Barska 15x70 binoculars purchase

[cometeater]

Would love to hear your opinion about this: I wanted to get more out of the sky than my 8x40s could give me, so I went to a vendor this week and picked up what they recommended: the Barska 15x70s (AB10154). They gave me a decent price on it (around $130) but the box was already opened. They said they opened it to check the optics on it. They also said it would blow my 40mm pair out of the water. They threw in a red light for $20 which was also in an open box. The red light turned out to be a disposable - you can't replace the battery!

Worse, the binoculars are either awful or terrible, depending on your preferred adjective. More magnification, sure, but barely brighter than my 8x40s. In fact, I kept going back to my 8x40s because the Barskas are so bad. The focusing is clearly sub-optimal and they quickly go out of focus after putting up against your eyes. And, again, the image is worse than my 8x40s (they're Nikon, which could explain their sheer excellence).

Are the Barskas potentially faulty?

I will be returning them but I wonder which brand I should swap to. What do you recommend? Am I expecting too much from 15x70s in general?

- Kenny

[Octane (Humayun)]

Kenny,

The Barskas, I believe, are Chinese clones. Did you purchase them at Australian Geographic? That would make them the equivalent to purchasing department store versions of telescopes.

I got a little suss, as I purchased a Lenspen from Australian Geographic a little while ago -- it was the real deal. I went back this week to purchase another one, but, they were selling Barska-branded ones. The package has the Lenspen logo on the top left, and, some intellectual property signage (registered trademark), but, I can not find any mention of Barska on the Lenspen web site.

Your best bet is to take the heap of junk back to where you bought it, get your money back, and then head on over to Bintel or Andrews Communications web sites and you'll find proper binoculars there.

When I was first starting to get into this hobby, I was going to purchase the Orion Mini Giants. What I've linked to are the 15x63 version, but, I'm sure there was a 20x80 version (or they may have been the Orion Giant View binoculars). They're about 3.5-4 times more than what you paid, but, if you save your money up and get one of those, you won't be disappointed.

I hope this helps, somewhat.

Regards,
Humayun

[chris lewis]

I brought apair of Barska 15x70 about 2 years ago. I had to test 5x in store before I got one that was fully collimated. They do have inferior optics and build qualities - Chinese entry level really - multiple ghosting on bright objects and marked field curvature and astigmatism. I have had 3x Skymaster versions - they are an improvemnet - but again 2 of of 3 were miscollimated.
I now have a 'Ultra' 15x 70 these have excellent optical and build qualities. Spend more on Hi quility versions - as the above post suggests. Quality far outlasts the initial pain in your wallet.

[mozzie (Peter)]

yes kenny get your money back and go to bitel or andrews if not in sydney ring them then buy of there web sites never had a prob
mozzie