Skywatcher Heritage 76 or 15x70 Binoculars?

[Blackcat XIII]

Hi guys,

These forums seem very helpful so I'm hoping I can get some help with regards to a purchase.

I'm looking at purchasing a pair of binoculars until the time comes to buy my first telescope. (8 or 10 inch dob :thumbsup:)

I was looking at purchasing a pair of 15x70 binoculars for $149.00 AUD from Andrews Communications (http://www.andrewscom.com.au/site-section-11.htm). Basic specs are: BAK4 prisms and fully coated optics. I also assume that a camera tripod will be enough to handle these binos?

However I came across this small portable scope today and was wondering which would be better. The scope is a Skywatcher Heritage 76 and costs $79. I'm sure its identical to the Celestron FirstScope except it comes with a finderscope. Two eye pieces are included and 20mm and a 4mm. Link to the scope is here (http://www.skywatchertelescope.net/swtinc/product.php?id=154&class1=1&class2=106).

I have searched these forums for archive posts in regards to the Celestron FirstScope and found that the construction of the scope was quite average.

With all this in mind would you recommend purchasing the binoculars, or will the Skywatcher Heritage 76 be just as good?

Thank you in advance.

[mental4astro]

Hi Blackcat,

:welcome: to IIS, and Happy New Year.

The good news on the options you present is the binos will last you a life time.

Binoculars are a fantastic tool. Some deep sky objects are actually best seen through binos and not a telescope too, such as the whole Large and Small Magellanic clouds. I've always got them with me, and from my home in Sydney, indispensible to find anything as they are capable of showing those stars that light pollution knocks out.

Yes a camera tripod can handle them, but it needs to be a sturdy one as 70mm binos are not exactly light-weight.

The bad news is the Heritage 76 is very poor as a scope choice. I'm saying this through direct experience, not hear-say.

Saddly, the 76 is made with a very cheap to manufacture spherical mirror. These don't focus light at the same point as do parabolic mirrors do. And escpecially at the fast focal ratio that the Heritage is, the problems spherical mirrors present are increased. It is only good as a low power telescope, as the image it creates at high power is unusable. Compounding this is the aweful quality eyepieces included.

Yes, the heritage 76 IS the same scope as the Celestron FirstScope (Skywatcher owns Celestron). It is such a shame that this little scope is so poorly made, as with a little more quality care would have created a real cult following for it. Instead, it is a rip-off.

I still do have my FirstScope. Remember me saying it is only good for wide field, low power use, well, this little scope serves as an overgrown finder on my 17.5" dob. I'm aware of its short comings, so I've employed it on its only strength for this purpose.

You will be most best served with the binoculars, Blackcat, and save your money then for a better quality scope when the time comes.

Mental.

[mozzie]

well said alexander
binos will be better.save your money on the heritage scope and use it towards your dobby.
good to see you have a use for your heritage scope alexander it gets disappointing when good ideas are made so cheap(i think these scopes were made for the year of astronomy)they could turn people of astronomy buying that crap....

[Blackcat XIII]

Thanks for the reply guys. Very helpful.

Once I make my purchase, I will definitely save my money towards a better scope.

Quick question:
I also came across the Orion ShortTube80 telescope. Would this be recommended as a beginners scope?

Thanks again.

[dannat]

i agree with the bino recommends - the orion short tube is usually used to guide a telescope mount -very few would use it as a visual scope -it isn't very approp as it is a fast achromat, short focal length with false color

[Blackcat XIII]

Thanks for the quick reply.

I will look into purchasing a sturdy camera mount for the binoculars.

[dannat]

andrews sell a sturdy manfrotto knockoff -though william optics webiste has a sturdy tripod at the moment for 119 with free ship to austrlia -a pretty good deal as it has a fluid head for the binos

[pgc hunter]

Like everyone else, I suggest get the binoculars. Those tiny 76mm newts are of limited usefullness for observing. Not only is the aperture very small, the light/contrast loss caused by the secondary mirror will render effective resolution and light grasp to that of an even smaller instrument and being a "table top" scope, you also must find a stable suface to put it on or engineer one yourself, which IMO would not be worth the effort for something that is otherwise more limited in capability than a typical 70mm refractor. At F/4, images in a plossl eyepiece will be loaded with coma and likely other abberations. The thing won't handle much power either, so planetary views will be fairly limited.

The Orion ST80 is a good alternative, but for visual it is best suited to widefield, low power views (under 100x). Not ideal for planetary due to it's F/5 focal ratio as chromatic abberation is a problem and essentially blurs the image at higher powers. It's construction and optical quality/light grasp is superior to those tiny SW "heritage" things. If you're after something for low -power wide field deepsky viewing, the ST80 is a nice bit of kit, and is very portable which will resolve deep sky objects better than the binoculars. But... Bintel have the ota only at $219, so when you add on things like the tripod, eyepieces, diagnal etc, you are looking at a good $350+ that money will buy you the binos plus be well on your way toward your larger scope......

If it was me, I'd get the binos for 150, then save up for the 10 incher. In the meantime there is stacks and stacks of things to see in the 15x70's.

[Blackcat XIII]

I am definitely purchasing the 15x70 binoculars. However I might spend the extra $50 and get the Celestron Skywatcher binoculars for $199. Link (http://www.ozscopes.com.au/celestron-skymaster-15x70-binocular.html)

Thanks for the info on the tripods...will look into it.

[mozzie]

ive the celestron 9x63 binos and am extremely happy with them.5 deg fov and perfect views

[Blackcat XIII]

Hey guys,

I got the Celestron Skymaster 15x70 today for $179. Very happy with the price. :D

Is there a certain way to test these binoculars to make sure they are collimated?

They seem fine when I use them. However I just wanted to make sure I am getting the best possible views.

Looking forward to clear skies tonight!

************************

After some research it seems there are a few ways to test your binoculars.

For anyone interested here (http://www.skyandtelescope.com/howto/howtoequipment/3389576.html) a link.

[Blackcat XIII]

Hello everyone,

I have been looking around for a tripod and come across a Optex Pistol Grip Tripod with Monopod. Can anyone advise if it would be good enough to hold a pair of 15x70 binoculars? For $149 you would hope so.

Link (http://dicksmith.com.au/product/XG4994/optex-pistol-grip-tripod-with-monopod)

Thanks

Blackcat