After info on binoculars...

[Craig.a.c]

I recently bought some binoculars from a second hand shop for $40.
I am after some info on them if people could help.
They are: SAKURA 20x-180x100mm (56M/100M AT 20x). That is all thats written on them.
Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers - Craig.

[jjjnettie]

Wow, what a bargain.
Sorry can't help with the brand or anything.
What are the optics like?

[Craig.a.c]

Had a small test run when the clouds parted just a little, got nice views of the moon, great for terristrial viewing.

[Craig.a.c]

No one?

[MikeyB]

Sakura is a very common cheap brand on eBay according to which (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SAKURA-MEGA-ZOOM-BINOCULARS-20x180x100-Brand-New_W0QQitemZ130381479992QQcmdZView ItemQQptZAU_Cameras_Telescopes_Bino culars?hash=item1e5b578038):

BRAND NEW SAKURA 20x180x100 MEGA ZOOM Binoculars
TRIPOD ADAPTER INCLUDED

A rare opportunity to purchase these great quality binoculars at rock bottom prices.

Specifications:
* Superior Japanese technology
* 20-180x 100 zoom magnification
* Bak4 prisms
* Objective lens diameter: 100mm
* Brightness: 25.00-15.25
* Twilight factor: 22.36-39.80
* Multi coated optics
* Rubicon coated lenses
* Dioptric correction
* Smooth centre focusing
* Built in tripod anchor
* Rubber armoured water resistant housing
* Fold down eyecups for spectacle wearers

Includes:
o Travel case
o Lens polishing cloth
o Neck strap
o 4 lens caps

Some of this model are silver/black, as per attached pics, others appear to be wholly black. Almost certainly Chinese-made, given the price range they typically sell at.

[dannat]

most zoom binoculars sufer image degradation at most magnification as you get away from the minimum mag..ie 20-80x is ok at 20x & image suffers more as you increase the mag

[chris lewis]

Sakura are inferior binoculars. I have come across several over the years. They are Chinese sourced not Japanese as advertised. To make matters worse 'Zoom' binoculars are not recommended 1/ they give a very narrow F.O.V./2 they give a duller image compared to binos. of the same aperture. 3/ they are extremley difficult to collimate and keep collimimated 4/ they are unreliable in there overall build qualities 5/ they are basically unfixable if faulty and not worth the money to fix 6/ the specs. on the binos are highly inacurate and totally false - 180x is impossible for a bino like that - the exit pupil would be mininsule and impossible to use, the CA intolerable, the image would extremely degraded and dim and there is no way they would stay collimated at more then about 30x maximum if U were lucky and they are not 100mm lens - check them - a neck strap for 100 mm binos - I dont think so ! - they are usually about 60 -70mm. A true 100 mm bino requires a large / expensive HD mount. 7/ lastly 'Rubicon' lens are the most inferior lens coating you can get - it reflects light away and decreases light transmission - at night U want the most light transmission you can get - hence F.M.C. type lens. Sorry all bad news - U might be able to get an 'image' on low power but honestly they not recommended.

Chris