10x50 binoculars recommendations?

[Starkler]

Hey fellas, Im hoping someone can recommend a good/semi-affordable pair of 10x50 binoculars.

I have an ancient pair of 7x50's that have a nice wide field and they perform well, but im hoping that the smaller exit pupil of 10x50's may allow me to see a little deeper.

There are many online reviews of bino's available in the US but they dont apply to whats available here.
I'm willing to go up to approx $300.

Thanks

[seeker372011]

I purchased my 20 x 80s from Big Binoculars in the US. Shipping cost about $50 and there is no GST or duty for binos worth less than $500 or so. Took three weeks to get delivered to my home. If you can wait that long, worth checking

http://www.bigbinoculars.com/

even if you want smaller binos

[iceman]

I some 11x70 Saxon's for $220, I guess it depends what sort of quality you want. Bintel has some good quality stuff of course, but at a price.

The Saxon's aren't top quality but they're good for what I need, at the right price.

[[1ponders]]

I like my Pentax (from camera house) 10X50's (6.5 degree FOV).

There a fair bit of spherical distortion around the edges but nice and crisp for about 3/4 FOV. They were the cheapest I could find(about $175 eight months ago) that didn't give double star images. Most cheapies don't have their optical axis well enough aligned for precise astronomical observing (ie two images) but this is not noticed generally when viewing terrestrial objects.

I'd suggest if you are going shopping for a pair, go during late night shopping so you can test them out.

Good luck

[Starkler]

I was hoping you would reply 1ponders :)

I have seen the xcf pentax binos advertised online and as the specs and the price sound right , im really keen to find out more about them.

Are they comfy to use?
Eye relief ?
Are internal reflections apparent when tested on streetlights ?
Anything you dislike about them ?

Camera house eh ? I hope they stock them in Melbourne.

[MintSauce]

I would vote to go for a bigger apature if you have 7x50's already, I would not think that without the extra apature the view would differ all that much.

but then again they call me an apature freak!

[Starkler]

I should have stated that i want them hand holdable .

[[1ponders]]

Hi Starkler,

I enjoy using them. I've only had Tasco 8X30s before so thats all I've had to comare them to on a regualr basis. I find they have good eye relief, (the eyecups roll back for spectacle wearers). Very comfortable to grip and hold (non-slip rubberised surface). Excellent crisp viewing on terrestial objects. There is a slight optical distortion around the edges due to the curvature of the objectives, but not significant enough to affect viewing. Dioptic eyepieces (generally pretty standard on binocs) and images focus easily and quickly.

I find them great for picking out globular and open clusters. Toucan 47 and Omega Cent look great. Jupiter and Saturn show obvious disc but certainly no detail. The moon is crisp and clear, taking into consideration seeing conditions. On bad seeing night I can at times see the shimmering across the face of the moon. For me where I've found them performing the best (apart from the moon) is comet viewing. I bought them just before LINEAR and NEAT in May earlier this year. These comets blew me away in these binocs. Clear cores, coma and tails. I'm still impressed viewing Machholz at the moment.

If there are any negatives about them is their weight. the are fairly heavy for small binocs at about 900 grams. I tend to use them on a tripod or resting on my eyes while lying in the ground so in those situations they very steady. Free sighting you notice it after awhile.

I've just popped outside and checked for internal reflection. There is a ghost image looking at the street light outside my house (25 meters away) but not excessive. At about 100 meters it was neglible, though there was some chromatic aberation on the top surface of the lamp (bluish mercury lamp?). I've also checked a house around 3-4 kms away on a hill that has coloured lights (white, yellow, red, green, and blue) around their balcony. I could clearly distinguish each light though there would probably be only 0.8-1 meter spacing between them. (I'll let you work out the physics of the resolution :) ) Focus was good considering the distance through turbulent hazy ground air.


I've used other more expensive ones since buying mine and I am still very happy with the quality of both the optics and manufacture for the price. If I lost these I would happily buy another pair tomorrow, assuming I couldn't afford a MUCH bigger pair :D You know 20X80! Actually maybe I would still stay with these as I like their field of view, 6.5 degrees.

Hope this helps Starkler

cheers
Paul

[Starkler]

Fantastic mate !

Thanks so much for taking the time to give such a comprehensive reply :)
Also thanks to everyone else who took the time to reply :)

I'm going to see if I can source a pair.
Pentax have a great rep for optics and although a 'cheap' model, I have never heard of a bad pentax optical product.

Geoff

[[1ponders]]

I don't think you'll regret it.

On the day (night actually) I bought mine I must have looked through 20 + pairs of binocs. I think the sales staff were glad to see the back of me :). From working my way up from the lowest (cheapest) pair and down from the ceiling of what I could afford to spend (no more than $350 and only if they wer spectacular), I felt thse were the best value for money for what i wanted to do with binocs.

Good luck with them
Paul

[iceman]

Hey Paul or Geoff (when you get them), you should do a review of the binos for the reviews section! Great thread!

[Starkler]

As nobody in Aus seems to have these binocs in stock, Im considering importing a pair of Orion Ultraview 10x50's.
These bino's are the subject of many reviews on the net and are considered equivalent in performance to Nikons selling here for $575 (and more).

I just got a price from O'Neil optics in Canada of $169US plus shipping which is yet to be determined. The cost landed here I expect to be around $260.

If you ever want to buy Orion stuff, Joe O'Neil is a great bloke to deal with and I don't hesitate to recommend him to anyone wanting to purchase Orion brand equipment.

As much as I would like to support local dealers, I dont want to be ripped off either !

[[1ponders]]

Starkler did you try Camera House?

[Starkler]

Yep they are all waiting for the pentax ship to arrive.
Nobody seemed really interested to give me an ETA.

[[1ponders]]

If your interested I can check the Camera house here on the sunshine coast and see if they have any in stock

Paul

[Striker]

Geoff...what did you end up getting.....I am looking at a set myself and also like the Pentax series 10 x 50 XCF..they are $179 at Photo Continental but I will shop around...I have to look for Birthday presents.......suggestions.

I like the feal of the pentax even over the more expensive Nikon....anyone know of a good deal going on these types of Binoculars.?

Pentax 12 x 50 $193AUD
Pentax 10 x 50 $179AUD

I also tried out the Canon's with the Image stabiliser....absolutely Fantastic and the price is over $2000.....lol

Pentax 10 x 50 (http://www.pentaximaging.com/products/product_details?reqID=2068&subsection=Full_Size_xcf)
Pentax 12 x 50 (http://www.pentaximaging.com/products/product_details?reqID=2070&subsection=Full_Size_xcf)

I just looked overseas...the Nikon 12 x 50 are $99USD....they are over $400AUD here......getting a price on postage now.

[Starkler]

I gave up on the idea as I couldnt find the pentaxs anywhere that I could go look at them. Im now spending my money on an ED80 and WO diagonal:D

[RAJAH235]

Hi all, Just re-reading this and If your binos are out of collimation or require cleaning etc and you live in Sydney. Try D.A.W. OPTICS. 1st Floor, 10a Henley Rd., Homebush West. 2140 Ph.02 97643476.
I had a set done a few years ago, he even replaced the right eyepiece which had gone cloudy, all for $50. :thumbsup:

[Striker]

I am still shopping around......7x or 10x...is their that much difference....I have seen what looks to be a bargain....let me know your thoughts...

These are the better PCF model not XCF.......

All prices I have searched have been more expensive in USD...these are AUD.....

Pentax 7 x 50 PCF (http://www.camerastore.com.au/Pentax+PCF+V+7x50-details.htm)

[Starkler]

Striker I strongly suspect that price for the PCF 7x50 is a misprint.
If not its a definate bargain !

On second thoughts i wouldnt buy them with just a 43 degree fov !
The 10x50's at $279 still have just a 50 degree fov but are known to be pretty good quality.

[MiG]

Don't get the NXTCO brand 10-30 x 60 binoculars off E-bay. They are crap. I got them for $50 just as a gamble (cheap GSO eyepieces are good, so cheap isn't always crap).
I wanted more aperture, but with such a crappy image and ruby coloured lenses (which apparently reflect long wavelengths only to hide chromatic abberation) it's not worth it.

[Striker]

Ok...I have decided......

I was too tempted to buy overseas so I did.......I bought a pair ok Nikon 12 x 50 action series...I have ordered them and should receive once payment has been approved within 5 days.

They were $99USD plus $47USD postage express with tracking

Total cost includding postage being $188 AUD not bad considering they are over $400 AUD everywhere here.

Nikon 12 x 50 (http://www.nikonsportoptics.com/product.php?group=14&subgroup=147&product=7219)