This is my very first post in this website's forum and I guess most beginners I will very much appreciate some help in deciding what equipment to start with.
My goal would be to be able to see nebulaes and galaxies clear enough to be appreciated. In other words, I would like to see something more than just something that my inexpert eye could not discern from a star.
At the moment I can't dedicate more than a couple hundred AU dollars to buy either a telescope or a binocular.
In the last couple of weeks I spent lots of time exploring: ebay and other online offering. At the same time I searched review relatives to the items I thought may meet my goal and in the process refined my understanding of what realistically should I look too to get as close as I can to identify what equipment I should look at.
Said all this, my current understanding, also reading the reviews in this forum, is that I should go for a good binocular, than a telescope. I refined my choice to a Celestron Skymaster binocular, because the attracting warranty offered by the manufacter and because it seems to me they are more reliable than other brands, which offer similar binoculars. I understood, that giant binoculars, are heavy items and implies using some form of support to avoid the problems would arise whithout them and have already several ideas how to build my own custom solution, after having found good inspirations online.
More precisely I'm oriented for either the Skymaster 15x70, or the 20x70 one, if I will buy on the Australian market, or if buying from international sellers, even the 20x80 one, which implied risks keep me from considering it just as a possible alternative, if going for that model, will allow me to get as close as I can to my beginner goal and your advices are not consistently warn me against it.
Between the Australian official Celestron distributors, I found at least 2 that currently offer the 15x75 binos for $180.00 beside similar shipping charges as other sellers). Currently this bino would be my preferred choice, also given positive opinion I read in this forum.
I thanks forward for your expert advices and run to tide up the kitchen before my wife.... You know what I mean...
I am a beginner myself, I think you're on the right track with binoculars though. If you have a limited budget and cant stretch to a decent telescope straight away then its better to buy a pair of bino's to get you started and upgrade down the line. I bought a pair of Celestron Skymaster 12x60's a few years back, i think this line is now discontinued though. They are really good, but you will also need to buy a decent tripod too as they are too heavy to hold for extended periods. With my bino's I can see the moons of Jupiter, the Orion Nebula is pretty good and the moon is superb with craters standing out all over.
Dont be tempted to buy a telescope that falls withing the couple of hundred dollar budget you mention, it'll more than likely disappoint you, a decent pair of binoculars won't.
I'm sure a few of the more experienced folks on here can come in and advise you which binoculars are the best value for money but from my very limited experience I think you're on the right track.
I upgraded from my binoculars after a few years and now have a 10" dobsonian mounted telescope.
All the best with it. Just be warned its a very addictive hobby
Thanks Mick for your feedback. Dobsons are still beyond my budget, but surely there is where I think I will go when I will be ready for the next step.
I did some more online investigations and beside getting overwhelmed by too much information, between reviews and deals, I think I will decide between one of these 3 binoculars.
To explain why I narrowed the choice on them, I added how currently I perceive their pros and cons for each one of them (my use will be for backyard stargazing):
Oberwerk 15x70mm $183.95 USD (postage incl from US) http://www.bigbinoculars.com/1570.htm
Pros: Best overall quality
Cons: Back to US for warranty in case.
oh, also, if you plan on observing with binos for long period of time, itd be a good idea to invest in a cheap 12 dollar binos to tripod adapter, it makes your viewing a lot more steadier and it'll take the strain off your arms...
That for sure Tony. I'm using a battle proven (kids, etc..) 11 years old Tasco 10x50 binos and use fences, wall, or whatever else i come across that could help me to keep it steady.
To my inexpert eyes it is quite good, but limited in power. In the list below, I just wanted to present the candidate binos I think I should pick from and where I hope from this forum to get either a confirmation and/or precious advices.
Beside I saw on ebay it seems to be easy finding good quality (manfrotto, etc..) used tripods at very good prices , I have a few ideas on my own, inspired by customized solutions shared online by some good fellows:
Hi Giorgio,
A real handy tool with binos is a lazyboy recliner or deck chair, helps you look up and the arm rests are a great spot to rest the elbows and steady your viewing. Plenty of great bino sights all around the southern cross.
best regards.
Hi Giorgio, binoculars are a great way to learn the sky and they will show you lots. Plus when you move into a telescope the binoculars will come in vert handy for star hopping.
Brian
Hi Giorgio and welcome. I have a pair of Celestron 15x70s and I have a great time with them. I find them at their best for open clusters and these can be quite stunning in binoculars. Many are better in binos than telescopes. For most nebulae and all galaxies, you will need a telescope. Well there are a few galaxies you will see but not with detail. Even when you get a telescope you will still get a lot from binos not just for finding things, but they offer a unique perspective with no set up time.
I haven't used the others that you've mentioned so I can't help with comparisons. A tripod will be good with 15x70s but I can get away with hand held up to a point.
can i say having had many pairs of binos the skymasters would be at the bottom of my list...i think you will find the orion & andrews version are very close, possible made in the same factory group - most business import from one of 2 major china wholesalers (which themselves may have multiple factories)
consider this though 0it is difficult to handhold a 15 power bino - to use it to best effect it needs to be tripod mounted. in this case i would either get a tripod or get a 10x or 12x power bino...as these can be handheld. a 10x50 or 12x50-60mm is a great bino - for mst applications - the 15x70 is more specialised ie harder to use for daytime activities like birding/nature
and if you want the ultimate amateur binocular set up Google JMI 16 inch bino scope. A little out of most of our price ranges but nice to drool over.
Brian
I forgot to add that in this low end price bracket the user unfortunately forms a valuable part of the quality control structure ,in that case better to buy local than have the hassle of shipping a faulty product to the US
After gaining a better understanding of my needs, I decided to go for a 25x100 giant binoculars set, than a 15x70.
Now I'm wandering if there are technical differences between the 2 more popular 25x100 binoculars currently on the market branded under several different names and price tags.
Attached to this post are their images, which I hope to get a comment by who may know what eventually these differences are.
Giorgio
Last edited by Giorgio; 28-03-2011 at 12:02 PM.
Reason: errata corridge
I'm also designing an alternative way to tripods and/or parallelograms for enjoying big binoculars. The main idea is to apply at least a couple of ergonomics improvements like having the binoculars going around the observer, instead that the other way around. Also there will be a sort of neck/back rest, which will adapt to the observer ones, when she will raise the binoculars height.
I will first develop a simple version, that doesn't require motors or complicated mechanics for handling movements along the axes. But I'm already shaping in my mind the ideas for this more sophisticated version, using the same ergonomic requirements.
Moreover, I aim it being the most inexpensive and light, for portability, I can and using reparable components in place like Bunnings and the like.
If I will be able to implement it, will post here the relative images and design draws (when they will be clear enough to others beside me..).
cheers
Giorgio
Last edited by Giorgio; 28-03-2011 at 12:25 PM.
Reason: errata corridge again. Proof reading is over my head...
I never did see the detail in Saturn's rings that I wanted to see, nor the individual stars in the centre of globular clusters - they never had the resolution. Maybe a $2000 set would have? But the views of starfields, open clusters, nebulae were quite lovely.
A couple of comments:-
1. They are big and they are heavy. You will need a very robust alt/azi mount to support these.
2. The field of view is narrow enough to make it quite difficult to locate targets. This is not the simple point and scan a bit that is possible with 10x binoculars. I had to mount a red dot finder on my binocular mount to help me locate objects.
"... But the views of starfields, open clusters, nebulae were quite lovely"
This is what I'm looking for, beside that the a $2000 binoculars or other scopes are currently well above my possibilities.
As I haven't experienced yet enjoying the night sky with nothing else than an old 10x50 Tasco binos, not to mention I barely knows where the Orion Nebulae is, I think at the beginning I will just randomly 'flying' around up there randomly, without a real destination (and beyond ).
I like your custom parallelogram. I reckon creating your own binoculars support, is almost the other half of the fun
At a certain point one has to take a stand and look not further. It would just increasing choice confusion.
Hereby I ordered the Zhumell 25x100 Giant Binoculars and also found on eBay a "Manfrotto 190XB Tripod & 804RC2 Pan & Tilt Tripod Head" (it can bear the 4.7 kg of this binoculars without problems, but it is tall only 1.5m. On other hand, I count to be comfortably seated when using it).
I spent 3 times the intended amount I budgeted (and I hope to get away with the wife, if she will find it out...) and hope I haven't set my expectation too high out of them.
Can't wait to have them delivered.
Once I tried them, I will report here my first impressions for the benefit of who may be interested in this equipment.
I was just about to post and see Stu and I basically telling you the same thing.
Georgio you could have bought a brand spanking new 6 inch Dob - yes 150cm worth of aperture for around $350 (if that) and you can pick up second hand 8 inch Dobs. around that same amount, often here on the forum in the classifieds section.. I owned a 6" and was awestruck with what it showed me. You could even make out the separation between the rings on Saturn.
If I'd seen your post much earlier, I would have strongly advised you to wait just a little bit longer to get the extra money together. It would have been worth it.
If you change your mind, are you able to back out of the order?
Oh almost forgot, in all the panic.. Georgio, very glad to have you on board.
Giorgio you just told the whole web that you went way over budget your wife is going to find out!
Damn it...
I considered to get the dob, but I'm very attracted by the easy to use aspects of binoculars.
My thinking as been, that they, as other suggested, are a good starting point, which doesn't exclude later on a more powerful scope. Maybe a 10" or 12" dob (of course, if I will survive next week) next year.
Thanks for your welcome and all advices are very welcomed.
).
Georgio, very glad to have you on board.
