Binoculars?

[confined]

Hey everyone,

I'm just looking for some guidance here, as I don't really know what i'm looking for. I've found these 3 binoculars, and was just wondering a few things about them.

https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=6868
https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=6544
https://www.bintelshop.com.au/Product.aspx?ID=5123
Basically, I want to know what binoculars I should purchase, and if you could answer some of the following questions, it would be much appreciated :ashamed:

1. What does PCF and CF mean?
2. I highly doubt that i'll be setting a telescope up on a buoy in the middle of the ocean, so is it worth paying for the waterproof binocs?
3. Can anyone point me in the direction of a website with binocular reviews, and one which is trustworthy/accurate.
4. Would I be fine with the Tasco ones I linked? I don't really want to spend $300-400, if I don't have to.
5. Can anyone recommend another binocular? Would like some of your 'experienced' opinions to go by :thumbsup:

Thanks all!

[asimov]

I'm no expert, but I own a set of 15X70s that I like a lot! Their also collimatible (little screws that adjust the prism's to get a good image) Check out http://www.geckooptical.com/ That's where I got mine from..Good luck with watever you purchase.

[janoskiss]

Do you want to use it mostly handheld or on a tripod?

Magnification of 8x is my limit for handheld at night, and even that's getting a bit shaky.

I had the AOE 7x50s (http://www.aoe.com.au/7x50hg.html) for $119 for a while and they were very good for the price. Really good coatings, give very good contrast. Didn't care much for the adjustable eyecups though (that's a personal thing), and I had to push the focuser travel to the limit to reach focus. Since I lost them I got a pair of Fujinon 8x42 BFL. They're very nice, but $300+. (There is a review of sorts coming to a browser near you. ;))

[Starkler]

I also recently purchased 15x70 binos from AOE and Im very happy with them.
These need to be tripod mounted as 15x is a bit high for hand holding for very long.

How much are you willing to spend ?

At the low price end , AOE sells some good value binos with multicoated optics and little internal reflections. At this price level rubbish binos (Tasco)are all too easy to find. Take a look at my recent mini review of my 15x70's here http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=3710

If the same standards are applied to the rest of the range, the 11x56's might be a good choice in handheld binos for you:)

One more thing, stay away from ebay !
I got stung once with the absolutely worst binos I have ever seen. Luckily I was able to send them back and get a refund after threatening to blow the whistle on them for false advertising re bak4 prisms.

[confined]

Thankyou for all the feedback, and I think these are looking the go:
http://www.aoe.com.au/aoe70hp.html

The AOE 15x70's seem very impressive, and I only hear good things from your review Starkler :)

Would you recommend that I grab a tripod with them, such as the one shown here:
http://www.aoe.com.au/binoculars.html ? They will probably be getting extended use at the moment, as i'm without a telescope.

After i've gathered a few more suggestions, i'll send AOE an email to make a few more enquires (price). I just want to make sure i'm making the right decisions before I go off and buy something, which i'm sure you can all understand.

Cheers!

[asimov]

Tell AOE iceinspace sent you!

[confined]

Will that score me a superdeluxe discount? :confuse2:

I would hope so! :D

[asimov]

I converted a lil' cheapy EQ2 or 3 to a tripod for the binos, worked brilliantly!

[asimov]

You never know ur luck confined!

[confined]

Hmmm well that tripod I linked up is cheaper. Any reason I should go a EQ2 or EQ3 over it?

Cheers.

[asimov]

None watsoever...I was lucky enough to just have one un-used.

[Starkler]

Just be sure that you dont just want a smaller hand holdable pair which you can use for other things during the day . The 15x70's ARE big and cumbersome to hand hold.

P.S. I didnt only say good things about the 15x70's. They do go out of focus easily with any pressure against the eyecups.

[confined]

Well chances are i'll either be sitting or laying down, so I should have a bit more stability when holding them. Apart from going out of focus if you apply pressure to the eyecups, have you found any other problems?

I haven't set this decision in stone, so i'm still open to other suggestions. I'm still EXTREMELY novice at astronomy:ashamed:, so feel free to go into a bit of detail when talking about problems/features:poke:

Thanks! :D

EDIT: I have some Tasco 8x21mm that are still quite useful for everyday functions, but would there be any reason I would be wanting binocs better than those Tasco's during the day? Otherwise, i'm quite content with them.

[janoskiss]

You will almost certainly want to mount the 15x70 on a tripod and will want a smaller pair too! I'd say around the 7x50, 8x40 sizes. You can pan & scan the sky with smaller ones, and quickly locate interesting objects. Then you can switch to the larger tripod mounted ones for a closer look. If you only have the big ones you'll miss much more of the sky. Your 8x21 just doesn't have the aperture to gather enough light to show you anything but the very brightest objects.

Last I saw AOE's astro-mag advertised prices, 15x70s were $119; don't know if they are still that cheap. I had the 20x80 triplets from Andrews (until I returned them for a refund). Light gathering power was great. Bright globulars look great through these. But I found the flaring on bright stars and planets most objectionable. False colour was strong too. I think the bigger you go in size the worse these aberrations get with the budget binos. BTW. One thing I forgot to mention about the AOE 7x50. It's heavy, 1kg, maybe more.

Re the links you posted:
Nikon Action 7: most overpriced (these are $200 at Ted's but they have a special deal going with Nikon's Oz distributor) and quite ordinary (poor coatings for astro use; had a quick look at Ted's)
Pentax PCF: these are meant to be good (never seen one)
Tasco: well, at least it's cheap and no ruby coating. 10x is not easy to handhold steady, but you do get the same true field of view with these as with 7x50s.

[confined]

Maybe i'll go both the AOE 7x50's and the AOE 15x70's. I think I might get the 15x70's first, because at least that way I can get some decent light gathering power, because i'm minus a telescope, so I want to be able to look at some stuff, in the sky.

I'll get a tripod as well, but might hold off and grab it with the 7x50's, as it is discounted if you buy it with binoculars. That way I can keep a bit more money in the bank for the time being, and just check out how well I can use the 15x70's handheld. That way I suffer no long term losses...right?

Does that sound like a good way to go?

Cheers.

[janoskiss]

You will see much more with handheld 7x50s than with the 15x70s, because the shakiness of the image at 15x will completely wash out most of the detail, unless you are of exceptionally large stature and strong. You will be able to "look at some stuff" with 7x50s. Heaps of stuff! Especially under dark skies.

[confined]

So would you recommend that I go 7x50's if I opt for handheld, and 15x70's if I grab a tripod. I will at some stage have both, it's just that at first I won't be able to afford both, especially with the added cost of a tripod.

Would you recommend I go the 7x50's or the 15x70's + tripod as a first pair?

Thanks.

[asimov]

There is a 'knack' for holding binos steady: Hold the binos right up by the objective lens & rest the eyecups on your cheeks. I was given this handy bit of info from AOE :D Also collimate on a star...This is the hard part...if there not mounted, this would be near impossible to do IMO.

[johnno]

I have a pair of A.O.E 11x56 that are reasonable for the money,they are on the very edge of handholdable,but much better mounted,light gathering is good and show quite good views,with very little flaring on brighter objects.
I agree with the comments re 15x70s,they Must be mounted or you will be very dissapointed.
If I understand correctly,you mention viewing from the middle of the ocean,if that is correct,I strongly recommend Waterproof binoculars,or whatever you buy may have a very short life span.
Regards.John

[iceman]

I have some Saxon 11x70's, and I'm not that pleased with them on bright objects (like planets), they're just not sharp enough. But they are great on the moon and general scanning of the milky way.

But even they are much better on a tripod to keep the iamge stable. But then you have the problem of trying to look at stuff above 50 degrees, you get a real crick in your neck. I wouldn't even think of going above 10x without a tripod. You will lose so much detail by the image shaking about.

[confined]

Well i'll send AOE an email and see how much a tripod and 15x70's will set me back.

Then i'll head back here.

Thanks for the advice :)

[janoskiss]

If you can afford it, see if they'll do a super-deal on 7x50+15x70+tripod. ;)

[Starkler]

Ill be interested to know how the tripod goes if you get it . I was thinking hard about it when i ordered my 15x70's.

[confined]

Just sent off an email to AOE asking for a quote on the 7x50HG, 15x70 and the heavy duty tripod. Asked them to cut me a deal :P

Will let you know the final quote when they reply. Also, i'm still very new to this. What will I need for collimation?

[johnno]

Hopefully,Nothing,
A.O.E check collimation prior to shipping.
If necessary the 15x70s can be collimated by tiny screw adjustments near the top of the prism housings,located just under the rubber covering.
There is another set of collimating screws,but these rarely need to be touched unless they are very badly out.
I have had my 15x70 Barskas,for over 12 months,and have never had to adjust them.
Regards.John

[confined]

Ah okay, cool. The less expenses at the moment, the better.

[confined]

AOE7x50HG, AOE15x70, AOEBAM and Heavy Duty Tripod for $428 + $40 postage. $468 total.

Is that sounding like a good price? Website prices indicate that it would normally cost $486 excluding postage, but it does say "tripod less with binocular purchase", so I don't know if it just making up for that.

Also, 15x70s won't be in stock for a month, so should I order now and have the other parts shipped out, and then the 15x70 come in a month, or wait for a month and get it all together?

Thanks.

[janoskiss]

Sounds like a real bargain to me! You might save a few bucks by waiting, but a whole month can seem like a long time to wait. It is really up to you.
Uh, and what about bino tripod adapter? Is it included?

[confined]

AOEBAM is the adaptor. And if it sounds like a real bargain, I might pay for it tomorrow then.

Thanks for all the advice gang! :)

[Mikezoom]

Hey Confined,

Just wanting to know how you went with the Binnos? Are you happy and did you have any problems? Hope all went well. ;)

Mike.