likely to use them. I think you might "treat-yourself" to a new set. Perhaps jump-up...you'd MUCH ENJOY a set of 10x50 ED ULTRA...they have field-flatteners and FK61 glass...both which help give a nice color-corrected view and crisp stars across the whole field of view. I think they are about $400. If you jumpup to $579...you might go BIG and get the 15x70 ED Ultra. I have these, and use these ALL THE TIME with my own Orion Paragon-Plus HD tripod (15x70 is a tripod lover)...10x50s are easier to hand hold. I'll just say the 15x70 sure is a SWEET-SPOT...the extra 20mm on the main lens really makes it possible to view the brighter Messier Objects, and the 15x gives that slight extra "oomph". Jupiter and Saturn are really FUN to look at with 15x70 on a tripod. As far as I know your 10x50 accessories will work on Oberwerk 10x50 or 15x70s...that is fairly common across the brands. 

[Jethro7]

Hello Herrbrahams,

I fully agree on passing on your old pair of binos and treating yourself to a truley awesome pair. I would highly recommend the Leica 10X50 Ultravids. It took me a few years into this hobby to quit messing around with good but ordinary optics and made the jump to premium optics and that jump was the best jump that I have ever made. There was no going back.

 

https://www.bhphotov...VRoC2UUQAvD_BwE

 

HAPPY SKIES AND KEEP LOOKING UP Jethro

Edited by Jethro7, 16 June 2025 - 12:21 PM.

[JoeFaz]

What's your budget for the new binos? Whether they're ultimately for you or for your nephew.

 

I don't know that the Vistas were anything to write home about, so you shouldn't have any trouble getting something you like at least as much from a modern 10x50.

[sevenofnine]

Welcome back! 

 

One of the best "value" binoculars is the Nikon AE 10x50 IMO. I've enjoyed mine for many years now. It's a ruggedly constructed waterproof porro with good optics  

 

https://www.bhphotov...EX_Extreme.html

Edited by sevenofnine, 16 June 2025 - 05:21 PM.

[f18dad]

Further contenders:

10x50 Banner Cloud roofs

10x50 Fujinon FMTR (Japanese)

I own the former 10x50 Ultras (without ED or flatteners) and the 10x50 Fuji FMT2. It would be hard to improve on either. They both command wonderful sparkly views. I doubt 3% is achievable and 1% will probably double the price.

[havasman]

My pick remains a selection from APM. But for your nephew I agree with the selection of a center focus model for its range of uses. Specifically, the Nikon Action Extreme ATB as above.

[Dale Smith]

What's your budget for the new binos? Whether they're ultimately for you or for your nephew.

 

I don't know that the Vistas were anything to write home about, so you shouldn't have any trouble getting something you like at least as much from a modern 10x50.

Seconding this. There are so many good choices at each tier, from Maven to Oberwerk to Bushnell, in both porro and roof. 

Edited by Dale Smith, 16 June 2025 - 06:39 PM.

[Inkie]

Vortex, Maven, APM, Fujinon, Nikon, Pentax, Oberwerk. If you're in the USA, B&H Optical has a large selection.  Sometimes amazon is a good market, especially if there are coupons or discounts and you have Prime (free shipping on most items).

[Jon Isaacs]

Or should I consider getting some super fancy new binocs for myself and pass on my old pair to the kid?  The only concerns I have are that they have to be compatible with my existing Orion mount and my solar filters which have also served me well.  I was thinking about a pair of Oberwerks.  Are they truly a step up, or is it just an excuse to pay too much for optics that are objectively (no pun intended) 3% better?

 

 

As a grandfather who has given many graduation gifts to sons, granddaughters, grandsons, nieces and nephews:

 

Buy him a new pair of binoculars for his graduation. This is a big event in his life, don't piggyback new binos for yourself by giving him hand me downs. If you want new binos, buy yourself a pair as well. 

 

I give away a lot of gear to just about everyone including CN Members I've my ever met.. But I'm not giving them graduation presents.

 

Jon

Edited by Jon Isaacs, 16 June 2025 - 05:55 PM.

[Knighton]

GREAT QUESTIONS, and our many friends here will have great advice...I'll offer this: #1 I do think Oberwerk markets nice binoculars. I don't think, model-by-model or feature-by-feature they have anything extra or "Made Especially For Oberwerk" or "An Oberwerk Exclusive". Levenhuk ("Bruno-PLUS") for example markets nitrogen filled, BAK-4 glass, Porro-Prism, fully-multi-coated binoculars, as does Celestron (especially in their "PRO" version). #2. Where Oberwerk shines is that I believe they have held their Chinese suppliers "feet-to-the-fire" by testing binoculars over the years, regular sampling EACH year, maybe each production batch (??) and over the years have REJECTED any faulty product...poor collimation batch, icky/sticky focusers, faulty graining/texture on the binocular case, and so on. #3. They have built a great reputation, and GUARD it by keeping high "QA" standards and EXCELLENT (!!) customer service. As the quality of all Chinese-Made Binoculars has INCREASED overall since your 2010-2011 manufacture 10x50s...and IF you will be more likely to use them. I think you might "treat-yourself" to a new set. Perhaps jump-up...you'd MUCH ENJOY a set of 10x50 ED ULTRA...they have field-flatteners and FK61 glass...both which help give a nice color-corrected view and crisp stars across the whole field of view. I think they are about $400. If you jumpup to $579...you might go BIG and get the 15x70 ED Ultra. I have these, and use these ALL THE TIME with my own Orion Paragon-Plus HD tripod (15x70 is a tripod lover)...10x50s are easier to hand hold. I'll just say the 15x70 sure is a SWEET-SPOT...the extra 20mm on the main lens really makes it possible to view the brighter Messier Objects, and the 15x gives that slight extra "oomph". Jupiter and Saturn are really FUN to look at with 15x70 on a tripod. As far as I know your 10x50 accessories will work on Oberwerk 10x50 or 15x70s...that is fairly common across the brands. 

Couldn't agree with you more. I have the Orion Resolux IF 10x50 and it is superb, I mean really good. The Oberwerk 10x50 ED ULTRA is the next generation of my Resolux with the addition of the field flattener and ED glass; 2 things I WISH my Resolux have. 

Think thing I like best about the Resolux is the EASE OF VIEWING meaning, zero eye strain, zero eye adjustment or adaptation, and zero fatigue. Add in a field flattener and ED glass and I am sure the Oberwerk 10x50 ED ULTRA is a stunner. It is a future purchase. 

[aznuge]

Seconding this. There are so good choices at each tier, from Maven to Oberwerk to Bushnell, in both porro and roof. 

Speaking of Maven, the B2 10x50 is not bad...

 

10x50 on the left

[gwd]

I had the Orion Vista 10x50 for many years.  When it was time to upgrade - a few months after I began reading the binocular forum - I went with Fujinon 10x50 IF FMTR.   No one got me a graduation gift for high school graduation.  When you buy yourself nice binos pass the orions on to the kid but don't call it a graduation gift.    

 

I'm a fan of image stabilization.  Now the Fujinons are for comets, and scenary.  the last time I used them as entertainment while dark adapting I spent way too much time with them before going to the scope.